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Tent Camping near Newland, NC

17 campgrounds with availability this weekend

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    Tent camping options in the forested mountains near Newland, North Carolina include both established campgrounds and dispersed sites within nearby national forest land. Mortimer Campground in the Pisgah National Forest offers tent sites along Thorps Creek, while Steele Creek provides free dispersed camping options. Bear Creek Mountain Campground features walk-in tent sites on a mountainside property that tent campers can access on foot.

    Access roads to many of the tent campsites near Newland require careful navigation, particularly at Mortimer Campground which sits at the end of several miles of gravel roads. Sites at Steele Creek have uneven terrain requiring standard clearance vehicles to proceed with caution. A visitor commented, "The road is pretty well maintained other than a few spots that you have to crawl through on the corners specifically." Many tent sites feature basic amenities like fire rings, but most lack potable water. Primitive tent setups are common at Steele Creek where camping spots are positioned along a creek with no facilities beyond established fire rings.

    Walk-in tent locations provide more solitude and creek access compared to drive-up sites. At Mortimer Campground, the five walk-in sites at the front of the property offer greater privacy than the pull-in sites toward the back. "The 5 upfront are walk-in, and more private. The about to be 12 in the back are pull in and much closer together," noted one camper in their review. Bear Creek Mountain Campground requires tent campers to park and then carry gear to their chosen site, with multiple spots available across the mountainside property. Tent campsites in the area generally feature natural surroundings with creek access, making them popular for swimming and fishing during warmer months. Most primitive tent areas require campers to pack out all trash and come prepared with adequate supplies, as services are limited throughout the region.

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Newland (80)

      1. Mortimer Campground — National Forests In North Carolina

      4.3(10)12mi from Newland17 sitesTents

      "The 5 upfront are walk in, and more private. The about to be 12 in the back are pull in and much closer together. Two shower houses, one on both ends, no hookups."

      "Had some friends stay next to us in a class b. A small trailer would fit, nothing big. No W/E/S but great place. Come early to reserve. You must set up camp immediately. No reservations."

      from $20 - $30 / night

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      2. Dark Ridge HideOut (Adults Only)

      5.0(6)9mi from Newland14 sitesTents

      "Excellent parking spot with plenty of room to set up a 3-person tent. Also, delivery of homemade pizza. I recommend the Jalapeno & Cheese."

      "Very attentive and has some great stories to share. The property is well kept and the provided toilet & shower were a very welcome after a couple days in the tent."

      from $20 - $45 / night

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      3. Blue Bear Mountain Camp

      4.8(27)21mi from Newland4 sitesTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "It offers RV, drive in and hike in tent sites and also teepee camping."

      "We had a neighbor nice enough to give us his site because he was leaving early and I would have stayed another night there. It was C3 backed into the woods on level ground. It made for a cozy morning."

      from $25 - $136 / night

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      4. Camper Mountain on Roaring Creek

      5.0(2)6mi from Newland5 sitesTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "It’s a bit of a drive out there with little to no cell service but wifi is available over the whole site! Definitely worth it with amazing views all around."

      from $29 - $69 / night

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      5. Plumtree Campground & Retreat

      5.0(1)5mi from Newland2 sitesRVs, Tents

      Available this weekend

      from $30 / night

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      6. Steele Creek

      4.5(4)13mi from NewlandTents

      "I have stayed at all the free campsites around and left my review for each. This is by far the quietest, nicest, cleanest , site yet !"

      "There’s a nice big spot at the end of the trail where you could rooftop tent/car camp, but the actual site is about 100’ away."

      7. Bear Creek Mountain Campground

      5.0(2)13mi from Newland1 siteTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Just a beautiful place camped for a weekend with my son and we couldn't have been more happy with the set up. Thanks Michelle!"

      "I have a few cabins, one glamping tent, and a self-brought tent camping area."

      from $25 - $30 / night

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      8. Boone Fork Campground

      3.8(4)18mi from NewlandTents

      "There is a 5 mile long trail that goes through the campground called Boone Fork Trail. This trail leads to Hebron falls where you can explore giant boulders and have a picnic."

      "The terrain is also flat and easy to hike through, making it a good long trail for beginners or children."

      9. Blackberry Blossom Farm & Campground

      5.0(4)20mi from NewlandTents

      "There’s a covered outdoor space for small events, too.  For me however, the huge draw is the natural beauty of the place."

