15 campgrounds with availability this weekend
National forests and state parks surrounding Granite Falls, North Carolina provide diverse tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Mortimer Campground in the Pisgah National Forest offers 17 tent sites, with five walk-in sites that provide more privacy than the drive-in options. South Mountains State Park, approximately 25 miles southeast, features backcountry tent camping at Little River and Upper Falls campgrounds. Steele Creek offers free dispersed tent camping in a more primitive setting, while Blue Bear Mountain Camp in nearby Todd provides both drive-in and walk-in tent sites with varying levels of amenities.
Most tent campsites in the region require preparation for basic conditions. Mortimer Campground involves navigating at least 9 miles of dirt roads, making quick trips impractical. According to one camper, visitors should "pack accordingly" for the journey. Many backcountry sites in South Mountains State Park require filtering water from nearby creeks, with the closest water source sometimes located up to 0.6 miles from camp. Bear activity is common throughout the region, with several campgrounds providing bear boxes for food storage. Pit toilets are standard at most primitive sites, while established campgrounds may offer shower facilities during peak season (typically April through October).
Tent-only sites often provide the most secluded camping experiences in the area. At South Mountains State Park, one visitor noted that "the backcountry campsites were quiet and well-kept" even during busy holiday weekends when day-use areas were crowded. Walk-in tent sites at Mortimer Campground are described as "more private" than the pull-in sites, creating better opportunities for solitude. Many primitive tent camping areas feature creekside locations, with campers reporting the pleasant sound of running water at night. For those willing to hike further from trailheads, backcountry tent camping rewards with significantly fewer crowds and better stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution.
"The 5 upfront are walk in, and more private. The about to be 12 in the back are pull in and much closer together. Two shower houses, one on both ends, no hookups."
"Had some friends stay next to us in a class b. A small trailer would fit, nothing big. No W/E/S but great place. Come early to reserve. You must set up camp immediately. No reservations."
from $20 - $30 / night
"There is a 5 mile long trail that goes through the campground called Boone Fork Trail. This trail leads to Hebron falls where you can explore giant boulders and have a picnic."
"The terrain is also flat and easy to hike through, making it a good long trail for beginners or children."
"Jacob Branch: Three sites arranged around a clearing. Two pit privies and a BEAR BOX! Woot!!"
"The hikes near the falls were quite busy on Memorial Day weekend, but the backcountry campsites were quiet and well-kept."
from $17 / night
from $17 / night
"Location is private and secluded, yet within reasonable driving distance to stores and other attractions like hiking/biking/kayaking."
from $25 - $190 / night
"It offers RV, drive in and hike in tent sites and also teepee camping."
"We had a neighbor nice enough to give us his site because he was leaving early and I would have stayed another night there. It was C3 backed into the woods on level ground. It made for a cozy morning."
from $25 - $136 / night
"I have stayed at all the free campsites around and left my review for each. This is by far the quietest, nicest, cleanest , site yet !"
"There’s a nice big spot at the end of the trail where you could rooftop tent/car camp, but the actual site is about 100’ away."
"I went up the vertical mile trail to get to the upper campsite, it was dry, beautiful and not too steep of a hike"
from $13 / night
"I needed some lake time and it didn't disappoint! The campground is a 2-minute drive (6-minute bike ride) down to the beach and there is a huge swimming area there."
"We visited the Paddy Creek campground at Lake James last year. The campsite was impeccably maintained with the cleanest bath/shower house I have ever experienced camping."
from $27 / night
GuideDriving 14 1/2 hrs I was cooked called and had the most easiest booking. There was a sites available so I booked it. Needless to say I got there in the dark and a kind person helped me to my site and got me backed in. Soo exhausted I hooked up electric only hit the bed passed out
ScoutLet me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time. With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price
ScoutMy husband and I arrived at Doe River Landing for 3 nights and enjoyed everything the resort offered. While there we read the 2 reviews posted by Kylie T, and by Andrew W, who gave the resort a 1 star rating. Not knowing the facts that caused the rating by them, and occurred prior to us, we approach the owner and asked.
