356 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Marion, North Carolina encompasses a range of options from established campgrounds to free dispersed sites in the surrounding mountains. The area sits at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with several campgrounds providing access to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Spacious Skies Bear Den and Mountain Stream RV Park offer developed camping experiences with full amenities, while Old NC 105 provides free dispersed camping opportunities between Lake James and Linville Falls. Riverbreeze Campground and Buck Creek RV Park are located within Marion proper, offering convenient access to town services. According to reviews, Spacious Skies Bear Den serves as "a perfect location for the Blue Ridge Parkway" with hiking trails, a fishing pond, and access to numerous waterfalls within 15 miles.
Most campgrounds in the Marion area operate seasonally from April through November, with limited year-round options. Summer temperatures can be significantly cooler at higher elevation sites, making them popular during hot months. Mount Mitchell State Park Campground, at higher elevation, provides relief from summer heat with temperatures often 10-15 degrees cooler than in Marion. Cell service is limited or non-existent at many sites, particularly those along forest roads and at higher elevations. Bear activity is common throughout the region, and proper food storage is essential. The dirt and gravel roads accessing dispersed camping areas like Old NC 105 can be rough but are generally passable for most vehicles, though 4WD is recommended after heavy rainfall.
The camping experiences vary widely based on location and elevation. Riverside sites along creeks and rivers are popular for their natural sound barriers and recreation opportunities. One visitor noted that Old NC 105 offers "about 5 camping spots along the road with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains," but advised arriving early or on weekdays to secure these prime locations. RV parks closer to town provide more amenities and hookups, while the dispersed sites offer more seclusion and direct access to nature. Black Mountain Campground (currently closed indefinitely) was known for its proximity to the Mount Mitchell Trail and shaded sites. Most campgrounds in the area are pet-friendly, though specific rules vary by location.
"Spacious Skies Bear Den in North Carolina offers an ideal blend of relaxation and adventure for families."
"Bear den was a perfect location for the Blue ridge parkway. We stayed at a two cabin lot that had a hot tub. Bear den has everything from RV camp sites to a game room."
from $24 - $999 / night
Check Availability"This was our first stop on our first trip to North Carolina and now we don’t want to leave!"
"The sites are pretty spread out but there are a few within shouting distance (which could be annoying if the site next to you decides to bring a battery powered Sawzall to cut firewood at 2am)."
"I would not recommend this for someone unfamiliar with driving a rig but once we got there it was amazing."
"Was able to get two sites right next to each other outside the main campsite area which was great."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability"Hidden Creek not only has a nice creek running through the campground within 20 feet of my site, but also the nature trail is off the beaten path from the very active campground along a small river."
"Gem mines, waterfalls, brewery and shopping in nearby Asheville. There is plenty to do year round, make sure to buy a family pass for games etc. they really cater to family oriented fun."
from $29 - $185 / night
Check Availability"There are wonderful sites for families big and small around the central "soccer" field and sites for small-medium trailers and tents and camper vans in "Bear Alley" around the outside."
"They'll deliver firewood ($5) to your site by golf cart, they even will collect your site fees as they drive around."
from $28 - $56 / night
Check Availability"I moved to site 19, which is not on the creek but on the edge of the field. It was very level as well, and all hookups worked fine."
"The campsites are a bit close to each other, but they are well maintained."
from $45 - $69 / night
Check Availability"There is alot to see somewhat close by too. We did Chimney Rock & Linville Falls, both absolutely beautiful!"
"Located near many great hikes and river access. My Mitchell is about 60 minutes away on a beautiful drive. If you like peaceful and quiet campgrounds this is the place for you!"
from $48 - $65 / night
Check Availability"As typical of a KOA, they shove you in there so you are very close to your neighbors. The stars of the park are the riverfront sites."
"My only gripe (and I know it’s not a huge deal) is the trailer park situated right by the fence that separates from the KOA."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"The campground is open from May 1 to Oct 31...but if you walk-in to the sites, as in via the trails, you can rent a site amost all year. Tent sites are small, but nice."
"There are plenty of tent camping sites along the Mountain to Sea trail and throughout the park. I camped by Commissary Ridge next to a small Creek and an excellent view of sunrise."
from $27 / night
Check Availability"On the Blue Ridge Parkway, nestled in the trees and mountains of North Carolina, this campground is an older style NPS campground, but has been well maintained."
