Best Campgrounds near Hot Springs, NC

Hot Springs is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Hot Springs. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Hot Springs, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Best Camping Sites Near Hot Springs, North Carolina (546)

    1. Hot Springs Campground

    29 Reviews
    Hot Springs, NC
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 622-7676

    "The little town of Hot Springs North Carolina is a charming little place with several good food choices and an excellent brewery."

    "Walking distance to trails and town. Spa with hot spring hot tubs across the street."

    2. Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    70 Reviews
    Cosby, TN
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 487-2683

    $50 / night

    "Cosby is great if you want to explore the eastern section of North Carolina sections of the park."

    "Cosby is about half an hour outside of Gatlinburg and worth every minute.

    A16 was big and shady. There were a few steps down to it. Plenty of trees and distance to the nearest neighbors."

    3. Round Mountain

    6 Reviews
    Del Rio, TN
    8 miles
    Website

    $7 / night

    "picnic table, rocky terrain, a legit fire ring with two grill options, and a nice packed tent pad

    -didn’t get lucky tonight as far as neighbors go, super loud and annoying groups at two of the sites nearby"

    4. Creek Ridge Camping

    4 Reviews
    Hot Springs, NC
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (828) 622-9955

    $15 - $40 / night

    "Lovely spot near the hot springs but it's for sale now"

    "This campsite is in the mountains so be prepared for amazing views and a steep drive up to the office to check in.

    We stayed in the Pavilion and loved it!"

    5. Rocky Bluff Campground — National Forests In North Carolina

    4 Reviews
    Hot Springs, NC
    3 miles
    +1 (828) 689-9694

    $15 / night

    "The location is absolutely stellar. Less than 10 minutes into downtown Hot Springs with a hardware store, outdoor outfitters, gas station, two bar/restaurants, and of course lots of hiking."

    "Beautiful campground on the side of a mountain, just ouside of Hot Springs, NC."

    6. Camp Driftwood Asheville

    17 Reviews
    Weaverville, NC
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 230-4422

    $25 - $125 / night

    "It’s right in the heart of downtown Asheville, so there’s a ton of stuff to do (hot springs, mining, zip lining, the list goes on) but that’s if you even want to leave the campsite."

    "Campsite is very small and entrance is narrow so be on the lookout when you’re first driving in! The river is much bigger and more beautiful than we expected- great surprise!"

    7. Cataloochee Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    31 Reviews
    Maggie Valley, NC
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 497-9270

    $30 / night

    "The North Carolina part has a slightly different feel. Less of a circus and less crowded and more laid back. Loving it! Beautiful. Just wish there were showers here....lol."

    "This:

    Access to Cataloochee is via a narrow, winding, mountain road. A 3-mile stretch of gravel road contains many narrow, blind curves."

    8. Rich Mountain

    3 Reviews
    Hot Springs, NC
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 257-4200

    "The road intersects with the Appalachian trail so you might meet up with some thru hikers. I recommend walking all the way up to rich mountain fire tower."

    "Good access and hand full of spots scattered around on NFR 31. Please pack in what you pack out."

    9. Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    14 Reviews
    Hartford, TN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 436-1261

    $30 / night

    "The camp is beautiful and you are surrounded by the magical sounds of rushing water. There are two creeks nearby, one big and one small. We spent one day simply enjoying the campground."

    "Many sites have direct access to the creek where you can cool off on a hot day. Plenty of trails near campground. Parking was not far from site."

    10. Lake Powhatan — National Forests In North Carolina

    62 Reviews
    Enka, NC
    31 miles
    +1 (828) 552-8040

    $37 - $135 / night

    "The sites are spacious and well spaced, offering more privacy than many locations. The showers and bathrooms were very clean. There are numerous hikes that are on the grounds or just outside."

    "PROS 

    Discounted camp fee with senior pass 

    Reserved 169 days prior to arriving 

    Friendly and helpful gate attendant 

    Nearly 100% shade at each site 

    Excellent dark sky viewing 

    Private sites with"

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Recent Reviews near Hot Springs, NC

2507 Reviews of 546 Hot Springs Campgrounds


  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Around Pond RV Park

    Nice stop

    nice stop off interstate, about 1 mile easy pull thru, during week stop, was quiet, peaceful, little traffic noise through nite. pond area, chickens, ducks, swans.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Wilson's Riverfront RV Park

    September stay

    Grass on lots high, nice concrete spots, full hookup in good shape.

  • Allissa F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    One night stay

    Right on Little River. The view and sound was so enjoyable. The restroom is a couple minute walk away, very convenient. Zero signal for Att (for signal, take a right out of the campground heading toward Gatlinburg. There’ll be a Pulloff with a view on the left, pull in and use your phone if needed).