The owner showed us videos from their security cameras. These adults has stated in Kylie T review and confirm by Andrew W review that they were a group of 20 adults and "every single one of us is over 21 and family". So why are these adults playing "hide and seek" under the pavilion as they stated? Andrew W stated, "It was not blocked off", yet they had to crawl on the ground and around bushes to get under the pavilion. When the owner yelled at them approximately 10 adults that were under the pavilion crawled out which was captured on the security cameras. Andrew W stated in his review the owner called them hooligans, which is rowdy, destructive persons and from the security cameras, that description is correct. There was no mention of damages in their reviews such as the Adirondack chair they broke or possible damage to the water pipes and electric wires under the pavilion, which the owner was currently checking.
Once we read these two reviews by Kylie T and Andrew W and saw the owners security videos, we felt future customers deserved to know another opinion based on our findings.
These entitled adults justified their review of a 1 star by stating they paid money to use the campground.
I would ask these adults "why do you think it is OK to treat someone else's property in this destructive way?"
GuideSeems to be a well established campground in an off the beaten path location. Roads alternately paved and gravel. The campsite is gravel in a wooded setting. Fair amount of space between sites. The bathhouse is clean but dated.
ScoutWe brought our whole family out and rented almost every cabin on the property, plus the event center, for the weekend— we gave this place a lot of business. And honestly, the stay itself was great— nice place, no complaints about the cabins. The owner is the problem. He came flying in in his blue F-150 doing 20–30 mph where the posted speed limit is 5, and started screaming at us over something that could've been handled with a simple conversation. His exact words:"Where are your parents? This is a family establishment. I will not have hooligans running around here." Every single one of us is over 21 and family. All we were doing was playing hide and seek— which isn't against any of the property's rules— and there were no other guests to disturb, since we had the entire area rented. He still threatened to call the police, even though it wasn't even quiet hours. Before anyone could get a word in, he peeled out so fast the gravel sprayed up at us and our cars. Then on his way out he drove the wrong way down the property's one-way road, so apparently the rules only apply to guests. It's sad, because the property itself is great, and we were never anything but nice to the owners the whole weekend. To be treated in such an unprofessional manner— screamed at, threatened, and never given so much as an apology afterward— put a real dent in the weekend. We won't be back
ScoutOur group of about 20 rented nearly every cabin at Doe River Landing for my friend's wedding weekend, with the reception held on site. The cabins were nice and well-equipped, and the only other guests were in a cabin half a mile away through the woods. Unfortunately, the hosts ruined the stay. One night, some of us were playing hide and seek in an area that wasn't blocked off or against any rule. The host's husband came speeding in at roughly 30 mph(the posted limit is 5), jumped out of his truck screaming that he"will not have child hooligans running around the campground," told us to"go back to the motel we crawled out of," and demanded to see our parents— despite all of us being adults in our twenties. He then peeled out so aggressively he sprayed gravel at us and our cars. It wasn't even quiet hours, and we weren't disturbing anyone. Afterward, the host called us again, passive-aggressive, and questioned our ages— even though you have to be 21 just to rent a cabin there. The property is lovely, but the hosts' behavior put a real damper on what should have been a joyful wedding celebration. It's a shame they treat people paying good money this way. We won't be back.
TravelerIt’s a small, clean campground but we are next to a busy road (site 28) and also the entrance to the public access of Moss Lake. It’s a tight squeeze for us as a 33’ fifth wheel.
TravelerNice spot right on the river..Camp store & staff seem friendly & helpful-especially Sonny & Joshua.
GuideTight fit, we stayed here with our 20ft trailer and it is a little tight. The site was at a slight angle and I noticed a lot of sites are the same way. Plus side is there is a security gate with code entry. Easy access to lake. Good clean boathouse and nice full hookups.
Tent campsites near Granite Falls, North Carolina range from remote creek-side spots to established campgrounds at elevations between 1,000-3,000 feet. The region experiences moderate summer temperatures with nighttime lows typically in the 60s, making for comfortable sleeping conditions. Mountain roads accessing many campsites require careful navigation, with several dirt access roads becoming difficult after heavy rainfall.
Creek swimming and sliding: Steele Creek offers excellent creek access with multiple swimming spots along a clean mountain stream. As one camper noted, "There is a walking trail at the end of the road about 100 feet from our site, that had the best swimming hole at the end of it, where you can jump in. It has a couple small waterfalls to add to the ambience."
