6 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Medoc Mountain State Park offers specialized horse camping facilities 10 miles from Interstate-95 in Hollister, North Carolina. The park features a dedicated equestrian campground requiring horses for overnight stays, complete with electric hookups including 50-amp and 30-amp service. Camp sites are spacious with ample room for horse trailers and tack. The bathrooms remain clean and well-maintained according to visitor feedback. Camping areas include standard amenities such as fire rings, picnic tables, and water access points strategically placed throughout the grounds. While the equestrian campground doesn't feature built-in horse corrals, the sites accommodate portable corral systems and high-line setups that campers typically bring with their rigs.
The park maintains over 10 miles of bridle trails connecting directly to the equestrian camping area. Trails wind through wooded terrain with moderate elevation changes despite the "mountain" designation being somewhat misleading. Little Fishing Creek runs through the property, providing water access for horses at designated crossing points. Riders particularly enjoy the fall season when temperatures moderate and the foliage creates scenic riding conditions. Reservations are recommended as the equestrian sites fill quickly during peak seasons. The surrounding area offers limited cellular service, creating a genuine disconnect from daily routines. For those traveling along the I-95 corridor, the park serves as an excellent stopover point, allowing horse owners to exercise their animals during long-distance trips while enjoying natural surroundings.
"Good location off of 85. Great trails and equestrian trails!"
"Not far from the Roanoke River and right around the corner from Halifax, this spot is perfect for getting away from it all."
from $27 - $75 / night
"There are tons of hiking trails all around and plenty of bike trails too! Conveniently located north of Raleigh, NC and close to many major highways."
"None of the sites are located right on the lake. You either walk the trails or drive down."
Available next weekend
from $72 / night
"We've hiked umstead and other local trails almost every week for the past 5 months."
"Umstead is conveniently located in the heart of Raleigh, NC. It seems to be an outdoor oasis as you can get lost in the woods with the hustle and bustle of the city all around you."
Available next weekend
from $27 - $75 / night
"This campground is adjacent to the NC State Fairgrounds. Sites are spacious and full hook ups. Gravel roadways and grass/gravel sites."
"Restaurants and downtown Raleigh are within short driving distance. Public bathrooms and showers (cold water) are a 2 minute walk to Horse Complex H6, Barn B Very little tree cover."
from $45 / night
"We have a larger trailer so we had to stay in the equestrian area. There weren’t showers by us but there was 1 bathroom."
"If you have dogs like we do that hate squirrels they drove them nuts- squirrels running around in our campsite and up trees in our campsite. And while walking around."
Available next weekend
from $21 - $384 / night
"This area is such a short drive from the triangle area of North Carolina, yet this park feels quite remote. Like many state parks, this one excels in the services department. "
"Located just 30 miles west of Raleigh, Jordan Lake provides 7 different access points throughout this amazing natural preserve. "
Available next weekend
from $27 - $77 / night
"The hiking trails are also do horses and parts have been beaten down and there was a lot of horse poop in the trail. Still worth the hike to see the peaceful water though."
"Site was built into a hill and had several steps leading up to it. Much smaller site than we are used to at VA State parks."
from $27 - $110 / night
from $17 / night
"Very nice place to walk and lots of sight seeing close by and shor t walk or drive to the water"
"One mile walk to Buffalo park a beautiful place with lots of history. I love it .Great day for a picnic ."
from $22 - $53 / night
GuideThe sites are very large, long and wider at the back, plenty of room for a big group or family. The bathrooms look new and they are clean. Here during the week so it's very empty and quiet.
TravelerWe visited Crosswinds campground at Jordan Lake State Park on the worst heatwave of the year. The great thing about this area is that the sites a well shaded. We were about 50 yards from the lake, with the wind blowing we still were comfortable all day. We stayed on Loop A, which is my favorite loop at the park. There’s no electricity or water at the sites. There are water spickets throughout the loop with potable water. The site is awesome! There’s a small pond beside it. The neighboring sites are close, but regular conversations can not be heard.this loop is always quiet even when there are a lot of people, but it’s never been full when I’m there. I didn’t do good with photos except for the food.
ScoutDecent campground in a beautiful location along Lake Jordan. Crosswinds Campground is one of several sites on the lake. We chose this location since the gates stay open all the time, while other sites have a curfew that can lock you out for the night.
The staff are super friendly and helpful. There’s apparently a camp host whom we never met and they’re on the site next to ours (not sure if they’re supposed to greet us or help us get acquainted with the site, but the staff member at check in was great and did all that when we arrived).
Loop C is quiet, very few children, and less road noise compared to the other loops, but doesn’t have the same access to the lake.
Site C50 is conveniently located close to the bath house, has a large fire pit with adjustable grill, picnic table, and hookups for water and electricity. We’re in a tent, so really just use the electricity. The picnic table here should be replaced, as the wood seems to be rotting, but still does the job. There are a few sites in loop C that do have direct access to the lake, but those tend to be booked all of the time. We explored one last night and couldn’t believe it was vacant and how much nicer it seemed.
Bathrooms are not as clean as I would like, but I bring disinfectant wipes to wipe the toilet before use. Showers are fine, but use an annoying motion sensor to turn the water on/off. Showering at night is annoying with the bugs because the bathhouse is lit like a beacon (probably for safety). Waiting for the daytime is a better experience. Also, there isn’t a washing station for dishes, and we do that at our site.
Firewood can be purchased by the staff at the campground entrance; however, the exact same firewood is almost $4 fewer at a Refuel station down the street. Definitely stop into that gas station store for things you might need.
Overall, really good experience staying here, some annoying things, but won’t ruin your stay.
