Best Tent Camping near Troy, NC

Several tent campgrounds can be found in the Uwharrie National Forest near Troy, North Carolina, with Deep Water Trail Camp and Uwharrie Hunt Camp offering primitive tent camping options. These locations feature rustic sites set within the forested landscape of the Uwharrie Mountains, which serve as foothills to the Appalachians. East Morris Mountain Camp provides additional tent camping with only three secluded sites along a fire trail.

Access to many of these tent sites requires careful planning, as roads are often rough and unpaved. Deep Water Trail Camp features particularly challenging terrain, with campers noting that high-clearance or 4WD vehicles are necessary. "The drive down the trail can be a bit much if you're in a smaller car," one visitor commented, "we had to drive slowly down because of all the rocks." Most locations are primitive with no drinking water available. Uwharrie Hunt Camp stands as an exception with water spigots and pit toilets. Fire rings are typically present, though many are simply made of gathered rocks. Pack-in, pack-out principles apply at most locations, with multiple reviews mentioning problems with trash left behind.

Tent campers at Deep Water Trail Camp will find multiple camping options, including sites near the water or in more wooded settings. Areas vary from open spaces that can accommodate several tents to more secluded spots surrounded by trees. The proximity to Badin Lake and the Yadkin River creates opportunities for fishing and water recreation. A camper noted that "if you want to get away, this is where you go. Secluded but still able to get into town for supplies." Many walk-in tent sites throughout the Uwharrie National Forest provide access to extensive trail networks for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Uwharrie Hunt Camp becomes particularly busy during hunting season and when the OHV trails open in April, making early spring a better time for tent campers seeking quiet.

Best Tent Sites Near Troy, North Carolina (11)

    1. Deep Water Trail Camp

    8 Reviews
    Badin, NC
    11 miles
    Website

    "I’ve got a 13 foot pull behind. Backed in mostly but a few could be pulled in an out. Road posted 25 mph but recommend 10 mph. Was also narrow in spots. Very bumpy. Last 1/2 mile don’t go."

    "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."

    2. Uwharrie Hunt Camp

    6 Reviews
    Uwharrie National Forest, NC
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (910) 576-6391

    "Horse trail riding is second on the list of activities within the park judging by the number of trails."

    "My husband and I took our two dogs backpacking for a weekend at Uhwarrie Park. After a long drive trying to find my husbands original spot we found a new one. Beautiful scenery."

    3. East Morris Mountain

    2 Reviews
    Uwharrie National Forest, NC
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 444-6777

    "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."

    4. Deep Water Trailt Horse Camp

    2 Reviews
    Badin, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (910) 576-6391

    "Too much trash left by previous campers"

    "Thankfully some campers nearby helped me rearrange my direction and get me out of the mud, but I still don’t know how I’m going to make it back out of here 😬. This might be my forever home?!"

    5. Woodrun

    Be the first to review!
    Uwharrie National Forest, NC
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (910) 576-6391

    6. Lake Tillery Family Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Uwharrie National Forest, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 985-3700

    $35 - $65 / night

    7. Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park

    10 Reviews
    Wagram, NC
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (910) 628-4564

    $17 - $47 / night

    "It was a little tricky finding the entrance to this campsite, but when we managed to Google map our way in into the park, we were very happy with our selection!"

    "There was a path walkable to the river, and each campsite was clean, had plenty of space on level ground to set up camp, a fire pit, and very clean toilet. I would definitely go back!"

    8. Sandhills Campground B

    1 Review
    Pinebluff, NC
    33 miles
    +1 (910) 281-3917

    "This is a campground located in the Sandhills Gamelands in NC. If you're looking for primitive, this is it. No bathrooms, no water spigots, no camp store, nothing like that."

    9. Lake Curriher Wilderness

    4 Reviews
    China Grove, NC
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 857-4114

    $10 - $30 / night

    "It’s the quietest stay we’ve had yet, and we go camping nearly every weekend. I will say, having the ADA tent site makes a huge difference."

    "Very close to my home. I hike in to the remote campsite on the lake. Lots of fishermen and trash since the scum can’t seem to pick up after themselves. The cabins here are also great."

    10. San-Lee Park

    3 Reviews
    Sanford, NC
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (919) 776-6221

    $15 / night

    "Contrary to what has been written, I would highly recommend San-Lee Park to anyone looking for a short and easy escape from the nearby Raleigh-Durham area."

