S
Stephanie K.
Scout
ScoutRiverside Motel and Campground
The creek is the best
The main road can be quite noisy. Though the local authorities do what they can to keep it down. The creek is by far the best thing about the campground.
Camping near Lake Toxaway, NC
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Lake Toxaway in western North Carolina serves as a gateway to numerous camping options within the Blue Ridge Mountains region. Gorges State Park offers a newly developed campground with full hookup RV sites, tent camping areas, and primitive cabins, while Blue Ridge Falls RV Resort provides a more upscale camping experience with spacious sites along a creek. The surrounding area includes several state parks within driving distance, including Keowee-Toxaway State Park just across the South Carolina border, offering additional camping opportunities with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals.
Road conditions and accessibility vary throughout the region, with many campgrounds situated along winding mountain roads. Most developed sites in the area operate seasonally, with peak availability from May through October. "The area is known for having over 250 waterfalls," noted one visitor to Blue Ridge Falls RV Resort, highlighting the natural attractions that draw campers to this mountainous region. Weather patterns can change quickly in the higher elevations, with cooler temperatures even during summer months and potential for heavy rainfall. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during leaf-viewing season in autumn when visitation peaks across the region.
Campers consistently mention the waterfalls and hiking opportunities as primary attractions in the Lake Toxaway area. The proximity to Rainbow Falls and Turtle Back Falls from Gorges State Park makes it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Several reviewers highlighted the peaceful atmosphere and natural beauty of the region's campgrounds. "We loved this RV park so much, we kept adding nights," shared one camper at Blue Ridge Falls RV Resort. Primitive backcountry camping options can be found in nearby Panthertown Valley, though visitors should be prepared for wildlife encounters, including bears. The combination of mountain views, water features, and forest settings creates diverse camping experiences within a relatively compact geographic area.
Best Campgrounds near Lake Toxaway (570)
1. Davidson River Campground
"Once again, interested in checking out as many waterfalls and cascades we could locate, the water flow will be so much more dramatic amidst heavy rainfall."
"We had a quick nights stay in Davidson River Campground after picking up our new SylvanSport GO tent trailer in nearby Brevard, North Carolina."
from $37 - $84 / night
Check Availability2. Devils Fork State Park Campground
"We had reserved a walk-in tent sight and absoulty loved it."
"This hidden gem is a few miles off a major highway but well worth the journey. I would consider it among my top ten 'near a lake' spots in the entire US."
3. Table Rock State Park Campground
"The alternatives #5 and #6 were close to the entrance and therefore exposed to the road, and #49 was next to the restrooms, but similar to #60, so stayed with #60."
"One drawback is that from the campground there is no easy access to the lake- you can either drive and park (and hope to find parking) or walk on a busy road . "
4. Keowee-Toxaway State Park
"There are 3 trailside primitive campsites that are on a peninsula overlooking Lake Keowee."
"The trail was relatively short, but the hills were bigger than expected. However, the payoff at the trailside campground is incredible. The sites are out on a point on Lake Keowee."
5. Lazy J Campground
"We fished right next to our camp site and then relaxed with a camp fire listening to the sound of the River."
"We were looking for a place that was wooded and near a river or stream and lucked up at Lazy J. The staff answered our call right away and were both friendly and informative."
from $20 / night
Check Availability6. Gorges State Park Campground
"This is one of North Carolina’s best waterfall parks. Rainbow Falls, Turtel Back Falls and Bust your Ass Falls."
"There are six designated backpack sites along the Foothills Trail near the southern boundary of the park."
from $27 - $75 / night
Check Availability7. Oconee State Park Campground
"There are primitive, walk-in sites that had the benefit of added privacy, but with 3 little kids, bathroom proximity was a higher priority this time around. "
"There are multiple cabins scattered around the lake but they are a good distance apart from each other so you won't be disturbed by your neighbors."
8. Mount Pisgah Campground
"We decided to escape the heat and head for one of the “cooler” campgrounds in western North Carolina for a weekend. Mt Pisgah Campground is at an elevation of roughly 5300’."
"Pisgah National Forest on the outskirts of Asheville, NC is a must stop for all ages."
from $30 / night
Check Availability9. Blue Ridge Falls RV Resort
"This is a small campground near Lake Toxaway. The people were great. They had happy hour everyday at five."
