4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Equestrian Campground at South Mountains State Park offers electric hookups with both fifty-amp and thirty-amp service for campers with horses. Located near Connelly Springs, this campground provides water hookups and sewer connections alongside traditional camping amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and modern shower facilities. The campground maintains a 5-star rating from visitors who appreciate its well-maintained grounds and accessibility. While the facility does not have dedicated horse corrals, it does accommodate equestrian needs with ample space for horse trailers and direct access to riding trails. Roads throughout the campground are designed to accommodate vehicles with horse trailers.
South Mountains State Park features an extensive network of multi-use trails suitable for horseback riding that connect directly to the campground area. Trail riders can access various terrain ranging from gentle paths to more challenging mountain routes. The campground operates year-round, allowing for all-season riding opportunities in the diverse North Carolina landscape. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak seasons, as the limited number of equestrian-friendly sites fill quickly. Riders should bring their own portable corrals or tie-out equipment as permanent horse containment facilities are not provided. The campground's location provides convenient access to the park's 40+ miles of trails while still being close enough to nearby towns for feed and supply runs if needed.
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
"They'll deliver firewood ($5) to your site by golf cart, they even will collect your site fees as they drive around."
"This is a wonderful spot to be to explore the surrounding areas:
- The famous Mount Mitchell trail, starts a short walking distance from the campground."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $28 - $56 / night
"The family campground is a short distance further inside the park on the left side(approx 2 miles) marked by a small brown sign...and is situated at 1400 ft elevation. "
"Beautiful but crowded trails. There are equestrian trails and camping facilities. Dogs welcome. Ice cold creeps and lovely waterfalls."
Available this weekend
from $27 - $32 / night
"It’s a 6 mile hike up Maple Camp Ridge on trail 191 (Buncombe Horse Range) starting from a small parking lot close to Carolina Hemlocks Campground."
"A little below where we set up camp, we found a natural spring for water and theres a decent amount of firewood around. We parked at the top of Mt."
"Site 3&4 are my favorites because they are close to water access (bring a good filter). Plenty of trees to choose from for a hammock setup."
from $15 / night
"I took my horses and grandson to camp in the equestrian campsite. The bathrooms are very clean with AC. There a beautiful creek you can ride your horses in or just play if you want."
from $12 - $27 / night
"Drove straight across the entrance where a sign said parking but no camping. Was actually a really good camp spot plenty of room."
"This is a small quite camp ground with horse stables. Husband and wife working there were very nice."
"Cabins, RV spots mostly level, paddocks for horses. Lots of exploration in the woods potential."
from $15 - $45 / night
RangerIt says no overnight camping but there were 3 cars camping so I decided to camp. Drove straight across the entrance where a sign said parking but no camping. Was actually a really good camp spot plenty of room.
ScoutI stayed long term while working in the area, including through the winter months, and loved the propane delivery. Coming home to a full tank already dropped at my site was such a nice perk.
It’s a beautiful, peaceful little campground tucked into the mountains and you can tell a lot of care goes into it. It’s not a parking lot like other places I’ve stayed the sites are tiered on the mountainside but level and large. Staff is friendly, they have a game room and laundry room and the store sells cold beer! It was a nice home away from home while working in town
ScoutAbsolutely love camping here at warriors path State Park it's beyond one of my favorite places to camp
LegendA quiet, easy-access campground with good site privacy and great lake views. Some site boundaries feel a bit unclear and the bathrooms can get crowded, but the location is perfect for exploring the Blue Ridge. A solid stay, especially with the RV and primitive areas kept separate.
Check out our video of all the sites.
https://youtu.be/3NspCX_Zgnw
TravelerThe campground itself was good. Bathhouse was clean-ish. The one shower stall smelled quite moldy/mildewy. Not a lot of amenities. We stayed a week and all days during the week - Monday through Friday, there was construction literally right beside our RV. Constant leaf blowing. I understand that they are doing improvements, that is great. A head's up about it, possible option to stay at another site, a noise discount, or at least letting us know, so we could make a choice, would have been nice. Would never stay here again.
TravelerMost campsites have good privacy and is quiet most hours. All have easy access, but bathrooms are small for number of campers. Some campsites are a little confusing about site areas as it seems they overlap into each other some. The view of the lake is one of the best parts. More campgrounds should separate rv and primitive like they do.
ScoutFR 472 is closed at the Golf Course and there are hefty fines if you are caught walking beyond the gate. Black Mountain Campground was destroyed by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The bridge across the S. Toe River was broken and washed out. The water system is also destroyed as well as the road network in the campground. There have been no announcements by the Forest Service about plans to repair the facility and, after a year, my guess is that there never will be.
ScoutCampground is closed due to hurricane damage.