    "There are hiking and biking trails as well as kayaking and other water sports on the lake there."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Troy, NC

331 Reviews of 11 Troy Campgrounds


  • A
    Oct. 27, 2021

    West Morris Mtn.

    Individual campsites

    Several individual campsites. Has trash bins located throughout the loop. There are picnic tables and fire rings at each site. No electric and no water. All spots are full shade.

  • Dave V.
    Oct. 31, 2019

    Badin Lake Campground

    A relaxing lakeside atmosphere

    Uwharrie National Forest-Badin Lake Campground, New London, NC.

    https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48934 

    https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE\_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5368418.pdf

    Campground Overview: 34 sites, two loops...upper loop and lakeside loop. Relatively large sites with vegetation that blocks constant view of neighbors. 

    Each site has a gravel parking pad and separate gravel tent pad, a standing charcoal grill, firepit with adjustable grate, a picnic table and a metal pole for hanging lanterns, etc. I would advise securing online reservations, but they do have an Iron Ranger to drop your payment in should you find an empty site. Note: There are warnings that online reservations take precedence, so if you use the Iron Ranger payment drop chute and someone reserved the same campsite...you will be required to move to a different location when the online reservation campers arrive. Just so you know.

    No electric. 

    Oddly, no firewood for sale...although scrounging produced plenty of things and fallen branches to keep a fire going.

    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. Water spigots were spaced out around the loop, so a short walk as we were equal distance between two. 

    Restroom/showerhouses were quad door buildings. Separate men’s and women’s restrooms and two separate shower rooms. Facilities were kept clean and stocked by resident hosts. 

    With Verizon, I never lost signal...a plus for a National Forest!

    The upper loop appeared to offer a little more solitude than the lower lake loop...but no lake views. 

    The lake loop trail crosses the main campground roadway between the two loops. This trail is relatively flat and meanders around the lake and it’s many fingers...offering lovely lake views and some nice fishing locations. 

    During my midweek visit it was quiet day and night. The sunset across the lake was gorgeous and relaxing. Loud powerboat noise was minimal as only a couple bass boats thought it essential to travel at high speeds from location to location. Next visit my canoe and mountain one will accompany me. 

    What I enjoyed: as much as I dislike tree rats, I was entertained by two feuding squirrels that chased each other relentlessly and knocking each other out of tree tops. Woodpecker and Turkey wake up calls. 

    For a National Forest, I was surprised by the level of daytime industrial noise nearby. 

    Overall, a fantastic location relatively close to Raleigh/Durham and Fayetteville for a great camping getaway. I was only able to stay one night as the campground was booked, all reserved in advance. So plan ahead.

  • J
    Jul. 10, 2020

    Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park

    Pleasantly Surprised.

    It was a little tricky finding the entrance to this campsite, but when we managed to Google map our way in into the park, we were very happy with our selection! These campsites are in a beautiful pine woods forest. Many sites have a pretty mossy pathway near the tent platform. The platform is elevated and and dirt framed in wooden railroad ties. The sites have great privacy and the campsite was virtually empty except for us and one other family. The campground ranger said they only fill up on the 4th of July. They set-up and trash can with a bag for you upon arrival. There is no general store nearby so bring wood and supplies in with you. There was a water pump/spigot near the restroom with great pressure (potable water). We brought our own pop-up shower and road toilet with us, so didn’t need the restroom. The ranger that greeted us was super nice and respectful. He gave us the gate code in case we needed to leave after they closed the gate at 9:00pm. Very quiet and peaceful.

  • Makenzie T.
    May. 18, 2021

    Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park

    Clean, beautiful and river-accessible!

    This was a great campground for a great price. There was a path walkable to the river, and each campsite was clean, had plenty of space on level ground to set up camp, a fire pit, and very clean toilet. I would definitely go back!