      "to get away to some quiet (NO traffic noises!) and decompress.  Janice and Ed are the kindest, most considerate hosts you could imagine. "

      from $24 - $55 / night

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      10. Little Stony Creek Road Dispersed Area

      3.3(3)17mi from NewlandTents

      "Stayed a night out here while traveling, scary narrow rocky trails, but beautiful streams and mountains"

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    Tent Camping Reviews near Newland, NC

    1327 Reviews of 80 Newland Campgrounds

    • Windy W.
      Oct. 23, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Beautiful Place, Ugly host, Oct 2026

      Let me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time.   With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price

    • Bonnie H.
      Oct. 21, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Kylie T & Andrew W. Review not accurate

      My husband and I arrived at Doe River Landing for 3 nights and enjoyed everything the resort offered. While there we read the 2 reviews posted by Kylie T, and by Andrew W, who gave the resort a 1 star rating. Not knowing the facts that caused the rating by them, and occurred prior to us, we approach the owner and asked.

      The owner showed us videos from their security cameras. These adults has stated in Kylie T review and confirm by Andrew W review that they were a group of 20 adults and "every single one of us is over 21 and family". So why are these adults playing "hide and seek" under the pavilion as they stated? Andrew W stated, "It was not blocked off", yet they had to crawl on the ground and around bushes to get under the pavilion. When the owner yelled at them approximately 10 adults that were under the pavilion crawled out which was captured on the security cameras. Andrew W stated in his review the owner called them hooligans, which is rowdy, destructive persons and from the security cameras, that description is correct. There was no mention of damages in their reviews such as the Adirondack chair they broke or possible damage to the water pipes and electric wires under the pavilion, which the owner was currently checking.

      Once we read these two reviews by Kylie T and Andrew W and saw the owners security videos, we felt future customers deserved to know another opinion based on our findings.

      These entitled adults justified their review of a 1 star by stating they paid money to use the campground.

      I would ask these adults "why do you think it is OK to treat someone else's property in this destructive way?"

    • SThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 21, 2026

      Spacious Skies Bear Den

      Seems to be a well established campground in an off the beaten path location. Roads alternately paved and gravel. The campsite is gravel in a wooded setting. Fair amount of space between sites. The bathhouse is clean but dated.

    • Kyle T.
      Oct. 20, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Unprofessional hosts that ruins a place with good potential

      We brought our whole family out and rented almost every cabin on the property, plus the event center, for the weekend— we gave this place a lot of business. And honestly, the stay itself was great— nice place, no complaints about the cabins. The owner is the problem. He came flying in in his blue F-150 doing 20–30 mph where the posted speed limit is 5, and started screaming at us over something that could've been handled with a simple conversation. His exact words:"Where are your parents? This is a family establishment. I will not have hooligans running around here." Every single one of us is over 21 and family. All we were doing was playing hide and seek— which isn't against any of the property's rules— and there were no other guests to disturb, since we had the entire area rented. He still threatened to call the police, even though it wasn't even quiet hours. Before anyone could get a word in, he peeled out so fast the gravel sprayed up at us and our cars. Then on his way out he drove the wrong way down the property's one-way road, so apparently the rules only apply to guests. It's sad, because the property itself is great, and we were never anything but nice to the owners the whole weekend. To be treated in such an unprofessional manner— screamed at, threatened, and never given so much as an apology afterward— put a real dent in the weekend. We won't be back

    • A
      Oct. 20, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Beautiful place ruined by unprofessional ownership

      Our group of about 20 rented nearly every cabin at Doe River Landing for my friend's wedding weekend, with the reception held on site. The cabins were nice and well-equipped, and the only other guests were in a cabin half a mile away through the woods. Unfortunately, the hosts ruined the stay. One night, some of us were playing hide and seek in an area that wasn't blocked off or against any rule. The host's husband came speeding in at roughly 30 mph(the posted limit is 5), jumped out of his truck screaming that he"will not have child hooligans running around the campground," told us to"go back to the motel we crawled out of," and demanded to see our parents— despite all of us being adults in our twenties. He then peeled out so aggressively he sprayed gravel at us and our cars. It wasn't even quiet hours, and we weren't disturbing anyone. Afterward, the host called us again, passive-aggressive, and questioned our ages— even though you have to be 21 just to rent a cabin there. The property is lovely, but the hosts' behavior put a real damper on what should have been a joyful wedding celebration. It's a shame they treat people paying good money this way. We won't be back.