Scoutbig plus on the clean facilities(a must after a long hike😅) and the South Toe River sounds like a perfect spot to relax. I don’t mind the lack of cell service— sometimes it’s nice to truly unplug. Definitely adding this to my shortlist!
https://3pattishowy.net/
Equestrian camping near Jonas Ridge, North Carolina offers access to varied terrain across the Blue Ridge Mountain region at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 3,000 feet. Trail systems throughout the area connect to numerous campgrounds that accommodate horses, with many sites providing direct access to riding paths. Weather conditions vary significantly by season, with summer highs averaging 75°F and winter temperatures often dropping below freezing.
Horseback riding on mountain trails: South Mountains State Park maintains trails specifically designed for equestrians. "I took my horses and grandson to camp in the equestrian campsite. The bathrooms are very clean with AC. There a beautiful creek you can ride your horses in or just play if you want," shares Jackie S.
Waterfall exploration: Multiple cascading waterfalls are accessible from equestrian trails within a 30-mile radius. "This park is right on a gorgeous lake. There is a spot within the park to rent kayaks which was great. There is a hiking trail that goes around the lake. There's also a trail that you can access from the park that leads to Hebron Rock Colony which is an incredible hiking trail," says Danielle L. about Julian Price Park Campground.
Mountain summit access: Some trails lead to high elevation viewpoints with panoramic vistas. "This amazing campsite it at the base of Big Tom. It's a moderate hike to and from the campsite with great views. There's fire rings and lots of sites to choose from," notes Justin Z. about Maple Camp Bald.
Clean facilities: Most equestrian campgrounds maintain well-serviced bathroom facilities despite their rural locations. "Great campground! The prices are reasonable, the campground was very clean, the people were friendly, and the bathhouses were some of the cleanest I've seen," says Jenna S. about Black Mountain Campground.
River access: Several campgrounds feature creeks or rivers where horses can cool down. "We camped at the family camping area, it was great, we had site 6 and it was on the river and the kids loved it! Cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen!!" reports Jessica L. about South Mountains State Park Family Campground.
Natural settings: Campers appreciate the quiet atmosphere and natural surroundings. "To be honest I own the place! But I do not live on the property so this is my get away spot. I am a hammock camper so I love being in trees. I have cleaned out about an acre for tent or hammock camping, another acre for shared areas, and the pasture has about an acre wide open for dogs, horses or other well mannered animals," explains amber G. about Paradise Ridge Permaculture.
Hurricane damage: Several campgrounds have sustained damage from recent storms. "FR 472 is closed at the Golf Course and there are hefty fines if you caught walking beyond the gate. Black Mountain Campground was destroyed by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The bridge across the S. Toe River was broken and washed out," warns Robert B.
Limited cell service: Most equestrian camping areas have minimal to no mobile connectivity. "South Mountains is a great campground. Bath facilities are new and kept clean. Very quiet with NO cell service which is a big draw for us. Far from a town, so don't forget anything," shares Stephen M.
Seasonal availability: Many campgrounds close during winter months. "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," notes Kirsten J.
Look for creekside sites: Children enjoy water access at camp. "Even though we only stayed one night, we had a blast! Restrooms were very clean and well maintained. The tent pad was large enough to setup our 8 man tent and 2 man tent, and leave us plenty of room for our kitchen setup and room around the fire pit," says Erica F. about South Mountains State Park Family Campground.
Pack for variable weather: Mountain conditions can change rapidly regardless of season. "The sites are separated into several loops. One loop is closer to the lake, the other loop has more availability and quite a range of campsites. Bathrooms are available here (upgrades coming soon!) as well as drinking water," advises Kirsten J.
Choose campgrounds with activity options: Places with multiple recreation opportunities keep children engaged. "Way up the road! It's a nice place once you get here on the narrow country road. Nice clean bathhouse. Cabins, RV spots mostly level, paddocks for horses. Lots of exploration in the woods potential," notes Mimi about Cherokee Trails Campground and Stables.
Scout road conditions: Access roads to many equestrian campgrounds may not accommodate larger rigs. "The area is beautiful and the staff friendly. I drive a Kia Soul (low profile vehicle) and the roads to the campground were challenging due to the deep ruts and wash out," cautions Terri S. about Springmaid Mountain Campground.
Check site dimensions before booking: Many campgrounds have limited space for larger rigs. "Kingsport/Bristol has easy access from Interstate 81 and the campground is easily navigated with a large 5th wheel. They have several large pull through sites, as well as back in smaller sites. They have 50amp service and full hookup sites," explains Laura H.
Plan for utilities: Not all equestrian sites offer full hookups. "Julian Price Campground is part of the Julian Price Memorial Park, which is along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the northern part of North Carolina. The sites in E loop are mainly for RVs and have less shade. One section in the A loop also is an open field and has limited shade," advises Myron C.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Jonas Ridge, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Jonas Ridge, NC is Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway with a 4.6-star rating from 49 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Jonas Ridge, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 equestrian camping locations near Jonas Ridge, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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