  • Sarah G.
    May. 30, 2018

    Morrow Mountain State Park Campground

    Lots of activities for family camping

    We had 4 families with children on 1 RV and 3 non-electric tent sites over Memorial Day weekend. Even though the park was at max capacity, it didn’t feel crowded or swarming. The facilities and activities at Morrow Mountain are awesome - a huge, clean pool; canoe rental from a well-maintained boathouse; hikes of various lengths; slightly aged but clean and cared for bath houses; and (our favorite) a gorgeous mountain top picnic shelter (A), which we rented due to a rainy forecast. Great place for family camping. Sites are nicely spaced, but by no means are they private or secluded. Staff were very friendly, but the no alcohol rule is a bummer. If you want to be alone in the woods, Morrow Mountain is not for you. Its also worth noting the climate is much more like south central NC (hot and super humId) and nothIng like the cool mountain air in Western NC. But if your looking for a fun, interactive family or group camping weekend, it’s the perfect spot!

  • R
    Sep. 28, 2021

    Moonshine Creek Campground

    Top Notch

    This is an excellent campground! It’s really woodsy and the creek is fabulous. Nice laundry facilities. Especially nice are the tent sites. They seem to have some of the most scenic spots. The Sanctuary area is awesome and the tent sites are right on the creek. It is for those with no pets or kids and is limited to 2 people per site. It’s a quiet zone. There is one tent cabin and 4 tent sites with water and electric. You CAN park at your sites. We weren’t sure before if it was a walk in area. The bathhouse for this area has two toilets and two showers.Each is completely private. There are outlets and sinks in all four. There is also a very nice sink and counter on the end for dishwashing. It’s all in excellent condition. Very nice picnic tables too. They were easy to wipe off. Sites S1-3 have an awning/ shelter. S4 does not but is much larger. S4 is higher up so you look down on the creek. It is more off by itself. S1 even has access to a 2nd picnic table close to the creek. It is the smallest as far as tent space. We would love to visit again!

  • Marvin D.
    Mar. 2, 2021

    Chalk Banks — Lumber River State Park

    Lumber River Chalk Banks

    Pretty nice campground right off of hwy 401, just south of Raeford NC. There is a pit toilet and water spigot. There are no showers here. The Lumber River is right here, so fishing and canoeing/kayaking are popular activities. There is a hiking trail here as well.

    The right hand side of the campground is set up for RV,s (pull through sites). The left hand side is for tent camping. Tent camping sites, 9-10-11, sit WAY back in the woods, so its like almost like having your own campground. TONS of forage wood here.

    With talking to the rangers, they were saying that the place seldom gets too crowded, and you can almost always get a reservation here.

  • Marlene L.
    Oct. 19, 2020

    Badin Lake Campground

    Peaceful and quiet

    Great spot, really calm and quiet and right on the lake. Perfect for non-partying types (no alcohol allowed). Showers, bathrooms, trash, fire pit, and grill all available. The host was professional and kind to us, even brought us some extra fire wood.

  • L
    Sep. 1, 2021

    Oak Hollow City Campground

    We enjoyed our stay

    We tent camped on Aug 28. This was our first time setting up on a platform and it was very easy. Our site had a great view of the beautiful lake. There was a pool our kids could swim in until 7:00pm. They let us borrow a metal fire pit so we could make s’mores. The restrooms and showers were very clean.


Guide to Troy

Troy, North Carolina, offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure and tranquility in nature.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Explore the scenic trails and stunning views at Deep Water Trail Camp, where you can hike and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
  • Experience the thrill of off-road vehicle trails at Uwharrie Hunt Camp, perfect for those who enjoy combining camping with outdoor sports.
  • Enjoy fishing and swimming at the picturesque Badin Recreational Area, where the clean lake provides ample opportunities for water activities.

Tips for tent camping near Troy

  • When heading to Deep Water Trail Camp, opt for a vehicle with good ground clearance due to the rough access road.
  • Be prepared for a rustic experience at Uwharrie Hunt Camp, where amenities are limited but the natural beauty is abundant.
  • Bring your own water and supplies when camping at Deep Water Trail Horse Camp, as there are no drinking water facilities available.

Unique features of campgrounds in the area

  • Badin Recreational Area offers free camping with picnic tables and trash disposal, making it a convenient choice for families.
  • At Lake Tillery Family Campground, you can enjoy a mix of tent and RV camping with access to showers and restrooms.
  • The serene environment at East Morris Mountain provides a secluded camping experience, ideal for those seeking peace and quiet away from the crowds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Troy, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Troy, NC is Deep Water Trail Camp with a 4.5-star rating from 8 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Troy, NC?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Troy, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.