75 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Uwharrie National Forest surrounds Troy, North Carolina, offering multiple camping options including developed campgrounds and dispersed sites. Badin Lake Campground and Arrowhead Campground provide established facilities with tent and RV sites near the water, while the forest also supports primitive camping areas like Yates Place and Deep Water Trail Camp. The region includes both fee-based campgrounds with amenities and free dispersed camping locations for those seeking a more rustic experience. Norwood Campground, located south of Troy, offers cabin rentals alongside traditional campsites.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the area, with some sites requiring careful navigation on unpaved forest roads. Several campgrounds like Arrowhead feature paved access roads and parking pads, while dispersed camping areas often demand high-clearance vehicles. As one visitor noted, "Make sure you bring a car that's suited for off-road travel because the path to get to the camp sites is very bumpy." Summer temperatures typically range from warm days to comfortable nights, though humidity can be high during peak season. Cell service is generally available at the major campgrounds but becomes spotty in more remote areas. Most established campgrounds remain open year-round, though campers should check seasonal hunting schedules as the forest permits hunting during designated seasons.
Waterfront camping draws consistent praise from visitors, particularly at Badin Lake Campground where multiple sites offer direct lake access. A camper mentioned that "the lake was a stone's throw behind our site, accessible via a well-worn path. Other sites are practically sitting at the edge of the lake." The area attracts a mix of tent campers, RV users, and off-road enthusiasts who utilize the extensive trail network throughout the forest. Campgrounds near Troy generally maintain clean facilities with restrooms and showers at the developed sites, though amenities at dispersed locations are minimal or nonexistent. Sites at Arrowhead Campground provide more privacy than some other locations, with vegetation between campsites creating natural buffers. Visitors seeking solitude might prefer weekday visits, as the proximity to urban areas makes weekend camping particularly popular during spring and fall.
"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."
from $17 - $107 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful weather and everyone was out and about riding the trails, kayaking, fishing, and hiking. Absolutely loved it! Bathrooms can be a bit rough, but they do the job."
"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."
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"It should be no shock to those familiar with North Carolina’s geography that if one is seeking higher altitudes and breathtaking overlooks, Uwharrie is not the place he should go."
"This area was one of my favorite ares for dispersed camping in Uwharrie National Forest while living in North Carolina. The area can be accessed by boat on the Little River, or by hiking in."
"Terrific paved trail that is awesome for walking, biking, strollers, wheelchairs. Plenty of hammock trees! Zero noise except from other campers/vehicles and the occasional aircraft passing over."
"Arrowhead Campground has had a bigger budget compared to its lesser sibling Badin Lake Campground. "
from $20 - $54 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Check out the walk through video in 360° to get a real feel for the National Forest Campground. https://youtu.be/NsKiCNFALVs](https://youtu.be/NsKiCNFALVs)"
"We hit this campground right at the perfect time of year, BEFORE the opening day of off-road vehicle season in April. "
"There is a good trail around the lake that offers some beautiful views across the lake. Pretty good fishing too."
"We explored the creek and walking path. The kids loved the jumping pillow."
"It’s also close to the NC Zoo. With dedicated and mixed spots, it’s perfect for tents and RVs. Did I mention the staff? They’re friendly and helpful."
from $25 - $47 / night
Check Availability"The pool doesn’t have normal steps that you walk down into the pool on, they only have the ladder steps which make it a little tricky getting in with a small child."
"Spacious lots in a wooded setting, includes a pool, walking trails, and access to Lake Tillery. Ice and firewood available onsite. Bath-houses are dated."
from $42 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Only three sites on this little out of the way fire trail. We go to the end of the road for complete privacy. No amenities other than a fire pit."
"A 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."
ScoutThe spots are alright but first night got ate up by ants so hadda move and the other spots are good but have no shade and no signal and not mutch to take pictures of so if you wanna have some survival type camping this is a great location.
LegendThis campground is essentially an expansive gravel parking lot made for RVs. While that may not sound appealing to some, race fans will love it because it is so close to all the racing action of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. We camped in the M section which is near the main road. There is a bit of road noise but it didn’t bother us because our RV has good sound protection and the road was quiet at night. We don’t like being right on top of other campers and since most people don’t want to be near the road, this worked in our favor. If you have Good Sam, there is a discount which is a pretty good deal for 50 amps, full hook-up site. Despite our site being close to the office, the wifi never worked well and we gave up opting for our Verizon hotspot. There is no cable but our over-the-air antenna worked well (35+ channels) and you would not have any trouble getting satellite reception. There are no trees for shade and we were glad the highs were only in the 70’s when we were there. The large sized gravel is nice to keep the dust down and not make this nasty when it rains but don’t even think about going barefoot on it. Even our dog was apprehensive and tender footed when she walked across it. There is not much for kids to do here– just a small playground. The laundry is located at the office but the only bathhouse is far away from the front of the campground. If you need the bathhouse you are going to want to be in the P, Q, or R sections of else you will have to walk pretty far. Garbage is picked up at your site but when we were there, it often sat for a day or two. The campground was probably only at ¼ capacity and the one dumpster was overflowing. Can’t imagine what they do during busy racing weekends. There is a free food pantry so if you have any canned goods or other items you want to share. For race fans, this is a great campground because you are within walking distance of the Carolina Motor Speedway and the associated dirt track and drag racing track. For $30 you can take a tour of all the race facilities and I highly recommend it.
TravelerThis quiet gem was just what I needed. It’s close enough to shoppes, diners, and other activities. It’s also close to the NC Zoo. With dedicated and mixed spots, it’s perfect for tents and RVs. Did I mention the staff? They’re friendly and helpful.
