Tent camping near Raeford, North Carolina provides access to the blackwater Lumber River which has been designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. The sandy soil of the Sandhills region creates distinct ecological conditions supporting longleaf pine forests and unique wildlife. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F from June through September, with high humidity making spring and fall the preferred camping seasons.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park, visitors can access the Lumber River for fishing. "The Lumber River is right here, so fishing and canoeing/kayaking are popular activities. There is a hiking trail here as well," notes Marvin D.
Kayaking routes: The river provides excellent paddling options with convenient launch points. "Easy parking nice boat ramp for the kayaks," shares Danny R. about his experience at Chalk Banks during Memorial Day weekend.
Hiking trails: Multiple trail networks exist throughout the region's parks. A camper at Chalk Banks mentions, "Beautiful hikes around the river right next door," highlighting the accessibility of natural areas directly from campsites.
What campers like
Privacy and space: Princess Ann — Lumber River State Park offers riverside camping with secluded sites. "Sites 7 & 8 would be perfect for two families to camp together, because they'd have the whole trail area to themselves," explains Courtney B. who stayed at site PA 7.
Night sky viewing: The minimal light pollution provides stellar astronomy opportunities. Jennifer H. shares about Princess Ann, "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."
Security measures: Rangers maintain regular presence and provide after-hours access codes. "The ranger that greeted us was super nice and respectful. He gave us the gate code in case we needed to leave after they closed the gate at 9:00pm," reports Joe L.
What you should know
Gate closure times: Park gates close at specific hours requiring advance planning. "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," cautions Jay B.
Water availability: Water sources are limited at most sites. Cody T. notes about Sandhills Campground B, "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. Bring all your own EVERYTHING."
Firewood sources: Local options for firewood purchase are limited. "There is no park store or anything, so bring what you need. After many stops, we found the one place in town that sold firewood, it's the speedway gas station," advises Jay B.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Natural water features provide swimming opportunities during warm months. "The river is nice to swim in after a hot summer's day, although the bottom is quite squishy," notes Courtney B. about the Lumber River at Princess Ann.
Wildlife awareness: Expect active wildlife, particularly at night. Jennifer H. advises about Princess Ann, "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."
Reservation planning: San-Lee Park requires advance planning for families. Stuart K. explains, "Reservations are not taken, but rather, tent campers can book a campsite on a first-come, first-served basis. While I was there in late September, trust me, the place was somewhat busy."
Tips from RVers
Vehicle access considerations: Some campgrounds require specific vehicle types for access. Marvin D. warns about Sandhills Campground B, "Make sure you have 4 wheel drive or a vehicle with high clearance, as it's all dirt roads in and around and leading to here."
RV site locations: At Chalk Banks, specific areas are designated for RVs. "The right hand side of the campground is set up for RVs (pull through sites). The left hand side is for tent camping," explains Marvin D.
Campground popularity: Lower utilization means better availability for RVs. "With talking to the rangers, they were saying that the place seldom gets too crowded, and you can almost always get a reservation here," shares Marvin D. about Family Wilderness Camp at Chalk Banks.
