Best Tent Camping near Vilas, NC

Just on the edge of Watauga Lake sits this free dispersed camping area that is perfect for tent camping only. This is a park outside the gate and walk your gear in type of place, some bring your IKEA bags or a wagon. Opportunities for fishing and boating are abundant. Most of campsites are large, very shaded, and have at least one fire ring. A handful of sites have direct water access, and are more private. 

There is no drinking water, picnic tables, or even pit toilet, so come prepared. The only major problem is that folks tend to leave a ton of trash around, so we spent about an hour cleaning the entire campground. Please Leave No Trace! Also, we would not recommend camping here on a busy weekend because the road is very close and the trucks are very loud! 

The nearest town is Butler, which is small but offers the basics such as groceries and gas.

Julian Price Campground is part of the Julian Price Memorial Park, which is along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the northern part of North Carolina. I have heard about this park for many years, so I wanted to finally camp there. It is an older park, and it shows. We stayed at site A4, and I chose this site for a few reasons. It was close to the lake, but unfortunately, we couldn’t see the lake from the site. Many of the sites in the A loop are reservable, and they have been reserved for several weeks(maybe months) in advance. They are the best sites as far as seeing the lake and sometimes because they are larger. The worst part I discovered about sites in the A loop is that you can hear traffic from the Blue Ridge Parkway all day long except for two to three hours in the middle of the night(about 1:30 to 4:30). On average, you can count on about twenty-five vehicles every five minutes(I know because I counted). It doesn’t help that the parkway is under construction and the road is gravel, which makes the sounds of vehicles even louder. The restrooms in A loop are old and need updating. There are no showers in A loop. The only showers are between B and D loops, which are on the other side of the Blue Ridge Parkway. On the positive side, the showers in a new bath house, and they are private shower/restroom units. We rode through all of the loops to see what the other sites were like, and some of the sites are seldom used if the picnic tables and surrounding vegetation is any indication. Some of the picnic tables are covered in moss. Those were mostly in the sites that were small or sloped. For that reason, it is a good idea to look at the photos on the website for each site before reserving. Many of the sites are walk-in sites and you can set up before the 3:00 time for reservable sites. As far as activities, there is no swimming, but fishing is allowed. There is also a boat ramp, and you can rent canoes, kayaks, and SUPs. The lake is hatchery supported, and I did witness someone catching a fish as we walked along the lake trail. While we were in this area, we saw several small deer, including one that came through our campsite. Our campsite was spacious, and it had a concrete picnic table, a fire ring, a lantern pole, and a tent pad. The tent pad needed some maintenance since the dirt had washed onto it and made it slightly sloped. Not until later did I discover that there was a tall dead tree next to our tent. Only the top part was dead, but it could be a potential danger. The site next to ours was sectioned off because of a dead tree. If you are staying in A loop, I give it two stars, especially since the sites and bath house need maintenance, and because of the road noise. If you are staying in B or D loop, I would give it three or four stars. The sites in E loop are mainly for RVs and have less shade. One section in the A loop also is an open field and has limited shade. Overall, it’s not a bad choice for a campground, but it needs updating. What it has going for it is location. It is along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Cone Memorial Park is down the road, which is a great destination in itself. There are lots of hiking trails and the beauty of the mountains is spectacular.

Mount Mitchell State Park, highest peak east of the Mississippi...6,684ft elevation... is located on The Blue Ridge Parkway, but it is still a bit of a climb (for foot or vehicle traffic) to get to the summit. https://www.ncparks.gov/mount-mitchell-state-park

Getting here the day after the solar eclipse, it was still pretty busy...and if you are traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway...speed is only 45 mph, so do your calculations. There are only nine, yes, count them...nine tent camping sites. So reservations are a must if you want a site! 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. You get a timber lined tent pad, a crushed limestone area with picnic table, wooden lantern post, and a fire ring with flip grate...and a bear secure food storage bin. There are flush toilets between sites 3 and 7... and two water spigots nearby.

If campsites are full and you desire to hike the trails, you can register your vehicle with office, leave it there in the parking lot and locate a place to make camp along the trails. There are also several free roadside sites marked with a brown plastic post with a small tent emblem on them. Ordinarily these are along a stream where you can gather water (filter it!)...but it is primitive (LNT!).