    • Juliana J.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 14, 2026

      Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites

      Epic Spot Near Iron Mountain and Rush Trails

      I wandered a bit and took a left up a gravel road near where the sites indicated were located and just drove for a few miles. Found an awesome spot with a fire pit and lush surroundings. The road was unpaved (but as are all to the best spots) and there were definitely some large rocks and potholes to navigate. Would suggest higher raised vehicle. Saw nobody else and felt like I had my own slice of paradise.

    • April V.
      Oct. 11, 2026

      Lakeview RV Resort

      Nice little campground

      Clean nice little campground for the weekend.

    • Lisa & Patrick R.
      Oct. 11, 2026

      Buck Creek

      Buck Creek Campground review

      Nice spot right on the river..Camp store & staff seem friendly & helpful-especially Sonny & Joshua.

    • AThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 6, 2026

      Campfire Lodgings

      The view!

      The view is worth it and is as advertised! We were in the first spot as you enter the park. We were concerned with noise, but it was not even an issue.

      Our spot was right on the ridge and was stunning. I don’t think I closed the blinds on that side of the trailer.

      Loss of star because of the road in/out. It’s one lane gravel and windy. It’s ok as long as you don’t meet anyone on the road. Dryer took 2 cycles to dry 2 towels and a few tshirts.

    Guide to Newland

    Tent camping near Newland, North Carolina provides access to the Appalachian mountain region where elevations range from 3,200 to 4,000 feet, creating naturally cooler summer temperatures compared to surrounding lowland areas. The Wilson Creek area within Pisgah National Forest contains numerous camping options featuring creek-side sites where water temperatures remain cool even during July and August. Most tent campsites require navigating unpaved forest roads that can become challenging after heavy rainfall.

    What to do

    Waterfall hiking: 0.5-mile trail from Mortimer Campground leads to a small waterfall perfect for cooling off during summer months. "Beautiful, clean grounds with access to a 1/2 mile round trip hike to a waterfall on the property," notes one visitor.

    Fishing at stocked ponds: Blue Bear Mountain Camp offers fishing opportunities in their mountain pond where campers report immediate success. "The hike to the pond was a little more strenuous than we anticipated but once you get there, there is a nice creek and we caught a trout in the pond right away," according to one family.

    Swimming in natural pools: Multiple swimming areas exist throughout the Wilson Creek area where natural rock formations create deeper pools. "There is a walking trail at the end of the road about 100 feet from our site, that had the best swimming hole at the end of it, where you can jump in," explains a camper at Steele Creek.

    Old cemetery exploration: Several historic cemeteries dot the forest areas near Newland camping spots. One Mortimer Campground visitor mentioned, "It is dog friendly, and has a few good hiking trails. You can also check out a cool old cemetery nearby."

    What campers like

    Weather relief: Higher elevations provide significantly cooler temperatures during summer months. A Blue Bear Mountain Camp visitor highlighted this benefit: "The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat. The campsites are very spaced out."

    Creek sounds: Steele Creek offers tent sites positioned directly beside flowing water. "This is by far the quietest, nicest, cleanest site yet! There are plenty of sites to pick from all along the creek, all of which appear to be well maintained, each with a fire ring," shares one camper.

    Mountain breezes: The higher elevation campgrounds feature consistent air movement that helps reduce insects. A visitor to Blue Bear Mountain noted, "The constant light breeze and lack of mosquitoes is a treat."

    Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms despite remote locations. A visitor to Blackberry Blossom Farm & Campground commented, "I have never been to a cleaner, more beautiful campground in my life. The facilities are up to date, the bathhouse is spotless, and the campsites themselves are clear and well-maintained."

    What you should know

    Road conditions: Forest service roads leading to many tent sites require careful driving and appropriate vehicles. "This campground is down a pretty long gravel road, so it's best to have what you need when you arrive. No quick trips to Wally World for resupply here," warns a Mortimer Campground visitor.

    Limited cell service: Most camping areas around Newland have minimal to no cellular coverage. At Dark Ridge HideOut, a camper noted, "It's a bit of a drive out there with little to no cell service but wifi is available over the whole site!"

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Newland, NC?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Newland, NC is Mortimer Campground — National Forests In North Carolina with a 4.3-star rating from 10 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Newland, NC?

    TheDyrt.com has all 80 tent camping locations near Newland, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.