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Hot Springs Campground provides riverfront tent and RV sites where pets are permitted throughout the grounds. Creek Ridge Camping, Camp Driftwood Asheville, and Lake Powhatan also welcome pets within their facilities, with accommodations including tent sites, RV hookups, and pet-friendly cabins. Campgrounds maintain clean, well-kept grounds with bathroom facilities, though sites vary in privacy and shade coverage. Most campgrounds require leashed pets at all times, particularly important along the French Broad River which runs alongside several properties. Sites typically include picnic tables and fire rings, with many offering electric hookups, showers, and access to potable water. Bath houses are regularly cleaned, though some riverfront sites may require a longer walk to reach toilet facilities. The campground is now gated for added security and pet safety.
Riverfront access provides excellent opportunities for dogs to cool off during hot weather, with many campers enjoying the shallow areas created by previous visitors using rocks for safe dog wading. The Appalachian Trail runs directly through Hot Springs, offering numerous pet-friendly hiking options within walking distance of the campgrounds. Town amenities are accessible by foot, allowing campers to bring leashed dogs while visiting local restaurants with outdoor seating, breweries, and coffee shops. Most sites have ample shade from mature trees, providing comfortable spaces for pets during summer heat. Several campgrounds operate seasonally, with Creek Ridge Camping open April through November and Cataloochee Campground operating March through October. Cell service can be limited or non-existent within the campground area, allowing for a genuine disconnect from technology while camping with pets.
"The little town of Hot Springs North Carolina is a charming little place with several good food choices and an excellent brewery."
"Bathrooms were nice but the hot springs spa was the best. Can’t wait for my next visit. This site says you can’t have dogs but I saw dogs all around us at the campground. Idk."
"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."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"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!"
from $15 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Very close to Hot Springs, TN and some great hikes in the area. Would definitely recommend a stay at Long Creek Haven!"
"There’s a great little trail along the creek to walk among nature which our dog and cats really love! I also love how kind and accepting the owners are and they welcome skoolies too! Highly recommend!"
from $35 - $55 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"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!"
from $25 - $125 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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"
from $37 - $135 / night
Check Availability"I camped here for one night with a friend and our dogs. The campground is very small with only 12 campsites. Each one has a firepit, picnic table, lantern pole, and a very large tent pad."
"There are about 10 spots and a parking area to have your car near. There are bathrooms as well but no showers. The sites must be reserved in advance. It’s a good spot for families."
from $30 / night
Check Availability
TravelerBeautiful spot in the smoky mountains. State park style amenities, no showers. No hookups. Very busy very open campground. Nice that some trails are walking distance from campground. I would not camp here again as I prefer more separation and privacy. No cell service. STARLINK is usable but obstructed with tree canopy
GuideDrove 5 hrs from our last campground to here for event Campground was very well maintained and liked the site. Wasn’t overly crazy about the event not a lot of vendors mainly jeeps went to a few local shops in town had a great lunch at the cookie dough monster.
TravelerFantastic National Park! Elkmont is really nice but lacking in hookups and there are no showers. Hard to stay too long without power, water, sewer and showers. Still, an amazing site along the river!
ScoutNobody was here on Sat. Had gard time finding site. Site reserved did not have 30 amp and could not reach staff. Moved to other site hoping it would not be a problem. We were able to finally reach staff on Mon. Also no pcknick tables or fire rings.
ScoutNice camp and staff friendly. We drive the Blue Ridge Pkwy which was a bit of drive but the ride up to Mt Mitchell was beautiful. Only negative was the laundry rooms were small for a large camp like this but I made it work. Probably a bit more challenging during busy season but all that said this is a nice campground
Traveler✨ I honestly cannot say enough wonderful things about our stay at Glamping on the Clinch River!❤️ It was truly one of the most relaxing, beautiful experiences, and waking up to such a breathtaking piece of God’s creation was something special that I will never forget. The views are absolutely stunning, the peacefulness is unmatched, and it’s the perfect place to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the beauty God has blessed us with.🙏🏻🤍 But what makes this place even more special is the incredible family behind it. Bonnie and Rusty are truly two of the sweetest, most generous, and kindhearted people you could ever meet! Their hospitality goes above and beyond, and you can feel the love they put into making sure every guest has the most wonderful experience. From preparing breakfast for their guests to the thoughtful little touches like making s’mores around the outdoor campfire, they make you feel so welcomed and cared for.❤️🔥 The tipi itself was absolutely beautiful, exceptionally clean, and decorated so thoughtfully to create the perfect glamping experience. Every detail made our stay feel cozy, comfortable, and magical while still allowing us to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.🏕️✨ Places like this are a reminder that sometimes the best experiences aren’t about fancy hotels or extravagant vacations. They’re about beautiful surroundings, genuine kindness, peaceful moments, and the wonderful people who make you feel right at home. If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway surrounded by God’s beautiful creation and hosted by people with truly golden hearts, you NEED to experience Glamping on the Clinch River! I would recommend it a thousand times over, and we are so grateful we had the opportunity to stay here. Bonnie and Rusty, thank you for sharing your beautiful place with others and for making our experience so incredibly special. You two are such a blessing!❤️🙏🏻 We will absolutely cherish these memories and hope to be back again soon!🌿🤍✨
TravelerAbsolutely one of the most beautiful campgrounds that we have visited, and super clean. Such a great location for hiking and viewing the Blue Ridge Pkwy!
