Best Tent Camping near Lumberton, NC
Tent campers visiting Lumberton, North Carolina have several established options within a short drive, primarily in Lumber River State Park which offers two distinct tent camping areas. Princess Ann Access and Chalk Banks Access both provide tent sites along the tea-colored Lumber River, with most sites featuring fire pits, picnic tables, and toilet facilities. Lake Waccamaw State Park, approximately 35 miles southeast of Lumberton, offers more primitive tent camping with larger, more secluded sites.
The tent sites at Lumber River State Park vary in accessibility and amenities. Chalk Banks Access features spacious, well-separated tent sites with some situated well back in the woods for increased privacy. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings, though only vault toilets are available. Water is available from a single spigot near the restroom area. Gates close at 9pm and reopen at 8am, so campers should plan arrivals accordingly. One camper noted, "The tent sites are some of the better spread out ones that I've seen and having cell coverage is immensely appreciated considering you're basically in the middle of nowhere."
Princess Ann Access offers some riverside tent sites that require short walks from the parking area. Sites 7 and 8 sit directly on the river's edge across from the Naked Landing trail. Lake Waccamaw's tent sites are more primitive and widely separated, with a quarter-mile or longer walk from the parking area to some sites. A camper mentioned that "the sites are all a far distance from one another so there's no chance of bothering one another at night." For a more rustic experience, Sandhills Campground B provides truly primitive tent camping with no bathrooms, water spigots, or other amenities. Most tent areas throughout the region feature shallow swimming access along riverbanks or lakeshores. Mosquitoes and other insects can be abundant, particularly during warmer months, so proper repellent is essential for comfortable tent camping experiences.