The Piedmont region surrounding Kernersville, North Carolina features a diverse range of camping options within a 30-mile radius. State parks like Hanging Rock and Pilot Mountain offer developed campgrounds with tent and RV sites, while city-managed facilities such as Oak Hollow City Campground in High Point provide full hookup options for recreational vehicles. Private campgrounds including Greensboro KOA and Jomeokee Campground near Pilot Mountain complement these public lands, offering amenities ranging from basic to resort-style. Tanglewood Park operates seasonally from May through November, catering primarily to RV campers seeking proximity to Winston-Salem.
Advance reservations are strongly recommended for most campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer months and fall foliage season. Weather conditions remain relatively mild year-round, though summer humidity can be significant. Cell service varies considerably, with stronger signals at campgrounds closer to urban areas and weaker coverage in more remote locations like Hanging Rock State Park. According to camper Katy S., "Hanging Rock is one of the best state parks in North Carolina. With breathtaking views from the cliffs, miles of hiking trails, a lake, and 5 waterfalls, it can keep you busy for a few days, or just over a weekend." Several campgrounds implement gate closure policies at night, limiting late arrivals and departures.
Lakeside camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors to the region, with Badin Lake Campground in Uwharrie National Forest noted for its spacious sites and water access. As one camper observed, "The sites are huge so no need to worry about a neighbor being close. Easy access to the water and great views." Noise levels vary significantly between campgrounds, with highway proximity affecting some locations like Greensboro KOA. Tent campers often prefer the more natural settings of state parks, while RV enthusiasts gravitate toward sites with full hookups. Campgrounds with hiking trail access directly from campsites are particularly valued, with Pilot Mountain State Park offering multiple trail options leading directly from the camping area.
"This site has gorgeous views of the lake and seems to share a grill with #11. There are trees perfect for a hammock. There is no fire ring but I brought my own raised fire pit. "
"This campground is right by a highway so traffic noise is high but the views are nice."
$27 - $98 / night
"Hanging Rock is one of the best state parks in North Carolina."
"Google Maps directions were inaccurate).At over 8,000 acres…offering trails of all length and difficultly level, multiple waterfalls, lake, scenic long views and picnic areas…it is no wonder it is claimed"
$35 / night
"Situated in a beautiful park with lots of activities. Dog park. Trails. Nearby lake, pool"
"Walking path paved. Bike trails and horse trails. Near to I40 but any noise from that is very minimal. Full hookups. Wi fi present but not strong enough for any streaming. Will definitely return"
"We stayed at this rv campground while visiting the many things to see and do in Greensboro North Carolina. visitgreensboronc.com The rv sites are all pull thru nearly level, big gravel sites."
"Nice place to camp for a few days - we had a campervan and were surrounded by huge, but quiet, RVs."
$15 - $60 / night
"Great location, many trails to walk, shelters to rent, and you can kayak on the pond. Lots of wildlife. There is a gate at the entrance too. A very safe, nice location."
"There is a huge beautiful lake at the center and miles of gravel and dirt trails surrounding it. The facilities are decent, although bringing your own TP might be a good idea."
$17 - $27 / night
"I left the flat of eastern North Carolina and headed to the mountains to our west. Pilot Mt. State Park has a nice campground and some good hiking trails."
"Campground Review: Pilot Mountain State Park is located in Pinnacle, NC, approximately 2.5 hours away from Asheville, NC and is known for it’s giant pinnacle, Pilot Mountain, that rises 2,000 feet into"
$40 / night
"This is a great relaxing get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life! As the owners, we love relaxing & enjoying the bonfires, sunsets, wildlife & star gazing."
"Ivory Clay Farm is now bookable on The Dyrt and offers a nice quiet place to rest just outside of the Winston-Salem & Greensboro Area. "
"I heard mixed reviews about this campground but since I had a 1000 Trails membership, I figured it was worth checking out."
"Hiking trails and lake with small beach for swimming and fishing. Pet + horse friendly. Neatly kept. Kind and helpful host."
"The trees, the adjacent pastures, the farm pond, the rolling hills, and the scenic views make this a great little campground. The bottom row of sites looks directly at Pilot Mtn in the distance."
"Close to trails and waterfalls. Open fields and mountain backdrop. Water electric bath house."
ScoutThis is a really low low budget homeless camp. The campers are allowed trash around their spots and can have broken down vehicles to use as storage. Every sight has a tarp on it and looks to be drug addicts. Save yourself the chance of getting robbed and catch something and go somewhere else. I promise you your kids don't need to see this place.
