Best Tent Camping near Kinston, NC

Tent Camping Reviews near Kinston, NC

206 Reviews of 3 Kinston Campgrounds

• L

  Laura B.

  Scout

  Jul. 21, 2018

  Goose Creek State Park Campground

  State Park with primitive camping

  Great primitive camping, tent only. There are water spigots, no electricity, and very clean , non smelly vault toilets. There are several short hiking trails that I would rate easy. There is also a swimming area that is free. We did have a run in with fire ants at our campsite. Overall, clean and quiet.

• 

  Martha S.

  Guide

  Dec. 24, 2020

  Cedar Point Campground

  Amazing Little Campground

  We camped here in October 2020 and stayed in site 17. It is a great site with lots of room between you and the next camper.

  The bath facility is in a very nice building, is heated and has individual locking shower rooms so you have total privacy and security. The roads are paved and the paved pads accommodate up to a 70 ft camper/vehicle. Each site has a smooth, flat, gravel area equipped with 2 lantern poles, one large picnic table, and a fire ring with swing away cooking grate. Beyond the gravel areas are flat level areas of grass. The campsites are shaded by large, tall pines and other assorted trees.

  The bath facility was very clean and well kept. The host was very friendly and helpful. The grounds throughout the park are extremely well kept.

  Upon arrival, you check in with the host, drive to water fill area and fill up your fresh water tank. There are additional water fill faucets throughout the park. Your site is equipped for both 30 or 50 amp campers.

  We really like this little campground and plan to come back again soon.

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• 

  Steve V.

  Legend

  Jul. 27, 2019

  Cedar Point Campground

  Heatwave

  Cedar Point RA is a small campground along the White Oak River in the Croatan National Forest. The campground has 40 sites with electric hook up. The sites are level and have a paved parking pad that they are pretty strict on you keeping all wheels on and a gravel area with a picnic table, fire pit, and two lantern poles (that also work good for putting up a clothes line or dog zipline). The sites do not have water hook ups so make sure your RV fresh water tanks are topped off, or there are plenty of potable water points throughout the campground to fill up you jugs. The sites are large and separated by space, not trees, for privacy. The sites on the southeast side seemed to have more shade than those on the northwest side. Campground map is in my pictures. 

  There is no office or signage for check-in, so we just drove in, found our reserved spot that had our name on the tag and set up. The Camp Host came around a little later and apparently we were supposed to know to check-in with him somehow. We stayed on site 24 on this visit. Lots of sun throughout the day until late evening, so a little miserable on this stay as the area had heat advisories every day. 

  The bathhouse could use a little TLC. The bathrooms were functional but not very clean. The showers are separate from the bathroom and half were out of order on this stay. Additionally, in typical National Forest fashion, there is no heat or air or even a fan in the bathroom or showers, so again, pretty miserable on this stay as the area had heat advisories every day. The heat in the bathrooms and showers had to be over 100 degrees. Also, typical National Forest setup, the showers are push button, with no temperature control (you get what you get) and the water only flows for about 15 seconds with each push of the button. 

  Firewood was available at the camp host. There is a full grocery store 5 minutes from the campground. The resort has many amenities like a boat ramp about a ¼ of a mile down the road and a hiking trail that loops for about 2 miles along the marshy shore line. There is a dump station and trash dumpster behind the camp hosts location. 

  We found good cell phone service with Verizon throughout the property. The campground did not have wi-fi. 

  While in the area we enjoyed the public beach on Emerald Isle, which is only 15 minutes from campground. There are lots of water sport rentals nearby and restaurants. Camp Lejeune is less than 30 minutes away and on some nights we could hear the artillery in the distance as the Marines trained. However, as a retired Army guy, the faint sound of freedom did not bother me at all. 

  The heatwave during our stay really hindered us. Not sure we’d revisit in the middle of the summer again, but during the cooler month I’m sure it would be much more comfortable.

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• 

  Joe B.

  Legend

  Apr. 2, 2022

  Flanners Beach Campground

  Grandson’s first camping trip

  I’ve been riding my bicycles on the the trails around Flanner’s for years. This was my first camping experience here.
  We brought our T@G Boondock XL for my wife and I, and a side tent for my grandson. Decent sized spot for our camper and 10x10 tent, and it included a fire pit (very tall sides) and a picnic table. We spent the first day setting up, preparing food and enjoying the fire. Ended the day in the tent playing guitar and singing, while my grandson played the Djembe. Day 2, was fresh ground Death Wish coffee in the Chemex and breakfast. Then we went for a 3 mile hike. Ate lunch and played ladder ball. Another 2 mile hike in the afternoon, some card games, dinner over the fire and pudgie pies. Played music around the fire until bedtime.
  Day 3 was Coffee, breakfast and tear down/pack up. The grounds were clean, saw the hosts throughout the park, and they were very friendly. Showers/bathrooms were good. Water was plenty hot in the shower. It was cold at night and in the morning, and the facilities have screens for ventilation, so it can get quite cold (or hot) in there. The beach is closed indefinitely. The trails are great.
  Great first camping experience for our grandson. I will be back. The sign at the gate says NO ALCOHOL. Not sure why this is an issue, but it’s their rule.

