RV camping near Uwharrie National Forest offers travelers access to varied terrain across central North Carolina. Most campgrounds in this region sit at elevations between 400-900 feet, creating moderately sloped camping areas that sometimes require leveling blocks. Summer temperatures regularly reach 90°F with high humidity, while winter nights can drop below freezing, affecting camping preparation needs.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Cane Creek Campground and RV Park offers access to a lake for fishing, with visitors noting the active wildlife. "It's beautiful. Great hiking trails. Beautiful view of lake," reports one camper, making it an accessible option for anglers staying within 40 miles of Uwharrie.
Family recreation: Thousand Trails Forest Lake provides multiple recreation options including swimming pools, fishing opportunities, and organized activities. "Part of the Thousand Trails System. 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," reports a visitor who found plenty to do with young children.
Hiking access: Wooded trails are available at several campgrounds around Uwharrie. "The campground has so many sites and they are well laid out and spacious," notes a visitor to Thousand Trails Forest Lake, mentioning the trails that run along the river bank and lake that are accessible by foot or golf cart.
What campers like
Privacy options: Cobble Hill RV Campground (now Carolina Rose) offers varying levels of privacy across its 84 sites. "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," shared a visitor who stayed in one of the cabins.
Farm settings: Ivory Clay Farm provides a quieter alternative to larger campgrounds. "This is a great relaxing get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life! As the owners, we love relaxing & enjoying the bonfires, sunsets, wildlife & star gazing," notes a reviewer about this small 3-site property outside the Winston-Salem area.
Affordability: Several campgrounds offer reasonable rates for long-term stays. At Carolina Rose (formerly Cobble Hill), a visitor reported, "Stayed at Carolina Rose for a few months over the winter. Very friendly staff, and VERY reasonable rates. Wouldn't hesitate to stay again when I'm in the area."
What you should know
Seasonal construction: Some campgrounds undergo renovations that affect the camping experience. A visitor to Bass Lake noted, "Adding sites on lake by 2022," indicating ongoing development, while another Thousand Trails Forest Lake camper reported construction disruptions: "We get to the site to discover it backs onto a construction area where they're putting more sites... By 1:30pm they were kicking up so much dust and dirt that we couldn't even sit outside."
Site leveling challenges: Terrain at several campgrounds requires preparation. "There's not a lot of room off the pad and most of the lower sites are VERY hilly, making it difficult to find a large level area for an RV," reports a visitor about some parks in the region.
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds require careful driving. At Pine Lake RV Resort, "The road to is dirt with sand mix, they good a good job of keeping it graded," according to one visitor who appreciated the maintenance efforts.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Multiple pools provide options for children during summer months. "This campground has so many sites and they are well laid out and spacious. They have 30 amp and 50 amp sites to suit your needs. There is a nice restaurant to eat at, a small convenience store, arcade games, 3 pools and a ton of activities," reports a visitor to Thousand Trails Forest Lake.
Playground options: Camp Henning at Ellerbe Springs sits on 42 acres with space for children to explore. "You have 14 RV sites to choose from and 42 beautiful acres to explore. This property was purchased in 2022, and the new owners are continuing to add on to the property," notes a visitor about this developing campground option.
Evening entertainment: Organized activities keep families engaged. "We were only there Fri-Sun but there were activities planned to include an outdoor movie (with free popcorn), arts & crafts for the kids, candy bar bingo, and a DJ," reports a Thousand Trails Forest Lake visitor who enjoyed the scheduled programming.
Tips from RVers
Hookup accessibility: Placement of utilities can affect RV positioning. At Thousand Trails Forest Lake, one camper noted: "I do not really recommend the RV sites, I didn't like the way they had the waste lines set up, and i kept smelling raw sewage."
Site selection strategy: Some campgrounds have significant quality differences between sites. "The 40s sites seem to be the best spots to get for a view or access to Lake activities," advises a Cane Creek visitor, providing specific guidance about which areas offer the best experience.
Seasonal timing: Weather affects camping comfort in the Uwharrie region. "The bathhouses were very clean-if a little spidery for me (eek!), and both in pretty convenient locations for everyone," notes a fall visitor to Cane Creek, indicating that seasonal considerations affect both comfort and wildlife encounters.