LegendA nice campsite off of Tower Road with is also part of the TransAmerica Trail. It is a flat site with a with a great fire pit. There is are more sites in the field but we ended up not staying because it was hunting season and this area was open to hunting. It would be a nice place to stay if you are hunting in the area or if it is out of season.
Check it out in our video
https://youtu.be/Fv-DYCm_qXY
LegendI was able to map out 41 free dispersed campsites on Moccasin Creek Road; Forest Service Road 576. It is a 7.5 mile drive to the end at what is referred to as Deep Water Trail Camp. But you'll only need to go about a mile before you find the first campsite on the left. Many of the sites are able to accommodate large groups of campers. This area is popular for the Off Highway Vehicle trail systems which are open April through December. We first came here on opening weekend for the OHV trails so it was pretty busy and the weather was dry so it was really dusty. We also come back at the end of December and camped near the Deep Water Trail Camp. This time instead of nearly every site being occupied, only 5 other sites had people for that weekend. It is a amazing area to visit if you are into OHV(Off Highway Vehicle) trail riding, mountain biking or hiking. It gets pretty busy sometimes and a few sites had trash but all in all a large majority of the sites were well kept. I would definitely recommend this area for dispersed camping. There are a few sites that you need a truck to get into but for the most part all of them are accessible by car. A couple of them are walk in sites.
All sites are shown and GPS coordinates listed in our video description.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1dJ268F1uw
LegendWe have been down here a few times and camped in a different site each time. It is a amazing area to visit if you are into OHV(Off Highway Vehicle) trail riding, mountain biking or hiking. It gets pretty busy sometimes and a few sites had trash but all in all a large majority of the sites were well kept. I would definitely recommend this area for dispersed camping. There are a few sites that you need a truck to get into but for the most part all of them are accessible by car. A couple of them are walk in sites.
I was able to map 41 sites on Moccasin Creek Road. All sites are shown in our video and GPS coordinates listed in the description.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1dJ268F1uw
LegendWe stayed one night at Arrowhead Campground while checking out some of the nearby trails, including the Badin Lake Trail, which is just a short drive away and offers great views of the lake and surrounding forest. The campground itself is well laid out, with sites nicely spaced apart so it doesn’t feel crowded. The paved campground loops are in great shape and make driving through easy, even for larger rigs. Several areas offer pleasant views of Badin Lake, adding to the relaxing atmosphere. Overall, Arrowhead Campground felt quiet, clean, and well maintained—an excellent base camp for exploring Uwharrie National Forest, even if just for a quick overnight stay.
Check out our 360° video to see all the sites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG4AjjkcB4o
LegendOlder national forest campground without electric at the sites. It is nice enough and less crowded then Arrowhead. But is older and not as well kept as Arrowhead with is about the same price and right up the road. I like it since it is usually not crowded.
Check out the campground and all the sites in our 360° video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUJctFFUhIs
LegendWe were coming through the area and wanted an alternative to the dusty camping over in the OHV area of the forest. We where happy with the West Morris Mountain Campground. Not a lot of people and everything was clean.
Check out the walk through video in 360° to get a real feel for the National Forest Campground.
https://youtu.be/NsKiCNFALVs
ScoutNice park with lakes, aquatic center and trails,
ScoutThis was a last-minute booking for us as we had to move up our RV trip south a day early due to a Northeast snowstorm. It was a great find with easy access and convenient. Everything was clean and well kept. We will be back as there was also a river that was a bonus so very scenic.
The Piedmont region surrounding Kernersville sits at elevations between 700-1,000 feet, creating moderate temperatures even during summer camping seasons. Winter overnight temperatures can drop below freezing from December through February, affecting campground water availability at several locations. Most campgrounds within this 30-mile radius maintain campsites on varied terrain, from riverside flats to rolling woodland settings.
Fishing opportunities: Oak Hollow City Campground provides direct lake access where campers can enjoy fishing. According to camper Cindy C., the campground is "very neat, clean and wooded" with "boating" and "swimming" available, making it easy to fill a day with water activities.
Mountain biking trails: Tanglewood Park offers extensive cycling options including a "4 mile paved exercise path with mountain bike trails in the middle," notes reviewer Dave B. The campground sits adjacent to these trails, allowing campers to ride directly from their sites without relocating vehicles.
Rock climbing access: Pilot Mountain State Park Campground serves as an excellent base for climbers. "Pilot Mountain has great hiking and beautiful views from the top. We enjoy hiking, camping and enjoying the views, while others enjoy bouldering, rock climbing and mountain biking - an outdoor adventure for all people!" explains reviewer Kirsten J.
