33 campgrounds with availability next weekend
South Mountains State Park Family Campground offers tent and RV sites that welcome pets, with clean facilities and convenient access to pet-friendly trails. The campground provides 18 campsites including two with electric hookups, all featuring fire rings with cooking grates and picnic tables. Dogs must be kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet at all times within the park boundaries. South Mountains spans over 23,000 acres with extensive trail networks directly accessible from the campground, making it ideal for hiking with dogs. The campground sits along a creek that provides natural white noise and opportunities for dogs to cool off during warmer months. The bathrooms are new and well-maintained, and rangers regularly patrol the grounds ensuring a safe environment for all visitors.
Spacious Skies Bear Den and Indian Springs Campground also accommodate pets with varying amenities. Bear Den offers cabin options for those wanting to camp with pets while enjoying more substantial shelter. Both locations provide full hookup sites for RVs. The trail to nearby High Shoals Falls in South Mountains State Park features wooden boardwalks and steep steps down to the 80-foot waterfall, offering challenging terrain for active dogs and their owners. Visitors should note that several campgrounds in the area enforce strict pet policies - Indian Springs RV Park has particularly rigid pet rules according to some campers. Cell service is nonexistent at South Mountains, providing a true disconnect from technology while camping with pets. Many dog-friendly campgrounds near Valdese require advance reservations, especially during peak seasons when pet-friendly campsites fill quickly.
"The family campground is a short distance further inside the park on the left side(approx 2 miles) marked by a small brown sign...and is situated at 1400 ft elevation. "
"This campground is one way and exits into a trailhead parking area. There was one site that was in the parking area, would not be my first choice. Shaded sites with picnic tables and fire rings."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $27 - $32 / night
"A very friendly place for people and pets. A storm was coming in and they called to check our ETA to let us know set up might be critical. Plenty of hiking trails."
"The campsites are at the base of a mountain with tons of great hiking trails within the park."
"Spacious Skies Bear Den in North Carolina offers an ideal blend of relaxation and adventure for families."
"Many hiking trails. Pets are allowed here also which is a great plus. Friendly staff who can't do enough for you if needed & small camp store on property."
from $24 - $999 / night
"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)."
"Plenty of room in spots for pets and children. We had a blast with out 3 year old daughter and our standard poodle."
"There are primitive campsites for those who only want to “rough it”, sites indicated for tent or pop-up with water and electricity, 30 amp and 50 amp sites. a large portion of the sites are located directly"
"We were looking for someplace to stay near Hickory and we stumbled upon Indian Springs. "
"This place is tucked away near a river, plenty of indoor and outdoor activities, plus a nice laundromat. One of the quietest RV parks I've ever been to!"
"Julian Price Park is a beautiful campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. We enjoy this campground on the weekends throughout the fall and spring as it is less occupied."
"Some RV sites are on the edge of the road. Clean restrooms and showers. Great hiking trails nearby beginning in the campground. Dog friendly. If you have a National park pass you get a discount."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
"Some walk in and some drive in. The spots are well spaced out so you do not see other campers. Though the spots are large, there is not room for a large trailer."
"We stayed at the second spot along the road on the left, then further back along the trail. It was only the two of us with our dogs but there was definitely enough room for a group."
"We stayed here for 12 days in the very first spot on the right , it was the most secluded and we had a bar of service near/ at the picnic table. We enjoyed our stay."
"One caveat: there is a relatively narrow turn near the top of the lot, past the camping sites, that would be difficult for larger RVs."
"Another lovely campground along the BRP, close to Linville Falls and gorge, picnic area and visitor center."
