Cabin, tent, and yurt camping near Highlands, North Carolina offers diverse experiences in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Located at elevations between 3,500-4,000 feet, this area experiences relatively cool summers with temperatures typically 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands. Winter camping options remain available at lower elevations, with temperature variations of up to 20 degrees between valley floors and mountain peaks. The region receives approximately 85 inches of annual rainfall.
What to do
Explore High Falls Trail: The trail to High Falls provides a moderately challenging hiking experience near Ralph J. Andrews Campground. "A very beautiful mountain waterfall trail to High Falls. The rock steps where amazing," notes one visitor who experienced this natural attraction firsthand.
Visit multiple waterfalls: The southern Appalachians feature numerous accessible cascades. "This is one of North Carolina's best waterfall parks. Rainbow Falls, Turtel Back Falls and Bust your Ass Falls," writes a camper who stayed at Gorges State Park. Most waterfall trails range from 2-4 miles round-trip with moderate difficulty ratings.
Play in creek water: Children particularly enjoy wading in the shallow waters at smaller campgrounds. "The creek that runs through the campground was gold. Our kids played and played all day, only coming back to the camper to quickly eat before heading back out to splash," reports a family who visited Trout Creek Campground.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many campsites maintain well-kept bathhouses and common areas. At Tallulah Gorge State Park, a visitor noted, "It was a really sweet, quiet, clean campground. The restrooms were clean, the showers were clean, and all the people we came across were so friendly."
Social opportunities: Some campgrounds foster community through organized activities. "They had happy hour everyday at five," mentions a camper who stayed at Blue Ridge Falls RV Resort, highlighting the daily social gatherings that bring campers together.
Privacy between sites: Many area campgrounds offer sufficient spacing between camping spots. "Sites are spacious and there are flush toilets and hot showers. Winding Stairs trail connects to the campground and offers good hiking," explains a visitor to Cherry Hill Campground who appreciated the layout and amenities.
What you should know
Primitive camping options: For those seeking more remote experiences, backcountry sites require preparation. "We did a 4-mile hike into a primitive camping spot, across the water from a golf course and spent the weekend! The beautiful area and beautiful views but the terrain was a little extreme," reports one camper at Keowee-Toxaway State Park.
Electrical reliability varies: At some campgrounds, infrastructure issues occasionally arise. "Twice in one week this campground experienced a complete and total power outage each of which lasted for hours," noted one RVer about their experience at Keowee-Toxaway State Park, suggesting visitors should prepare for occasional utility disruptions.
Wildlife encounters: Campers should expect and prepare for local fauna. "There were warning signs for bears, but we saw no trace of them," mentions a visitor to Oconee State Park, indicating that while wildlife preparedness is important, actual encounters remain relatively uncommon.
Tips for camping with families
Look for water features: Streams and swimming areas keep children engaged. "The creek side sites are gorgeous and we would have really enjoyed creek walking had we stayed longer," notes a family who stayed at Trout Creek Campground, highlighting how natural water features enhance family camping experiences.
Check site layouts: Some campgrounds have design quirks that affect families with young children. "Only complaint was campsites were not wide enough. No matter how we did it our steps to the trailer came right in front of the giant cement table, which was nerve wrecking with little kids," reports a family at Tallulah Gorge State Park.
Reserve popular spots early: Family-friendly sites with optimal features book quickly, especially during school breaks. "You definitely need more than 2 days to explore this cute little park. There are multiple hiking trails nearby and definitely a lot of wild life," explains a visitor about Oconee State Park, suggesting longer stays for families to fully enjoy the amenities.
Tips from RVers
Consider road conditions: Mountain routes present challenges for larger vehicles. At Gorges State Park, one RVer cautions, "This campground would've gotten five stars except for the road getting there was pretty exciting. The last 10 miles out of Brevard were curvy and had some grades. And the last 2 miles into the campground had I would guess a couple of 10% grades both up and down."
Check for yurt camping: Yurt camping near Highlands, North Carolina offers a comfortable alternative for those seeking glamping options. "Very clean as well," notes a visitor who enjoyed the yurt accommodations at Table Rock State Park, which maintains heated yurts year-round.
Verify site levelness: RV owners should check ahead about site conditions. "It does require consideration before parking your trailer or RV," explains a visitor to Oconee State Park who noted the importance of preparing for uneven terrain with "a lot of tree roots running throughout."
