Dog-Friendly Camping near Pembroke, NC

Campgrounds near Pembroke, North Carolina offer varied terrain from riverfront sites to farm settings in the coastal plain region. This area sits at approximately 150-200 feet elevation with humid summers where temperatures regularly exceed 90°F and mild winters with occasional freezing nights. Camping options include state park sites along the Lumber River and private campgrounds with both tent and RV accommodations.

What to do

River activities on the Lumber River: At Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park, visitors can enjoy fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. The river access provides an ideal spot for water activities. One camper noted, "The Lumber River is right here, so fishing and canoeing/kayaking are popular activities. There is a hiking trail here as well." Another visitor mentioned, "Easy parking nice boat ramp for the kayaks."

Hiking trails year-round: Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park maintains several hiking trails through pine forests and along the river. Trails vary in difficulty but most are relatively flat. A reviewer explained, "There is a hiking trail here as well... Tent camping sites, 9-10-11, sit WAY back in the woods, so its like almost like having your own campground."

Off-road adventures: Outback ATV Park offers extensive trail systems for ATV enthusiasts. The park features varied terrain suitable for different experience levels. A visitor commented, "So many trails you'll never ride the same one twice. Swimming hole is nice and spring fed."

Stargazing opportunities: Clear night skies provide excellent stargazing conditions away from city light pollution. At Princess Ann — Lumber River State Park, one camper shared, "You can see tons of stars here at night, it is amazing! It's lovely to sit by the water and look at the night sky."

What campers like

Quiet, uncrowded camping: Several campgrounds in the Pembroke area remain uncrowded even during peak seasons. A camper at Chalk Banks noted, "With talking to the rangers, they were saying that the place seldom gets too crowded, and you can almost always get a reservation here."

Clean facilities despite remote locations: Lumberton I-95 KOA maintains high standards for their bathrooms and showers. A reviewer mentioned, "The bathroom, the grounds were very clean. Walked trail behind campground. Wi-Fi is excellent."

Farm animal experiences: Beyond traditional camping activities, visitors enjoy the working farm environment at Double L Farms Campground. One camper shared, "Brian took our two year old on a tour of their amazing farm — horses, cows, ducks, chickens, and all the tractors of our toddlers' dreams ... we felt like houseguests of old friends."

Private, spacious campsites: The region offers more space between sites than many commercial campgrounds. A visitor to Chalk Banks observed, "Extra large and private campsites. One of the campsites has a hammock stand. The group site is huge. The whole park is very clean and spacious."

What you should know

Gate closure times: Some parks have strict gate closing hours. A camper at Chalk Banks warned, "Word to the wise, when the website says the park closes at 'posted times', they mean 9pm. We know this because we got there at 9:05 and the gate was locked tight."

Limited facilities at state parks: State park campgrounds offer fewer amenities than private campgrounds. A reviewer at Chalk Banks explained, "This is a no frills campground, and we knew that going in. We're ok with that. There is one vault toilet and one water source."

Weather preparedness: The Pembroke area experiences high humidity and insects, particularly in summer months. A camper at Pedro's Campground at South of the Border advised, "Farm Camp. Right by road so was a little loud at night but manageable. Bugs so don't forget bug spray. Rooster alarm."

Supply availability: Limited stores near some campgrounds require advance planning. One visitor noted, "There is no general store nearby so bring wood and supplies in with you." Another mentioned, "After many stops, we found the one place in town that sold firewood, it's the speedway gas station."

Tips for camping with families

Animal encounters for children: Double L Farms provides unique opportunities for children to interact with farm animals. A camper observed, "If you have a family with small children, they will love the horses, chickens, guinea hens, and the couple of friendly cats and dogs that they own."

Kid-friendly swimming areas: During summer months, several locations offer swimming opportunities. At Bass Lake Campground, campers can enjoy cooling off in designated swimming areas. One visitor to Outback ATV Park mentioned, "Swimming hole is nice and spring fed."

Secure campgrounds for children: Some campgrounds offer enclosed or monitored areas where children can play safely. A reviewer noted, "The campground is surrounded by the owners farmland. Horses, cows, donkeys, chickens. Simple and peaceful."

Noise considerations: Wildlife sounds might affect light sleepers, especially children. A camper at Princess Ann advised, "Also, there's a lot of owls here at night. If you are a light sleeper you may want to consider ear plugs. It's lovely, but the owls do get kind of rowdy at points making a racket."

Tips from RVers

Level sites availability: RVers appreciate the level sites at several campgrounds near Pembroke. At Spacious Skies Sandy Run, a camper mentioned, "Decent size sites. Well kept and maintained, really clean bathroom. Gravel slab for parking, concrete slab for picnic area, fire place, and close to Walmart for supplies."

Seasonal RV considerations: During winter, freezing temperatures require special attention to water connections. One RVer advised, "Fast forward a few days... The weather forecast was calling for temperatures possibly going below freezing later in the week, so we got an email from the staff saying that we needed to disconnect if we weren't using a heated hose."

Road access for large rigs: Some campgrounds near Pembroke have challenging access roads. A reviewer cautioned, "Road to campground is horrible! Very narrow, trees hanging over it, dirt, but huge holes! Obviously needs to be graded."

Hook-up reliability: Pet friendly camping near Pembroke, North Carolina offers reliable hook-ups at most RV sites. One camper reported, "Full hookup sites with water, electric, and sewer connections provide comfortable accommodation for both tent campers and RVs while maintaining pet-friendly policies throughout."