2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Tent campsites near Southern Pines, North Carolina range from primitive backcountry sites to elevated platform tent sites in pine woods and along riverbanks. Lumber River State Park's Chalk Banks Access provides spacious tent sites with platforms elevated and framed in wooden railroad ties, while Sandhills Campground B offers completely primitive tent camping opportunities within the Sandhills Gamelands. Deep Water Trail Camp in the Uwharrie National Forest region presents another option for those seeking more remote tent camping experiences.
Most tent sites in the region require campers to be self-sufficient with supplies. Lumber River State Park provides potable water from spigots with good pressure near restrooms, but primitive areas like Sandhills Campground B have no water sources, bathrooms, or other amenities. Many campsites feature established fire rings, though fire regulations vary seasonally. A recent review noted that the Uwharrie Hunt Camp costs only "$5 per night" with rustic, grassy tent sites and minimal amenities. Access roads to some areas like Deep Water Trail Camp can be challenging, with one camper mentioning, "The drive down the trail can be a bit much if you're in a smaller car," recommending vehicles with good clearance.
The tent camping in this region offers considerable privacy and natural surroundings. Tent sites at Chalk Banks are spread out within pine woods, providing excellent separation between campers. One visitor described the setting as having "great privacy" with "pretty mossy pathway near the tent platform." Several locations allow tent campers to access water activities, with Deep Water Trail Camp providing direct river access for fishing and paddling. East Morris Mountain Camp features only three tent sites on a fire trail, with the end site offering "complete privacy" according to user reports. Many locations remain uncrowded except during peak holidays, with rangers at Lumber River State Park indicating the campground "only fills up on the 4th of July." Most tent campgrounds in the area maintain quiet hours after dark, with gates at some locations closing between 8-9pm.
"It was a little tricky finding the entrance to this campsite, but when we managed to Google map our way in into the park, we were very happy with our selection!"
"There was a path walkable to the river, and each campsite was clean, had plenty of space on level ground to set up camp, a fire pit, and very clean toilet. I would definitely go back!"
Available this weekend
from $17 - $47 / night
"This is a campground located in the Sandhills Gamelands in NC. If you're looking for primitive, this is it. No bathrooms, no water spigots, no camp store, nothing like that."
"Contrary to what has been written, I would highly recommend San-Lee Park to anyone looking for a short and easy escape from the nearby Raleigh-Durham area."
"There are hiking and biking trails as well as kayaking and other water sports on the lake there."
from $15 / night
"I’ve got a 13 foot pull behind. Backed in mostly but a few could be pulled in an out. Road posted 25 mph but recommend 10 mph. Was also narrow in spots. Very bumpy. Last 1/2 mile don’t go."
"It is a amazing area to visit if you are into OHV(Off Highway Vehicle) trail riding, mountain biking or hiking."
"Horse trail riding is second on the list of activities within the park judging by the number of trails."
"My husband and I took our two dogs backpacking for a weekend at Uhwarrie Park. After a long drive trying to find my husbands original spot we found a new one. Beautiful scenery."
"Only three sites on this little out of the way fire trail. We go to the end of the road for complete privacy. No amenities other than a fire pit."
"A nice campsite off of Tower Road with is also part of the TransAmerica Trail. It is a flat site with a with a great fire pit."
"This area is popular for the Off Highway Vehicle trail systems which are open April through December."
"Too much trash left by previous campers"
from $5 / night
from $17 / night
GuideStopped here after our fiasco with holly bluff. Beautiful campground with trees. Very quiet during the day and peaceful. The only thing we found curious was the vehicle in and right back out activity between 10:30-pm and 1am back and forth to campers that were long term stays. Made nighttime hard to sleep in site 3 with vehicles back and forth for hours .
GuideStopped in to get a spot for a few nights nights because it said they had available rv spots Unfortunately they didn’t know which end was up and tried to squeeze us into a spot that might have hookups that maybe worked but they couldn’t be sure. It was a joke. We left after waiting several minutes waiting while they were looking for a place to maybe squeeze us in because we had a small camper. No thanks. Would not recommend staying here til they get there act together
GuideStayed in the C loop right on the water. Bathrooms are up the hill at the entrance to the loop. Sites along the lake aren’t private but are spacious.
