Staunton River State Park Campground
Surprisingly Quiet
I've read reviews about noise levels and lack of privacy. But we experienced the opposite, at least at our campsite.
4 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Medoc Mountain State Park provides equestrian camping options near Littleton, North Carolina. The park features a dedicated Equestrian Campground that requires campers to bring horses. Campsites include electric hookups with both 30-amp and 50-amp service, water hookups, and sewer connections for RVs. The campsites are drive-in accessible with picnic tables and fire rings where fires are permitted. No drinking water is available directly at the sites, though water hookups are provided. The campground maintains well-kept facilities including a sanitary dump station and shower facilities for campers. The trails are in excellent condition with multiple options for riders of varying experience levels.
The park offers several miles of bridle trails throughout the property, with connections from the equestrian campground providing direct access to the trail system. Multiple hiking and horse trails allow riders to explore the natural surroundings of the park. Sites require reservations, and pets are allowed within the campground areas. The park provides diverse terrain for riding, including creek crossings and woodland paths. Though there are no dedicated horse corrals on site, the spacious campsites accommodate horse trailers with room for portable corrals or highlines. Many equestrians appreciate the park's quiet atmosphere and well-maintained paths. The surrounding area offers additional riding opportunities, making Medoc Mountain State Park a practical base camp for horse enthusiasts exploring the Littleton region.
"Good location off of 85. Great trails and equestrian trails!"
"Not far from the Roanoke River and right around the corner from Halifax, this spot is perfect for getting away from it all."
from $27 - $75 / night
"We have a larger trailer so we had to stay in the equestrian area. There weren’t showers by us but there was 1 bathroom."
"If you have dogs like we do that hate squirrels they drove them nuts- squirrels running around in our campsite and up trees in our campsite. And while walking around."
Available next weekend
from $21 - $384 / night
from $17 / night
"The hiking trails are also do horses and parts have been beaten down and there was a lot of horse poop in the trail. Still worth the hike to see the peaceful water though."
"Site was built into a hill and had several steps leading up to it. Much smaller site than we are used to at VA State parks."
from $27 - $110 / night
"There are tons of hiking trails all around and plenty of bike trails too! Conveniently located north of Raleigh, NC and close to many major highways."
"None of the sites are located right on the lake. You either walk the trails or drive down."
Available next weekend
from $72 / night
"Very nice place to walk and lots of sight seeing close by and shor t walk or drive to the water"
"One mile walk to Buffalo park a beautiful place with lots of history. I love it .Great day for a picnic ."
from $22 - $53 / night
I've read reviews about noise levels and lack of privacy. But we experienced the opposite, at least at our campsite.
We stayed here Memorial weekend 2026. We had a tent only site with no hook ups. It was site 48 which is the first site you come across when pulling into the campgrounds.
Site was built into a hill and had several steps leading up to it. Much smaller site than we are used to at VA State parks. Looking at the other sites they were also on the smaller side and oddly shaped.
Easy access to the River Bank trail and Captain Staunton trail directly from the campsites. Great when you have kiddos that don't want to walk a ton.
Great views throughout of the Staunton River & Dan River. Lots of deer sightings in the morning and early evenings. Great activities with the rangers including a wagon wide through the park.
It was rainy during our stay so no chance to take advantage of the Dark Sky classification. When skys are clear they do have an astronomer that comes out on the weekends in the summer.
Medoc Mountain State Park campground has been recently renovated. All of the full hook up sites and primitive sites are spacious and well kept. We camped in site #26 which was level and spacious. The sites on the outside of the loop are pretty level. The bathrooms/showers are new, spacious, and clean. There is a great playground in walking distance. There are many hiking trails that start near the campground. None of them have amazing views, but they are nice and well marked. I enjoyed the Bluff View trail the most. We were able to hike 6 miles both days we were there. Added bonus: campground is close to I-95. The only drawback is the lack of a close grocery store. Dollar General is less than 5 miles away.
Beautiful, small, newly renovated campground. Gorgeous bath house. A few sites are level but most aren’t. Quiet. Easy to get to from I-95.
Lots of trails, 2 boat launches and nice campground. We stay here every once in a while since it is so close and such a amazing state park.
Check out our video of all the sites.
https://youtu.be/g3tsJATaSis?si=3Cl29wwqTO1JF9FW
Went there with my family in March over spring break. Can’t say this was exactly camping the way we did it, but the cabin was absolutely amazing. Each cabin is probably on a 2 acre plot of land and most of them have fantastic views of Kerr Reservoir.
Kitchens are nicely appointed, rooms are nicely decorated, just bring your own sheets and linens and get ready for a fantastic time.
Decent bathhouse on Iron Bow. Sites are really close together and narrow so doesn’t leave a lot of room between campers. Not terrible but also have had stayed at more spacious state park campsites. 7$ bundles for firewood for sale near the bathhouse. The Visitor center is nice with some good souvenirs for purchase and history section. Plenty of spots for fishing and launching watercraft. No designated swimming areas though. No WiFi. Verizon device at the campground worked okay. Clarksville town is quaint with some shops worth checking.
B.W. Wells Campground at Falls Lake felt like stepping into a quiet forest hideaway, where the kids could explore trails, spot eagles over the water, and watch butterflies while we enjoyed campfires under the trees. It’s strictly hike-in and tent-only, so we had to pack light and plan carefully, but the trade-off was true peace and space to connect without the noise of RVs or busy roads. With shaded group sites, fire pits, picnic tables, nearby restrooms, and lake access perfect for paddling or fishing, it offered a rustic yet rewarding experience that was still close enough to Wake Forest for a quick meal or supply run when we needed it.
