Best Tent Camping near Middlesex, NC

Recent Tent Reviews in Middlesex

377 Reviews of 8 Middlesex Campgrounds

• 

  Chris K.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 17, 2024

  Holly Point — Falls Lake State Recreation Area

  Beeautiful and perfect for water-loving pets

  My dog Indy and I spent a night here just to try it out and it was the perfect spot. The site is #64 and there's water access right next to the pad. We will definitely be back.

• 

  Amanda A.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 7, 2024

  North Carolina State Fairgrounds

  It’s perfect for basic

  The sites are level, not much shade. Garbage cans everywhere. Convenient to get into and out of with full hookup. There are no amenities at all but security drives around. Felt safe. Across from stadium. Price is worth the value.

• D

  Dale Y.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 2, 2024

  Moccasin Branch Campground — Raven Rock State Park

  Awesome State Park

  The state park has excellent hiking trails and the RV park is located in an excellent location to use them.

  The sites are huge, level, and clean. The bathhouse is clean and modern. While there aren’t many recreational amenities besides the hiking, the price makes this park an excellent value.

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 1, 2024

  Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area

  Small Hidden Gem in Falls Lake SRA

  If you find yourself in the hustle and bustle of nearby Raleigh and are looking to get away from the crowds and pavement in exchange for some nice shaded nature, hiking trails and calm, peace& quiet that only nature can offer, then make your way here to Shinleaf@ Falls Lake SRA. You’ll discover all of the basics are provided– from picnic table, fold-up fire ring/ grill, bear-proof garbage hanger and a nice pebble-strewn patch of well-maintained flat pitch, perfect for striking camp for the night in your tent amongst the best of what nature has to offer along with pristine shade from an unrelenting bit of summer North Carolina sunshine.

  The only real down-side I could find to Shinleaf is that there’s not a whole lot of brush between the campsites so you will be exposed to neighboring sites, which wasn’t a problem when we visited as the place was fairly vacant, but during high season, I could see how this would be a bit of a turn-off. The on-site facilities(limited to just bathrooms& showers) are typically better than you’d expect from a state-run campground, and so this spot gets high marks versus some others– and there’s even a designated‘pot wash’ spigot that is near the campsites making for EZ clean up after any meal. There’s plenty of hiking trails to explore and the on-site rangers are incredibly helpful and positive folks that want to ensure you have a great time.

  Insider's tips? Here's a few: (1) If you like to fish, there's tons of different varieties here to catch, including: walleye, crappie, white bass, large- and small-mouth bass, blue gill, striped bass as well as catfish; (2) There is no need to go anywhere else to look for a boat launch as Shinleaf has its very own kayak/ canoe launch that is fantastic and located on the eastern side of the property; (3) If you are looking for some really cool outdoors adventures while in these parts, check out Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park that offers treetop rope trails and adventure courses - our kiddos loved it!; (4) When you grow tired of attempting to conjure up your next meal from the depths of your roto-molded Cordova cooler and want to try out some local fare, then I highly recommend nearby Carolina Ale House in Wake Forest or Buffalo Brothers Restaurant & Bar - both have fantastic local cuisine and nice iced area craft beers to pair with; and (5) IMHO, the best campsites here at Shinleaf are: #6, #14, #16-17; #30-33; #37-39; #40; #42-43; #45-47.

  Happy Camping!

• J

  Jason D.

  Guide

  

  May. 30, 2024

  North Carolina State Fairgrounds

  Good for a quick stop

  It’s ok. Semi secluded and has necessary hookups. Quit packed for what it is. I would not stay here for weeks. Just a stop and go kinda deal. But price is very good.

• T

  Terry S.

  Traveler

  

  May. 25, 2024

  J.C. Cooper — Kerr Lake State Recreation Area

  Peaceful with beautiful sunsets on the lake.

  We camped overnight making our way south.  There are a number of sites right on the lakefront, so snag one of those if you can!  Many of the sites offer good flat terrain, and electric hook-ups are available at many sites.  Nice, shady and quiet, the campground is very clean.  Pretty convenient to I-85.  Be sure to go out near sunset to see the beautiful reflections in the lake waters!  We will be back!

• S

  Sarah

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 27, 2024

  Nutbush Bridge — Kerr Lake State Recreation Area

  Site 23. Lakefront. Kind of small

  The site is directly on the lake. Mere steps from your door. Beautiful view on the adjacent shoreline and bridge. Rocky shoreline. Easy to back in. I only have 2 complaints. The proximity of neighbors. The only thing separating you from site 24 is the tent pad. And the site length listed is a little misleading. It says 40 feet which I assume is true. But we fit our 27 foot travel trailer in there and had a really hard time wedging our tow vehicle (F250) in there. Parked at an odd angle on the tent pad. Wouldn’t choose this site again but definitely recommend for a smaller trailer.

• 

  S H.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 1, 2024

  Butner lake WMA

  terrific spot to pull up for a night

  first time doing any type of dispersed camping but it was really easy to find, just off the road in the woods, just follow the coordinates and its a lil past, look for the signs, with lil sites to pull my car up to deeper in the woods, though you can still see the headlights coming from the road.

  I'm not a hunter but no one else was there and I pulled up at 10pm and left 6am on the first day of open season.

• 

  Melinda J.

  Guide

  

  Mar. 17, 2024

  Medoc Mountain State Park Campground

  Nice for groups

  I came here with a large group and really liked it! We were all at crammed into the 4 large group sites so I admittedly can’t comment on the size of a regular site. However the bath houses were adequate. The staff was helpful. And the trails were nice. I wish I would have explored the park a little more as well as the surrounding area. But nice little get away.

• 

  Melinda J.

  Guide

  

  Mar. 16, 2024

  Holly Point — Falls Lake State Recreation Area

  Clean and spacious

  We camped out the first night the campground was open for the season. They were performing controlled burns but nothing bothered us. Sure, we heard the planes overhead but it didn’t keep us up. We tent camped at an RV site just for some extra comfort with the water and power. Bathhouses were super clean. And we were a short walk to the lake to fish and hang out near the water. Absolutely will come back

• T

  Terry S.

  Traveler

  

  Mar. 13, 2024

  Cliffs of the Neuse State Park Campground

  Small, quiet and relaxed among the pines

  Our stay in Site #4 on February 25 in our 20' Mode LT was quiet and restful.  The park has an interesting geomorphology, sitting atop cliffs overlooking the river below, and there are miles of hiking trails.  The Campground Host was particularly helpful, checking us in when we arrived early.  Unlike many  state parks they offer their Senior Discount to out-of-state campers.  The campground is very clean and sites are very large with gravel pads, but only 14 sites have hook-ups.  Our stay was marred by heavy fire smoke from campfires penetrating our van.  The distance from I-95 adds an extra hour to your travel if you are just planning a one-nite stopover, so we might not make the trek again.

• P

  Paul H.

  Traveler

  

  Mar. 11, 2024

  Crosswinds Campground — Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

  Awesome State Park

  This was our very first full-time RV park. We loved being in the park and it easily accommodated our 39ft. Class A. Back-in site but with plenty of room to do so. Each site has water and electric hook-up. Sewer however is a dump station. The sites are big with a picnic table, fire pit and lantern hook. Plenty to do here with the lake at your fingertips. Great first experience.

• M

  Michael D.

  Traveler

  

  Mar. 4, 2024

  Enfield - Rocky Mount KOA

  No Frills, Full Hookups I-95 Waysration

  Excellent place to camp overnight or for a couple days to rest while traveling the I-95 corridor. Full hookups to empty your tanks (heated water to avoid freezing in cold), level sites - mostly pull through so you can get in and out with ease. Large open areas to walk the pups and a decent sized dog run so they can get exercise (I can’t run that fast :) ). They has a small pool for hot summer months to cool off and refresh. Camp store has needed essentials but don’t expect to find everything a camper can desire. Campus is sparsely appointed but it has all that travelers really want which is a quiet place away from the noisy highway that is safe and has the site amenities of bigger and fancier campgrounds. I rate 4 stars because it serves its intended purpose, has level sites (didn’t even need to unhook to get level) with full hookups, and it’s priced for a quick overnight or even long-term stay if you are of humble needs. We will make it a regular stop on our journeys south and north again.