  • Isabelle C.
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Indian Creek Campground

    Excellent Campground

    Indian Creek Campground in Cherokee, NC is a hidden gem. Nice hosts, clean facilities in the woods. We have a 25 ft pull behind camper and sites are big enough for slide-outs. Picknick table and campfire ring was on site. We had a 30 amp full hook-up site. Campground has tent sites, RV sites, cabins, clean bathhouse and is dog friendly.

  • Gary D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Douglas Tailwater Campground — Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

    Great Location

    Nice campground near river and dam. Had three pup tents for overnight motorcycle stay. Bridge nearby is a bit noisy if that bothers you. Decent rest rooms. Camp host was very friendly! Half hour to Gatlinburg and Dolly Wood.

  • Gary D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA Campground

    Way overpriced for tent camping

    Three of us on motorcycles with pup tents were going to be charged for three tent sites at $141 each per night . We laughed and left. Hotels were charging less than that. Being a KOA member didn’t make a difference.

  • Bailey R.
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Cardens Bluff Campground

    Lake side camping

    This relaxing little camp site has such pretty spacious camp site. We went day of in September and found a spot on the lake no problem. Do bring cash as it’s cash only if you pay the day you show up. Camp host were super nice and the price was wonderful. There weren’t as many bathrooms as I would have liked due to most being worked on. There is really good cell service on the camp site.

  • Mary D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Roan Mountain State Park Campground

    New Favorite Campground

    This is my new favorite campground! There are trees everywhere and there really isn't a bad spot! Some sites were right on the creek (sites 40 and 41 were great). The tent camping area is beautiful and one of the best I've seen. We were at site 9, one of the only pull-through sites. We had water and electric and some sites have FHU. There are a lot of beautiful hikes in the area. No cell service, but there is (slow) wifi throughout the campground. There is a Verizon hotspot to make calls, but I couldn't connect with US Cellular. We will definitely be back!

  • Shane N.
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Camp Stonefly

    Great small peacefully time

    Me and wife passing through. Stayed over weekend loved it


Guide to Hot Springs

Camping near Hot Springs, North Carolina, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, or just relax by the fire, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails around the area. Campers love the access to trails like the Appalachian Trail. One reviewer from Cosby Campground mentioned, "It was a bit of a drive to the park and depending on traffic it could take a while. Otherwise it’s a clean and decent campground."
  • Fishing: The rivers and lakes nearby are great for fishing. A visitor at Davidson River Campground said, "Davidson River Campground is perfectly situated for outdoor activities, plenty of hiking, good fishing, mountain biking and climbing available all within a stone's throw from camp."
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. A camper at Cades Cove Campground noted, "Had numerous sightings of wildlife even in the campground."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Many campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review from Greenbrier Campground highlighted, "The bathrooms were amazing. The site had okay Verizon cell service with 2 bars around 30-40mbps."
  • Scenic Views: Campgrounds in the area offer stunning views. One visitor at Elkmont Campground said, "The campground is beautiful and the park rangers were awesome."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Many campgrounds have activities for kids. A reviewer at Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA Campground mentioned, "The staff is very helpful, and they keep the campground clean."

What you should know:

  • Site Privacy: Some campgrounds have closely packed sites. A camper at Cades Cove Campground noted, "Most sites are close together, and there is no brush to divide them."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A visitor at Cosby Campground mentioned, "It’s a clean and decent campground, but there are no showers."
  • Wildlife Precautions: Bears are common in the area. A camper at Cades Cove Campground warned, "Do not forget to remove the drip pan on the Blackstone!!!! Doing so just irritates the bears."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and organized activities. A parent at Asheville East KOA shared, "There is a pool, playground, gaga ball pit, golf car rentals, fishing and splashing in the Swannanoa River."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or snacks. A camper at Lake Powhatan said, "We had a lot of fun at our glamping campsite. The gorgeous tent was on a platform and included a large bed and decorated interior."
  • Safety First: Always keep an eye on kids near water. A reviewer at Davidson River Campground noted, "There is a nice swimming hole at camp and the bathhouses are well kept."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Asheville East KOA mentioned, "We stayed in Section A which was extremely tight for navigating, parking, and camping."
  • Use Online Resources: Check campground websites for updates on amenities. A visitor at Bear Den Family Campground said, "The bathrooms were some of the cleanest we've seen."
  • Be Prepared for Noise: Some campgrounds are near busy roads. A reviewer at Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA Campground noted, "This campground is very close to a main road with lots of traffic and street noise."

Camping around Hot Springs, NC, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and family-friendly activities. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the beautiful surroundings!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Hot Springs, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, Hot Springs, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 546 campgrounds and RV parks near Hot Springs, NC and 27 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Hot Springs, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hot Springs, NC is Hot Springs Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hot Springs, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 free dispersed camping spots near Hot Springs, NC.

What parks are near Hot Springs, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 parks near Hot Springs, NC that allow camping, notably Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest.