Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Old Fort, NC

Curtis Creek Campground's quiet, creekside tent sites accommodate pets at a budget-friendly $10 per night with no additional pet fees. Dogs must be kept on leash throughout the campground, but can cool off in the boulder-strewn creek that runs alongside many of the campsites. Catawba Falls Campground, temporarily closed until 2025, previously offered pet-friendly camping with tent sites, RV spots, and cabins where pets were welcome. Most campgrounds in the Old Fort area provide basic pet amenities including trash receptacles for waste disposal and access to water. The camp hosts at Curtis Creek are known to be helpful with providing maps of nearby pet-friendly hiking trails. Campground reviews indicate sites near water are particularly popular with dog owners as the stream noise creates a peaceful atmosphere and provides natural cooling for pets during warmer months.

Several hiking trails in the Pisgah National Forest surrounding Old Fort allow leashed dogs, providing excellent opportunities for exercise and exploration with pets. Curtis Creek's primitive dispersed camping area offers more secluded sites for campers seeking privacy with their dogs, available first-come-first-served with no reservations needed. Wildlife is abundant in the area, so campers should keep pets secured, particularly at night. The town of Old Fort is approximately 30 minutes from Asheville, where emergency veterinary services are available. During summer months, early morning or evening walks are recommended to prevent paw pad burns on hot surfaces. Pets should never be left unattended at campsites due to wildlife concerns and temperature fluctuations. Many campers note the crystal clear Curtis Creek provides a refreshing spot for dogs to cool off after hikes, though owners should supervise pets around water at all times.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Old Fort, North Carolina (309)

    1. Asheville East KOA

    52 Reviews
    Swannanoa, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 686-3121

    $50 / night

    "It’s accessibility to Asheville is great, but the site itself is clean, with tidy grounds and a spotless bathroom (didn’t use showers). Plenty of places to walk and pet friendly."

    "It’s close to downtown Asheville and Black Mountain. Great place to bring kids and dogs!"

    2. Curtis Creek Campground

    24 Reviews
    Old Fort, NC
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 652-2144

    $10 / night

    "The creek is right beside the campsites, and easily accessed by steps. The host was very helpful and nice. Everything was clean and well-maintained."

    "We have been trying to find campgrounds close to home to make a quick weekend and Curtis Creek didn’t disappoint! Fairly quick drive, groceries in Old Fort, gravel road and you are there."

    3. Black Mountain Campground - CLOSED INDEFINITELY

    29 Reviews
    Montreat, NC
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 675-5616

    $28 - $56 / night

    "Dogs welcome 🐾 Clean bathrooms Clean hot showers Some electric sites River sites are first come first serve Has group camping {must reserve online} Large tent pads Rv sites Fishing Can purchase"

    "They'll deliver firewood ($5) to your site by golf cart, they even will collect your site fees as they drive around."

    4. Mount Mitchell State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Pisgah National Forest, NC
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 675-4611

    $27 / night

    "The campground is open from May 1 to Oct 31...but if you walk-in to the sites, as in via the trails, you can rent a site amost all year. Tent sites are small, but nice."

    "There are plenty of tent camping sites along the Mountain to Sea trail and throughout the park. I camped by Commissary Ridge next to a small Creek and an excellent view of sunrise."

    5. Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground

    28 Reviews
    Swannanoa, NC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 686-4258

    $75 - $200 / night

    "Tucked away into the mountains not far from the interstate, super quiet and nicely taken care of."

    "At the top of the first hill is a dog park. Keep going up and there is another neighborhood at the top and here is where you get the views."

    6. Spacious Skies Bear Den

    65 Reviews
    Spruce Pine, NC
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 765-2888

    $24 - $999 / night

    "Spacious Skies Bear Den in North Carolina offers an ideal blend of relaxation and adventure for families."

    "Many hiking trails. Pets are allowed here also which is a great plus. Friendly staff who can't do enough for you if needed & small camp store on property."

    7. Montreat Family Campground

    15 Reviews
    Montreat, NC
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 572-2257

    $25 / night

    "We abandoned plans to stay at place in Old Fort (see listing for Catawba Falls) and ended up here as a last chance before having to hit a hotel to turn back around to CLT.  "

    "You’ll feel like you have the forest to yourself, with tons of pretty plants all around you. It’s down a short path (a bit tricky to navigate) and tucked away between the creek and small stream."