"There are cabins, RV spots and tent sites all with access to newly renovated restrooms and coin operated laundry."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $45 / night
GuideDriving 14 1/2 hrs I was cooked called and had the most easiest booking. There was a sites available so I booked it. Needless to say I got there in the dark and a kind person helped me to my site and got me backed in. Soo exhausted I hooked up electric only hit the bed passed out
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
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
ScoutOur group of about 20 rented nearly every cabin at Doe River Landing for my friend's wedding weekend, with the reception held on site. The cabins were nice and well-equipped, and the only other guests were in a cabin half a mile away through the woods. Unfortunately, the hosts ruined the stay. One night, some of us were playing hide and seek in an area that wasn't blocked off or against any rule. The host's husband came speeding in at roughly 30 mph(the posted limit is 5), jumped out of his truck screaming that he"will not have child hooligans running around the campground," told us to"go back to the motel we crawled out of," and demanded to see our parents— despite all of us being adults in our twenties. He then peeled out so aggressively he sprayed gravel at us and our cars. It wasn't even quiet hours, and we weren't disturbing anyone. Afterward, the host called us again, passive-aggressive, and questioned our ages— even though you have to be 21 just to rent a cabin there. The property is lovely, but the hosts' behavior put a real damper on what should have been a joyful wedding celebration. It's a shame they treat people paying good money this way. We won't be back.
South Mountains State Park and surrounding Valdese campgrounds offer more than 23,000 acres of camping terrain between 1,200 and 3,000 feet elevation in the western North Carolina foothills. Local campgrounds typically receive 48-52 inches of annual rainfall, with summer temperatures averaging 85°F and winter temperatures dipping to 30°F. Most camping areas remain open year-round, though some limit facilities during winter months.
Hiking to waterfalls and rock formations: Linville Falls Campground provides access to multiple waterfall viewing platforms through moderate trails. "Absolutely stunning. Well marked trails. Never a dull moment. The falls were breath taking," writes Michelle S. at Linville Falls Campground.
Paddling and swimming: Steele Creek Park offers water recreation beyond traditional camping. "A lot of the sites have water beside them. Bathrooms were clean. There is a store on property that has things you may have forgotten and a grill," notes Nicole L. The campground features creek access for summer cooling. "We stayed two extra days and enjoyed the relaxing waters here," shares Mike R.
Mountain biking: Local trails throughout the region accommodate various skill levels. At Table Rock Campsites, Juli L. mentions, "Great variety for camping. Sites for inexperienced campers with premade fire pits and if you're up for a hike more isolated spaces." The area features 16+ miles of mountain biking trails with connections to hiking routes.
Creek-side tent sites: Julian Price Park Campground offers water-adjacent camping without the crowds. "Julian Price Park is a beautiful campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. The campsites are separated into several loops. One loop is closer to the lake, the other loop has more availability and quite a range of campsites," reports Kirsten J. at Julian Price Park Campground.
Free dispersed camping options: Old NC 105 provides no-cost camping with basic amenities. "There are campsites located all along the road. Once you find one that you like, pull over and set up camp for the night. Campsites are marked by a firepit," explains Spencer A. from Old NC 105 Dispersed Camping. Another camper shares, "Nice, clean, open lots with beautiful views. We had decent cell service."
Cell service breaks: Multiple campers value the digital disconnect available at certain sites. "South Mountains is a great campground. Bath facilities are new and kept clean. Very quiet with NO cell service which is a big draw for us," notes Stephen M. Meanwhile, at Brown Mountain Roadside Campsites, Jay R. reports, "Phone reception and internet access are unavailable at the sites, or at least the one I was at... You will get service to make phone calls at the OHV trail parking lot."
Gate closure times: Some parks enforce strict entry/exit hours. "No cell phone service, and gates to the park are locked up at 9pm so there's no getting in or out late at night," warns Jenni P. Similarly, at Thousand Trails Green Mountain, one reviewer notes, "The office closes and the gates lock at 8 pm and you need to purchase a $15 gate card if you want access after 8 pm."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Valdese, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Valdese, NC is South Mountains State Park Family Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 26 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Valdese, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 208 dog-friendly camping locations near Valdese, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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