"State park is only a few minutes drive away as well as Panthertown for hiking and biking. The area is known for having over 250 waterfalls. Highly recommend a visit."
from $65 / night
Check Availability10. Panthertown Valley Backcountry Area
"The first campsite we stayed at was on the Green Valley Trail, the second one was on the Panthertown Valley Trail right near the Schoolhouse Falls Trail, and the third was on Mac's Gap right past the Granny"
"The sites near the middle of Macs Gap trail are huge and there is easy access to a couple streams. Bring a good map and stick to the trails that your map covers."
Drive Time
- 55 min from Asheville, NC
- 1 hr 18 min from Greenville, SC
- 1 hr 34 min from Spartanburg, SC
Recent Camping Photos near Lake Toxaway, NC
1090 Photos of 570 Lake Toxaway Campgrounds
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Recent Reviews near Lake Toxaway, NC
2541 Reviews of 570 Lake Toxaway Campgrounds
EV M.
TravelerLake Hartwell State Park Campground
A repeat favorite and easy camping site for beginners
Stayed here a few times at different sites and always love it! I tent camp, so can't speak to the cabins or RV sites. Never too busy when I've gone in May and August. Tent sites are right on the water, so it's easy to move between swimming and your site. Other campers have been friendly. Water spigots near the campsites that usually run clear, I've drank from them with no issue. If you're keen on an air mattress, you can usually find an empty RV site to plug in your pump and then just carry the inflated mattress to your site. No drive ups, though sites like T10-13 are pretty darn close to the parking. T1-2 are a bit further from their closest parking, but still not bad. 1/2 are a bit set off from the rest with a fairly steep drop off that overlooks the beach, so be careful! Small trail leads you down to the water. 9 and 10-13 are close together, with 9 a bit set apart. Can't speak to the other sites personally. Boats don't come too close to the swimming sections by the campsites which is nice. Good mix of sun and shade. Got absolutely poured on (even inside my tent) one trip and still had a great time, easy place to have fun. Nearest grocery store is pretty far, so make one trip for supplies on the way up and enjoy camping the rest of the time.
C.J. C.
GuideLake Hartwell State Park Campground
Shady sites with lake views
Beautiful park with lake views. Some of the roads through the campground were bumpy. Views were worth it though. Most spots in the area of my site were shady, even if a bit close. It was hot in June, so the shade was welcome. Bathhouse was newer and clean.
Rachael F.Travelerwash Creek Dispersed Campsite #3
Be aware of your neighbors
If I was reviewing for just the location and how beautiful it was I’d give a 4 stars for a dispersed campsite however your neighbors do impact your experience.
The site itself I really loved. I was about 200 -300 feet from where you park your car right off the road (the roads by the way are definitely passable by most vehicles but keep in mind I was there in May). While there was alot of traffic going by (cars and bicyclists) the way it was set up it gave more privacy than most especially if you put your tent in the right place.
It was nice to have some distance between the car and the campsite with the large black bear population. Highly recommend keeping all food far from your site and washing any dishes as far from where you sleep as much as you can. Also keep all soaps, perfumes, or toiletries out if your tent. That also attracts.
Wash creek was close by. So accessing water for filtering for use was very easy. I used a 0.01 Micron, 6-Stage, portable BKLES (BKLES Camping Water Filter –... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGLHX2JK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) for the two weeks and had no health issues or otherwise. The water tasted great.
There was a hiking trail that was between the site and the path to the creek. I never saw anyone while I was there (2 weeks) but it’s something to consider if your a solo camper as other campers could easily travel it to access your site without you being aware. I had Portable Outdoor Perimeter Alarm... (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXGJRD2K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) to keep me safe and alert at night which I can’t recommend enough. It ended up saving my life. Towards the end of my stay for the first time all four alarm sensors put in several different places yards apart were going off. It continued off and on for over an hour. I did not risk opening my tent to see what it was.
I decided to go to an air bnb the next night. when I returned my tent was riped in several places and my dewalt tool box I was using for storage had what looked like puncture marks and was opened (full disclosure - I forgot I had some dried chick peas in it). Pretty safe to assume I was visited by a bear. I went back to the air bnb waiting for things to dry up before packing.
Upon returning items were stolen. A few things were taken with a note from a nearby camper with his cell (no name ?) letting me know he was keeping them safe for me. When I was at the site inspecting things he showed up. Was nice enough and did return some of my items but my portable firepit and large propane tank were gone.
Granted I had left the site unattended for a few days after the seeing my tent ripped up and was waiting for things to dry (as it had been raining for several days) before packing. Having said this the stolen items could have been because the more permanent folks living in the area thought I had just abandoned my things. I’ll leave it up to you to decide.