    8. Mountain Stream RV Park

    11 Reviews
    Pisgah National Forest, NC
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 724-9013

    $48 - $65 / night

    "It's one small loop with around 30 sites, as well as 3 luxury yurts. Very level w/ nice gravel, fire pits & picnic tables. A nice big creek runs behind most of the campsites."

    "This place is lovely, an idyllic setting, wonderful hosts, very clean facilities, and a great location to explore the area."

    9. Catawba Falls Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED 2025

    10 Reviews
    Old Fort, NC
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 668-4831

    "Old Fort, NC and Falls nearby. Nice bathhouse, pump-out nearby. Diverse tent camping also available. Don’t let full time rv’s scare you. New RV site down from the entrance."

    "While it is close to a highway it is far enough away not to hear it but convenient to many places to visit including Asheville, The Blue Ridge Parkway and many national Forests and Parks."

    10. Buck Creek

    8 Reviews
    Marion, NC
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 724-4888

    $45 - $69 / night

    "The campsites are a bit close to each other, but they are well maintained."

    "I moved to site 19, which is not on the creek but on the edge of the field. It was very level as well, and all hookups worked fine."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Old Fort, NC

1761 Reviews of 309 Old Fort Campgrounds


  • C
    Mar. 29, 2023

    Four Paws Kingdom Campground & Dog Retreat

    Adult and Dog campground wonder

    From the moment we arrived at the campground the manager "Larry"  ( a workamper) signed us in, show us our site on Wagging Tail Dr.  We arrived on their opening weekend the Owners provided BBQ meal and live music "Jose Wales" band.   It was a wonderful time.  As for the "Dog Retreat part - 18 acres of wonder open areas fenced in to keep you furry friends from running away, there is agility park, puppy park, the main dog park, a private park (single or you can invite), a Lure run, a Ball Park, and a Pond for those watery dogs.

    Price for Fire wood - a little expensive and 10 lbs of Ice was reasonable.  There are fully fenced sites, a couple of sites with a fenced area.  The larges rig I saw in there was a Solitude at  38 ft.

    Over all, if you want the peace and quiet in the North Carolina foot hills with your furry friend and have a good time.  This is the place to be.

    One other note:  It is the only park in NC that is a dedicated dog campground.

  • Jason F.
    Sep. 30, 2020

    Asheville West KOA

    Far enough away to feel like camping and still close to the city

    The Asheville KOA is very pet and RV friendly. There are a number of walking trails of easy to moderate difficulty that run throughout the property. The dog park is a great place to let the pups off of the leashes for a bit. Staff pickup trash daily between 10-11AM at your site, but dumpsters are easily accessible.

    We camped here in our 22' travel trailer. The back in sites are mostly level with a mix of dirt and gravel. If you're looking for a sunny spot, request one of the even-numbered back-ins. If you would prefer to be mostly in the shade, go for an odd-numbered spot. 20/30/50 amp electric, cable, water and sewer were easily accessible at each site. Camp sites are not very large, so be mindful of volume and lights with respect to your neighbors.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 18, 2024

    Catawba Falls Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED 2025

    Creekside Camping

    Beautiful RV sites in wooded area along Catawba Creek. Old Fort, NC and Falls nearby. Nice bathhouse, pump-out nearby. Diverse tent camping also available. Don’t let full time rv’s scare you. New RV site down from the entrance.

  • Scott K.
    Oct. 7, 2019

    Montreat Family Campground

    Killer sites - most alongside as creek - mere yards from a gorgeous College

    We abandoned plans to stay at place in Old Fort (see listing for Catawba Falls) and ended up here as a last chance before having to hit a hotel to turn back around to CLT.  Boy, were we happy with our choice.  Nice bathhouse w/ heated showers, super nice semi-primitive sites, half of them alongside a creek, the others are mere steps away.  Lovely homes line the drive up and you are on land owned by Montreat College, a private Presbyterian-affiliated liberal arts college you hope your grandkids are smart enough to get into.  Stately buildings, a lake, hiking and walking paths galore.  Just the right amount of civilization - wood to purchase, flush toilets.  Spotty cell service - if you have T Mobile forget it, if you have Verizon you're golden.  I saw trailers in several spaces but it looks like a TIGHT squeeze in many sites.  Tent sites are plentiful and lovely.  Check in down the hill at the stately Assembly Inn hotel.  Like the campground and the surrounding area - the people are total class and you cannot get a better price and location this close to Asheville.

