4 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Equestrian Campground at South Mountains State Park offers designated camping areas specifically designed for horse owners. Located in Connelly Springs, North Carolina, approximately 40 miles from Newland, this campground features electric hookups with both fifty-amp and thirty-amp options. The campground provides water hookups and sewer connections for each site, allowing equestrians extended stays while maintaining comfort. Showers and toilet facilities are well-maintained for campers. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring for evening relaxation after trail rides. The campground is open year-round and maintains a perfect 5-star rating from visitors. South Mountains State Park encompasses over 18,000 acres with extensive trail systems suitable for various riding abilities.
Riders can access numerous bridle trails directly from the campground, connecting to the park's 40+ miles of multi-use trails through rugged terrain and mountain landscapes. Chestnut Hollow Horse Campground at Grayson Highlands State Park represents another option located approximately 55 miles from Newland in nearby Virginia. This facility features drinking water, electric hookups, and modern restrooms with showers. The surrounding area offers exceptional high-elevation riding with panoramic mountain vistas and opportunities to encounter wild ponies that roam the highlands. Trail systems connect to the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail and the Appalachian Trail, providing varied terrain for day rides or longer excursions. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak season when equestrian sites fill quickly due to limited availability of horse-specific camping in the region.
"Julian Price Park is a beautiful campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. We enjoy this campground on the weekends throughout the fall and spring as it is less occupied."
"This campground is on a beautiful lake. There is no swimming on the lake(its pretty shallow) but awesome for kayaking and paddleboarding."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
"They'll deliver firewood ($5) to your site by golf cart, they even will collect your site fees as they drive around."
"This is a wonderful spot to be to explore the surrounding areas:
- The famous Mount Mitchell trail, starts a short walking distance from the campground."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $28 - $56 / night
"The family campground is a short distance further inside the park on the left side(approx 2 miles) marked by a small brown sign...and is situated at 1400 ft elevation. "
"Beautiful but crowded trails. There are equestrian trails and camping facilities. Dogs welcome. Ice cold creeps and lovely waterfalls."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $27 - $32 / night
"It’s a 6 mile hike up Maple Camp Ridge on trail 191 (Buncombe Horse Range) starting from a small parking lot close to Carolina Hemlocks Campground."
"A little below where we set up camp, we found a natural spring for water and theres a decent amount of firewood around. We parked at the top of Mt."
"This is a small quite camp ground with horse stables. Husband and wife working there were very nice."
"Cabins, RV spots mostly level, paddocks for horses. Lots of exploration in the woods potential."
from $15 - $45 / night
"This equestrian campground in a beautiful state forest allows for other campers to make reservations no more than 30 days in advance; priority is for campers with horses."
"We camped at an equestrian campgrounds, chestnut ridge perhaps? Saw a Family of black bear about a mile from camp then a bobcat in camp later that day!"
Available next weekend
from $37 / night
"I’d never used a KOA before but was tremendously impressed with the serene beauty of this place situated well away from traffic in a bucolic setting."
"They have cabins, a nice pool, a blob, lots of outdoor activities, playground area, horse shoes, even with it being a smaller KOA Campground there is a lot to do."
"Drove straight across the entrance where a sign said parking but no camping. Was actually a really good camp spot plenty of room."
RangerIt says no overnight camping but there were 3 cars camping so I decided to camp. Drove straight across the entrance where a sign said parking but no camping. Was actually a really good camp spot plenty of room.
ScoutI stayed long term while working in the area, including through the winter months, and loved the propane delivery. Coming home to a full tank already dropped at my site was such a nice perk.
It’s a beautiful, peaceful little campground tucked into the mountains and you can tell a lot of care goes into it. It’s not a parking lot like other places I’ve stayed the sites are tiered on the mountainside but level and large. Staff is friendly, they have a game room and laundry room and the store sells cold beer! It was a nice home away from home while working in town
ScoutAbsolutely love camping here at warriors path State Park it's beyond one of my favorite places to camp
TravelerThere are multiple sites for camping rvs if you are set up for boondocking.
LegendThis is a neat campground. We camp in the area a lot and this campground is either completely empty or totally full. We have stayed here a couple of times when it was empty. We don't have horses so I wouldn't stay here when it is full. For us it is great as a cheap stop if we are traveling through the area at the right time. A nice creek goes through the campground that is right on the highway, so we usually stay in the back to get away from the road noise. Not that there is much traffic in the area at night.
Check it out in our 360° Video and see it like you are there.
https://youtu.be/dlGXzrFK31Q
LegendA quiet, easy-access campground with good site privacy and great lake views. Some site boundaries feel a bit unclear and the bathrooms can get crowded, but the location is perfect for exploring the Blue Ridge. A solid stay, especially with the RV and primitive areas kept separate.
Check out our video of all the sites.
https://youtu.be/3NspCX_Zgnw
TravelerThe campground itself was good. Bathhouse was clean-ish. The one shower stall smelled quite moldy/mildewy. Not a lot of amenities. We stayed a week and all days during the week - Monday through Friday, there was construction literally right beside our RV. Constant leaf blowing. I understand that they are doing improvements, that is great. A head's up about it, possible option to stay at another site, a noise discount, or at least letting us know, so we could make a choice, would have been nice. Would never stay here again.