So while the spot itself was profoundly beautiful the neighbors add an element that should be considered in your decision to come.
On a positive note, I did see blue ghost fireflies several nights during my stay. I Eastern Tiger Swallowtails two days in a row my site had maybe 50-100 right next to my tent. Then the Spicebush Swallowtail, and Azures decided to join. One day a cardinal sat right on the rock in the middle of the campsite 10 feet from me. If you love rocks like I do be prepared for some really truly beautiful gems (pun intended) if you go wading in the creek. I forgot to mention I accidentally caught a fish when trying to fill my bucket up in the evening (how did it taste? Well, unfortunately I don’t have the skills to prep fish like that so I quickly released it but tells you a bit about the water nearby 🌞)
- AAngelique B.Scout
Elk Valley Farm RV Park
Perfect Home Base for Exploring Western North Carolina
We stayed for a month in Site 27 with our 40’ Brinkley fifth wheel, our tow vehicle, and a follow-behind Toyota Highlander. The site easily accommodated all of it without feeling cramped.
Elk Valley Farm RV Park made the perfect home base for exploring western North Carolina. It’s conveniently located near grocery stores, restaurants, and some wonderful hiking, and it’s an easy drive to Cherokee, Bryson City, Sylva, Franklin, and other nearby towns.
The sites include sturdy picnic tables and nice fire rings with attached cooking shelves.
Some sites also feature paved patios.The campground is new and still expanding, but it’s already a great place to stay. The only amenity we missed was on-site laundry, but Heather and Jeff told us they’re planning to add a laundry room, which will make longer stays even better.
Heather and Jeff are wonderful owners—kind, friendly, flexible, and genuinely committed to making sure their guests have a great experience. You can tell they care about the campground and the people who stay there.
As an added bonus, Angry Elk Brewing right at the entrance to the RV park is absolutely worth a visit. Great beer, delicious food, and so convenient after a day of exploring.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and wouldn’t hesitate to return the next time we’re in the area.
- BBob B.Guide
Table Rock State Park Campground
White Oak Campground
Semi private campground, super clean bathrooms, cell signal is spotty and there are no trails or water nearby. So, some pluses and some minuses. Also, although our campsite was level (unlike some), it was quite muddy and the utility hookups and fire ring were on opposite sides of where they should be.
James N.
RangerTallulah River Campground — Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest
A Little Noisy
The campground is great, but it's adjacent to a road that can have some very loud vehicle traffic. I've seen cleaner restrooms, but I wouldn't call these bad.
If your campsite is not on the river you will have to skirt the sites that are to go down to the river. Water is available, but I only saw one campsite with electric hookup and it was at what I assume was the camp host whose camp site looked like he/she had moved in, complete with a carport for their two vehicles - I found it to be a bit obnoxious right on the river.
With all that said, I would stay there again.
- James N.Ranger
Low Gap Campground — Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest
Beautiful Setting Away From the Crowds of Helen
Campsite is near Helen, GA, but I would avoid going there unless you enjoy crowds. We were there on July 4 and it was a mob scene, so getting out into the national forest was a very pleasent experience!
Low Gap Road is paved most of the way to the campsite with only a short stretch of fairly well kept gravel. Once you hit the gravel there are two stream crossings before you get to the campsite. I wouldn't attempt crossing them in a low vehicle if the water is high.
There are well kept vault toilets at the campsite which is divided into two sections separated by Low Gap Creek which you have to ford in order to reach about half of the camp sites. There is a footbridge for accessing the toilets as they are on that side of the camp ground.
Low Gap Creek is beautiful and worth some time exploring.
- CColin G.Scout
Sunburst Campground
Parking Lot
Absolutely zero provide or trees between sites. Might as well be in an RV lot. Reserved a site and immediately left after getting there.
Guide to Lake Toxaway
Campsites near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina sit at elevations ranging from 2,800 to 3,200 feet in the Blue Ridge Mountains, creating cooler temperatures even during summer months. The region receives over 90 inches of annual rainfall, contributing to the abundance of streams and waterfalls throughout the camping areas. Most primitive campsites have limited or no cell service, requiring advance planning for navigation and emergency contacts.
What to do
Explore Panthertown Valley: Panthertown Valley Backcountry Area offers extensive hiking opportunities with numerous unmarked side trails requiring proper navigation tools. "It is imperative to purchase a decent map for these trails and I highly recommend using the one available via the Friends of Panthertown website," advises one camper who warns that getting lost is common due to unofficial trails.