Spacious sites: Hagan-Stone Park receives praise for its generous camping areas. According to Rick S., it's "a great municipal park with 3 camping loops" where "Loop B is heavily wooded with 30amp and water every-other site" though he warns "if you're longer than 30' you may find Loop B tough to navigate."
Wildlife viewing: Tanglewood Park offers unexpected wildlife encounters close to urban areas. Kelly H. notes that there are "Nearly tame deer all over the place" while another camper mentions the peaceful setting among large shade trees provides excellent nature viewing opportunities.
Waterfall hiking: While many campgrounds near Kernersville offer trail access, Hanging Rock State Park Campground stands out for its waterfall access. A reviewer notes, "The shortest hike to see a waterfall is relatively easy and is only three-tenths of a mile one way," making it accessible even for novice hikers or families with young children.
Highway noise levels: Greensboro KOA sits very close to Interstate 40, which affects the camping experience. Camper Greg H. reports, "Right off the highway, and by that I mean you see, and HEAR the traffic. The billboard in front of the trailer is an interesting touch." The campground recognizes this issue and "made a bowl of free, disposable ear plugs available in the office."
Tent pad variations: Across area campgrounds, tent pads differ significantly in size and construction. At Hanging Rock, one camper found "our tent pad was smaller than expected. We brought a 10-person tent, and it was a tight fit." Meanwhile, at Hagan-Stone, Morgan A. reports, "Our site (B20) was reaaally uneven but we made it work for 2 tents!"
Seasonal closures: Several campgrounds in the region operate limited schedules. Tanglewood Park only operates from "May 1 to November 15," while Pilot Mountain State Park runs from "March 15 to November 30." Checking operating dates is essential when planning visits during shoulder seasons.
Swimming options: Oak Hollow City Campground offers supervised swimming that's popular with families. Larisa C. shared, "We tent camped on Aug 28. This was our first time setting up on a platform and it was very easy. Our site had a great view of the beautiful lake. There was a pool our kids could swim in until 7:00pm."
Playground accessibility: Jomeokee Campground provides open spaces ideal for families with active children. Martha S. notes, "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."
Bathroom considerations: Families should note bathroom quality varies widely. At Hanging Rock, one reviewer reported issues: "The women's bathroom was unfortunately in rough shape. It was infested with bugs, and clearly in need of a deep cleaning," while noting "the men's facilities seemed to be in slightly better shape."
Leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the Kernersville area have uneven sites requiring extensive leveling equipment. At Tanglewood Park, Tiffany D. warns about "unlevel lots (we had to lower ours by over 4" and still weren't level, but couldn't adjust anymore)," while wesley L. echoes this concern noting "Several sites including mine very hard to level."
Water connections: RVers should prepare for shared water hookups at several area campgrounds. At Hagan-Stone Park, Rick S. mentions "water every-other site. You may need as much as 50' water hose," which is longer than many RVers typically carry.
Electrical options: Area campgrounds offer various electrical configurations. Forest Lake RV offers both 30-amp and 50-amp sites "to suit your needs," while Salem Breeze RV Park provides "30/50A full hookups with both back in and pull-through spots," giving RVers flexibility based on their electrical requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there tent camping options near Kernersville?
Tent campers have several great options near Kernersville. Cedarock Park in Burlington offers peaceful hike-in tent sites along Rock Creek that accommodate groups at affordable rates ($1 per additional person). Badin Lake Campground provides spacious, remote tent sites with water access and hiking trails nearby. Hagan-Stone Park also offers tent-friendly sites with basic amenities including water and toilets. Most state parks in the region have designated tent camping areas with fire rings and picnic tables. Reservations are recommended for weekend camping, especially during peak summer months.
What are the closest camping sites to Kernersville for weekend trips?
For quick weekend escapes from Kernersville, Hanging Rock State Park Campground is an ideal destination about 45 minutes north. With breathtaking cliff views, miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, and a lake for swimming, it offers numerous outdoor activities year-round. Another excellent option is Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, just 20 minutes west, featuring both drive-in and walk-in sites with water and toilet facilities. Salem Breeze RV Park in Winston-Salem provides a convenient base if you're looking to explore urban attractions while camping nearby.
What campgrounds are available near Kernersville, NC?
Several excellent campgrounds are within easy driving distance of Kernersville. Pilot Mountain State Park Campground offers beautiful mountain views and good hiking trails about 30 minutes north. For RV travelers, Greensboro KOA provides pull-through sites, a dog park, and playground just east of Kernersville. Other nearby options include Oak Hollow City Campground in High Point, Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, and Hagan-Stone Park near Pleasant Garden, all within a 30-minute drive. These campgrounds provide various amenities from basic tent sites to full RV hookups depending on your camping preferences.
Keep Exploring
