Join the fun near Rutherfordton. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Rutherfordton is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Rutherfordton. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
__Glamping sites are now available at Lake Powhatan! Experience nature and outdoor recreation without sacrificing the comforts and luxuries of home. Choose one of 12 custom designed, fully furnished canvas platform tents in the heart of the national forest for your next mountain adventure, only 10 minutes from downtown Asheville, NC. Learn more about glamping near Asheville . To book your glamping site, click here.__ Located just minutes from the popular city of Asheville, North Carolina, Lake Powhatan has something for everyone. The campground is convenient to a variety of cultural and natural attractions, including art and music venues, shopping and dining in Asheville, scenic driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway, numerous hiking trails and lakeside recreation.
Visitors have a number of different activities to choose from. Kids love the lake's sandy swimming beach and anglers enjoy the calm waters for trout fishing. The French Broad River, popular for fishing, is also nearby. Note that use of personal watercraft is STRICTLY PROHIBITED in the lake due to potential introduction of foreign material to the Lake Powhatan riprarian ecosystem. The forest is known for its hiking and mountain biking trails, several of which are located near the campground.__
Visitors have a number of different activities to choose from. Kids love the lake's sandy swimming beach and anglers enjoy the calm waters for trout fishing. The French Broad River, popular for fishing, is also nearby. Note that use of personal watercraft is STRICTLY PROHIBITED in the lake due to potential introduction of foreign material to the Lake Powhatan riprarian ecosystem. The forest is known for its hiking and mountain biking trails, several of which are located near the campground.__
The campground is situated in a heavily wooded area on the banks of Lake Powhatan in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. The elevation is 2,200 feet. The surrounding land boasts mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls and slopes thickly forested with hardwoods and conifers.
For facility specific information, please call (828) 577-7278.
Among the more popular nearby destinations are Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Falls, the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, The NC Arboretum and the Biltmore Estate.
Any cancellations must be taken care of directly with recreation.gov. Note that this facility does not provide refunds for No Shows or incliment weather.
$43 / night
Escape to Spacious Skies Bear Den, your gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains, located within the stunning Pisgah National Forest. Choose from fully equipped RV sites, rustic tent spots, or cozy cabins for your perfect stay. Hike scenic trails to hidden waterfalls, explore playgrounds, the rec hall, or relax by the swimming lake. Conveniently located near Milepost 324.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Bear Den offers easy access to breathtaking views at the Bear Den Overlook and endless mountain adventures. With full hook-up sites, water/electric options, and cabin rentals, we cater to every camper. Enjoy modern comforts like a camp store, bathhouses, and laundry facilities, ensuring a perfect blend of nature and convenience. Book now and experience your unforgettable Blue Ridge Mountain adventure!
$25 - $999 / night
Come enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends in the rolling hills of Western North Carolina at Emberglow Outdoor Resort. We’ve assembled one-of-a-kind lodging options on 72 acres in a beautiful private valley, complete with spring-fed creeks and a night sky of a billion stars. We’re conveniently situated between Asheville, Charlotte, Greenville, and Columbia. At Emberglow, you can play outside on your own terms, limit your travel time, and disconnect from the daily hamster wheel. It is our mission to deliver to our guests an exceptional place to enjoy the great outdoors with a variety of comfortable lodging options.
$40 - $350 / night
Limited to adults 18 and up; 9 acres of dog parks.
Black Mountain Campground sits in the shadow of Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak in the eastern U.S. and borders the South Toe River. Black Mountain is a mecca for the outdoor enthusiast.
With the South Toe River located adjacent to the campground, visitors will have no shortage of things to do, including picnicking, day hiking, scenic driving and trout fishing. Hikers will be pleased with a variety of trails from which to choose, including a leisurely half-mile walk through the forest or a challenging 5.6-mile hike to Mt. Mitchell.
The campground sits at an elevation of 3,040 feet. The 6,684-foot Mt. Mitchell towers over the area, with several other high peaks of the Black Mountains nearby. This lush Appalachian forest is rich with wildlife, plants and scenery.
Groups can easily head out for a day of scenic driving along Blue Ridge Parkway or hiking in Mount Mitchell State Park.
$35 / night
Spacious Skies Hidden Creek is nestled at the base of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. 64-acre park boasts Full Hook-Up; Water/Electric and tent sites; and cozy cabins. Guests can enjoy paddleboats, canoes and kayaks on the water, and then relax with 9 holes of miniature golf and gem mining onsite. A 300-foot waterslide, junior Olympic pool and kiddie pool help beat the summer heat, while fishing, crafts, bag toss, dances, swimming, s’more roasts, volleyball, bingo, and movies under the stars at the family theatre ensure the entire family enjoys their stay. The park is also a great home base for exploring the North Carolina mountains, with an easy drive to Chimney Rock, Grandfather Mountain Linville Caverns and the many gorgeous waterfalls in the area.
$24 - $164 / night
Mount Mitchell State Park Family camping (camping near Charlotte) The nine-site family campground is open from May 1 to October 31 with full facilities. Each site is equipped with a grill and picnic table. Restrooms for use during warm seasons are located nearby. Showers and hot water are not provided. Pack-in camping Campers may leave vehicles in the park overnight to backpack into the Pisgah National Forest. Visitors who leave their vehicles in the park must register on the forms provided at the trailheads near the parking area or at the park office. Leave the form on the dashboard of your car. Mount Mitchell offers a choice of trails from which to enjoy the nearby alpine woodlands. Ready to Reserve It's not uncommon to encounter black bears at Mount Mitchell State Park, particularly in warm weather months.
Table Rock State Park is known for being a perfect glimpse into the scenic bliss that South Carolina's Highway 11 is known for. Most prominent to the park is the towering mountain Table Rock, where the park earns its name. This also serves as a backdrop for the 3,000 acre park, and its numerous camping facilities. Below this section of the Blue Ridge Mountains, visitors can enjoy Table Rock State Park's cabins and campground, as well as lakes and various hiking trails located within. The Table Rock State Park hiking trails weave through mountain streams, babbling brooks, and rushing waterfalls to the tops of Pinnacle and Table Rock mountains. The views here showcase the entirety of the region, and shouldn’t be skipped if you’re planning on visiting. That said, while the park is well known for its natural features, Table Rock also has its place in history. For example, the park’s hiking trails host the access point for the 80-mile Foothills Trail, one of the most famous in the Midwest. Hikers often use this trail to travel through the extensive network of SC state parks. These trails date all the way back to the Pioneers who would use them as trade routes and for homesteading. In fact, many of the Table Rock State Park cabins and other structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps remain standing and are on the National Register of Historic Places. This park is unique in that it is one of only 16 South Carolina state parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Moreover, there is even a historic CCC-built Lodge available for weddings, receptions, meetings and other special occasions. Additionally, the park features 2 park lakes: the 36-acre Pinnacle Lake and the 67-acre Lake Oolenoy. 94 standard campsites for tent or RV camping, plus 14 renovated cabins provide ample accommodation to visitors. Aside from the larger lakes, there is also an old-fashioned swimming hole complete with a high-dive that is open during the summer season. Take your family out and use one of the 4 picnic shelters available to rent for group gatherings, for a day of fun, music, and recreation. And for those wanting an event to check out, the Music on the Mountain bluegrass jam takes place each month at the Table Rock Lodge–perfect for anyone wanting to escape the outdoors for a minute.
Guide
So this is the most unusual place we’ve ever camped. I would call it a‘community where there are campsites’ more than a campground. The majority of the sites are populated by beautifully-kept tiny houses with RVs sprinkled in. The grounds are beautifully planted and tended, evoking a feeling of being in a park. The bathhouse rooms are clean, individual rooms and decorated. The swimming pool is large and clubhouse lodge well provisioned. This is what a camping resort should be(but minus the huge fees)! WiFi is standard; we opted for the Pay version and had great connectivity. You will lose cell service~ 20 minutes from the campground.
Starlite is a long-term community that evolved into providing a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ folks looking for a serene mountain experience and this is an exceptional place. If you come with open mind and heart you will feel entirely welcome. My husband and I enjoyed all the people, dogs and kitties we met. We felt so safe and in this setting that we never even locked the RV when we left. Our site(79) was one of two transient camping sites feet away from the creek and a short walk to the lake filled with water lilies. The gravel site has FHU but currently is not level; the hosts have plans to revamp the site and extend the pad.
Follow the websites directions! You do NOT want to venture onto just any road up here, some of the roads are rough. Print directions before leaving home. The shortcut back dirt road between here and Blowing Rock is an adventure for a truck (only); just plan on driving it slow and it’s fine. Shockingly, as we returned from Blowing Rock the long way on Rt 321 our RV GPS program (in RV mode) kept trying to get us to take these mountainous dirt road shortcuts back to the camp. We might well have been stranded if we hadn’t known better.
