6 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Morrow Mountain State Park Campground offers pet-friendly camping across its wooded tent sites, RV spaces, and cabins. The campground maintains spacious sites with good separation, allowing campers and their dogs to enjoy the natural surroundings without crowding neighboring campers. Leashed pets are welcome throughout most of the park's campground areas, though certain cabin accommodations may have specific pet policies. Norwood Campground, located near Lake Tillery, also accommodates pets with its 80 sites spread across a wooded setting that provides natural shade and privacy. Very friendly staff members are eager to make stays comfortable for both campers and their four-legged companions. Bathrooms and facilities at most pet-friendly campgrounds in the region are clean and well-maintained, though Yates Family Camping has limited restroom facilities.
The hiking trails throughout Morrow Mountain State Park provide excellent opportunities for exercising pets, with multiple path options ranging from easy walks to more challenging terrain. The park's dispersed camping sites are well-maintained and nicely spread out, offering a more secluded experience for those camping with pets. Dogs must remain on leashes no longer than six feet on all trails and in camping areas. Lake access at several campgrounds provides opportunities for pets to cool off during warmer months. When planning visits, travelers should note that some campgrounds have limited or no cell service, particularly at Morrow Mountain where coverage is virtually non-existent except at high vista lookouts. Most campgrounds in the area enforce standard pet policies including proper waste disposal, barking control during quiet hours, and keeping pets from disturbing wildlife.
"C loop, felt like the smallest loop and really close to the entry hiking trail. We've stayed in both A and C. C loop, site 48, is where we stayed this trip. Its a good site."
"In addition to the nearby lake, there is a pool you can take the kids to. This is very dog friendly. Not too much traffic for the kids either. I have seen a rattle snake!!"
Available this weekend
from $17 - $107 / night
"Lots to do.... hiking, ride bicycle, fishing and off road or just relax and take in the beautiful surroundings! P.s. Dogs are welcome!"
"Awesome location, very remote and the sites are Huge so no need to worry about a neighbor being close. I stayed at site 11 easy access to the water and great views."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $40 / night
"Arrowhead Campground has had a bigger budget compared to its lesser sibling Badin Lake Campground. "
"The campsites do not offer a view of the water of Badin Lake, but it is nearby with a drive or hike. "
Available this weekend
from $20 - $54 / night
"Campground is huge & within walking distance of the raceway. Camping world is across the street if you forgot anything! Win!"
"While that may not sound appealing to some, race fans will love it because it is so close to all the racing action of the Charlotte Motor Speedway."
"Nice lake to walk around, but paddle boats and center were closed. Lots of ducks that were used to human presence and feeding. Located in a nice sized park. Would definitely go back."
"Site next to one of the lake access trails. Spacious site. We were able to get our 37 ft camper level. Shaded so the a/c s were able to keep up with the heat no issue."
"The pool doesn’t have normal steps that you walk down into the pool on, they only have the ladder steps which make it a little tricky getting in with a small child."
"Lot of hiking paths which our dog loved. Owners were very nice to deal with. Although we did not do much they have a fishing pond, a very nice kids playground."
from $42 - $70 / night
"Short but steep walk down to the river. I would be careful when the river is swollen, but otherwise it is gorgeous. My friends both caught a couple of channel cats."
"The drive down the trail can be a bit much if you’re in a smaller car like we were, we had to drive slowly down because of all of the rocks."
"ATV/Walking trails. Picnic tables, porta johns and nature. A small lake where you can fish, It is Peaceful here. There is a gun range nearby so while your here you can get in some practice shooting."
from $15 - $25 / night
"There aren’t really any extras here but if you’re just looking for reliable water/electrical/sewer and wifi near Charlotte this is a fantastic option."
"Fishing is typically outstanding for bass, cats, crappie, and carp. Equestrian trails are everywhere and are good for hiking, a few trails are a bit rough for bicycles though"
"A few of the trails are right on the lake and the dogs love to hop in and cool off. I load up my kayak once a month or so and paddle around the lake for hours."
GuideDriving 14 1/2 hrs I was cooked called and had the most easiest booking. There was a sites available so I booked it. Needless to say I got there in the dark and a kind person helped me to my site and got me backed in. Soo exhausted I hooked up electric only hit the bed passed out
GuideStopped in to get a spot for a few nights nights because it said they had available rv spots Unfortunately they didn’t know which end was up and tried to squeeze us into a spot that might have hookups that maybe worked but they couldn’t be sure. It was a joke. We left after waiting several minutes waiting while they were looking for a place to maybe squeeze us in because we had a small camper. No thanks. Would not recommend staying here til they get there act together
RangerThis is a newer campground. It has a stocked pond with beautiful woods surrounding it.
RangerThis is a newer campground. It is peaceful.
RangerWhen I’m traveling through the area, I do my best to stay here. It is a peaceful and well kept campground. It is an adult and a kid friendly environment. It’s one of the few places you can feel safe. I highly recommend this place.