RangerI've read reviews about noise levels and lack of privacy. But we experienced the opposite, at least at our campsite.
ScoutReally fantastic spot to camp! Great sites and hook ups (no sewer, but EASY dump station)! Go for Loop B - it has the beach.
GuideWe stayed here Memorial weekend 2026. We had a tent only site with no hook ups. It was site 48 which is the first site you come across when pulling into the campgrounds.
Site was built into a hill and had several steps leading up to it. Much smaller site than we are used to at VA State parks. Looking at the other sites they were also on the smaller side and oddly shaped.
Easy access to the River Bank trail and Captain Staunton trail directly from the campsites. Great when you have kiddos that don't want to walk a ton.
Great views throughout of the Staunton River & Dan River. Lots of deer sightings in the morning and early evenings. Great activities with the rangers including a wagon wide through the park.
It was rainy during our stay so no chance to take advantage of the Dark Sky classification. When skys are clear they do have an astronomer that comes out on the weekends in the summer.
GuideMedoc Mountain State Park campground has been recently renovated. All of the full hook up sites and primitive sites are spacious and well kept. We camped in site #26 which was level and spacious. The sites on the outside of the loop are pretty level. The bathrooms/showers are new, spacious, and clean. There is a great playground in walking distance. There are many hiking trails that start near the campground. None of them have amazing views, but they are nice and well marked. I enjoyed the Bluff View trail the most. We were able to hike 6 miles both days we were there. Added bonus: campground is close to I-95. The only drawback is the lack of a close grocery store. Dollar General is less than 5 miles away.
GuideBeautiful, small, newly renovated campground. Gorgeous bath house. A few sites are level but most aren’t. Quiet. Easy to get to from I-95.
LegendLots of trails, 2 boat launches and nice campground. We stay here every once in a while since it is so close and such a amazing state park.
Check out our video of all the sites.
https://youtu.be/g3tsJATaSis?si=3Cl29wwqTO1JF9FW
Medoc Mountain State Park Equestrian Campground offers specialized facilities near Louisburg, North Carolina, approximately 30 miles from the campground. The campground sits at a modest elevation of 305 feet above sea level within the rolling Piedmont region. Unlike typical mountain parks, the area features gentle terrain with moderate elevation changes throughout the trail system, making it accessible for riders of various experience levels.
Trail riding opportunities: Medoc Mountain State Park maintains multi-use trails connecting directly to the equestrian camping area. "Nice sites and great for mountain bikers," notes Stacey S., highlighting the versatility of the trail system beyond horseback riding.
Water activities: Falls Lake State Recreation Area provides water recreation options within 45 minutes of Louisburg. "There was a lake nearby with an open sky where you could see hundreds of stars at night," reports Kristen W., describing the additional benefit of stargazing from waterside locations.
Local exploration: Access points to Little Fishing Creek allow for natural water features during rides. "We also conoed down the creek. The creek is about 2.5 miles long and took us only 2 hours to paddle," shares Caroline G., describing alternative water activities available at nearby parks.
Clean facilities: The equestrian campground maintains well-kept bathroom facilities with hot showers. "Clean restrooms, hot showers! Camp host and rangers are great!" confirms RENEE D. about the Medoc Mountain facilities.
Group camping options: William B. Umstead State Park offers another option for equestrian groups looking for alternatives. "I came here with a large group and really liked it! We were all crammed into the 4 large group sites... the bath houses were adequate," reports Melinda J., describing the group camping experience.
Natural surroundings: The park setting provides genuine woodland camping with limited cell service. "No cell service! 😀" notes RENEE D., highlighting this as a positive feature for those seeking to disconnect.
Reservation requirements: Equestrian camping requires advance booking, especially during peak seasons. Sites accommodate trailers but fill quickly.
Horse facilities: The equestrian campground requires horses for overnight stays. While permanent corrals aren't available, the sites accommodate portable corral systems and high-line setups.
Seasonal considerations: Staunton River State Park offers an alternative equestrian destination approximately 60 miles from Louisburg. "We went to this park. We had a real good time. We played volley ball. Some of us fished. We cooked on the grill everything was so nice," shares Jeannette T., describing activities available during warmer months.
Playground access: Several campgrounds near Louisburg offer family-friendly amenities. "Loved that there was a playground near the site. The site itself was gravelly and not super private but it was great- the hikes around were stunning," reports amanda L. about nearby recreation areas.
Educational opportunities: Jordan Lake State Recreation Area provides wildlife viewing experiences for families. "Deer walked right behind our site," shares Wendy M., describing the common wildlife encounters families can expect.
Swimming options: Many surrounding lakes offer designated swimming areas during summer months. "Close to the beach where we sat for hours. Clean bathrooms. Spacious sites. Plenty of privacy," notes Angela M. about the Jordan Lake facilities.
Electric hookup specifics: North Carolina State Fairgrounds offers comparable electric hookups. "Water, sewer, electrical hook-ups. It's a pretty relaxing spot. Restaurants and downtown Raleigh are within short driving distance," explains J D., describing amenities available to RVers.
Site layout considerations: Equestrian sites at Medoc Mountain are designed to accommodate both living quarters and horse trailer configurations. "We had a real good time. The sites are level, not much shade. Garbage cans everywhere. Convenient to get into and out of with full hookup," notes Amanda A., describing similar RV-friendly features at nearby campgrounds.
Approach routes: The park location provides straightforward access for larger rigs, located 10 miles from Interstate-95. "This was a stop over stay for us as we headed towards the Smokies. Nice family oriented modern Campground. Very large sites, well shaded, paved and all the hook ups," shares Jason N. about regional campground accessibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Louisburg, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Louisburg, NC is Medoc Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Louisburg, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Louisburg, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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