Best Campgrounds near Jefferson, NC

Jefferson, NC is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Jefferson is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near Jefferson, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

Best Camping Sites Near Jefferson, North Carolina (235)

    1. Hickory Ridge Campground — Grayson Highlands State Park

    56 Reviews
    Troutdale, VA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (276) 579-2374

    $25 - $40 / night

    "Campground Review: There are two campgrounds in Grayson Highland SP which is located by The Mouth Of Wilson, VA, near the North Carolina border."

    "With camping just a moderate day hike away from Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia, this campground is a hiker's paradise."

    2. Wagoner — New River State Park

    17 Reviews
    Jefferson, NC
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 982-2587

    $27 - $72 / night

    "You have to walk in but the park provides little carts and wheelbarrows. The sites and the bathhouse are very well maintained. The park host, Tom Keller, was just fantastic."

    "We were too far away from the water to walk, so we missed out on that, which we were looking forward to, but overall a really nice experience."

    3. Blue Bear Mountain Camp

    27 Reviews
    Todd, NC
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 406-4226

    $25 - $136 / night

    "It offers RV, drive in and hike in tent sites and also teepee camping."

    "There is a place to wash dishes outside as well. Fantastic walking trails - some parts quite steep but we got a good workout through the woods on the property."

    4. Stone Mountain State Park Campground

    56 Reviews
    Roaring Gap, NC
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 957-8185

    $17 - $72 / night

    "But, ya know North Carolina summers."

    "Just north of Wilkesboro NC, Stone Mountain is on the eastern side of the mountain range that we usually summit heading towards Jefferson and Boone.  "

    5. Helton Creek Campground

    7 Reviews
    Crumpler, NC
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 384-2320

    $10 - $50 / night

    "Short drive to Mt. Roger's and wild ponies or to Virginia Creeper Biking Trail. Quaint town of West Jefferson close."

    "Small but wonderful campground that sits right next to a trout stream. Definitely the place to go if you just want to get away from it all!"

    6. Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    47 Reviews
    Blowing Rock, NC
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 963-5911

    $30 / night

    "Julian Price Park is a beautiful campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. We enjoy this campground on the weekends throughout the fall and spring as it is less occupied."

    "This campground is on a beautiful lake. There is no swimming on the lake(its pretty shallow) but awesome for kayaking and paddleboarding."

    7. Raccoon Holler Campground

    6 Reviews
    Glendale Springs, NC
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 982-2706

    "There’s plenty of swings throughout the campground for people to enjoy a long with basketball court, bourse shoes, fishing, frisbee golf, walking trails, a massive field that my daughter loved playing"

    "I picked this campground because it was very close to Blue Ridge Parkway. My plan was to ride my motorcycle through this beautiful area of NC, but the rain didn't cooperate this trip."

    8. Twin Rivers Family Campground

    7 Reviews
    Crumpler, NC
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 982-3456

    "Twin rivers campground is located in Crumpler NC on the river.  It is a primitive campground with both RV and tent sites. "

    "It seems a little bit of a sketchy drive into the primitive sites, but no one had any problems as far as I know—we certainly didn’t!"

    9. Grindstone

    21 Reviews
    Troutdale, VA
    19 miles
    Website

    $24 - $36 / night

    "Woodsy sites, access to hiking trails. Spacious camp sites with all the amenities."

    "We like to hike and there are TONS of trails in this area. One trail leaves directly from the campground and will bring you to the top of Mt. Rogers, also intersecting with the Appalachian Trail."

    10. Doughton Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    14 Reviews
    Sparta, NC
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 372-8877

    $30 - $45 / night

    "On the Blue Ridge Parkway, nestled in the trees and mountains of North Carolina, this campground has been well maintained."

    "The Doughton Park campground off of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a great place to spend the night without if you are driving along the Parkway and don't want to venture too far off course."

