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Camping near South Mills, NC

51 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Campgrounds near South Mills, North Carolina provide multiple options for outdoor recreation along the Atlantic coastal region. Northwest River Park and Campground, approximately 20 miles northeast in Chesapeake, Virginia, features tent, RV, and cabin sites with full hookups. Other nearby established camping areas include Family Campground at Merchants Millpond State Park, about 15 miles southwest of South Mills, and Elizabeth City Lodging, roughly 25 miles southeast. The region includes both state park facilities and privately operated campgrounds with varying levels of amenities and accommodation types.

    Most campgrounds in the area remain open seasonally from spring through fall, with several offering year-round availability. Northwest River Park operates from April through November, while Outer Banks West - Currituck Sound KOA maintains a similar seasonal schedule. Reservations are recommended, particularly during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. Full-hookup RV sites are common throughout the region, though tent campers have fewer dedicated areas. Facilities typically include shower houses, picnic tables, and fire rings at developed sites. A visitor commented, "Bath houses were clean and the trails were awesome!"

    Campers frequently mention the region's water recreation opportunities as highlights of their stay. Several campgrounds offer boat ramps, fishing access, and water sports equipment rentals. Northwest River Park provides canoe rentals and multiple hiking trails, while Merchants Millpond State Park features a unique cypress swamp ecosystem. Family-friendly activities are prevalent at many locations, with Northwest River Park offering mini-golf, playgrounds, and open recreation areas. Some campgrounds maintain quiet, natural settings while others provide more developed facilities. A recent review noted, "There is a little tiny beach nearby and it provides a beautiful view during sunrise/sunset. There is not much else to do in the area but it is about an hour drive to the Outer Banks."

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    Best Campgrounds near South Mills (51)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Northwest River Park & Campground

      4.1(15)14mi from South Mills52 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Some sites close to main road but not a lot of traffic."

      "The only thing I have a problem with here, is that there are no garbage cans or dumpsters near the campsites."

      from $21 - $36 / night

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      2. First Landing State Park Campground

      4.4(122)37mi from South Mills225 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Very clean facilities and close by. Easy access to water. Close proximity to beach and hiking. 120 - was able to get two RTT on one site. Bad: close proximity to other sites."

      "Really felt like camping in pure nature. (5 star)

      • If you are planning to stay at the RV site (Kendall loop), I would recommend staying away from the sites that are right next to the Shore Drive"

      from $32 - $163 / night

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      3. North Landing Beach

      4.7(15)20mi from South MillsRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "This location was PERFECT! It warmed up enough to enjoy the beach which was a 5 minute walk from cabin."

      "There Is a very nice workout room and a bIllIards room adjacent."

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      4. Family Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park

      4.5(16)20mi from South Mills20 sitesRVs, Tents

      "I still think it's the best one, it's the largest, right next to the main trail head, & bath house trail right ahead of the site. The bath house was real nice."

      "Nice 0.7 walk from the campsite to the visitor center to rent canoes! Just a short drive to some other trails. Enjoyed the Cyprus Point trail which you access at the boat ramp section of the park."

      from $27 / night

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      5. Holiday Trav-L-Park

      4.0(46)31mi from South MillsRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "We enjoyed biking all over the place (including a family-friendly bike trail to the VB boardwalk), playing on the many small playgrounds, swimming in the dome-covered pool (there are three more of them"

      "Finding my campsite in the Sherwood Forest section was a little confusing but my site ended up being ideal--close to the main road to walk out for an Uber to the show and a little farther from the other"

      from $25 - $92 / night

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      6. Sandy Point Resort Campground

      4.1(9)19mi from South MillsRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Liz’s husband(remember, not an employee) started in on us, he was rude, he looked like he was ready to fight and as I’m walking toward the store to get the day pass he was following and harassing me."

      "This location is great for that."

      from $20 - $60 / night

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      7. Virginia Beach KOA

      4.3(39)31mi from South MillsRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Zip lining is close by. Easy access to the troll to the beach is right on site. For as crowded as it was it really was not that loud. Great location to visit and enjoy the beach."