Zooland is a great place for solo, family, or group. The campground offers a pool, activities, walking trails, as well as laundry facilities and 2 bath houses. There’s also a dog park for your K9 family member(s).
Most sites have water and electrical hook ups. But one word of caution; you may or may not have cell service. But there is wi-fi throughout the property.
TravelerI don’t have any complaints about this campground! Sites are nice and feel like you aren’t close to anyone else. Very pretty area, quiet. Newest bathhouse I have ever seen at a state park! Awesome showers.
ScoutIs a very basic campground they are having allot of plumbing issues. no activities for the kids no hot tub, store, restaurant or music on weekends anymore
TravelerVery nice Good flat spots Quiet Showers Beautiful views Lots of squirrels Love it
ScoutWe reserved the site via The Dyrt months in advance. We arrived and found that the host wasn't at home and the one site they had was occupied by an obviously long term tenant. The host's phone went immediately to voicemail and texts were unanswered. We were able to scramble and find a site at another site several miles away. Not the way we wanted to start our trip. We will be expecting a full refund after this fiasco. Lesson learned - contact the host before you leave home.
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
Uwharrie National Forest camping options near Troy, North Carolina include both designated campgrounds and primitive sites scattered throughout the 51,000-acre forest. Elevations range from 350 to 1,000 feet, creating varied terrain for camping and recreation. Winter temperatures typically hover between 30-50°F, while fall and spring offer comfortable 60-80°F conditions ideal for outdoor activities.
OHV trail riding: Uwharrie Forest features extensive off-highway vehicle trails popular with 4x4 enthusiasts. "We were in the area for a Land Rover Rally. This camp was perfectly clean. The group bathroom and shower were clean. Great little trails down to the beautiful lake. We go there every year and absolutely love the place," notes a visitor to Badin Lake Campground.
Hiking forest paths: The Uwharrie Trail spans approximately 20 miles north-south through the forest with multiple access points. A backpacker commented on the Uwharrie National Forest trails: "The trailhead is kind of hard to follow sometimes, sections of the trail are prone to flooding and creek crossings can become difficult following heavy rains. Overall, however, the forest is a good place for backpacking in this region of the state."
Water activities: Multiple lakes provide fishing, swimming, and boating opportunities throughout the area. "Great access to Badin Lake for kayaking, swimming and fishing. Our group explored the trails which were scenic and easy to transverse. The bathrooms are well maintained and good freshwater source," reports a camper who spent a week at Badin Lake.
Lakeside camping spots: Several campgrounds offer direct water access for easy launching of canoes or kayaks. According to one visitor at Badin Lake: "We have stayed at Badin Lake campground a couple times and would recommend it to anyone that likes to kayak and fish. Being able to camp on the water and just slide the kayaks in and out is great."
Spacious campsites: Arrowhead Campground offers larger sites with amenities. "We had a double site that was huge it was minutes from uwharrie national forest and badin lake. We'll defiantly go back," writes a camper who appreciated the ample space.
Wildlife viewing: The forest provides opportunities to spot deer, various bird species, and other wildlife. At Morrow Mountain State Park Campground, a visitor reported: "I stayed at the family campground once to get an early start on hiking. Saw several deer while I was there. The family campground is separated from the road by some trees but there is still noise from cars."
Hunting seasons: Be aware of hunting activity during designated seasons. "Make sure to wear bright colors during hunting season because there are a ton of people out deer hunting in this area. That being said there are a ton of great campsites that are private and secluded," advises a visitor to Uwharrie National Forest.
Road conditions: Access to primitive sites often requires appropriate vehicles. A camper at Deep Water Trail Camp reports: "PLEASE take something with a little ground clearance and better than 2 wheel drive to get here. My Honda Element was on two wheels at one point but the AWD handled it like a champ."
Reservations recommended: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. "Reserve well in advance if you desire a site...these campgrounds fill quickly," notes a visitor to Arrowhead Campground, which is particularly popular with off-road enthusiasts.
Kid-friendly amenities: Zooland Family Campground offers extensive activities for children. "Absolutely the most fun we've had on a campground. Tons and tons of things to do. We initially thought we'd have to go off site to entertain our son when we booked the reservation but we spent our full day at the campground doing everything they had to offer."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds provide lake access for cooling off during summer months. A visitor to Morrow Mountain State Park mentioned: "They offer canoe and row boat rentals, they have a swimming pool that is open after Memorial Day. They also have a museum you can check out during the day."
Beginner-friendly trails: Less challenging hiking paths suitable for children exist throughout the area. "The trails were clearly marked and easy to follow. Lots of routes varying in views and difficulty were available and the staff were incredibly helpful," reports a camper who stayed at the primitive campsite in Morrow Mountain State Park.
Leveling challenges: Many campsites require equipment for leveling. A recent visitor to Arrowhead Campground noted: "Great sites but hardly any are level so be prepared to manage that. Nice fire pits and grills - love having both."
Limited hookups: Not all campgrounds offer full RV services. "No hookups, so BYOS (bring your own solar). Water spigots are scattered throughout the campground," advises a camper who stayed at Badin Lake Campground.
Dump station availability: Plan for waste management as facilities vary by location. At Uwharrie Hunt Camp, facilities are basic but functional, with one visitor noting: "The campground is a quaint, and only $5 per night! With only 6 sites and what appears to be an over-sized parking lot right next to it, the lot accommodates the OHV trailers."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Troy, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, Troy, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 75 campgrounds and RV parks near Troy, NC and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Troy, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Troy, NC is Morrow Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 38 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Troy, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Troy, NC.
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