Fishing opportunities: Lazy J Campground provides direct access to the North Fork French Broad River with fishing spots adjacent to several campsites. A camper noted, "We fished right next to our camp site and then relaxed with a camp fire listening to the sound of the River."
Waterfall viewing: Davidson River Campground serves as a gateway to numerous waterfalls in Pisgah National Forest. "There are tons of hiking opportunities in the area with tons of waterfalls. We did get to hike to a few, but wish we had more time to spend there," reports a visitor who traveled 4 hours to reach the area.
What campers like
River access: Lazy J Campground offers riverside sites with convenient water activities. "You can tube down and get out right at your site. Three Falls waterfall is just up the road. You can get tubes at the office," explains a regular visitor who appreciates the direct water access.
Lake swimming: Devils Fork State Park Campground provides access to Lake Jocassee with exceptionally clear water. "So much for family's to do here. Water is so clear. Site is so clean," notes one visitor who initially stopped to check out the campground and wished they had a reservation.
Secluded camping: Mount Pisgah Campground offers sites with greater privacy than many public campgrounds. "Spacious sites arranged for privacy. Over 5000 ft in elevation which means cool nights in Summer. Trees all around for privacy," explains a long-time visitor who has camped there for over 30 years.
What you should know
Bear activity: Panthertown Valley Backcountry Area has significant bear presence requiring proper food storage. "Be aware that the bears here are extremely bad. I actually had an encounter with a very large bear who charged my group and destroyed at tent, and heard similar stories from other campers," warns one visitor who still rated the experience highly despite the encounter.
Reservation requirements: During peak season (May-October), most campgrounds fill completely, especially on weekends. "This place is packed most all of the summer now so you don't want to show up without a spot," advises a Davidson River visitor.
Electrical reliability: Some campgrounds experience infrastructure challenges due to their remote location. At Keowee-Toxaway State Park, one camper reported, "Twice in one week this campground experienced a complete and total power outage each of which lasted for hours."
Tips for camping with families
Primitive camping options: Keowee-Toxaway State Park offers trailside primitive sites accessible via moderate hiking. "There are 3 trailside primitive campsites that are on a peninsula overlooking Lake Keowee. Although only one of them is considered on the shore, they are all within walking distance (down a little hill) from the shore," explains a regular visitor who notes costs are only about $12 per night.
Kid-friendly facilities: Oconee State Park provides well-maintained facilities for families. "Bathrooms are super nice and clean," notes one visitor, while another explains there are "nice hiking area and swimming area" suitable for children of various ages.
Animal encounters: Several campgrounds feature resident animals that children enjoy watching. At Lazy J Campground, "Chickens and horses on site. Playground and lots of fun," reports a regular visitor who appreciates the entertainment value for children.
Tips from RVers
Road access considerations: Gorges State Park Campground has challenging access roads requiring careful driving. "The last 10 miles out of Brevard were curvy and had some grades. And the last 2 miles into the campground had I would guess a couple of 10% grades both up and down," cautions an RV driver who still found the campground "super nice" despite access challenges.
Campsite selection: At Blue Ridge Falls RV Resort (formerly Riverbend), site selection significantly impacts experience. "Stayed 7 days in #1 from 6/25 to 7/1 with two other RVers and was a romantic peaceful time with our own waterfall and creek running around us," reports one visitor who also warns, "Just a word on getting there- don't follow the gps onto Kim Miller Rd. Stay on Rt 64 and turn onto 281 past firehouse. Much easier!"
Pad conditions: Tent sites and RV pads vary significantly in quality and levelness across campgrounds. At Mount Pisgah Campground, one visitor notes, "Camper pads on the odd-numbered tent sites (5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15) are not level, but Sites 1 and 3 plus the even-numbered sites have level parking pads."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Lake Toxaway, NC?
What camping is available near Lake Toxaway, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, Lake Toxaway, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 570 campgrounds and RV parks near Lake Toxaway, NC and 50 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Lake Toxaway, NC?
Which is the most popular campground near Lake Toxaway, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lake Toxaway, NC is Davidson River Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 82 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lake Toxaway, NC?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lake Toxaway, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 50 free dispersed camping spots near Lake Toxaway, NC.
What parks are near Lake Toxaway, NC?
What parks are near Lake Toxaway, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 23 parks near Lake Toxaway, NC that allow camping, notably National Forests in North Carolina and Nantahala National Forest.
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