ScoutLooking for a nice place for a camping getaway? We highly recommend checking out the Deep River Campground in Asheboro, NC. The location itself is beautiful. It is literally on the Deep River and features a hiking trail that runs along the river past the remnants of a historical damn, where a small area of rapids gently swirls around the big rocks spanning the river. There’s also a large lake with a nice grassy expanse for picnics, playing games or just lazing around lakeside. This campground has been around for a while, but it has new owners now and they are breathing some for real new life into the place. They have already made lots of repairs and improvements, and you can see more in progress. There are sites for RVs with all the hook-ups, and great primitive sites for tent camping, several located right on the river. If you don’t have an RV and sleeping on the ground doesn’t spark joy, they have a few small rustic but nicely-appointed cabins. You’ll find two pools, several covered picnic shelters, a playground for the small ones, and several options for older kids and adults to play, like a horseshoe pit and a nice game room. They also have planned activities like movie nights and weiner roasts most evenings to entertain and create community among campers. They are pet friendly and have their own pet mascots on site— a flock of ducks including beautifully colored teals and mallards. We were just there for 2 nights, but I have a good feeling we’ll be visiting there again soon. Definitely worth a visi
TravelerThis is/was marked as dispersed camping but this is primarily an OHV area, with a shooting range nearby that can be heard from some campsites. Most, if not all, of the campsites are intended to be large group sites. The empty site we found was filled with trash, discarded tents, air mattresses, and trashed electronics from OHVs. There's so much trash we would not even be able to take it all out with us if we wanted to. This may be a national forest, but it is not peace and quiet as one would expect from "dispersed and primitive" camping.
TravelerThis is a clean campground with nice large clean bathrooms. Road noise a bit but coach A/C helped drown traffic noise. Dogs loved frisbee in park area.
GuideThe sites are very large, long and wider at the back, plenty of room for a big group or family. The bathrooms look new and they are clean. Here during the week so it's very empty and quiet.
TravelerWe visited Crosswinds campground at Jordan Lake State Park on the worst heatwave of the year. The great thing about this area is that the sites a well shaded. We were about 50 yards from the lake, with the wind blowing we still were comfortable all day. We stayed on Loop A, which is my favorite loop at the park. There’s no electricity or water at the sites. There are water spickets throughout the loop with potable water. The site is awesome! There’s a small pond beside it. The neighboring sites are close, but regular conversations can not be heard.this loop is always quiet even when there are a lot of people, but it’s never been full when I’m there. I didn’t do good with photos except for the food.
GuideThere was other people camping and running their generators all night. Some low lifers on ATV blasted in and out of the parking area and blasting music at 2 am. Good luck getting any sleep here. But enjoyed the trail to it and the forest. Got at least 2 hours of sleep before I packed up.
Tent campsites near Southern Pines, North Carolina are nestled within the Sandhills region, an ecological area characterized by rolling hills and sandy soil at elevations between 200-500 feet. The area typically receives about 46 inches of rainfall annually with summer temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. Most primitive camping sites in this region don't require reservations, though established campgrounds can fill quickly during hunting season.
Fishing at Badin Lake: Uwharrie Hunt Camp provides access to excellent fishing spots along Badin Lake with multiple species to catch. "There is a good trail around the lake that offers some beautiful views across the lake. Pretty good fishing too," notes a camper who visited Uwharrie Hunt Camp.
Mountain biking on forest trails: The Uwharrie National Forest offers extensive trail systems for mountain biking enthusiasts at various skill levels. "There are some great trails through here as well, that you don't have to share with the motorized enthusiast," mentions a reviewer at Uwharrie Hunt Camp.
Kayaking on Lumber River: Chalk Banks in Lumber River State Park provides convenient river access for paddling trips. "Easy parking nice boat ramp for the kayaks," states a camper who visited during a holiday weekend at Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park.
Spacious, private sites: Tent sites at many campgrounds offer considerable distance between neighbors. "The tent sites are some of the better spread out ones that I've seen and having cell coverage is immensely appreciated considering you're basically in the middle of nowhere," shares a reviewer about Chalk Banks.
Affordable camping options: Budget-friendly camping can be found throughout the region with minimal fees. "Only $5 per night! With only 6 sites and what appears to be an over-sized parking lot right next to it, the lot accommodates the OHV trailers," explains a camper about Uwharrie Hunt Camp.
Easy river access: Many campsites provide convenient water access for activities. "This was a great campground for a great price. There was a path walkable to the river, and each campsite was clean, had plenty of space on level ground to set up camp, a fire pit, and very clean toilet," states a reviewer at Chalk Banks.
Vehicle clearance requirements: Access roads to primitive sites can be challenging for standard vehicles. "I would highly recommend 4WD if you're going all the way to the water sites. I attempted in my van and made it down to a sweet spot, but was stuck in the mud," warns a camper at Deep Water Trailt Horse Camp.
Variable reservation systems: Campgrounds have different booking procedures that can cause confusion. At San-Lee Park, a camper noted: "After finally tracking this man down at the paddle boats and an hour of back and forth, we were told you can only camp there by making reservations 72 hours ahead of time."
Gate closures and codes: Many parks lock entrance gates at night. "The maintenance man was surprised to see me roll out of there when he arrived in the morning to open the gate. He was very apologetic and gave us the code in case we needed out in the middle of the night," reported a Chalk Banks visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Southern Pines, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Southern Pines, NC is Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Southern Pines, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Southern Pines, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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