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Best Campgrounds near Murphy, NC

2,297 Reviews

Murphy, North Carolina sits at the gateway to several camping areas in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Established sites include the Murphy/Peace Valley KOA with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals along Valley River. Peachtree Cove RV Park offers 26 well-maintained sites with full hookups, while more primitive options exist in the surrounding Nantahala National Forest. Camping opportunities range from developed campgrounds with amenities to dispersed sites on forest service land, accommodating both tent campers seeking solitude and RV travelers requiring electrical and water connections.

The camping season in this region generally runs year-round at lower elevations, though some forest service campgrounds like Jackrabbit Mountain operate seasonally from May through September. Summer brings warm temperatures averaging 80-90°F, while winter nights often drop below freezing. Most developed campgrounds near Murphy provide water hookups, electric service, and sanitary dump stations, though amenities vary significantly between sites. Reservations are recommended during peak summer months and fall color season when visitation increases. Dispersed camping is available on nearby national forest land with proper permits. A visitor noted that "this is a beautiful area with friendly, helpful staff at campgrounds that are well maintained and easy to find."

Water access represents a major draw for campers in the Murphy area, with many sites situated along rivers or lakes. Valley River winds through several campgrounds, providing opportunities for fishing, swimming, and tubing. As one camper described, "it was so serene just sitting there watching the water flow by." The region's proximity to the Nantahala National Forest offers additional recreational opportunities, including hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing. Campgrounds like Peace Valley KOA receive consistently positive reviews for their peaceful settings and proximity to outdoor activities, while still being close enough to Murphy for convenient access to supplies and services. Traffic noise can be an issue at some locations situated near highways, though most sites maintain a quiet, natural atmosphere.

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Best Camping Sites Near Murphy, North Carolina (698)

    1. Vogel State Park Campground

    67 Reviews
    Suches, GA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 745-2628

    $30 - $290 / night

    "Vogel State Park was perfectly situated along Hwy 19 in the north Georgia mountains for an easy spot for the night."

    "This was a great stop close to the water. Between Blood Mountain and Neels Gap, we camped for two nights at different sites. Both were primitive, non-shelter sites."

    2. Murphy/Peace Valley KOA

    8 Reviews
    Murphy, NC
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 837-6223

    "They have worked hard to upgrade the campground which is surrounded by a river. There is a large dog run area, playground, pool in season and close proximity to the town of Murphy. Beautiful area."

    "This is a great family site and it is fairly quiet, so if you are like me and you camp to GET AWAY from noise and drama, then this is the place!!"

    3. Peachtree Cove RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Marble, NC
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 557-2722

    $59 - $69 / night

    "Shopping is close yet still tucked away nicely in the NC mountains."

    "I informed the staff, Hana and she and her brother came to assess the situation."

    4. Trackrock Campground & Cabins

    22 Reviews
    Blairsville, GA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 745-2420

    "Good sized campground tucked into the mountains. I brought my dog with me and had a great time. There is a lake that you can fish in, stables to ride horses, and hiking trails on the campground."

    "CAMPGROUND REVIEW As I was walking around the campground the word roughstic came to mInd. The road in was rough, the campsite was nice enough but somewhat minimal and the decor rustic."

    5. Jackrabbit Mountain

    14 Reviews
    Hayesville, NC
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 837-5152

    $20 - $40 / night

    "Located on Lake Chatuge in both North Carolina and Georgia, you can ride right to the biking trails or launch your paddleboard right from your lakeside site.  "

    "Parking is right above the steps that go down to the tent pad. This site has direct water access for swimming and fishing. This particular site has no shade between noon and 4."

    6. Indian Boundary

    28 Reviews
    Tallassee, TN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 253-8400

    $20 / night

    "The lake is great for kayaking and swimming, with an easy trail around the perimeter. The gorgeous Cherohala Skyway is very close by (highly recommend!)."

    "The surrounding mountains and water were breathtaking. This camp ground is close to the water if you stay in loop A. Just a short walk the water and beach."

    7. Persimmon Creek RV Park

    6 Reviews
    Culberson, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 644-5800

    $55 - $900 / night

    "This is a beautiful secluded site just off of Highway 64/74 not too far from the Tennessee border. The campground is very well kept and has wonderful amenities for both RV and tent campers."

    "I don't have a huge point of reference, but I can give you details on everything that was smooth

    • Location - Just off a 4 lane highway.  Convenient with easy access to your site. "

    8. Long Hungry Road Dispersed Campsites

    16 Reviews
    Robbinsville, NC
    18 miles

    "Each has a picnic table, fire pit/grill, and level area for 1-2 tents (a few can accommodate more if you’re ambitious), and lake views (most have lake access if you want to put in a kayak or canoe)."