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Recent Reviews near Jefferson, NC

1222 Reviews of 235 Jefferson Campgrounds


  • Theresa S.
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Lake Haven Family Campground

    Stayed for the location, Left because of the owners

    As a retired Air Force couple with over five years of experience as full-time RVers, we have stayed at countless campgrounds across the country. We selected Lake Haven for an extended stay this past July while searching for a permanent home in the Lake Watauga area, drawn by its advertisement for year-round availability. The location is excellent, and our site was level with full hookups, a nice picnic table, and a fire pit. Maneuvering into the spot was also straightforward, despite some large boulders. Two concerns: no owners or host(s) onsite and the entrance/exits can be quite dangerous- each located on a curve. We really wanted to love this campground, but the positive aspects were completely overshadowed by the unprofessional behavior of the owners. The tone was set when we received a campground-wide text message asking“Please, for our sake, when away from your camper, set your AC temp to something reasonable(75 is what I use at my house when not home), to help us save on electricity”. While we understand the concern for costs, the request felt invasive. Then it got personal. In the first week of August, our daughter and her family were renting the on-site(3 bed/3 bath) Airbnb, and after she inquired about more toilet paper, one of the owners came to our RV site to confront us about it. We were shocked that a necessity for a rental guest was treated as a major issue, and the confrontational approach was completely uncalled for and made us feel extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, we later learned from other campers that the owners had been gossiping about our family and our stay. This was a major violation of our privacy and fostered a deeply unwelcoming atmosphere. While the physical campground has potential, we cannot recommend it. Feeling safe and respected is essential when you are camping, and due to the owners’ intrusive and unprofessional behavior, we decided to seek out another campground.

  • Shane N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Camp Stonefly

    Great small peacefully time

    Me and wife passing through. Stayed over weekend loved it

  • Gary S.
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Lake Haven Family Campground

    Stayed for the Location, Left because of the Owners

    As a retired Air Force couple with over five years of experience as full-time RVers, we have stayed at countless campgrounds across the country. We selected Lake Haven for an extended stay this past July while searching for a permanent home in the Lake Watauga area, drawn by its advertisement for year-round availability. The location is excellent, and our site was level with full hookups, a nice picnic table, and a fire pit. Maneuvering into the spot was also straightforward, despite some large boulders. Two concerns: no owners or host(s) onsite and the entrance/exits can be quite dangerous- each located on a curve. We really wanted to love this campground, but the positive aspects were completely overshadowed by the unprofessional behavior of the owners. The tone was set when we received a campground-wide text message asking“Please, for our sake, when away from your camper, set your AC temp to something reasonable(75 is what I use at my house when not home), to help us save on electricity”. While we understand the concern for costs, the request felt invasive. Then it got personal. In the first week of August, our daughter and her family were renting the on-site(3 bed/3 bath) Airbnb, and after she inquired about more toilet paper, one of the owners came to our RV site to confront us about it. We were shocked that a necessity for a rental guest was treated as a major issue, and the confrontational approach was completely uncalled for and made us feel extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, we later learned from other campers that the owners had been gossiping about our family and our stay. This was a major violation of our privacy and fostered a deeply unwelcoming atmosphere. While the physical campground has potential, we cannot recommend it. Feeling safe and respected is essential when you are camping, and due to the owners’ intrusive and unprofessional behavior, we decided to seek out another campground.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Old NC 105 Dispersed

    Amazing views and Free camping

    This place is amazing, Free and clean campsites.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Upper Creek, Pisgah National Forest NC

    Good spot!

    Spent two nights here at a site right next to the creek, which was awesome listening to the running water as you fall asleep. Easy to get to, just a forest service road. A 4x4 makes it easy but there were minivans and junkyard beaters driving by. There are multiple sites along the service road and not too close to each other.

  • xGYABx L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites

    Great Getaway and stay

    We spent 1 night out here on a Saturday Night it is very secluded away from everything only downside was had 2 drive at least 10 miles 2 get cell service and the site is close 2 the road so we can hear a lot of traffic

  • D
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Fancy Gap-Blue Ridge Parkway KOA

    Awesome KOA!