• 

  Sean R.

  Guide

  

  Feb. 29, 2024

  Medoc Mountain State Park Campground

  Passing thru

  This campground appeared to be very clean and well kept.  I am disappointed that we were only there for a night  traveling south.  If I'm in the area will definitely come back.

• M

  Michelle B.

  Scout

  

  Feb. 18, 2024

  Poplar Point Campground — Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

  Lakeside North Carolina state park campground.

  Popular Point campground is one of my favorite places to pitch a tent in the Jordan Lake area.  It's often not as crowded as the others at Jordan Lake are, esp., during the week and outside of holidays or summertime.  The views are nice, with sites next to the water.  Tents and RVs can camp in the same areas.  We normally camp in a tent here, but never in the hottest part of summer, which is most of the summer in the Piedmont area of the state.  You gotta go up to 3000 feet, as in the mountains of NC, for a cool weather experience in summertime, but for a night to get away from your regular routine or a weekend when the weather is nice, this is a suitable place.  Locals like it because the drive isn't far from Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham or Pittsboro.

• R

  Ralph C.

  Traveler

  

  Jan. 22, 2024

  Moccasin Branch Campground — Raven Rock State Park

  Clean and quite!

  This is our favorite campground in the area. It is clean and quite with easy back in sites. The bathhouse is well maintained as is the camp road. We have stayed here during all four seasons and there isn't a bad time to stay. I can't say enough good things about this campground

• 

  Robert G.

  Guide

  

  Jan. 15, 2024

  Rolling View — Falls Lake State Recreation Area

  Winter

  Wet

• 

  Paul R.

  Traveler

  

  Dec. 19, 2023

  Crosswinds Campground — Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

  A great site!

  Loop C site 19 is a great location. It’s flat with a few good locations off the gravel for tents. Good trees for hammocks are present. There’s no other site within a couple hundred yards to the east. East access to the lake shore and plenty of woods for kids to play in. The bathhouse is a short walk away.

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 4, 2023

  Four Oaks Lodging & RV Resort

  Non-Descript Roadside RV Parking Lot

  If you find yourself passing up or down the I-95 corridor and simply need a patch of land to layover for the night and you’ve got one of those incredibly large mobile homes on wheels, then this non-descript RV location near Four Oaks (look for the cross-roads of where Hwy 301 intersects Hwy 701(exit 90 on I-95) may just be the perfect spot for you. But to be perfectly clear, Four Oaks is more of a layover than a destination - I would really only consider this on the way to somewhere else where I am getting in late and leaving early. 

  With a couple dozen or so RV parking lanes for your parking pleasure, all of the sites come equipped with the typical 20 / 30 / 50 amp electrical hook-ups, waste disposal and water connections. There’s the standard picnic table, fire ring / BBQ, garbage receptacles, propane refilling stations, covered pavilions and even a community BBQ. The hosts are somewhat grumpy and offer pricing by the night, week and month. Overall, the community is inviting and friendly and there were a few that invited us over to chat with them and share a beer. While there’s not a ton of amenities to pick and choose from, this location does come with BBQ, doggie park, free WiFi & high-speed internet, store and vending machines. Near this RV parking lot, you do have access to Wilmington, Emerald Isle and lovely (but crowded) Myrtle Beach. One of the best perks though is that this campground serves up a nice continental breakfast on the weekends for campground guests, plus there's also free ice and cable for any overnight guests. 

  Insider’s tip? Here's a few: (1) Take advantage of the close proximity to 30 acre Tucker Lake (conveniently located where Interstate 40 intersects 95), where some decent fishing can be had – we caught (and released) several smallmouth bass, brook trout and black bullheads. Here, you’ll find white sandy beaches, paddle boats, kayaks and canoes for rent, rope swings, 165 foot waterslide for the kids to jump into the water and scattered open pavilions with BBQ’s and grills. There’s also a handful of ill-maintained trails to hike on; (2) If you'd like to hit the links then nearby Johnston County Country Club has some really nice fairways that you'll want to explore; (3) Should you grow weary of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your onboard mini-fridge and want to try out some local fare, then head on over to nearby JP's Country BBQ where they serve up smoked chicken, ribs as well as mac-n-cheese along with some good 'ol Southern cole slaw; (4) Should you find yourself in need of anything there's Ronnie's Country Store just down the road (you wouldn't even need to drive there from Four Oaks), where you can get basic groceries, ice and just about anything for your journey; (5) My favorite site on the property is #8 or #10 as they are furthest from the nearby highway and offer decent shade; and (6) If you come bearing kayak or canoe and are looking for a nice wet piece of paradise to launch into, then check out Holts Lake located just due north of this campground where there's also some pretty decent fishing to be had. 