    "This campsite is a great little spot just across the road from the water—peaceful, scenic, and well-situated."

    9. Gibson Cove Campground

    8 Reviews
    Hayesville, NC
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 557-6788

    $30 - $35 / night

    "Beautiful campground located on Lake Chatuge in North Carolina. Gibson Cove campground is a county park with paved roads and gravel campsites."

    "The only lakeside site available was #20. That was probably because it was small (~25' max). But the view was great. Sites are well maintained."

    10. Morganton Point Campground

    17 Reviews
    Morganton, GA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 374-1645

    $26 - $50 / night

    "Camped on lot 14 which was quite spacious with easy access to the water. Tent was located away from the fire pit and picnic table and the restrooms were close by."

    "We were right next to the camp host, which was pretty nice – we didn’t have to go far to ask for wood or ice!  Plus, there were trails leading right to the lake. "

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Recent Camping Photos near Murphy, NC

1041 Photos of 698 Murphy Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Murphy, NC

2297 Reviews of 698 Murphy Campgrounds

  • Ken A.
    Oct. 28, 2025

    Little River Campground & RV Resort

    A Bit of a Let Down.

    The campground was clean and friendly and surprisingly quiet considering how full it was. The sites are very tight for bigger rigs and the sites are very close together. We stayed multiple days and we had to cut our trip short by two days. We checked out early and spoke with a very friendly staff member about refunding the two days we were not able to stay. She informed us that the manager was not there and that she would let her know when she came in and she could refund the two nights. We received a call later from the employee and she told us the manager said she would not be able to refund us and if we wanted to call her she would give us her number and her name was Bunny. We gave her call and explained our situation and she said that unless someone had died or had to go to the hospital they didn't issue refunds. I explained without giving too much personal details that we had to leave due to some circumstances and she said she would issue us a voucher for one night if we liked. Probably would have stayed there again with our smaller camper and our not fifth wheel and recommended to friends as well but it came across to us that once they had our money it was our loss.

  • David R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Long Hungry Road Dispersed Campsites

    Great Campsite, But Let’s Keep It Clean

    This campsite is a great little spot just across the road from the water—peaceful, scenic, and well-situated. I was lucky to grab the last open site, and it turned out to be a perfect place to unwind. The only downside was the amount of trash left behind by previous visitors; I nearly filled a bag cleaning up. A gentle reminder to future campers: please do better and respect this beautiful space. Despite that, it’s truly a gem, and I’ll definitely be coming back.

  • j
    Oct. 24, 2025

    Unicoi State Park & Lodge

    Great central location.

    I camp at Unicoi State Park several times a year for a number of different reasons. First, it is right in the middle of what I call waterfall country. There are more beautiful waterfalls within an hour than I can count. Second, there are spectacularly beautiful trails everywhere. You’re only about 20 minutes from the Appalachian Trail at Hog Pen Gap and 30 minutes from Blood Mountain and the Blood Mountain wilderness. Third, there are numerous picturesque and friendly little towns nearby. The park is about 3 miles from the town of Helen, which is a pseudo Bavarian village. A little touristy but still fun. There are some great German restaurants there. As to the park itself, I tent camp, and the campsites are excellent. Nice bathroom and shower facilities close by and regardless of the time of year it has never been crowded. Definitely worth $25 a night and I get a discount because I’m a senior (Remember you have to ask for the discount. They won’t tell you). If you are camping in the tent area, I can almost guarantee you’ll see a bear because they come out almost every night. Keep all of your food in the bear boxes. Since it is somewhat of a resort park, there are cabins, RV hook ups and even a motel/conference center. There are lots of activities like swimming, boating, archery, zip lining, etc. The Smith Creek pub is a nice little restaurant for a quick meal or a drink.

  • pThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 24, 2025

    Amicalola Falls State Park Camping

    Quick fall foliage trip

    The park is absolutely beautiful, great scenery and hiking trails. The visitors center is nice, but the helpfulness of the staff was hit or miss. The campsite is nice, quiet, clean bathrooms and warm showers. We camped in a tent and the ground was hard, almost like cement which made staking the tent down difficult. Other than this, we loved it and would come back again.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Fern Cove — Black Rock Mountain State Park

    Beautiful park but steep slope up

    Black Rock is beautiful but hard on some transmissions. There is a long steep slope up the mountain and it is common for transmissions to over heat. So much so that there is an auto shop at the base of the mountain. The road up is narrow and twisty. I have seen some larger rigs up here but most are smaller. If u can make it, it is worth the journey. Lots of hiking trails for different levels. Clean facilities, friendly hosts. WiFi is available at the trading post. Nice place to sit and rock.incredible views. Have visited in April, may, June, and October. Usually stay on site 6. Later spring into summer had more poison ivy on trails.