"This review (just as future reviews to this page should be) is about the Crab Tree Falls Campground that is in North Carolina along the Blue Ridge Parkway and is managed by the National Park Service."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability
ScoutNobody was here on Sat. Had gard time finding site. Site reserved did not have 30 amp and could not reach staff. Moved to other site hoping it would not be a problem. We were able to finally reach staff on Mon. Also no pcknick tables or fire rings.
ScoutNice camp and staff friendly. We drive the Blue Ridge Pkwy which was a bit of drive but the ride up to Mt Mitchell was beautiful. Only negative was the laundry rooms were small for a large camp like this but I made it work. Probably a bit more challenging during busy season but all that said this is a nice campground
TravelerAbsolutely one of the most beautiful campgrounds that we have visited, and super clean. Such a great location for hiking and viewing the Blue Ridge Pkwy!
ScoutLet me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time. With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price
TravelerThis place is a nice campground, quiet and the guests (during our stay) respect others by keeping the noise down. The spaces are set up to maximize privacy between sites. There is no cell phone service (to do this report we are in a picnic area by a small lake and I can get cell as well as internet on my travelfi device) sos is the only access. I normally listen to audio books but not while here. On my computer I could see three others with low signals; they might have had a better device/provider. The spots tend to the small back in typically found in campsites built before RVs got really big, type. There is another camping area I haven’t been to yet and I did see a large over lander (looks indestructible and tall/long) towable head that way and the campground attendant didn’t predict any problems so perhaps there are larger spots elsewhere. This place has single person shower rooms and nice flush toilets. The whole place is set in woodland so it isn’t like a commercial RV place that was more concerned with volume over aesthetics. This is a lovely spot with ample amenities (my space had no hookups) for our type of camping (toilets, trash, quiet neighbors, semi private spaces) just zero phone or internet.
ScoutLovely spot on the river. Freeway was loud but not too bad.
ScoutMy husband and I arrived at Doe River Landing for 3 nights and enjoyed everything the resort offered. While there we read the 2 reviews posted by Kylie T, and by Andrew W, who gave the resort a 1 star rating. Not knowing the facts that caused the rating by them, and occurred prior to us, we approach the owner and asked.
The owner showed us videos from their security cameras. These adults has stated in Kylie T review and confirm by Andrew W review that they were a group of 20 adults and "every single one of us is over 21 and family". So why are these adults playing "hide and seek" under the pavilion as they stated? Andrew W stated, "It was not blocked off", yet they had to crawl on the ground and around bushes to get under the pavilion. When the owner yelled at them approximately 10 adults that were under the pavilion crawled out which was captured on the security cameras. Andrew W stated in his review the owner called them hooligans, which is rowdy, destructive persons and from the security cameras, that description is correct. There was no mention of damages in their reviews such as the Adirondack chair they broke or possible damage to the water pipes and electric wires under the pavilion, which the owner was currently checking.
Once we read these two reviews by Kylie T and Andrew W and saw the owners security videos, we felt future customers deserved to know another opinion based on our findings.
These entitled adults justified their review of a 1 star by stating they paid money to use the campground.
I would ask these adults "why do you think it is OK to treat someone else's property in this destructive way?"
GuideSeems to be a well established campground in an off the beaten path location. Roads alternately paved and gravel. The campsite is gravel in a wooded setting. Fair amount of space between sites. The bathhouse is clean but dated.
ScoutWe brought our whole family out and rented almost every cabin on the property, plus the event center, for the weekend— we gave this place a lot of business. And honestly, the stay itself was great— nice place, no complaints about the cabins. The owner is the problem. He came flying in in his blue F-150 doing 20–30 mph where the posted speed limit is 5, and started screaming at us over something that could've been handled with a simple conversation. His exact words:"Where are your parents? This is a family establishment. I will not have hooligans running around here." Every single one of us is over 21 and family. All we were doing was playing hide and seek— which isn't against any of the property's rules— and there were no other guests to disturb, since we had the entire area rented. He still threatened to call the police, even though it wasn't even quiet hours. Before anyone could get a word in, he peeled out so fast the gravel sprayed up at us and our cars. Then on his way out he drove the wrong way down the property's one-way road, so apparently the rules only apply to guests. It's sad, because the property itself is great, and we were never anything but nice to the owners the whole weekend. To be treated in such an unprofessional manner— screamed at, threatened, and never given so much as an apology afterward— put a real dent in the weekend. We won't be back
Camping near Marion, North Carolina provides a strategic base for exploring both the foothills and higher elevations of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sites range from 1,200 feet elevation in Marion proper to over 6,000 feet at nearby Mount Mitchell, creating temperature variations of up to 20 degrees between camping locations. Winter camping options are limited, with most facilities closing between November and April due to unpredictable mountain weather and difficult road conditions.