  • Kelly R.
    Feb. 23, 2021

    Four Paws Kingdom Campground & Dog Retreat

    Awesome for dogs and people!

    We camped here back in August and had a blast! We brought our two dogs and they also had a great time. This site is very dog friendly (obviously), with many sites having their own fenced in yards. We opted for a site without a fence, which we regretted once we got there. The gravel at our site was painful for our dog’s feet and they had a hard time walking on it. The dog parks made up for this! There are multiple large dog parks located at the campground. The restrooms were awesome, but are single person use only. We felt like we were the only ones using them (that’s how well maintained they were). Campsites are close together but we didn’t mind. The staff was great, they helped us find our site and even helped us back our camper in. There was power and water hookup at each site. There is tons of stuff to do around the area too. Chimney Rock and Lake Lure are right around the corner and SO FUN.

  • Trina W.
    Apr. 24, 2018

    Curtis Creek Campground

    Peaceful and pleasant

    The road to get to the campground made me nervous, but once there, I could have stayed for weeks! The creek is right beside the campsites, and easily accessed by steps. The host was very helpful and nice. Everything was clean and well-maintained. There is no cell signal for 15 or so minutes, either direction, so know your routes before leaving Old Fort. My children loved it!

  • l
    Sep. 8, 2023

    Bent River Equestrian

    Great camping near mountain biking and hiking

    Great place to spend a couple of nights. Went over Labor Day weekend with 5 or 6 other groups and still felt like we had full privacy. Fire pits, an outdoor shower, and a porta-potty. Cute horses and barn cats to pet and watch

  • Anne H.
    May. 31, 2018

    Asheville West KOA

    Nice stay.

    Other than rain almost every day, we enjoyed this spot while checking out Asheville and Biltmore Estate. The campground is very wooded, allowing for shady space. The showers were decently clean. Garbage is picked up at your site, or you can recycle next to the shower house which is not located far for the back section, which we were in, with full hookups. We enjoyed the trail through the woods that circles the whole campground. Our dog enjoyed the dog park. There is a pool and camp store.

  • Kirsten J.
    Jun. 4, 2019

    Mountain River Family Campground

    Pristine, friendly, communal, peaceful campground on the river!

    This campground was pristine - from the moment we turned the corner, until the moment we left!  

    We met Kimberly within seconds of pulling on the property.  She was incredibly kind and made us feel at home immediately.  As tent campers, she told us our best choices were a 30 amp site on the river ($50) or a 30-amp site off the river ($44).  These prices are steep for tent camping, but include 2 adults, kids and pets.  Additional adults come with a fee, but we were happy the kids were included.  Not only were the pets included, but they have a dog park area that they can run free and stretch their legs!  

    We came into the cute little office where Kimberly gave us a campground map (which was painted by a resident camper glass blower) and told us about her property. Several items were on sale inside the store, including many shirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc. They also sell kids fishing poles, stickers and even a fresh coffee cup machine.  They have recently renovated the bathhouse (wait until you see it!) they have a library with books and games, an outdoor sink to wash dishes etc. and even a laundry room that operates on the honor system.  How great is that!  I thought it was wonderful that we could wash a wet sleeping bag or a quick load of stinky hiking clothes if necessary!  Kimberly explained that they have a pretty good mix of short and long term campers (primarily RV's) and even a cute little cabin that can be rented.  

    Kimberly said that they choose not to allow on-line bookings to maintain the atmosphere that they desire.  You can call, or submit a request, but they want to have a conversation with you before booking.  The campground was calm, friendly and so so clean.  Campers were friendly, the campground host was as kind as could be, and so proud about her new bathrooms.  (See below).  This is the kind of campground we would feel good about our kids biking around in the evening as they chase fire flies and meet new friends!  

    The campground was located on the river, but the slope was challenging from several sites.  With kiddos, I may prefer a site closer to the road because it was nearly a flat walk out to the river.  We will surely be back!


Guide to Old Fort

Curtis Creek Campground provides tent, RV, and dispersed camping options near Old Fort, North Carolina at elevations of approximately 1,800 feet. The area falls within the Pisgah National Forest, where temperatures range from 30-85°F depending on season. Camping sites in this region offer access to multiple hiking trails and creek-side locations with gravel tent pads.