TravelerThis property should not be advertised. It was next to a cow pasture and the flies were horrible. We could not even get out of our van. The other trailers there were obviously long term and not well maintained. The inn had n the property was dilapidated and closed. Nothing in the description was anything like our experience. We decided to leave after seeing the condition of everything. Real bad.
RangerWas a monthly Camper when I came in to the campground. Nobody was cleaning the men’s room. No one was trying to collect the fall leaves. This is an old run down campground. I cleaned the men’s room for free because there was no staff to clean. I regret helping the owner for free on multiple occasions.
TravelerThis is/was marked as dispersed camping but this is primarily an OHV area, with a shooting range nearby that can be heard from some campsites. Most, if not all, of the campsites are intended to be large group sites. The empty site we found was filled with trash, discarded tents, air mattresses, and trashed electronics from OHVs. There's so much trash we would not even be able to take it all out with us if we wanted to. This may be a national forest, but it is not peace and quiet as one would expect from "dispersed and primitive" camping.
GuideThere was other people camping and running their generators all night. Some low lifers on ATV blasted in and out of the parking area and blasting music at 2 am. Good luck getting any sleep here. But enjoyed the trail to it and the forest. Got at least 2 hours of sleep before I packed up.
Camping opportunities near Locust, North Carolina extend from the Uwharrie National Forest to Lake Tillery and Badin Lake. Located in the eastern Piedmont region at elevations ranging from 350-500 feet, this area features mixed hardwood forests and significant water access points. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F with high humidity, while winters remain mild with occasional freezes and light snowfall.
Fishing access points: Badin Lake Campground provides excellent fishing opportunities along the shoreline. As one camper noted, "We have stayed at Badin Lake campground a couple times and would recommend it to anyone that likes to kayak and fish. Being able to camp on the water and just slide the kayaks in and out is great."
Hiking varied terrain: The trails at Dan Nicholas Park range from short, accessible paths to more challenging routes. A visitor shared, "There is a beautiful zoo, gem mining, a train ride, amazing fishing, a beautiful playground, and a carousel. The campsites are nice and the facilities are fairly clean."
Water activities: Canoeing and paddling options abound at Arrowhead Campground. According to a camper, "Nice campground with a boat ramp right by the entrance. Overall an awesome camp ground!" The boat launch has a sizeable paved parking lot and latrines.
Primitive camping options: Deep Water Trail Camp offers free dispersed camping with river access. One camper described it: "It's nestled in fall's reservoir, but the little road in looked to be washed out. PLEASE take something with a little ground clearance and better than 2 wheel drive to get here."
Spacious sites: Norwood Campground features generous camping areas with natural separation. A visitor noted, "Vintage without being run down. The owners have done a great job of retaining the 'old school' charm of the place while keeping up with utilities and overall functionality. We particularly appreciated the intact tree canopy."
Family amenities: Cane Creek Park offers numerous family-friendly features. A repeat visitor mentioned, "Nice lake and hiking trails. Free putt-putt. Clean bathrooms and hot showers." Another added, "Beautiful place to camp, hike, and kayak! Trails, shelter areas, and bathrooms are always well taken care of."
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly across pet-friendly camping areas near Locust. At Morrow Mountain State Park Campground, a visitor noted, "The only drawback was that there was no Wi-Fi." Another mentioned, "So, if you end up in a crap site you might drop those 4 stars to 3."
Seasonal considerations: Summer brings higher occupancy and potential heat issues. A camper at Badin Lake warned, "Being able to camp on the water and just slide the kayaks in and out is great. There are trails around the lake to explore and the sites are nice size so you don't feel like you are on top of other campers."
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly, especially during weekends and holidays. A visitor to Uwharrie National Forest mentioned, "Reserve well in advance if you desire a site...these campgrounds fill quickly." Arrowhead Campground typically reaches capacity on weekends.
Free activities: Dan Nicholas Park offers numerous no-cost options for children. A family reported, "Great place to camp with your family. The park has more to do other than the campground it is a wonderful place if you have young kids."
Swimming options: Badin Lake Campground provides lake access for cooling off. A visitor shared, "Great spot, really calm and quiet and right on the lake. Perfect for non-partying types (no alcohol allowed). Showers, bathrooms, trash, fire pit, and grill all available."
Playground access: Several pet-friendly camping options feature play areas. At Norwood Campground, a visitor mentioned, "Great playground, pool and relaxing time!" The playground is regularly maintained and suitable for multiple age groups.
Site selection: At Arrowhead Campground, finding level sites can be challenging. A camper advised, "Great sites but hardly any are level so be prepared to manage that. Nice fire pits and grills - love having both."
Hookup availability: Camping World Charlotte Motor Speedway provides full-service RV sites with specific amenities. A visitor noted, "Campground is huge & within walking distance of the raceway. Camping world is across the street if you forgot anything! Win! All gravel. Grassy areas around for pets. Some sites have a grass backyard area."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Locust, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Locust, NC is Morrow Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 38 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Locust, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 65 dog-friendly camping locations near Locust, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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