Fishing at Buck Creek: The creek running through Buck Creek provides excellent trout fishing opportunities directly from campsites. "There are two swimming holes along the creek, which were a ton of fun. I swam in both. The water is very clear and refreshing," notes one camper who stayed at multiple sites along the creek.
RC flying: Open field areas at some campgrounds serve as designated model aircraft zones. "The central field area is mowed and set up as an RC flying field. A few campers flew their model airplanes. It was fun to watch. I even jumped into the RC hobby, buying a trainer plane at a local Hobby Shop, and began flying," shares a visitor.
Hiking Mount Mitchell: The trail system beginning at Black Mountain Campground offers challenging climbs with significant elevation gains. "From here you can climb 4000ft to the summit of Mt Mitchell. It's a great, challenging hike with many rewards along the way," explains one hiker who used the campground as a trailhead.
Creek-side relaxation: Many sites at Mountain Stream RV Park feature private decks overlooking running water. "The sound of the stream was so peaceful and relaxing. My husband did yoga every morning while I hung in my hammock and watched," describes one visitor who appreciated the natural soundscape.
Free water activities: Some properties offer complimentary watercraft. "My kids loved the fishing lake - they caught (and released) a bunch of fish and there were kayaks and peddle boats that could be used for free," explains a family who stayed at Spacious Skies Hidden Creek.
Weekend community gatherings: Organized social events create opportunities to meet fellow campers. "Each Saturday evening, Kevin serves up his special home cooked bar-b-que under the shelter at no additional cost, and many campers bring sides to share. It's like having a back yard picnic with friends and family!" shares a repeat visitor at Mountain Stream RV Park.
Road conditions: Access to dispersed camping along Old NC 105 requires careful driving. "The road got worse while I was there from the rain biggest con for me is I use a pump filter to fill up water no camp sight that I could find had access to the river that runs along this road so make sure to bring plenty of bottled water," warns a camper who stayed during wet conditions.
Limited bathhouse facilities: Some campgrounds have minimal bathroom options. "There are only 2 bathhouses for dozens and dozens of sites. The shower was awful as it was very moldy and creepy," notes a reviewer from Riverbreeze Campground, highlighting the importance of checking facility conditions.
Traffic at free sites: Popular dispersed camping areas experience frequent vehicle movement. "The car traffic is horrible, even in the middle of the night. Even until 4am we could hear and see car driving up and down this terribly bumpy gravel road," reports a tent camper who found the roadside activity disruptive.
Waterslide access: Spacious Skies Hidden Creek offers water recreation options with additional costs. "The slide was a major attraction for my kids, but there was zero supervision. Kids would come down in groups of five and six and no one was paying attention to whether the bottom was cleared," cautions a parent concerned about safety.
Playground proximity: Consider site location relative to play areas. "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. My daughter had a blast and we could keep an eye on her while we worked/played at the site," explains a fall visitor.
Walking distances: Campground layouts may require longer treks to amenities. "A bit steep (it was cut into a hill) and pretty far from the 'amenities.' There was a mix of cabins, tents and campers. We had to walk through a kind of marshy trail that definitely needed some work to go past the arcade to get to the main area of the campground," notes a family who found access challenging.
Site selection strategy: At Curtis Creek Campground, specific sites offer better experiences. "We shared site 11, and that was really the only site we would consider at this campground as the sites were close together and have no privacy between sites. We parked our jeep on the tent pad, and the pop-up between the jeep and site 10. That way, we had privacy as we were at the end of the loop where one side was wooded."
Alternative route advice: Some access roads can be challenging for larger vehicles. "Hint here if pulling a camper, don't follow the Bearden sign, go to Linville to get on the parkway and go left. This way you will avoid the steep curvy road going up a mountain," advises a long-time visitor to Bear Den Campground.
Check for recent maintenance: Campground conditions may vary between visits. "The amenities had not changed, but the cleanliness of the pit toilets had. They were not filthy, but were not being maintained as well as previously. There was a foul odor that would frequently come from the vents for the pit toilet, making it unpleasant to be at our campsite," notes a return visitor who experienced different standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Marion, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, Marion, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 356 campgrounds and RV parks near Marion, NC and 26 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Marion, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Marion, NC is Spacious Skies Bear Den with a 4.7-star rating from 53 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Marion, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 free dispersed camping spots near Marion, NC.
What parks are near Marion, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 parks near Marion, NC that allow camping, notably Pisgah National Forest and National Forests in North Carolina.
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