TravelerMost campsites have good privacy and is quiet most hours. All have easy access, but bathrooms are small for number of campers. Some campsites are a little confusing about site areas as it seems they overlap into each other some. The view of the lake is one of the best parts. More campgrounds should separate rv and primitive like they do.
ScoutFR 472 is closed at the Golf Course and there are hefty fines if you are caught walking beyond the gate. Black Mountain Campground was destroyed by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The bridge across the S. Toe River was broken and washed out. The water system is also destroyed as well as the road network in the campground. There have been no announcements by the Forest Service about plans to repair the facility and, after a year, my guess is that there never will be.
Equestrian camping near Newland, North Carolina offers riders access to mountainous terrain with elevations reaching over 5,000 feet in surrounding areas. The region experiences four distinct seasons, with summer temperatures averaging 10-15 degrees cooler than lower elevations. Winter conditions can limit trail access from December through February, particularly at higher elevations where snow and ice may persist.
Kayak on site lakes: Julian Price Park Campground provides on-water activities just steps from campsites. "There is a spot within the park to rent kayaks which was great. There is a hiking trail that goes around the lake," shares Danielle L. The campground offers easy water access with rental equipment available seasonally.
Explore waterfall trails: The region features multiple accessible waterfall hikes within short driving distance. "The SetRock Falls [trail is] right on the campground property...and several other foot trails to keep you busy and hiking," notes Scott K. from Black Mountain Campground. Most waterfall trails range from 0.5-2.5 miles roundtrip.
Ride multi-use trails: Horse owners can access extensive trail systems directly from dedicated equestrian facilities. "The trail systems connect to the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail and the Appalachian Trail, providing varied terrain for day rides," according to visitors at Chestnut Hollow Horse Campground. Trail difficulties range from beginner-friendly loops to technical mountain terrain.
Clean facilities: Maintenance standards at area campgrounds receive consistent praise. "Bathrooms are available here (upgrades coming soon!) as well as drinking water," notes Kirsten J. about Julian Price Park. Campers frequently mention well-maintained shower buildings and regularly serviced restrooms.
Water features: Access to natural water sources ranks highly among visitor preferences. At South Mountains State Park, Jessica L. shares, "we camped at the family camping area, it was great, we had site 6 and it was on the river and the kids loved it!" Most riverside sites fill quickly during peak season.
Mountain views: The region's elevated terrain provides scenic perspectives from many camping areas. "An amazing spot to admire sunrises if the weather cooperates," writes Francis C. about Maple Camp Bald. This primitive camping area requires a 6-mile hike but rewards with unobstructed eastern vistas.
Reservation timing: Demand exceeds capacity during peak seasons, requiring advance planning. For equestrian sites specifically, "priority is for campers with horses. This state park has wild horses of its own, but has numerous multi-use and equestrian trails," explains Jean C. Most horse camping sites book 3-6 months in advance for summer weekends.
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies widely across the region. "No cell service on T-Mobile or Verizon inside the camp (small victory for nature)," reports Scott K. about Black Mountain Campground. Some parks provide limited WiFi at visitor centers but not at campsites.
Road conditions: Access routes to remote camping areas often require appropriate vehicles. Terri S. notes about Springmaid Mountain: "I drive a Kia Soul (low profile vehicle) and the roads to the campground were challenging due to the deep ruts and wash out." High-clearance vehicles may be necessary for certain locations.
Choose creek-adjacent sites: Water features provide natural entertainment for children. "We stayed at site 6 and it was on the river and the kids loved it! Cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen!" reports Jessica L. about South Mountains State Park. Sites along water typically cost the same as standard sites.
Look for playground access: Some facilities include developed recreation areas. At Bristol-Kingsport KOA, Laura H. shares they have "a nice pool, a blob, lots of outdoor activities, playground area, horse shoes, even with it being a smaller KOA Campground there is a lot to do." Most KOAs charge premium rates but include these amenities.
Consider tent pad size: Family-sized tents require appropriately sized platforms. "The tent pad was large enough to setup our 8 man tent and 2 man tent, and leave us plenty of room for our kitchen setup and room around the fire pit," explains Erica F. Site descriptions online often list pad dimensions for planning purposes.
Choose appropriate loop: Campground layouts vary significantly regarding RV accessibility. Myron C. notes about Julian Price Park: "The sites in E loop are mainly for RVs and have less shade. One section in the A loop also is an open field and has limited shade." Research specific loops before booking to ensure compatibility.
Utilize full hookups: Extended stays benefit from complete service connections. At Upper Falls Campsite, horse owners appreciate that "the campground provides water hookups and sewer connections for each site, allowing equestrians extended stays while maintaining comfort." Most sites with full hookups command premium pricing but provide convenience for longer visits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Newland, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Newland, NC is Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway with a 4.6-star rating from 49 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Newland, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 20 equestrian camping locations near Newland, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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