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Best Equestrian Camping near South Mills, NC

29 Reviews

Northwest River Park & Campground features equestrian trails for horse riders visiting the Chesapeake, Virginia area. Located approximately 30 miles from South Mills, North Carolina, this park offers horse-friendly trails that visitors frequently mention in reviews. The campground provides various accommodation options including tent sites, RV spaces with hookups, and cabins. Facilities include clean bathrooms, hot showers, and picnic tables at each site. The park maintains miles of trails suitable for horseback riding with adequate space for trailer parking. Some sites are gravel and mostly level, though users note that water is not available at all campsites.

Trails at Northwest River Park connect to the surrounding natural area, providing access to wetlands and wooded terrain. The park remains open seasonally from April 1 through November 30, with camping fees ranging from $38-42 per night. Equestrian visitors should note that while horses are permitted on designated trails, no dedicated horse corrals are available on-site. The bathhouses are well-maintained and frequently praised for cleanliness. Trail riders can explore the natural surroundings of this 763-acre park while enjoying amenities like firewood sales, a dump station, and various recreational activities including fishing, kayaking, and miniature golf. The park typically enforces a 14-day maximum stay policy for campers.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near South Mills, North Carolina (2)

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near South Mills, NC

1 Photos of 2 South Mills Campgrounds

Equestrian Camping Reviews near South Mills, NC

29 Reviews of 2 South Mills Campgrounds

  • Elizabeth V.
    Aug. 25, 2019

    Northwest River Park & Campground

    Hometown fun

    I 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.

  • K
    Sep. 3, 2021

    Blackwater Birds and Bees

    Secluded stay next to river

    Site was shaded, private, and right next to the river, so we had our own private access for swimming and bathing. Plenty of room for several tents and lots of parking space. Plenty of land to walk around and check out the farm.

    Bathrooms were very clean and just a short walk from the site. Hosts are friendly and generous, especially with the use of the kayaks. We took kayaks out on the pond and the river and caught lots of fish!

    They're building a farm store and allowed us to shop during our stay.

  • Cliff M.
    Aug. 7, 2018

    Chesapeake Campground

    Great inner city campground

    This is a former KOA, I stayed here years ago when it was a KOA, and have spent considerable amount of time here fairly recently. They cater mostly to monthly campers, and aside from allowing some small decks to be built next to the RV's, it otherwise looks very clean. They do keep a few sites open for transient campers. If you need to stay for a duration in the Norfolk-Va Beach area (we're talking months), this is the place to be! Several sites have good access to satellite system.

  • M
    Apr. 18, 2021

    Blackwater Birds and Bees

    Wonderful and peaceful trip!

    What a great camp! A small family farm with 5 sites around the property. We chose site 2 for our family of three and a dog and it was the perfect size. The hosts were so friendly, and we were able to walk around and see the chicken coop, small lake, and barnyard with goats and geese. The campsites are great (about a 5 min walk apart), with a fire pit, picnic table, trash, and ours had a set up for a hammock. Even with what it looked like every campsite full, it was peaceful and pretty. Our toddler had a blast! They are a working farm so it was fun to have the option to buy eggs, herbs or wine. We picked up a t-shirt on the way out and will be back for the troller :)

  • Alex M.
    Jul. 18, 2022

    Northwest River Park & Campground

    Turned away

    Arrived shortly after 8 pm after a long day's drive. The sun was going down but it wasn't dark yet. The campground office was locked and deserted. No posted instructions about after hours registration, no pay box. Ran into a park ranger who informed me the campground was closed for the evening; as in, would not take my money. Seriously? The campground is behind a gate with a keypad, so no chance of driving in and talking to the camp host. The ranger was kind and apologetic at least.

    Drove a little further south and found a nice site at Bells Island Campground. The host there was happy to take my money.

  • RL
    Dec. 22, 2021

    Blackwater Birds and Bees

    Awesome River Site

    Great little site right on the river! Short walk to other great river put-in sites for kayaking and swimming. The campground has loaner kayaks 🛶

    Cute little bathhouse with flushing toilets. Slightly tricky getting to the site in the dark - just follow the host’s directions really well. We had a great time and bought some homemade wine from the farm store. They also left us drinking water on the picnic table at the site. Beautiful wildflowers all around the property! Want to return in the spring.

  • Gary D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 5, 2024

    Northwest River Park & Campground

    Large sites

    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.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 6, 2025

    Northwest River Park & Campground

    Under construction ~

    This is a beautiful campground! There are only seven campers here in this campground, and I can't believe it. The sites are gravel and mostly level but I did have to use a couple blocks of my levelers. There are picnic tables and fire pits at each site, however my picnic table has a very very warped bench. But it makes no difference to me as it is only me, and I have my own chairs! The bathrooms are clean and well lit. The only thing I have a problem with here, is that there are no garbage cans or dumpsters near the campsites. The only garbage containers I found were near the dump station, which is on the way out of the park, nowhere near the campground! There is lots to do within this camp, let alone in the area around the camp. I have noticed two hiking trails, I have seen the kayaks that are for rent and the area you launch, all we need now is some nicer weather. Other info, I asked if they had weekly rates and was told yes. But of course you are limited to 14 days like so many other campgrounds. When I arrived and talked to the clerk about the weekly rates, all he did was multiply the daily rate by the number of days. There is no discounted weekly rate. They also do not take Sam's club, do not have senior discounts, etc.. I don't know if their site on the the dirt shows the price, but it was $42 for the first night and drops to $38 per night for the rest of my stay.

  • Erin H.
    Jun. 24, 2020

    Blackwater Birds and Bees

    A Hidden Gem in Zuni, Virginia.

    Blackwater Birds and Bees offers many treasures. Without giving too much away, setting up camp, I noticed a sweet bouquet of freshly picked wildflowers and a small tasting jar of honey from their apiary on the picnic table! There is a pond on the property, with several canoes and kayaks to graciously borrow. I took to the Blackwater River that runs along the property, which I highly recommend for a peaceful and scenic paddle. The goats and chickens are all smiles behind the blueberry patch and a fresh bog. See if you can spy the carnivorous plants! If you venture past the southern Virginia peanut plantations you’re heading in the right direction, to a beautiful property with amazing camping!

Guide to South Mills

Horse camping in North Carolina offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and equestrian-friendly amenities, making it a perfect getaway for horse lovers.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • Merchants Millpond State Park Campground provides access to horse camping with features like reservable sites and nearby trails for riding.

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

  • At Northwest River Park & Campground, visitors can enjoy a variety of recreational activities, including hiking and canoeing, alongside horse-friendly trails.

Equestrian campgrounds include spacious sites

  • Chesapeake Campground offers ample space for horse camping, with features like electric hookups and picnic tables, ensuring a comfortable stay for both campers and their horses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near South Mills, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near South Mills, NC is Northwest River Park & Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 19 reviews.

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