Tube floating: The Wilson Creek area near Mortimer Campground has popular spots for floating on tubes. One visitor described it as "a spot nearby where a lot of people like to float on tubes kind of like a lazy river type thing. It's a unique place."
Waterfall hiking: Mortimer Campground provides direct access to waterfall trails. A camper mentioned, "Beautiful, clean grounds with access to a 1/2 mile round trip hike to a waterfall on the property! Definitely plan ahead on provisioning bc it's about 45 mins drive into the national forrest."
Rock painting: Self Sufficient Holler offers creative activities at their campsite. As one visitor mentioned, "Elizabeth even has a rock painting kit at the campsite," making it a good option for rainy days.
Creek sounds: Camp Attocoa provides secluded sites with creek access. According to a camper, "Private owned, water and wood on site. The owner will have you park and will haul you and your gear in and out. Sites are few and far between. Peace and quiet…… this is the spot for you."
Mountain top camping: Blue Bear Mountain Camp offers elevated camping experiences with cooler temperatures. One visitor reported, "The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat... The morning sun lights up the meadow which is the campground centerpiece."
Seasonal advantages: Summer heat relief is a major draw for higher-elevation sites. A camper at Blue Bear Mountain Camp stated, "Not only is the weather so much cooler in the summer there(70-80 in July!), it's just a wonderful, down to earth place to be."
Wildlife viewing: The region supports diverse wildlife including deer, birds, and occasionally bears. Visitors should be prepared to secure food properly as bear activity is common throughout camping areas.
Road conditions: Many campgrounds require navigating unpaved roads. A Steele Creek visitor noted, "The road is pretty well maintained other than a few spots that you have to crawl through on the corners specifically. I drive a Toyota Camry that sits fairly low and I made it fine."
Site availability: Upper Falls Campsite requires advance planning. A camper warned, "Get ready. You are about to hike up a LOT of sleep stairs. The sites are really well laid out. Site 3&4 are my favorites because they are close to water access (bring a good filter)."
Water sources: Most backcountry sites require filtering creek water. Upper Falls Campsite visitors recommend: "Plenty of trees to choose from for a hammock setup," but emphasize the need for "a good filter" for water access.
Cell service limitations: Most camping areas have limited or no cell reception. Mortimer Campground visitors should "be prepared for zero cell service and a dirty vehicle" according to one camper.
Supplies planning: Limited access to stores means careful planning is essential. A Mortimer visitor advised, "Definitely plan ahead on provisioning bc it's about 45 mins drive into the national forrest."
Easy water access: Paddy's Creek at Lake James State Park offers family-friendly facilities. One visitor reported, "The campsite was impeccably maintained with the cleanest bath/shower house I have ever experienced camping. The swimming area on the lake is a short drive away."
Trail difficulty: Choose appropriate trails based on children's abilities. Boone Fork Campground offers accessible options as one visitor noted: "The terrain is also flat and easy to hike through, making it a good long trail for beginners or children."
Swimming holes: Kids enjoy the natural water features throughout the region. A Paddy's Creek visitor mentioned, "The campground is a 2-minute drive (6-minute bike ride) down to the beach and there is a huge swimming area there."
Wildlife awareness: Teach children about bear safety and proper food storage. Most campgrounds require storing food in vehicles or bear boxes overnight.
Site dimensions: Most tent-focused campgrounds have limited RV capacity. A Blue Bear Mountain camper noted, "Sites are spacious and the view is breathtaking... The state maintained gravel road used to access campground was narrow and would be difficult to get a large camper up there, although there were lots of large ones there."
Water fill-up locations: Many campgrounds lack water hookups. At Blue Bear Mountain Camp, "They do not have water hookups- you fill your camper tank with water at the office area. They have spots with electric hookups. They have a dump station where you can empty your tanks on your way out."
Road clearance considerations: Higher clearance vehicles fare better on forest roads. Steele Creek visitors note that the road has "a few spots that you have to crawl through on the corners specifically."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Granite Falls, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Granite Falls, NC is Mortimer Campground — National Forests In North Carolina with a 4.3-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Granite Falls, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 53 tent camping locations near Granite Falls, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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