South of the Blue Ridge Mountains and situated at 1,171 feet elevation, Hickory, North Carolina serves as a gateway to several pet-friendly camping opportunities. The area experiences mild winters with occasional snowfall and warm summers with moderate humidity. Campgrounds in the region maintain seasonal operation schedules with most open year-round, while a few close during winter months.
What to do
**Mountain biking trails: At Warrior Creek Campground, trails are maintained by passionate volunteers. "Super mt bike trails that have been built and maintained by volunteers who really care and ride the trails often," notes Kim L., who adds the trails are "even better than you would imagine." The trails connect to other nearby biking areas.
**Fishing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds offer fishing access, with some stocked seasonally. At Lake Norman State Park, the fishing conditions vary throughout the year. Fletcher S. shares that it's a "very clean and quiet and very close to Charlotte. Nice, moderate hiking trails. Swimming and kayaking. You'll probably see deer but have never seen a bear."
**Waterfall hikes: Several campgrounds provide access to waterfall trails within walking distance. At South Mountains State Park Family Campground, the High Shoals Falls trail leads to an 80-foot waterfall. Dave V. explains the trail as "a moderate to strenuous 2.35 mile climb and descent to the upper falls and then wooden boardwalk and steep steps down to the gorgeous 80 ft High Shoals waterfall."
**Seasonal swimming: Public swimming areas operate mainly from May through September at select campgrounds. "The beach is nice but gets very busy during the summer months," reports I R. about Julian Price Park Campground's lake swimming area.
What campers like
**Private tent camping: Sites with natural separation from neighbors rate highly in reviews. At Julian Price Park Campground, Kirsten J. appreciates the "wooded, shady campground near a lake" with "semi private sites for tents."
**Clean facilities: Updated bathhouses receive positive mentions at several campgrounds. Jessica L. noted South Mountains State Park has the "cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen!" The renovation of facilities continues at various parks in the region.
**Wildlife viewing: Morning and evening wildlife sightings occur regularly near water sources. Fletcher S. mentions at Lake Norman State Park, "You'll probably see deer but have never seen a bear," highlighting the common wildlife encounters visitors can expect.
**Creek-side sites: Sites along water features consistently receive higher ratings. At Indian Springs Campground, Bryan H. found that "the walk to the river was nice and beautiful." These water-adjacent sites typically book first during peak seasons.
What you should know
**Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds require advance booking, especially on weekends. Stephen M. advises about South Mountains State Park, "Far from a town, so don't forget anything. Rangers are helpful and will bring firewood (charge for the wood)." The park also has "NO cell service which is a big draw for us."
**Road conditions: Some campgrounds have steep access roads that may challenge larger vehicles. Sara M. shares about Indian Springs: "The grade is 7% and is managed through a long gentle slope in/out. The only time I'd be concerned about the entrance would be in a driving rain."
**Seasonal closures: Several campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Dave V. notes, "The gates to the park are locked up at 9pm so there's no getting in or out late at night" at South Mountains State Park.
**Road noise: Campgrounds near highways experience traffic sounds. At Statesville RV Park I-77, Stephen D. found "the highway was close and the noise did make it hard to sleep," a common concern at this convenient stopover location.
Tips for camping with families
**Playground proximity: Select sites near play areas for convenience with children. Chris Y. notes that Spacious Skies Bear Den is a "great family campground" with "playground on site for the kids."
**Family-friendly hiking: Short trail options under 2 miles work best for young children. Emily B. mentions Bear Den has "hiking trails, small fishing lake, playgrounds, an arcade room, and camp store. One of the hiking trails leads to a waterfall."
**Creek exploration: Creek-adjacent sites provide natural entertainment for children. Jessica L. recommends South Mountains State Park: "We camped at the family camping area, it was great, we had site 6 and it was on the river and the kids loved it!"
**Organized activities: Some campgrounds schedule weekend programming for children. Josh Q. found Cross Country Campground has "plenty of activities for the entire family from basketball, volleyball, shuffle board, putt putt, a fishing pond, and a pool. They have weekend activities that vary depending on the day."
Tips from RVers
**Limited full-hookup options: Most state park campgrounds offer electric and water only. Connie M. notes about W Kerr Scott Reservoir Bandits Roost Campground, "Been coming here for 20 years. This park has been my go to place when we need to get away. We have stayed here with a tent n now a camper. Clean sites n most sites r pretty level. Would give 5 stars but this park isn't full hookup."
**Leveling challenges: Many mountain campgrounds have uneven sites. Zachary H. recommends Statesville RV Park I-77: "The sites were fairly spacious for this type of place" though others note leveling issues at the same park.
**Mountain access considerations: RVers should check road grades when accessing mountain campgrounds. Corby M. advises about Indian Springs, "Exiting the campground and driving up the steep hill with the camper in tow was a little challenging, but we made it out without trouble."
**Dump station availability: Plan ahead for campgrounds without sewer hookups. Martha S. notes W Kerr Scott Reservoir has a "back in site with W/E" and a dump station on site, typical of many public campgrounds in the region.