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• L

  Laura B.

  Scout

  Jul. 21, 2018

  Cliffs of the Neuse State Park Campground

  State Park

  Very nice state park with rv and tent sites. They have electric and water hookups. There are picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Firewood is available from the ranger. There are showers and toilets also. Many hiking trails with cliff overlook of the Nuese River. There is a swimming area and Connor rental also.

• 

  Roger W.

  Legend

  Nov. 19, 2023

  Flanners Beach Campground

  Great Private Sites

  Neuse River Flanners Beach Campground: Most sites have visual privacy (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

  (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for a campsite that has at least some visual privacy offered - after the trailer is in the spot.)

  Overall Rating: 4.5 Price 2023: $ $10 + $5 per night for electricity w interagency pass Usage during visit: Pretty full. Unable to obtain a reservation for an extended period.
  Site Privacy: Almost all sites has a nice degree of privacy with trailer in site.
  Site Spacing: Very good Site surface: Gravel Reservations: Yes. You better. Campground Noise: Quiet. Road Noise: None Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: Available Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes. At entrance. Potable Water Available: Scattered spigots Generators:
  Bathroom: Yes Showers: Yes Pull Throughs: Not that I saw.
  Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars Setting: Deciduous forest. Weather: 70 degrees today. Bugs: Not noticeable. Solar: Too much tree cover Host: Yes Rig size: Some sites will fit large rigs. A careful drive in Campground will surely be required. Sites: Almost all sites are good. Some of the least private sites are: 13,20,27,29

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• 

  M. B.

  Guide

  Oct. 20, 2021

  New Bern KOA Holiday

  On inlet not ocean

  Not bad this is called a holiday one but I would say this is more like a journey one it doesn't seem very resort-like.

  Bathrooms: 5/5

  Sites: 4/5 upgrades are nice but really expensive for just a concrete pad next to someone else

  Pools: 3/5 they have one but it's pretty meh. Like a 70s motel 8 pool.

  Beach: 2/5 there is an inlet beach and a pier but it's like marshy Mudd not sandy beach

  Waterfrontness: 0/5

  Closeness to other sites: 1/5 you are up each other's buttcracks

  Dog rating: 4/5 plenty of poop bags

  Internet: 2/5 no wifi and no hookups but our AT&T router worked

  Cell service: Google fi and ATnT worked

  Water quality: 1/5 potable but tastes gross

  Extra amenities: they have a shuttle some seasons. It was not here during October so who knows. Bike rentals Kayak rental Laundry Host station

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• R

  Robert D.

  Ranger

  Dec. 13, 2024

  Lake Leamon Family Campground

  Good campground, but outdated.

  The campground is in a nice area. The small lake is beautiful and full of fish. It is near a small bustling town with everything you need. The staff is friendly.

  The only drawback is that the camp itself is outdated. The so-called bathhouses need a severe update. The bathhouse does not have HVAC in it. There’s one male toilet and one female toilet for the entire camp. There are two portable toilets on the back end of the property. There’s one shower of the two that works and it is a small shower. Do not weigh more than 175 pounds going in that shower.

  All in all, it’s a good temporary campsite. This is not set up for long-term, even though there are multiple long-term campers here.

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• L

  Lindsay D.

  Scout

  Oct. 24, 2021

  Goose Creek State Park Campground

  Back to my roots

  I have a personal pull to Goose Creek State Park as it was once my family’s land going back generations and generations. My great-grandfather, grandfather, and father carved out the trails used for hiking today and the road to the campground its self was made by my dad and his friends. The state bought the land in the 70’s and it became our state park. It makes me proud to share a part of my family history with the rest of the world.

  Even without the personal connection I feel when I visit GCSP, it’s such a beautiful place to be during anytime of the year. Hiking trails equipped with boardwalks lead through the marsh and swampy areas while sporadic signs display pictures and information about the wildlife you are likely to see. The primitive campground has more than 10 sites, with the farthest sights sitting on the edge of the Pamlico River. It truly is an awesome sight to take in at sunset and sunrise. Bath houses with showers, hot water, and toilets are available. There are two group sites and, recently added, several rv sites and about 5-6 small cabins. I have not stayed in the cabins yet. They seem to be fairly popular so reservations should be made at least a couple of weeks in advanced. There heat and AC but no bathrooms or kitchen area inside the cabin. I believe there are two sets of twin beds and a full bed but you have to bring your own linens. There is also a very nice bathhouse available for cabin renters. The only downside to the cabins and RV sites is there is no shade. The sites are toward the front of the park, and, perhaps because of the recent construction, there is are no trees, woods, or shade around. As a personal preference, I want to be IN THE WOODS when I camp so the aspect of being out in the open is not as exciting as tent camping. That being said, the cabins are adorable and have a fire ring, picnic table, and everything you need to enjoy a night of camping.

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