ScoutLet me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time. With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price
TravelerThis place is a nice campground, quiet and the guests (during our stay) respect others by keeping the noise down. The spaces are set up to maximize privacy between sites. There is no cell phone service (to do this report we are in a picnic area by a small lake and I can get cell as well as internet on my travelfi device) sos is the only access. I normally listen to audio books but not while here. On my computer I could see three others with low signals; they might have had a better device/provider. The spots tend to the small back in typically found in campsites built before RVs got really big, type. There is another camping area I haven’t been to yet and I did see a large over lander (looks indestructible and tall/long) towable head that way and the campground attendant didn’t predict any problems so perhaps there are larger spots elsewhere. This place has single person shower rooms and nice flush toilets. The whole place is set in woodland so it isn’t like a commercial RV place that was more concerned with volume over aesthetics. This is a lovely spot with ample amenities (my space had no hookups) for our type of camping (toilets, trash, quiet neighbors, semi private spaces) just zero phone or internet.
Camping in Hot Springs sits at approximately 1,300 feet elevation within the Pisgah National Forest, offering year-round access with temperatures ranging from 20°F in winter to 85°F in summer. The French Broad River provides a natural corridor through this section of the Appalachian Mountains, with most campgrounds positioned along its banks or within a 15-minute drive of downtown Hot Springs.
Hiking on the Appalachian Trail: Access trailheads directly from Big Creek Campground for day hikes of varying difficulty. "Several wonderful hikes right out of the campground. Much quieter than the other campgrounds in the park," notes Molly K. from Big Creek Campground.
Fishing in mountain streams: Catch trout in the French Broad River, particularly in spring and early summer when water levels are optimal. "Right on the River town is right across railroad tracks," reports Henry G. about the convenient access at Hot Springs Campground.
Explore historic structures: Visit Cataloochee Valley to see preserved buildings from early settlers. "There are historical homesteads, a school, churches and cemetery to take you back in time. Trails by creeks there to hike," shares Jodie K. about day trips from nearby campgrounds.
Fire tower views: Hike to Rich Mountain fire tower for panoramic vistas. "I recommend walking all the way up to rich mountain fire tower. Great 360 degree view of the mountains and good sunset spot," advises Katie from Rich Mountain.
Riverside camping spots: Sites directly on the French Broad River offer natural cooling and water activities. "The tents sites along the river were great, once all of the travel trailers loaded up Sunday morning and pulled out it revealed beautiful grounds," describes Tra C. about their experience.
Secluded camping options: For those seeking solitude, certain campgrounds offer more remote sites. "Despite height of the season, beautiful, private site. Was directed to Cosby by a NPS Ranger as an overlooked, beautiful campground. Arrived close to dark and had our pick of gorgeous, wooded sites- even on a weekend in July," shares Tricia L. from Cosby Campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities enhance the camping experience. "Bathrooms were nice but the hot springs spa was the best," notes Mark W. about the amenities available near camping areas.
Proximity to town conveniences: Many sites offer walking access to Hot Springs' dining and shopping. "Walk into town for restaurants and brews! Walk to spa for soak in hot tub!!" recommends Roxanne R. about the convenience of Camp Driftwood Asheville.
Weather preparedness: Mountain weather can change quickly in all seasons. Rain gear is essential even during summer months. "It rained we had a great hike. The falls were beautiful, and jumping into Midnight Hole was fun," shares Chris M., suggesting that activities can continue despite precipitation.
Seasonal operations: Verify opening dates before planning trips. "This campground is frequently affected by weather so planning in advance is a must!!" warns Crystal C. about seasonal conditions that impact availability.
Limited phone service: Cell reception varies significantly between campgrounds. "Cell service can be limited or non-existent within the campground area," allowing for a genuine disconnect from technology while camping.
Water fluctuations: River levels change throughout the day, particularly near dams. "The dam does release the water around 2pm so be aware that the water will rise," cautions Jasmaine L. about camping along waterways.
Select level sites: Look for established, flat tent pads for easier setup with children. "Each campsite has a ~10x10 level tent pad, a nice picnic table & fire box," points out Theresa P. about options at Rocky Bluff Campground.
Kid-friendly water access: Find spots where children can safely interact with water. "There's a beach where you can go swimming, and all of the sites are right on the French broad river," recommends Allie G., highlighting safe water recreation opportunities.
Pack sufficient bug protection: Mountain insects can be persistent, especially in warmer months. "The negative bit is I got absolutely eaten alive by chiggers at this campsite, so make sure you apply bug spray!" advises Theresa P. about necessary precautions when camping with children.
Check for ranger programs: Many campgrounds offer educational activities for children. "On Fridays they have special Ranger programs. We were lucky enough to learn about moon-shining from guys on the moonshiner TV show," mentions Janine B. about family-friendly educational opportunities.
Access road restrictions: Many campgrounds have narrow, winding approach roads that limit RV size. "Though many campsites will accommodate large rigs, motorhomes over 32' and trailers over 25' in length are not recommended due to the access road," cautions information from Lake Powhatan.
Limited full hookup sites: Reserve well in advance for sites with complete utility connections. "Only 3 fifty amp full hook up sites. Lots of 30 amp and tent camping," notes Sonya A. about the limited availability of premium RV accommodations.
Steep entrance grades: Some campgrounds have challenging approaches requiring careful navigation. "The entrance is steep downhill coming in... a little scary at first but not a problem," shares Brenda L., providing reassurance for RVers concerned about access challenges.
Leveling requirements: Many sites require significant leveling due to mountain terrain. "The campsite is a bit narrow, and definitely not flat, so the jacks came in handy," advises Steve L., highlighting the importance of proper equipment for pet friendly camping near Hot Springs, North Carolina.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Hot Springs, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Hot Springs, NC is Hot Springs Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Hot Springs, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 383 dog-friendly camping locations near Hot Springs, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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