Main Street Blowing Rock is a boutique shop haven. Great for strolling. Kilwins ice cream and candy shop in Blowing Rock is awesome, as is the spice shop beside it.
From downtown Blowing Rock you can hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway in minutes. South on the BRP you’ll quickly reach Moses Cone and Julian Price parks, both are great places to hike and picnic.
Scout
Great campground. Big private sites, lots of activities for teens. Great hiking right from the campground.
Scout
Arrived early evening. Staff were friendly and accommodating. Place was fairly full but organized and efficient. Pool and waterslide are a bonus but also attract families and kids. Site needed some leveling but spacious. Facilities were clean and easily available. Would return for sure.
Guide
We took the grandkids to the Bostic, NC Jellystone in mid-July. They had a fabulous time. The RV site we had was #408. It was perfectly level and roomy with trees behind us. The bathrooms/showers are modern and spotless. We could only get a two night reservation, but that was enough. The kids (10 and 11) played so hard they were exhausted. It's a huge park with a system of golf cart trails that connect everything. The kids thought that was as exciting as the water park and the swimming pond. After having been there - I'd say a golf cart rental is a requirement. Despite the nearly 100 degree temps, the staff and other campers were cheerful and friendly. The kids made several friends. We didn't have time to do the crafts, but they looked fun. They loved the rollercoaster and minigolf. It's a good idea to bring your own food, as the options there aren't well-rated and expensive, but the ice cream was great. The only disappointment was that we couldn't stay longer.
Scout
I stayed October 2022. My first time at this site. At that time, it wasn't under new ownership yet. The staff was very accommodating and friendly. There was some renovations being done. But, all in all, I found it to be clean and stocked. Looking forward to my next visit.
Scout
We stayed for memorial day weekend in one of the rvs they had for rent. Had such a great time I went and bought a camper and have plans to go back already! My husky had a blast, as did the humans.
RangerThis campground was highly recommended to us by several people so we decided to check it out since it’s only an hour a way from our house and my husband liked the other Spacious Skies campground we stayed at.
It was a rough group of campers. One dad called his young daughter the b-word in the pool in front of the kids and later on the slide, when my 7 year old came down he asked me what a “m-fer” was. A grown man was throwing it around on the slide.
The slide was a major attraction for my kids, but there was zero supervision. Kids would come down in groups of five and six and no one was paying attention to whether the bottom was cleared. We tried to divert our kids to the pool as often as possible.
The actual campsite was fine. A bit steep (it was cut into a hill)and a pretty far from the “amenities.” There was a mix of cabins, tents and campers. We had to walk through a kind of marshy trail that definitely needed some work to go past the arcade to get to the main area of the campground.
The camp store was nice and the staff was pleasant - they had some activities planned that we didn’t end up doing but it’s nice to know they were there as a Plan B. My kids loved the fishing lake - they caught (and released) a bunch of fish and there were kayaks and peddle boats that could be used for free.
I peaked into the bathhouse and laundry and they looked fine - nothing fancy but serviceable.
I did talk to the front desk about the other campers and she was nice. Ultimately, from what I heard in the pool sounds like they were regulars. I liked all the amenities even if I didn’t love the campsite, but I don’t necessarily want to spend the entire weekend listening to f-bombs.
Traveler
I honestly love this park. It is my favorite TT park. The staff is friendly and helpful, the annuals mind their business, and the other campers are friendly. I work from home and the internet is iffy, I had to buy the campground internet and then use an antenna to make it strong enough to work, but hey, that's camping for you. The water pressure is low, so we just filled our tanks so we had enough water pressure for our tank less water heater. We are parked right on a creek and love sitting out here at night. So many things to do here as well. This is a great park and I cannot wait to return.
ScoutJust stayed here over the weekend. I don’t recommend it at all. Pool was slimy campsites were overgrown and junked up full time campsites throughout. Water slide is unsupervised chaos just a terrible experience. Stayed here a lot last year and it was great more like a cheap trailer park now. We seen people openly carrying a case of beer to the pool at 10:00am don’t waste your money. That pic is our neighboring site
Guide
We frequently visit this campground for weekend trips as it is close to us. It is easily accessible and does have areas for your garbage but there are no bathrooms which puts a small damper on a family visit. The water is pretty clear and has an abundance of trout so it is great for fishing and swimming.
GuideHidden Creek not only has a nice creek running through the campground within 20 feet of my site, but also the nature trail is off the beaten path from the very active campground along a small river. I had problems with noisy neighbors, but not the fault of the campground staff who dealt with it as best they could. Nice private showers and lots of play equipment for the kids.
