The central North Carolina landscape surrounding Southmont features several lakeside camping options, with High Rock Lake Marina and Campground providing direct water access just minutes from town. Uwharrie National Forest, approximately 20 miles east, offers both developed campgrounds and dispersed camping opportunities through Badin Lake and Arrowhead campgrounds. These forest service sites accommodate tent campers, RVs, and those seeking boat-in camping experiences. Private campgrounds like Cross Winds Family Campground in nearby Linwood provide full hookup options for RVers seeking more amenities. The region's camping landscape ranges from primitive forest sites to developed facilities with electric, water, and sewer connections, all within a 30-minute drive of Southmont.
Campsite reservations are essential during summer months when lakefront sites fill quickly, particularly at Badin Lake Campground where waterfront spots are highly sought after. Many campsites in the Uwharrie National Forest area require careful selection as visitors note uneven terrain. According to one camper at Badin Lake: "The sites are huge so no need to worry about a neighbor being close. I stayed at site 11 with easy access to the water and great views." Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with Verizon generally providing better coverage than other carriers. Spring and fall bring moderate temperatures ideal for camping, while summer humidity can be intense. Some forest roads become challenging after heavy rainfall, particularly those leading to dispersed camping areas.
Fishing opportunities represent a major draw for campers in the Southmont area, with High Rock Lake and Badin Lake both offering abundant shoreline access. Campers consistently mention the spaciousness of sites at Badin Lake Campground, with one visitor noting: "The lake was a stone's throw behind our site, accessible via a well-worn path." The lower loop at Badin Lake receives particular praise for its proximity to water. Hikers can access the Badin Lake Trail directly from the campground for easy day hikes. Off-road enthusiasts frequently use Arrowhead Campground as a base for exploring the extensive trail systems in Uwharrie National Forest. Most campgrounds maintain clean facilities with hot showers, though amenities like firewood may not be available on-site, requiring stops at nearby general stores.
"Nice lake to walk around, but paddle boats and center were closed. Lots of ducks that were used to human presence and feeding. Located in a nice sized park. Would definitely go back."
"Site next to one of the lake access trails. Spacious site. We were able to get our 37 ft camper level. Shaded so the a/c s were able to keep up with the heat no issue."
$20 - $40 / night
"Awesome location, very remote and the sites are Huge so no need to worry about a neighbor being close. I stayed at site 11 easy access to the water and great views."
"I preferred the lower loop as nearly every outer site was on the lake with great views and lake access and sites are spread out. The inside sites of the lower loop are pretty spacious and deep."
$50 - $53 / night
"We booked it online last minute, while driving & let ourselves in that evening (everything is clearly marked). The laundry & bathrooms are immaculate!!"
"Large camper sites, walking trails, pool, playground, laundry facilities, store, and showers. Everything was very clean. Literally 5 minutes off the interstate, but very peaceful and quiet!"
$17 - $95 / night
"Morrow Mountain State Park, near Albemarle, NC, has something for everyone. Many hiking and equestrian trails are within the park. "
"Water spigot close by, the pressure is high so slowly lift the handle haha. The sites are not too close together. Lots of hiking nearby. Beautiful area! Highly recommend."
$20 - $54 / night
"Arrowhead Campground has had a bigger budget compared to its lesser sibling Badin Lake Campground. "
"The campsites do not offer a view of the water of Badin Lake, but it is nearby with a drive or hike. "
$25 / night
"Easy access to the lake. They have a picnic table and a swing set up at the lake so you view it. Some folks reviewed the campground and complained about the roads in and hair pin curves."
"This place is nestled into a quiet point on a small cove of the lake. Easy access from I-85 but no so close that you hear noise and experience traffic. Excellent amenities and friendly service."
"I heard mixed reviews about this campground but since I had a 1000 Trails membership, I figured it was worth checking out."
"Hiking trails and lake with small beach for swimming and fishing. Pet + horse friendly. Neatly kept. Kind and helpful host."
"We walked the RV sites and spotted several that were also very nice as well. They each seemed to offer a decent bit of privacy, which is nice."
"We were looking for a place to stay that would be close to the venue and close to the bride’s family and happen upon this little gem. Full hookups (30 & 50 amp), WiFi and cable."
$25 - $35 / night
"The drive down the trail can be a bit much if you’re in a smaller car like we were, we had to drive slowly down because of all of the rocks."
"First of all.. this place is FREE to camp at and surrounded by beautiful water, beautiful trees and the ancient rock of Uwharrie. A lovely place that we are so lucky to have access to... BUT. People."
ScoutThis is a really low low budget homeless camp. The campers are allowed trash around their spots and can have broken down vehicles to use as storage. Every sight has a tarp on it and looks to be drug addicts. Save yourself the chance of getting robbed and catch something and go somewhere else. I promise you your kids don't need to see this place.
LegendA nice campsite off of Tower Road with is also part of the TransAmerica Trail. It is a flat site with a with a great fire pit. There is are more sites in the field but we ended up not staying because it was hunting season and this area was open to hunting. It would be a nice place to stay if you are hunting in the area or if it is out of season.
Check it out in our video
https://youtu.be/Fv-DYCm_qXY
LegendI was able to map out 41 free dispersed campsites on Moccasin Creek Road; Forest Service Road 576. It is a 7.5 mile drive to the end at what is referred to as Deep Water Trail Camp. But you'll only need to go about a mile before you find the first campsite on the left. Many of the sites are able to accommodate large groups of campers. This area is popular for the Off Highway Vehicle trail systems which are open April through December. We first came here on opening weekend for the OHV trails so it was pretty busy and the weather was dry so it was really dusty. We also come back at the end of December and camped near the Deep Water Trail Camp. This time instead of nearly every site being occupied, only 5 other sites had people for that weekend. It is a amazing area to visit if you are into OHV(Off Highway Vehicle) trail riding, mountain biking or hiking. It gets pretty busy sometimes and a few sites had trash but all in all a large majority of the sites were well kept. I would definitely recommend this area for dispersed camping. There are a few sites that you need a truck to get into but for the most part all of them are accessible by car. A couple of them are walk in sites.
All sites are shown and GPS coordinates listed in our video description.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1dJ268F1uw
LegendWe have been down here a few times and camped in a different site each time. It is a amazing area to visit if you are into OHV(Off Highway Vehicle) trail riding, mountain biking or hiking. It gets pretty busy sometimes and a few sites had trash but all in all a large majority of the sites were well kept. I would definitely recommend this area for dispersed camping. There are a few sites that you need a truck to get into but for the most part all of them are accessible by car. A couple of them are walk in sites.
I was able to map 41 sites on Moccasin Creek Road. All sites are shown in our video and GPS coordinates listed in the description.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1dJ268F1uw
LegendWe pulled into Lake Norman State Park around 6 PM on New Year’s Eve, mainly because we didn’t want to drive a couple more hours to our original destination. We only planned to stay one night, but the campground surprised us—in the best way—and we ended up staying three nights instead.
There were plenty of available campsites, and every site we saw was at least decently spaced, with several feeling nicely secluded. The campground was quiet and well laid out. The bathhouse was clean and modern, and having water spigots available in the no-hookups loop was a big plus.
One of the highlights was riding our e-bikes on the Hawk, Hicks, Norwood Creek, and Monbo loops. These are the easier sections of the Itusi Trail system and were a lot of fun—though still a bit too unpaved for my wife’s taste😄. Even so, the hiking trail access from the campground made it easy to get out and explore.
This stop wasn’t planned at all, but it turned into one of those stays that makes you glad plans changed. We’ll definitely be coming back to Lake Norman State Park.
Check out all the sites in 360° in our video:
https://youtu.be/UzYublJ-BZg
LegendWe stayed one night at Arrowhead Campground while checking out some of the nearby trails, including the Badin Lake Trail, which is just a short drive away and offers great views of the lake and surrounding forest. The campground itself is well laid out, with sites nicely spaced apart so it doesn’t feel crowded. The paved campground loops are in great shape and make driving through easy, even for larger rigs. Several areas offer pleasant views of Badin Lake, adding to the relaxing atmosphere. Overall, Arrowhead Campground felt quiet, clean, and well maintained—an excellent base camp for exploring Uwharrie National Forest, even if just for a quick overnight stay.
Check out our 360° video to see all the sites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG4AjjkcB4o
LegendOlder national forest campground without electric at the sites. It is nice enough and less crowded then Arrowhead. But is older and not as well kept as Arrowhead with is about the same price and right up the road. I like it since it is usually not crowded.
Check out the campground and all the sites in our 360° video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUJctFFUhIs
LegendWe were coming through the area and wanted an alternative to the dusty camping over in the OHV area of the forest. We where happy with the West Morris Mountain Campground. Not a lot of people and everything was clean.
Check out the walk through video in 360° to get a real feel for the National Forest Campground.
https://youtu.be/NsKiCNFALVs
GuidePeaceful and well-maintained area. I encountered a few people on the trail, which was reassuring without disrupting the solitude. I camped near the river and had a great experience. As a person of color, I felt safe at all times, including during brief interactions with other campers.
Dan Nicholas Park offers diverse camping opportunities within 35 minutes of Southmont, North Carolina. The park contains RV and tent sites alongside small cabins for those seeking more shelter. Situated in Rowan County, the surrounding terrain consists of rolling hills with elevations ranging from 600-700 feet. Unlike some areas near High Rock Lake, most campsites here remain accessible year-round with paved roads maintained through winter months.
Wildlife viewing at Dan Nicholas Park: The park features a small zoo with native animals. "This place is the best places for families to camp. There is a beautiful zoo, gem mining, a train ride, amazing fishing, a beautiful playground, and a carousel," notes one Dan Nicholas Park camper.
Paddling from shoreline sites: Many campsites at Badin Lake provide direct water access. "Great access to Badin Lake for kayaking, swimming and fishing. Our group explored the trails which were scenic and easy to transverse," writes a visitor to Badin Lake Campground.
Offroading from camp: Arrowhead Campground serves as a popular base for Jeep and off-road enthusiasts. "We had a crowd of 12 and booked one of the 'double' sites, which was well worth it. Massive fire ring, two picnic tables, flat ground for 6 tents and surprisingly clean bath house," shares one Arrowhead Campground visitor.
Secluded sites: Many campers praise the private feeling at certain campgrounds. "I camped here with a friend and the dogs over the weekend. We had campsite 002 which was nice and shady and very private. It's a short walk over to the lake where the dogs enjoyed their swimming," writes a Badin Lake Campground visitor.
Lake proximity: Waterfront access ranks high for campers. "This place is nestled into a quiet point on a small cove of the lake. Easy access from I-85 but not so close that you hear noise and experience traffic," shares a High Rock Lake Marina and Campground visitor.
Four-season camping: Unlike some seasonal sites, several campgrounds remain open year-round. "Stayed one night. $10 with America Beautiful pass, $20 without. Great area with 22 parking areas. Right on the lake. Water, toilets and shower (water off probably too cold)," notes a winter visitor to Badin Lake Campground.
Site levelness varies widely: Many campers mention the need for leveling equipment. "Gravel site that needed 2 blocks to make level on site B16," reports a visitor to Cross Winds Family Campground.
Bathroom conditions fluctuate: Facility maintenance varies significantly between campgrounds. "The bathrooms need a little update. They seemed pretty run down and very buggy," notes a Badin Lake visitor.
Reservation importance: Sites at popular campgrounds fill quickly. "Reserve well in advance if you desire a site...these campgrounds fill quickly," advises an Arrowhead Campground visitor who found the campground full mid-week.
Activity options: Dan Nicholas Park offers multiple family-friendly amenities. "The kids take their bikes, but even without them, they stay plenty busy. The lake offers fishing, paddle boating and feeding the ducks and it's only a short walk from any campsite," writes one visitor.
Playground access: Several campgrounds provide play areas. "Forest Lake has 2 swimming pools, camp store, snack bar, fishing pond (I caught 2 sunfishes in 30 min & I'm no fisherman) basketball court, mini golf, & playground equipment," notes a camper at Forest Lake RV and Camping Resort.
Wildlife encounters: Many campgrounds offer animal viewing opportunities. "The best part was getting fresh eggs from the check-in store each morning... And I mean... Fresh Eggs. We walked the RV sites and spotted several that were also very nice as well," shares a visitor to Cobble Hill RV Campground who enjoyed the on-site chickens, goats and horses.
Big rig accessibility: Some campgrounds accommodate larger RVs better than others. "Easy and close to route 85. Very quiet campground! Definitely not a parking lot. Very woodsy and very well kept," notes an RVer at Cross Winds Family Campground.
Off-season value: Winter camping offers fewer crowds and often lower rates. "We spent three nights enjoying our campground on Badin Lake. The sites were large and could accommodate most sizes of trailers in addition to tents. No hook-ups, so BYOS (bring your own solar)," advises a spring visitor.
Dump station considerations: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. "Dump station was open, but did not have water to flush tanks or fill water tanks as water was shut off for the winter. There were water spigots throughout the campground that we could use," reports a winter camper at Arrowhead Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Southmont, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, Southmont, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 76 campgrounds and RV parks near Southmont, NC and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Southmont, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Southmont, NC is Dan Nicholas Park with a 4.3-star rating from 20 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Southmont, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Southmont, NC.
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