      "Definitely plenty to do and a short Uber distance to the World Famous Virginia Beach."

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      8. Outer Banks West - Currituck Sound KOA

      3.8(12)22mi from South MillsRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "It’s not close to anything or any lighthouses. They do have a boat ramp so if you plan to camp and fish this would be a great spot."

      "The view was beautiful and the weather was great at night to just sit outside and enjoy the view. It was a very quiet camp with a great dog park. I look forward to visiting again soon."

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      9. Chesapeake Campground

      3.1(7)19mi from South MillsRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping
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      10. Elizabeth City Lodging

      4.0(2)14mi from South MillsRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "There is a little tiny beach nearby & it provides a beautiful view in during sunrise/sunset. There is not much else to do in the area but it is about an hour drive to the OBX so not too bad."

      Check Availability
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    Recent Camping Photos near South Mills, NC

    122 Photos of 51 South Mills Campgrounds

    Recent Reviews near South Mills, NC

    448 Reviews of 51 South Mills Campgrounds

    • A
      Jul. 11, 2026

      Rocky Hock Campground

      It’s just OK.

      It did say that the laundry area was renovated and I was highly disappointed to see that it does not show any signs of remodeling. The shower house is tolerable but also I will NOT be using the area. They are not strict enough about kids and the crap they leave everywhere. There is a house near the property where they keep dogs out in a kennel all day in the summer heat who bark (understandably) all day. That’s not their fault. They’re strict about where you stay long term and won’t let you near the pond which is also underwhelming. The front desk girl is very sweet and welcoming. Would have liked to have the same opportunity to be by the water as everyone else. We travel for work- all stays are long term.

    • lisa K.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 24, 2026

      Virginia Beach KOA

      Will not stay again due to the fighter jets overhead.

      The fighter jets are so close to the campground. Extremely loud. You can not have a conversation on the phone when they fly over. Hurts my ears. Especially in the middle of the night. Twice. Thundering roars then the high whistle woke me disoriented with sudden fear it was a missile coming in. On the other hand, the pool area and lazy river were very nice. Bathouse was kept clean. Constant property care and maintenance were daily kept nice. Trolly for an added fee to the beach from campground. Nice kid and family activities to do at the campground.

    • Bryan S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 22, 2026

      First Landing State Park Campground

      Highly recommend!

      So we had just gone in on a day pass to go to the beach and ended up staying two nights. It was that nice. The sites varied greatly in size, but both the sites we stayed in had plenty of room and shade. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. The beaches were filled with crabs, so if you don’t like crabs it might not be the place for you, but we really loved it there.

    • Megan H.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 16, 2026

      Chesapeake Campground

      Great local quiet spot!

      I loved staying at this campground. It’s definitely geared towards locals and quiet stays, no campground events and things of that nature, but it’s perfect for someone not looking for the fluff. They do have two pools, basketball courts, kayak rentals, and I believe pony rides! They have a really nice climate controlled game room too. They are extremely fairly priced. They also have THE best campground bathrooms I have ever seen. Seems like they host a lot of events, club and troop weekends, things of that sort. I really enjoyed staying there and I will be back. Nice low key local spot for someone in the full time RV life or needing an affordable quiet place to stay while in the area.

    • S K.
      Jun. 16, 2026

      North Landing Beach Campground

      Will return for sure

      Very, very glad we found this location. Medium to larger campground. Quite spacious. You're not packed in like Oreos in a wrapper. Nice layout, and site sizes. Nice level pads. Very clean & well maintained, everything is. Plenty of amenities and weekly activities.On site pizza & ice cream shop, highly recommended. Great water access paddle boards & kayaks. Nice boat launch too. An absolute bargain for the price point. Killer sunsets too. Have paid more and gotten less, and disappointed. Repeating, very pleased staying here, soo much room. Thank you

    • MThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 4, 2026

      First Landing State Park Campground

      Nice

      We had an amazing four-night stay here! Every morning started with the sound of the gong reminding everyone not to sleep the day away and to make the most of the beautiful surroundings. The weather was hot and perfect for enjoying the beach. We loved spending time by the water, watching the crabs, and soaking up the atmosphere. Everything about our stay was wonderful, relaxing, and fun. We would also love to come back and try one of the igloos- they looked very unique and interesting. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and we made some great memories here

    • Lucian T.
      Jun. 2, 2026

      Cypress Cove Retreat

      Famly friendly. Country envirement. Saft and friendly envirement,

      Widower, I have been here for over a year now. Best of the best, country site on the beautiful Chowan River that accesses the Atlantic Ocean. Boat ramp, Large T-Dock, farmet type living with some livestock and ckickens that makes me feel like my chilhood days. So peaceful here! Family envirement. Free laundry facilities. Children safe activies on site.  I plane to spent  the rest of my days here.

    • SThe Dyrt PRO User
      Apr. 29, 2026

      First Landing State Park Campground

      Organized and Interesting Campground.

      Mostly wooded and private sites. Many of the sites are quite beautiful and spacious. Clean bathrooms and showers. Nice variety of both tent and RV sites.

    Guide to South Mills

    Camping near South Mills, North Carolina offers opportunities along the Atlantic coastal region where maritime forests meet freshwater wetlands. The area sits at low elevation with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F and high humidity from June through September. Winter camping remains viable with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing, though many campgrounds reduce services during off-season months.

    What to do

    Water recreation access: At North Landing Beach, campers can enjoy direct water access with rental options. "We stayed at North Landing Beach for a week during the 4th of July holiday and while it was very busy, it was quiet and very family oriented. The beach was quiet and relaxing with beautiful sunsets," notes a visitor to North Landing Beach.

    Hiking through unique ecosystems: Family Campground at Merchants Millpond State Park offers trails through cypress swamps and wetlands. "The trail system was magical. We hiked early in the am and it was such a therapeutic hike through the forest and swamp," reports a camper from Family Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park.

    Paddling opportunities: Multiple campgrounds offer canoe and kayak access. A visitor explains, "We have spent my childhood here and I am excited to share it with my kids. We hike here when visiting grandparents. Chesapeake Public Park's does a great job with events and education at NWRP! Equestrian trails available, which is always a plus."

    What campers like

    Clean facilities: Cleanliness ranks high for campers visiting the area. A camper at Northwest River Park notes, "Overall amazed at the cleanliness of the campground. The staff is very friendly. The park was very quiet going into the night."

    Waterfront views: Sites with water views draw consistent positive feedback. At Outer Banks West - Currituck Sound KOA, a camper shares, "We were right on the water and loved our view of Currituck Sound!"

    Beach proximity: Elizabeth City Lodging provides beach access. "I love this little place in Elizabeth City. There is a little tiny beach nearby & it provides a beautiful view during sunrise/sunset," shares a visitor to Elizabeth City Lodging.

    Recreational options: Many campgrounds feature multiple activities. One North Landing Beach camper reports, "They have all kinds of recreational things for children and adults. Bands and comedians also happy hour with free drinks. There is also dinners. Volleyball on the beach they also had a dj on the beach one time when I was there."

    What you should know

    Seasonal variations: Campground operations follow seasonal patterns. For Virginia Beach KOA, a camper notes, "Prices come way down during the off season. Much of the facilities are closed but they keep open one of their bathhouses. Otherwise it's a peaceful stay in the winter months."

    Water considerations: Some campgrounds have limited water access at individual sites. One visitor to Northwest River Park explains, "Plenty of room..showers/bathrooms huge..water NOT at all sites but easy to fill tanks. Some sites close to main road but not a lot of traffic."

    Wildlife encounters: The area's wetland ecosystem means wildlife, including insects. A camper at Family Campground shares, "We tented here and really liked the campground. We stayed in the family campground since we had a vehicle. There are float-in and hike in spots we did not investigate. Our site was clean and separated well."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular campground near South Mills, NC?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near South Mills, NC is Northwest River Park & Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 15 reviews.

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