Ranger
We had a lot of fun at our glamping campsite. The gorgeous tent was on a platform and included a large bed and decorated interior. The site had a campfire ring and was close to the bathroom. The platform had some chairs and the campfire wood was there for us.
I did have a bear encounter on my way to the bathroom during the night, but we both just backed away slowly. This was actually the experience that made me pro-camper with a bathroom lol.
The camp host arrived shortly after we did to check in on us and to give us the lay of the land. He fortunately also came around the next morning when our car battery was dead and gave us a jump.
The best thing about Lake Powhatan is the the nice hike around the lake and the fun little lake beach. It’s the perfect size for kids. Plenty of people also seem to enjoy the biking, but it’s a bit uphill for me and there can be a fair amount of cars.
Lake Powhatan is a great little getaway!
Scout
Foothills was great clean grounds friendly guest great views pleasant atmosphere and privacy when needed I defiantly will be back thanks everyone and staff.
Traveler
Excellent management. Clean park.
Scout
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ScoutMy adventure was quiet and full of stars at night. I liked the clean restroom and bike friendly space
Scout
Poorly maintained , old leaves and limbs everywhere. The long term campers are filthy, trashy and encroaching on the grass areas of other sites. Too many vehicles per site, loud vehicles and unsafe driving speeds. No presence of management.
Scout
Stayed a few days and everything was what you expect from a KOA. I've stayed in much nicer KOAs but this is still not bad. The interstate was particularly loud, a bridge on the interstate made for some very loud 'ka-booms' when trucks went over.
Scout
We originally came for the lil woody but as soon as we saw the tiny home we caved for that immediately! We had an great time and everything we could have needed right there! Don said we were his first people to book and seemed super excited! We’ll definitely be sending our friends and coming again ourselves in the summer if he’ll have us! It’s a bit of a drive out there with little to no cell service but wifi is available over the whole site! Definitely worth it with amazing views all around. Don also owns the land across the street with an beautiful creek he allowed us to explore.
Scout
My new favospot. The bathrooms and showers are very clean and at night it’s really quite. Make sure to bring your own firewood and there isn’t much laying around to pick up but overall a fantastic place.
TravelerEverything about our stay has been amazing. The staff are super friendly and helpful. While we went as a couple, there are activities for kids. Bathrooms are clean and there is a laundry. Our site was not necessarily private, but it was nice. We had enough space.
Scout
Just a beautiful place camped for a weekend with my son and we couldn't have been more happy with the set up. Thanks Michelle!
Traveler
Super place, super staff. Kevin the manager and Diane the host are awesome people with plenty of knowledge of the area. The road into the facility (FR 472) turns into a gravel road for the last mile or so with a few small potholes but nothing terrible, we had no problems getting there in a 30' class a RV . Just make sure when you get to the fork in the road STAY TO THE RIGHT! The road on the left is Neil Creek road (which btw has some really nice dispersed camp sites) but if you have a bigger rig and go up that road you will hate life... It twists then gets steep and only a couple places to make a 180. No cell service whatsoever even with a booster... If you walk a 1/4 mile out the gravel road by the 1st A frame house you can get a signal there. The showers have plenty of hot water and are clean. The place is a bear super highway so they take policing your food and garbage very seriously. There are an abundance of hiking trails accessible from the site and are well kept... S
Toe River has some beautiful spots to take a dip if you can handle the cold water.
Scout
On 8/25/23 - 8/27/23, WE went camping for the first time this year and left early that sunday morning. Which turned into a nightmare for my family on the following Monday 8/28/23 we had a social worker come out to investigate my family due to steel creek making a HUGE mix up on giving the wrong site number and wrong information to dss. AND All Steel Creek had to say was they are sorry!! Our life was turned upside down for over two weeks due to Steel Creek giving out wrong information. Shouldn't Steel Creek make sure they give the right information to a department like child protective services? The case was eventually closed because we were the wrong family, but now dss says it will always be on my husband's record with them that he was investigated for child abuse even when we were the wrong family to start with! a weekend that was supposed to be a nice and relaxing vacation turned into my husband having to lose time at work, lawyer fees, and emotional distress for my family. My husband tried to contact Steel Creek after everything was over, but they are screening his calls and staying silent on this situation. The very least they could have done was offer a refund of our stay if not more for everything steel creek has put us through. All of this was due to Steel Creek giving wrong information to the Department of Social Services! Be very aware because this can happen to you! This could be your information given next! I've been going to steel creek since I was a little girl and I'll never go back or recommend this camp ground to anyone and will always tell my story of the wrong steel creek camp ground has put us through especially since the owner Joey has not even reached out to my husband for the trouble his camp ground has caused my family! A little business suggestion for you if at any time a department like social services is calling you for information, you need to make sure yourself and / or your employees are giving out the right information. And to your employees who give false information should be fired! This was an awful situation this camp ground put us in! SHAME ON YOU, STEEL CREEK!
