Camping sites near Clemmons, North Carolina sit within the Piedmont region at elevations ranging from 700-1,000 feet, creating distinct seasonal microclimates throughout the year. Spring camping often features nighttime temperatures in the 40s with daytime highs in the 70s, while fall brings vibrant foliage changes starting in mid-October. Most campgrounds in this area have gravel pads rather than concrete, requiring adjustable leveling blocks at nearly all sites.
What to do
Hiking at Pilot Mountain State Park: Located 25 miles northwest of Clemmons, Pilot Mountain offers trails ranging from 0.3 to 4.3 miles with varying difficulty levels. "The perimeter trails are great, not too crowded. The ones closer into Pilot Mountain itself get way too crowded," notes one visitor to Pilot Mountain State Park Campground.
Paddling opportunities: Bring your kayak or canoe to explore nearby waterways. At Pilot Mountain, "We kayaked along the Yadkin River and camped at one of the canoe campsites. There was very little anemities at these particular sites but that was the point of our visit," reports a camper.
Mountain biking: Several parks offer designated biking trails, often with challenging terrain. A camper at Tanglewood Park mentions it's "next door to a 4 mile paved exercise path with mountain bike trails in the middle."
Rock climbing: Experienced climbers can test their skills at Pilot Mountain's dedicated climbing areas. One visitor describes it as "an excellent place for toprope climbing in the area. If you're not a climber, the views are still worth the drive."
Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk offer prime opportunities for animal sightings. "Deer roam throughout the park and campground," notes a Tanglewood visitor, while another mentions "nearly tame deer all over the place."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer generous spacing between campsites. At Hanging Rock State Park Campground, "The camping sites are shaded and spacious with picnic tables, lantern poles, and fire rings," according to one reviewer.
Clean facilities: Bathhouses at most campgrounds receive regular maintenance. A visitor to Crosswinds Family Campground describes "nice clean bathhouse, modern, fairly new" while another notes "the laundry & bathrooms are immaculate!"
Family-friendly activities: Most campgrounds include recreational amenities. At Forest Lake RV and Camping Resort, campers appreciate "2 swimming pools, camp store, snack bar, fishing pond (I caught 2 sunfishes in 30 min & I'm no fisherman) basketball court, mini golf, & playground equipment."
Natural settings: Despite proximity to urban areas, many sites maintain wooded environments. A camper at Jomeokee Campground observes, "The trees, the adjacent pastures, the farm pond, the rolling hills, and the scenic views make this a great little campground."
Sunset views: Several campgrounds offer scenic sunset viewing opportunities. At Jomeokee, "The bottom row of sites looks directly at Pilot Mtn in the distance. The sunsets are gorgeous."
What you should know
Site levelness challenges: Uneven campsites are common throughout the region. A camper at Oak Hollow City Campground warns, "Many sites are not level so plan ahead and bring extra levelers."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. A reviewer notes, "For a mid-May Monday night, we shared the campground with five other campers, but weekends and holidays are ordinarily full so secure your reservations online well in advance."
Shower facilities: Quality varies significantly between parks. At Hanging Rock, "The showers had hot water, which was a very welcome amenity after a day on the trails. However, the women's bathroom was unfortunately in rough shape."
Highway noise: Some campgrounds sit close to major roads. Oak Hollow has "noise from highway" as one of only two drawbacks mentioned by a regular visitor.
Seasonal closures: Not all facilities remain open year-round. At Hanging Rock, "Shower houses are not open year-round, even though the park is. So there are still 'outhouse style' singular pit latrines present."
Tips for camping with families
Multiple swimming options: Several parks feature swimming areas for cooling off. At Jomeokee Campground, "The large grassy fields have lots of kids and adults playing ball and frisbee. They allow tent groups and everyone seems to be having a great time."
Playground access: Look for campgrounds with dedicated play areas. At Cross Winds Family Campground, "The playground area is dated but still retro-fun for the kids."
Wildlife education opportunities: Many parks offer chances to observe local animals. At Forest Lake RV Resort, a parent reports, "From spotting salamanders near the creek to pretending they were mountain explorers on the trails, they were thoroughly entertained the whole trip."
Organized activities: Some campgrounds schedule regular events for children. A Forest Lake visitor mentions they have "fun activities, kid friendly, love playing BINGO here!"
Family-friendly trails: Several parks feature shorter hiking options suitable for children. A Hanging Rock visitor reports, "The waterfall hikes were especially fun, and the swimming area near the lake looked like a great spot to cool off in the summer months."
Tips from RVers
Arrival timing matters: Several campgrounds have check-in restrictions. At Cobble Hill RV Campground, campers note you can "book it online last minute, while driving & let ourselves in that evening (everything is clearly marked)."
Leveling equipment: Pack substantial leveling blocks for most area campgrounds. At Tanglewood Park, several sites "have quite a slope to them" and one RVer reports, "We had to lower ours by over 4" and still weren't level, but couldn't adjust anymore."
Site selection for large rigs: Carefully research campground access before arrival. At Forest Lake, "Roads are the worst pot holes speed bumps that are curbs!" reports one unhappy camper, while Jomeokee visitors advise, "Definitely book those spots if you have a big RV."
Utilities quality: Power availability varies between parks. Cross Winds Family Campground provides "full hookups include cable and wifi" with "big level gravel sites," making it popular with RV travelers.
Spacing considerations: Site width varies significantly between campgrounds. At Forest Lake, "The camping sites are close together, but that seems standard in these types of campgrounds," while Oak Hollow offers "large sites" that can "accommodate large rigs."