Spent 4 nights here (during a heat wave, no less) and really enjoyed it. Campsites are large and not right on top of each other, and especially if you can book one of the campsites that are on the water, they really do have beautiful views (see pictures).
Pros:
Kid-friendly. We spent an afternoon at the splash pad, which is a great way to cool off in the summer and free once you're in the park. I never felt unsafe with my kids running around up to the bath-house or the loop, felt very secluded and safe.
Lake is scenic, we saw fireflies at dusk, it was a great setting for a camping trip.
Everything seems pretty well-maintained. Bathrooms are aging but were cleaned at least once a day, it was fine. There is firewood at every bathhouse you can take on the honor system and pay for via cashbox, which is nice. Campsites are clean and well-maintained.
Lots of lake recreation options (boat rental, fishing, etc.) in or near the park.
Cons:
Maybe it was just our campsite, which backed up to a large wooded area, but they were the most aggressive squirrels I've ever come across. If we went to the bathroom for five minutes and left food on the table, the squirrels would be there eating it when we came back. And would hover at the edge of the campsite or get into the car if the hatchback was open.
Camp store is....fine, pretty minimal in terms of provisions. But not a big deal because Clarksville is five minutes or so away and has plenty of stores.
Tents pads are all gravel. Didn't bother us but definitely would not want to tent camp here if you didn't have a good high-quality sleeping pad.
The biggest con was that there is no swimming area/beach in the park. You can try to wade in from the campsite but that generally requires scaling up/down some fairly treacherous rocks, and navigating driftwood and rocks in the water. We drove a few minutes away outside the park to find one, but would be really nice to have some kind of little swimming area inside the park, very strange to me they don't have one.
But all in all a lovely place for a camping trip, we all had a great time.
Medoc Mountain State Park offers equestrian campgrounds near Littleton, North Carolina that draw horse enthusiasts from across the region. Located in Halifax County at approximately 250 feet elevation, the area features rolling terrain that's ideal for riding in all seasons except during extreme summer heat. The park's bridle trails remain accessible year-round with short closures only after heavy rainfall.
Trail riding at Medoc Mountain: The park features multiple trail options for riders with varying experience levels. One camper noted, "Good location off of 85. Great trails and equestrian trails!" at Medoc Mountain State Park. Trails range from beginner-friendly flat sections to more challenging terrain with stream crossings.
Water activities nearby: Just 40 minutes from Littleton, visitors can enjoy boating and fishing. According to a visitor at Occoneechee State Park, "Water Water everywhere. Paddle boards....canoes if you have them this is a great place to go. Campgrounds are right next to the water for easy access."
Stargazing opportunities: Several nearby parks offer exceptional night sky viewing. At Staunton River State Park, a camper shared, "If you love stargazing this is the park for you. It is an International Dark Sky Park... The park offers rentals of telescopes too."
Privacy between sites: Unlike the equestrian area's description, other campgrounds highlight spacious camping areas. A visitor to B.W. Wells Campground stated it felt "like stepping into a quiet forest hideaway, where the kids could explore trails, spot eagles over the water, and watch butterflies while we enjoyed campfires under the trees."
Clean facilities: Many equine camping areas maintain high standards for bathhouses. One camper at Staunton River State Park reported, "Clean bathrooms, friendly rangers, beautiful scenery" while another noted, "Nice clean, hot showers!"
Horse-friendly environment: Equestrian campgrounds specifically cater to riders. The Medoc Mountain Equestrian Campground requires campers to bring horses and provides the essential hookups for comfortable camping with equine companions.
Reservation requirements: Horse camping facilities near Littleton require advance planning. Most equestrian sites book quickly during spring and fall riding seasons.
Limited cell service: Some horse campgrounds have spotty connectivity. A camper at Medoc Mountain State Park mentioned, "No cell service! 😀 Clean restrooms, hot showers! Camp host and rangers are great!"
Weather considerations: Spring brings muddy conditions while summer can be extremely hot for both horses and riders. Fall offers ideal temperatures but increased competition for sites.
Firewood regulations: Most equestrian campgrounds prohibit bringing outside firewood due to pest concerns. At Callahan's Hideaway, a camper noted, "Firewood" is available for purchase on-site.
Group site options: Larger families or multiple families with horses can reserve adjacent sites. At Medoc Mountain, a camper shared, "I came here with a large group and really liked it! We were all crammed into the 4 large group sites... the bath houses were adequate. The staff was helpful."
Kid-friendly activities: While focusing on horses, plan alternative activities. A visitor observed, "The kids loved that!" referring to a splash pad at a nearby recreation area.
Safety considerations: Horse campgrounds require extra vigilance with children. Keep young ones away from unfamiliar horses and establish clear boundaries around the campsites.
Leveling requirements: Horse camping sites with RV hookups may have uneven surfaces. One RVer commented, "Our site required minimal leveling. Interior roads were all paved and easy to navigate -- no low-hanging branches."
Hookup variations: While the Medoc Mountain equestrian area offers full hookups, verify specifics before arrival. A camper cautioned, "Half the sites have electric, none have individual water. There are communal water spigots throughout the campground, but they don't easily allow hose connections."
Parking configurations: Horse trailers with living quarters need specific arrangements. Sites are designed to accommodate vehicles, trailers, and portable corrals, though permanent corrals aren't available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Littleton, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Littleton, NC is Medoc Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Littleton, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Littleton, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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