  • Liz M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Rough Creek Dispersed

    Only 2 Sites

    Gorgeous area at the end of the road. Only 2 sites and one intense drive to get here. It takes about 35 minutes to go 4 miles. Ground clearance and off road tires needed

  • Liz M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Little Gassaway Creek

    1 Campsite off 4 x 4 Road

    Found this site on the way to another. Only one campsite and requires either off-road tires or 4 x 4

Guide to Murphy

Dispersed camping near Murphy, North Carolina offers tent and small RV options within Nantahala National Forest. The Forest Service allows camping on most lands with some restrictions at 1,200-5,000 feet elevation. Sites are typically primitive without facilities, requiring campers to be self-sufficient with water and waste disposal. Fire regulations vary by season, with potential bans during dry periods from late summer through fall.

What to do

Fishing access: The Valley River near Murphy/Peace Valley KOA offers good fishing opportunities. "The river is right by the campground," notes a camper, with another adding that the "Valley River winds through" providing "opportunities for fishing."

Horseback riding: At Track Rock Campgrounds, horseback rides are available on site. As one visitor mentioned, "I got to enjoy a lovely horseback ride on Chubby Checker with Sonya... that was the highlight of the trip for me."

Mountain biking: The area has multiple trail systems for biking. At Jackrabbit Mountain, "The 15 miles of mountain bike trails are absolutely amazing for all skill levels," and another visitor noted there's a "1.5 mile connector dirt trail to the Jackrabbit mountain trail system, so no need to ride on the road."

What campers like

Waterfront sites: Many campgrounds offer direct water access. At Long Hungry Road Dispersed Campsites, "Each has a picnic table, fire pit/grill, and level area for 1-2 tents (a few can accommodate more if you're ambitious), and lake views (most have lake access if you want to put in a kayak or canoe)."

Clean facilities: Peachtree Cove RV Park maintains high standards. "This is a beautiful, well maintained park with a very friendly and helpful staff (family operated). The sights are level and well spaced, and the creek is charming," reports one camper.

Wildlife viewing: The rural setting provides opportunities to see local animals. At Persimmon Creek Campground, one camper mentioned "Deb wants me to mention that she enjoyed watching the cows at the neighboring farm cool off in the river."

What you should know

Seasonal closures: Not all campgrounds operate year-round. Jackrabbit Mountain is "open April 1 through October 1," while others like Vogel State Park Campground remain "open all year."

Road conditions: Some forest service roads can be challenging. At Long Hungry Road, a visitor advises to "drive carefully (lots of big potholes and blind curves)!" Similarly, at Track Rock, "Very steep and unlevel roads; especially when leaving."

Cell coverage: Signal can vary widely across the area. At Gibson Cove Campground, "AT&T speeds are slow in this area but Verizon works well," according to one camper's experience.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming areas. At Indian Boundary, "There's a lake with a sandy area," and "it was so serene just sitting there watching the water flow by" at Peace Valley KOA.

Kid-friendly activities: Many campgrounds offer additional recreation beyond camping. Indian Boundary has "a large dog run area, playground, pool in season," while Track Rock Campgrounds features "a beach/pond, swings, horseshoes."

Site selection for children: Choose sites with easy water access but safe conditions. At Murphy/Peace Valley KOA, one camper was "a little concerned about my little one tumbling off the small drop off, but she was smart enough to realize it was not safe, and stayed on the camper pad."

Tips from RVers

Site sizes: Check length restrictions before booking. At Peachtree Cove, "Site 16 is long enough for a 43' 5th wheel and has suitable height clearance." Gibson Cove campsites are "staggered well to provide most with good view of lake."

Hookup availability: Service levels vary significantly between campgrounds. Persimmon Creek has "electric & water hookups" with "sites that are very spacious." At Jackrabbit Mountain, "RVers will have to rough it with no hookups, but there is access to a dump station."

Maneuvering challenges: Big rigs may face difficulties in some locations. Track Rock cautions "Fifth Wheel Owners BEWARE!," with one reviewer reporting "Our camper came in contact with the side of our bed and tailgate multiple times."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Murphy, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, Murphy, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 698 campgrounds and RV parks near Murphy, NC and 63 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Murphy, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Murphy, NC is Vogel State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 67 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Murphy, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 63 free dispersed camping spots near Murphy, NC.

What parks are near Murphy, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 parks near Murphy, NC that allow camping, notably Tusquitee National Forest and Nantahala National Forest.

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