What to do

Hiking to waterfalls: 30-minute drive to Roaring Fork Falls from Bear Den Family Campground. "The campground is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains...so beautiful! Quiet campground with hiking trails, small fishing lake, playgrounds, an arcade room, and camp store. One of the hiking trails leads to a waterfall," notes Emily B.

Fish in mountain streams: Buck Creek provides clear water fishing opportunities. "Site #47 was the best of all three. It's a good-sized site right on the creek and just up from swimming hole#2. There were two swimming holes along the creek, which were a ton of fun. The water is very clear and refreshing," reports Kevin A. from Buck Creek RV Park.

Mountain biking access: Several trails near Curtis Creek provide mountain biking routes for various skill levels. "We have been trying to find campgrounds close to home to make a quick weekend and Curtis Creek didn't disappoint! Fairly quick drive, groceries in Old Fort, gravel road and you are there. Several hikes right from the campground," says Lindsay W.

What campers like

Stream noise for sleeping: Many campsites border creeks or streams for natural white noise. "The sites are beautiful and can fit a tent or two although there is not much seclusion between sites. I wish we had spent more than one night in site #10. It was amazing!" writes Angie G. about Curtis Creek Campground.

Secluded tent sites: Some campgrounds offer walk-in tent sites for more privacy. "This place is a gem! Perfect for a quick getaway from Asheville. We chose campsite 13 and were so happy with it. You'll feel like you have the forest to yourself, with tons of pretty plants all around you," shares Kat J. about Montreat Family Campground.

Clean facilities: Bathhouses receive regular maintenance at established campgrounds. "This is a well maintained campground. Showers and bathrooms onsite. Water is available throughout the camp ground. While camping here there's a creek that runs along the campground and many trails to explore," reports David M. about Black Mountain Campground.

What you should know

Limited cell service: Many forest campgrounds have spotty coverage. "The park ranger at Mount Mitchell told us about Black Mountain Campground and it was worth the search. It is off the beaten path but is an amazing place to stay and hike," explains Mike B. from Black Mountain Campground.

Bear safety requirements: Food storage containers are mandatory in some areas. "I camped here in June 2023, for the second time. This is a federal campsite. The fee for camping is five dollars a night. Just right outside the federal camping area is disbursed camping. Remember this is bear country. Follow all the bear rules and be cautious," advises Robert D.

Weather variability: Mountain weather changes rapidly with elevation. "Mount Mitchell State Park, highest peak east of the Mississippi...6,684ft elevation... Check weather reports. These mountains make their own weather. And remember, for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain, temperature decreases by 3 degrees," explains Dave V.

Tips for camping with families

Playgrounds at select campgrounds: Some facilities include dedicated play areas. "The campground is well kept, very clean with so much to do. There is a playground for the kids and a little fenced in dog park, too (it even has a nice dog wash station!). Beautifully landscaped with lots of flowers, bird feeders and little white lights at night," notes Jess about Mountain Stream RV Park.

Kid-friendly swimming holes: Natural water features offer summer cooling options. "Kids loved playing at the creek and will try to get a site on that side next time!" shares Lindsay W. about Curtis Creek.

Proximity to emergency services: Medical facilities are 25-45 minutes away in larger towns. "The town of Old Fort is approximately 30 minutes from Asheville, where emergency veterinary services are available."

Tips from RVers

Steep access roads: Some campgrounds require careful navigation. "The road to get to the campground made me nervous, but once there, I could have stayed for weeks! The creek is right beside the campsites, and easily accessed by steps," reports Trina W.

Larger RV limitations: Several campgrounds have size restrictions. "The road going in was rutted the first time, but had been graded by the time we went the second time - there were a couple of one lane bridges and a turn or two that might be tight for a large RV," explains Jackie G.

Pet-friendly camping options: Most campgrounds welcome leashed pets. "We stayed in campsite #8 and were overjoyed with our choice. The campsite was nestled within the forest and was right next to the cool water of Flat Creek. The campsite was spacious and there were plenty of trees available for hammocks," shares Chad K. about pet friendly camping near Old Fort, North Carolina.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Old Fort, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Old Fort, NC is Asheville East KOA with a 4-star rating from 52 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Old Fort, NC?

TheDyrt.com has all 309 dog-friendly camping locations near Old Fort, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.