Best Campgrounds near Raeford, NC
The Sandhills region surrounding Raeford, North Carolina features a mix of state park campgrounds, private RV resorts, and working farm camping experiences within a 30-mile radius. Lumber River State Park's Chalk Banks Access, located just south of Raeford off Highway 401, provides tent camping sites nestled deep in wooded areas alongside pull-through RV sites with basic amenities including pit toilets and water spigots. Spacious Skies Sandy Run (formerly Lazy Acres) in nearby Fayetteville offers full hookup RV sites beneath longleaf pines, while Double L Farms Campground in Lumberton provides a unique farm camping experience with roaming livestock. Most campgrounds in the area operate year-round, accommodating both overnight travelers along the I-95 corridor and those seeking longer stays.
Reservations are generally available without long lead times, with many campgrounds reporting consistent availability even during peak seasons. According to one ranger at Lumber River State Park, "the place seldom gets too crowded, and you can almost always get a reservation here." Road access varies significantly between campgrounds, with state park facilities featuring well-maintained but sometimes narrow access roads, while private campgrounds often provide hard-packed sand or gravel driveways. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity from June through September, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. Cell service is generally reliable near Raeford and along major highways but can become spotty in more remote camping areas.
Campers frequently mention the region's waterways as highlights, with the Lumber River providing opportunities for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. Highway noise affects some campgrounds, particularly those near I-95. As one visitor noted about Lumberton KOA: "I would give this campground 5 stars if it was further away from I-95... there is a lot of road noise." Military aircraft noise from nearby Fort Bragg occasionally impacts northern campgrounds, with Smith Lake Army RV Park visitors specifically mentioning "loud aircraft noise as well as other military installation noise." Tent campers particularly appreciate the secluded sites at Lumber River State Park, where sites 9-11 "sit WAY back in the woods, so it's almost like having your own campground" with "TONS of forage wood" available for campfires.