    My family and I stayed here for a few days. The campground is beautiful. All of the staff members that we encountered were super friendly. We ordered campground room service from Daves Smokehouse which was excellent and arrived very quickly. The campground is very well maintained and clean. The wifi was great at our site. AT&T cell service was not so good though. This KOA is very close to Blue Ridge Parkway, Fancy Gap Pottery & Fabric Outlet , as well as the Fancy Gap Old Country store. Our stay was very peaceful and relaxing, If we go back to the area we will definitely stay here again.

  • Joe B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Creekside Camping

    Beautiful sites

    Huge sites by the water (creek), power and water. Fire wood at each site. There are fire pits, barbecue grills, 2 sites have picnic tables, and one site has a wooden swing near the creek. The ground is uneven, so we had to move around a bit to get level. The sites do not have concrete or gravel pads. You park in the grass. Pick your spot, and you might need a long power cord. The bath house is up the hill (a bit of a climb), traditional toilet and sink inside, the shower is outside. Open air shower. Very quiet here, only a few cars pass by on the small road up the hill. We have a 14ft. teardrop camper and use an AWD vehicle. Not sure what the largest size camper would make it back here. The road is very narrow and you’re parking on the grass. There is also a small laundry building up the hill.

  • Katrin M.
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Royal Oak Campground — Hungry Mother State Park

    Beautiful campground in the woods

    We camped here over the weekend with our dogs. The campground was fantastic. All campsites are on platforms, which makes it very nice to set up your stuff. The sites have the usual amenities like a picnic bench and table, a firepit, and a lantern pole. The bathhouse was very clean and taken care of. There are several spigots with drinking water through the campground. The bathhouse also has a dishwasher station. There are multiple trails within walking distance. The park is very well maintained and clean. You can hike, swim, or rent a canoe.
    We would camp here anytime again.


Guide to Jefferson

Camping near Jefferson, North Carolina, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful retreat, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking: There are amazing trails nearby, like the Cabin Creek Trail, which is known for its stunning views. One camper mentioned, "The hiking is excellent. The campsites are large and spacious," highlighting the great access to trails from the campgrounds.
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for wild ponies and other animals. A visitor at Hickory Ridge Campground — Grayson Highlands State Park said, "The kids LOVED the wild horses and the steer walking around."
  • Fishing and Swimming: Many campgrounds are near lakes or rivers, perfect for fishing or a refreshing swim. One camper at Lake Norman State Park Campground noted, "The campground is in a forest on the shores of Lake Norman."

What campers like

What you should know

  • Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for spotty cell coverage in some areas. A camper at Roan Mountain State Park Campground noted, "We could send and receive text messages, but coverage was very spotty."
  • Seasonal Access: Some campgrounds have specific seasons. For example, Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway is open from April 1 to October 29.
  • Wildlife Caution: While wildlife is a highlight, it's important to keep a safe distance. A visitor at Hickory Ridge Campground warned, "Please respect the distance advice and don't feed them."

Tips for camping with families

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds or nearby trails. A parent at Bear Den Family Campground said, "Kids loved the playground and there were a lot of other kids to make friends with."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or snacks. One camper at Royal Oak Campground mentioned, "You can buy firewood at the Creekside Campground across the road."
  • Safety First: Always supervise kids near water. A camper at Lake Norman State Park Campground noted, "The park offers some very nice hiking trails."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Levels: Make sure your site is level for a comfortable stay. A reviewer at Wytheville KOA mentioned, "A lot of the sites were not level."
  • Use Amenities: Take advantage of campground facilities like laundry and showers. A visitor at Roan Mountain State Park Campground appreciated the "clean and modern restrooms."
  • Plan for Activities: Look for campgrounds with on-site activities. One camper at Wytheville KOA enjoyed, "We got in early enough that we were able to get a game of bowling in before they closed."

Camping near Jefferson, North Carolina, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. With plenty of campgrounds to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect spot for your next adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Jefferson, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, Jefferson, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 235 campgrounds and RV parks near Jefferson, NC and 17 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Jefferson, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Jefferson, NC is Hickory Ridge Campground — Grayson Highlands State Park with a 4.8-star rating from 56 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Jefferson, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Jefferson, NC.

What parks are near Jefferson, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 parks near Jefferson, NC that allow camping, notably Blue Ridge Parkway and W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir.