Lumber River State Park at Chalk Banks Access offers pet-friendly primitive camping near Wagram, North Carolina, with spacious and private tent sites set in a pine forest environment. Sites are elevated with dirt platforms framed in wooden railroad ties, creating a natural camping experience. The park provides access to the Lumber River for fishing and kayaking activities, with a boat ramp available for easy water entry.
What to do
Fishing at the Lumber River: At Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park, visitors can enjoy fishing in the adjacent river. "Easy parking nice boat ramp for the kayaks," notes Danny R., who spent a holiday weekend "kayaking and fishing" at the park.
Trail hiking through wooded terrain: The park features scenic walking paths through longleaf pine forest. "There's a hiking trail here as well," explains Marvin D. in his review. Another camper mentions, "Beautiful hikes around the river right next door."
ATV riding for adventure seekers: Outback ATV Park provides extensive off-road trails for ATV enthusiasts. "So many trails you'll never ride the same one twice," reports Charli R., who adds that the park has a "swimming hole [that] is nice and spring fed."
Farm animal experiences: At Double L Farms Campground, campers can interact with livestock. "You can walk up and pet the animals," mentions Taylor T. Another reviewer notes, "If you have a family with small children, they will love the horses, chickens, guinea hens, and the couple of friendly cats and dogs that they own."
What campers like
Spacious camping areas: The tent sites at Lumber River State Park are notably large. "Extra large and private campsites," mentions Tammie S., while another camper states, "Probably the biggest spots to camp I've ever seen gives you the feel of basically being way off the beaten path."
Clean facilities: Maintaining clean restrooms and grounds is a priority at many dog-friendly campgrounds near Wagram. "The bathhouse there compares with the bathroom at your house," writes Taylor T. about Double L Farms. At Lumberton I-95 KOA, a camper mentions "nice place, open layout with a nice pool and great bath house."
Quiet environment: Many reviewers appreciate the peaceful setting at these pet-accommodating campsites. "Very quiet and peaceful. We're ok with that, just not worth the 3 hour drive for us again," reports Jay B. about Chalk Banks. Another camper at Double L Farms states it's "the place for tranquility! Very quiet, would have thought we were the only ones there."
Security features: Campgrounds in the area provide security measures for campers. Bruce H. notes that Chalk Banks has "nice security features," while other reviewers mention getting gate codes for after-hours access: "The ranger came by and greeted us and gave us the code for the front gate since it is locked from 8 pm to 8 am."
What you should know
Gate closing times: Several pet-welcoming campsites in the Wagram area have specific gate hours. At Pedro's Campground at South of the Border, security is maintained by "a fenced in and safe" perimeter according to P.J. At Chalk Banks, "Word to the wise, when the website says the park closes at 'posted times', they mean 9pm. We know this because we got there at 9:05 and the gate was locked tight."
Limited facilities at primitive sites: Some locations have minimal amenities. "This is a no frills campground, and we knew that going in. We're ok with that. There is one vault toilet and one water source," explains Jay B. Another camper confirms: "There's only one toilet for the entire campground however it was very clean."
Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be prevalent in the wooded areas. Bruce H. advises to "bring mosquito repellent" when staying at Chalk Banks. At Double L Farms, one camper mentioned "bugs so don't forget bug spray."
Road conditions: Access roads vary between campgrounds. At Pine Lake RV Resort, a reviewer notes "The road to is dirt with sand mix, they good a good job of keeping it graded." Similarly, at Lazy Acres (now Spacious Skies Sandy Run), a camper describes "dirt road to campsite is packed white sand and well maintained."
Tips for camping with families
Morning animal tours: Farms with animals provide unique experiences for children. At Double L Farms, one family reported, "Brian took our two year old on a tour of their amazing farm — horses, cows, ducks, chickens, and all the tractors of our toddlers' dreams."
Recreation options for various ages: Sycamore Lodge offers numerous activities for families. "Putt Putt, Horse Shoes, Basketball, Swimming Pool, and Game Room. Nice lake with walking trail," lists Todd C. Another reviewer mentions "the pool the hot tub, volleyball, game room and well stocked store!"
Water activities: Swimming areas provide cooling options during hot months. At Outback ATV Park, the "swimming hole is nice and spring fed. You can camp where ever you like, get as far away from others as you like." Some campgrounds offer seasonal pool access - "Nice and clean pool" is mentioned by multiple reviewers.
Morning noise considerations: Farm campgrounds often have early risers. "The best amenity though? The free rooster alarm clock you'll hear around 5:30am every morning!" notes one reviewer about Double L Farms, something parents should consider when planning with young children.
Tips from RVers
Site navigation: Some campgrounds have challenges for larger rigs. At Pine Lake, a reviewer cautions "The only down side is it can be hard to get larger trailers in and out of the park and into and out of some of the sits."
Hookup options: Most RV sites offer full connections. At Lazy Acres (now Spacious Skies Sandy Run), an RVer notes "There were full hookup and lots of big rigs/TT and class A's in park. The park is well maintained and the owners clearly care about creating a nice atmosphere."
Weather preparations: Winter camping requires precautions for RVers. One campground sends alerts about freezing temperatures: "We got an email from the staff saying that we needed to disconnect if we weren't using a heated hose."
Local travel services: Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Wagram offer conveniences for travelers. "You can order some good food delivered right to your site from a local restaurant," notes one RVer about Lumberton KOA, which they describe as "a clean KOA with good showers."