On another note our site was also full of dog crap, people who stay here with dogs are supposed to clean up after them and 90% of them never do so just know if you do choose to stay at this campground have plans on dodging dog crap during your stay. If it's not dog crap you will hear of the many dogs barking the whole time during your stay, which is annoying when you are trying to relax with your family.
TravelerSuper nice park, lots of kids around when we stayed so our kids had lots of new friends to play with. One even set up a lemonade stand. Neighbors are helpful and kind, the first back in sites are roomy but not too far away from neighbors. We’re happy we chose to back in versus pull through, those sites look pretty packed in and in the open sun. Laundry on site was limited but the machines work great and they have an app to let you know when more are available/when your load is done. Parks were well kept for the kids, and there’s even a scavenger hunt set up in the permanent residence lots for kiddos. The pond was nice, but full of shy fish.
Only real cons are there are lots of flies around and the creek is filled with granite so the kids tracked sand and “glitter” in the truck and trailer.
Traveler
This campground has one of the best overlook areas I’ve seen. I could sit for hours and stare at the mountains and the French Broad River. Well-worth a stop here just for this. Details: this is a small campground - about 15(?)ish RV sites, plus a few tent sites, some yurts and a rental house. The Premium sites are paved and have fantastic long-range views. The downside to these is that they get the full brunt of the afternoon sun - not a huge downside in winter but absolutely a consideration during the summer! The gravel Deluxe sites are shaded and slightly larger. They’re only a few seconds walk to the community overlook area, which is equipped with seating. The yurts are down a hill and in the woods, so excellent for privacy. The tent sites aren’t the best, in my opinion, and are the furthest from the small (and dated) bathhouse. I don’t think I would choose to tent camp here. They are expanding and adding another dozen rv sites - though I haven’t heard if they also plan to add another bathhouse or expand what they currently have. The wifi works okay, but we stuck to using our hotspot. T-mobile signal was adequate, ATT signal less so. The campground location is very good - 15 min drive will get you into Montfort or downtown Asheville - or into Weaverville in the other direction. It’s also close by the River District. Head over to High Five Riverside Dr to get great coffee or a beer and sit at a table next to the French Broad while you drink it. If you have dogs, there’s a little dog bar down the road called Wag Bar - it was some nice off-leash time for our dogs. An important note: the campground is at the top of a small Knob, so the road up is steep and a little curvy - it is gravel and narrow, so they ask you not to arrive until after 2p in order to ensure that arriving rigs don’t meet up with departing rigs on the road - when that happens, one rig driver will be really unhappy when they have to back up on that road. There is not enough room for two RVs to pass! This was our 3rd trip, and we will return again. We love the peace and quiet and natural feel.
TravelerI came on a Sat in August for First Come First Serve (yeah, not the best plan) and they were just taking the "We are Full' sign down to say they had two sites. One was right across from the welcome hut. I took the other and it was lovely. This campground is VERY shady and has water and bathrooms and showers that are well maintained. There are wonderful sites for families big and small around the central "soccer" field and sites for small-medium trailers and tents and camper vans in "Bear Alley" around the outside. One or two pull in sites for bigger rigs.
I'd come First Come First serve on a Sunday night or Monday night and scope out sites that would be best for you. You pay extra for the access to wonderful hiking trails, the deep Forest feel, and did I mention SHOWERS? It is pretty remote and off a long dirt road off route 80. You don't need a 4x4 but it's a slow careful drive .... and you are NOT going to want to take day trips to Burnsville or Marion. Plan to stay and bring what you need. Bring that bug spray and screen tent.
Camping near Rutherfordton, North Carolina, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a quiet retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Rutherfordton, North Carolina, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're in an RV or tent camping, there's something for everyone to enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Rutherfordton, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Rutherfordton, NC is Lake Powhatan — National Forests In North Carolina with a 4.7-star rating from 60 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Rutherfordton, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 55 glamping camping locations near Rutherfordton, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