  Happy Camping!

• B

  Brett W.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 29, 2023

  Canoe Camp — Raven Rock State Park

  Great spot for a night or two

  I’ve camped here twice now. The hike in and out is very easy. Only about 2 miles each way. The spots are clean and well spread out with a hook to hang things on, a fire pit, and a picnic table at each site. The pit toilet is central to all 6 sites. It’s a pit toilet so it’s nothing glamorous but it’s there if you need it. The river is a short walk away from all the sites if you want to get a great picture with the sunrise. Overall, I definitely recommend.

• 

  John V.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 26, 2023

  Moccasin Branch Campground — Raven Rock State Park

  Excellent cabins

  Excellent new cabin’s perfect fire pit new tables/restrooms spaced out beautifully designed campground.

• 

  Keith F.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 9, 2023

  Crosswinds Campground — Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

  Great place

  Great place.  Plenty of shade and view of Lake Jordan.  Restrooms were clean.

• 

  Keith F.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 9, 2023

  WNC Kampers Lodge Of America

  Great place to stay, safe location, and has a family atmosphere.

  Great place to stay, safe location, and has a family atmosphere.  Space was large and I was able to pull through without having to de-attach my car trailer.

• 

  terri L.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 18, 2023

  Bullocksville — Kerr Lake State Recreation Area

  Bullocksville camp

  This park was beautiful and amazing. The views were phenomenal. We were water front. Bath houses super clean and staff very friendly.

• 

  S B.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 4, 2023

  Cliffs of the Neuse State Park Campground

  Relaxing stay!

  First time camping at cliffs of the neuse and it was great. They sell firewood for $7 (cash only at the camp store) and the park staff was friendly. Our spot was shaded by the trees and even had a little path to the bathroom in the brush. We were surprised by two kittens who cautiously watched us from the bushes. Bathrooms were also very clean. Cleanest I might have ever seen at a camp.

• R

  Ronald C.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 29, 2023

  North Carolina State Fairgrounds

  Over-Priced Parking lot !

  I have stayed there twice over the past couple years.  The only changes to this Campground are the Prices !!  ..which keep going up (to $35 day now).  For this, you get a parking space with full hookups.. that's it, no Amenities whatsoever!

  It's pretty much a "Camper Trap", because there are so few options in the North Carolina Piedmont.  Spaces are tight, a lot of the people there are long-term workers, that totally ignore any "Dust" decorum, speeding through the area as if they were on public streets!

• B

  Beverly T.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 21, 2023

  Bullocksville — Kerr Lake State Recreation Area

  Very Nice Lake Front

  These sites are mostly reservable on the state website, there are many of these campgrounds within the Kerr Lake State Rec Area. 8 in total i believe, we have visited 2 so far, but plan to visit them all. Bullocksville, has Electric and non electric sites, for the most part, the electric sites are more level and developed. We do notice some non electric good sites, but many of those are hillside sloped to the lake. When on site to reserve if you check amenties, it gives you many details, level, length, width, tent pads, etc. so just pay attention to those things and you should be able to book a wonderful campsite in a pretty lakefront campground. Great hot showers, sandy beach area here, boat ramp and launch. Paved roads around campground loop with nice gravel lots on many. We stayed on site 34, 80 feet long, level gravel site, squared gravel picnic area off to side attached to back in site. Picnic table all on mostly shaded site. It was about as close to the bathouse as you could be and while not lake front, it had nice lake view. Many nice sites right on the lake however. We booked the day of our stay, so many where reserved for the up coming weekend.