South Mountains State Park stands at the intersection of foothills and mountains in western North Carolina, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 feet affecting camping conditions throughout the year. Located within a 30-minute drive from Hickory, the camping options span from primitive backcountry sites to full-hookup RV spots. Water access is a defining feature of many campsites near Hickory, North Carolina, with options along Lake Norman, Lake Hickory, and the Catawba River.
What to do
Waterfall hikes: South Mountains State Park offers an 80-foot waterfall accessible via a moderately difficult 2.35-mile hike. "South Mountain State Park, NC From I-40 Exit 104, you twist and turn, up and down but keep a sharp eye for the small, brown State Park signs or you'll pass your right hand turns," notes a camper at South Mountains State Park Family Campground.
Mountain biking: The region offers extensive trail networks for cyclists of all skill levels. "Roughly 16.5 miles of mountain bike trails intermix with hiking and equestrian trails," according to a South Mountains visitor, while another camper at W Kerr Scott Reservoir Bandits Roost Campground mentions, "Rode the bike trails and loved it. Did some kayaking too."
Water recreation: Multiple lakes provide opportunities for boating, fishing, and paddling. At Lake Norman State Park, rentals are available for various watercraft. "There is a small lake on property to fish or swim. Has a pretty good market for the things you might have forgot," reports a visitor to Bear Den Family Campground.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers value the spacing at certain campgrounds. At Bear Den Family Campground, a visitor noted, "The campsites are good size. Playground on site for the kids. Shower house was clean but not very big."
Clean, modern facilities: Newer bathhouses receive frequent praise. "The restroom/shower house is a monstrous, mountain lodge style modern facility...very clean, spacious and well-stocked," reports a South Mountains visitor, while another at Lake Norman State Park mentioned, "I have camped all across the US and this was the nicest and cleanest campground I have ever been in."
Riverside camping: Sites along water are consistently rated highest. At Indian Springs Campground, a camper shared, "There is a path to the nearby river and the dog loved spending time in the water," highlighting the natural water access that enhances the camping experience.
What you should know
No-alcohol policies: Several parks strictly prohibit alcohol. "The no-alcohol policy at the park is STRICTLY enforced, so be careful!" warns a South Mountains visitor. Always check specific campground rules before arriving.
Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Thousand Trails Green Mountain operates from April 1 to November 15, while W Kerr Scott Reservoir is open April to October.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies greatly by location. "No cell service is nonexistent. Your site will have a WiFi password for internet at the Visitors Center, but you need to be at or in the building for it to work," reports a South Mountains camper, while others mention paying for WiFi at some private campgrounds.
Reservation requirements: Peak season demands advance planning. "Being right on the Parkway was awesome and provided some great driving and hiking close by. The staff were very helpful," notes a Bear Den visitor who booked well in advance.
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Choose sites near play areas for convenience. At Julian Price Park Campground, a visitor shared, "We camped at C13 which was right across from the large playground in November. No noise issues, but it was dark by 6:30pm. May be different in the Summer."
Family-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with organized events. "This is an excellent family campground. They have plenty of activities for the entire family from basketball, volleyball, shuffle board, putt putt, a fishing pond, and a pool," reports a visitor to Cross Country Campground.
Tent pad sizing: Check pad dimensions for family-sized tents. "Even though we only stayed one night, we had a blast! Restrooms were very clean and well maintained. The tent pad was large enough to setup our 8 man tent and 2 man tent," notes a South Mountains visitor.
Tips from RVers
Steep access roads: Some campgrounds have challenging approaches. Regarding Indian Springs Campground, a camper advised, "The road to the campground is easy to get to from I40, it's the turn onto Whitener Drive off of Costner Road that is not easy. Whitener Rd is fairly steep, but it starts off paved so it's not too bad."
Hookup variations: Full-service sites are limited in public campgrounds. Lake Norman State Park offers electric hookups but no sewer connections at campsites, while national forest campgrounds typically offer no hookups.
Dump station locations: Plan ahead for waste disposal needs. "Exiting the campground and driving up the steep hill with the camper in tow was a little challenging, but we made it out without trouble," reported an RVer at Indian Springs regarding accessing facilities.