The park has a restaurant, a museum, gift shop and an observation tower at the summit. Pretty cool that the observation tower is ADA...but steep.

Check weather reports. These mountains make their own weather. And remember, for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain, temperature decreases by 3 degrees (roughly...there is constant debate). So pack wisely. Surprisingly, though reports called for rain...we saw none.

Great hiking and long mountain views are one of the draws. The walk up the Observation trail is paved but steep, so give yourself some time if you are wanting to capture the sunset. If hiking, there are a myriad of sites that offer maps, levels of difficulty and recommendations. Did I mention that if you are planning to hike for the day...plan and pack for weather?

A worthwhile place to pitch your tent, but there are also several other campgrounds at lower elevations that also have great trails and more amenities.

Campground Review:

Located in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area of SW Virginia, the Gindstone Campground is tucked away midway up the mountain.

Grindstone Campground consists of three site loops, named Opossum, Raccoon and Groundhog...100 sites in all. Being early spring, the campground officially just opened and we were one of four campers in the entire campground. Gotta love shoulder season midweek!

We chose site 92, a tent specific site with no electric or water. The tent pad was level and is constructed of finer gravel/crushed limestone, so ground cloths or tent footprints are a must. The site was spacious and most of it was the finer gravel so no mud was present even with the persistent rains. The fire pit was about 20 feet from the tent pad, which I appreciate...blowing embers are always a concern. Picnic tables are made from thick lumber and stationary...but level. One metal pole, is cemented between the fire pit and picnic table (with double sided hooks, convenient for hanging a trash bag or lantern).

All the bath houses are centrally located in each loop and consist of one shower, a sink and flush toilet. They are clean and functional. Water spigots are also centrally located in the tent specific loop (the other two loops have water spigots and electrical at each site).

The campground has a day use parking (fee required), which I was informed that hikers use it to summit of Mount Rogers and parts of the AT.

Numerous mountain springs meander down through the campground and adjoining trails, so water is available while hiking with a filter.

Our site was perfect and secluded in early spring, during the week...but might be a bit noisy during season as the sand volleyball court was located a hundred feet up the slope...along with a basketball hoop and small playground for the kids. There is also a man-made wading reservoir area from Whispering Waters (a larger mountain stream). The Whispering Waters trail is a pleasant 1 mile trail on the mountainside that crosses over the stream several times via wooden foot bridges. The trail is clearly marked and numerous markers exist along the trail, ending at the top of the ampitheater. The white noise of the gurgling brook drowned out all other noise.

The Mount Rogers trail is 7 miles to the summit, with switchbacks the entire length. Two and a half miles from the campground road, the trail intersects with the AT for the remainder to the summit (5,729 ft elevation). The trail is easy to follow but did have a bit of deadfall to climb over and around. If you decide to summit Mount Rogers plan on at least 8 hours roundtrip. Most take at least two days, staying at either one of the campsite or shelter areas. The winds were very strong during our stay, with powerful gusts. Being late April/early May at elevation, the leaves had not yet popped but tree tops still swayed crazily dropping branches small and large (firewood gathering was plentiful). Rain constantly moved in and out.

Campground hosts (one couple for each loop) were very friendly and informative...working nonstop to make the campground clean.

A larger stream, located across the roadway from the campground, looked to afford some good trout fishing, along with great falling cascade photo ops.

Product Review

As a review Ranger for TheDyrt, I am honored occasionally to test and evaluate products. At this campground, I tested the [Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe](http://Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe) sleeping pad.

For the past year I have been searching for a more comfortable inflatable pad for backpacking/paddling/car camping. So when the opportunity presented itself to test the Klymit Inuslated Static V Luxe sleeping pad I didn't hesitate, as it was high on my list.

I am of average height and weight (6/185), but deal with a permanent severe low back injury...so comfort is imperative. Klymit website claims of 3" thick and 30" wide, along with the comfort of side sleeping attracted my interest.

Upon arrival, I inflated and measured the pad against the website specs...right on the money 76"x30"x3." It took me 20 deep puffs to inflate the pad for the first time, which was in line to the website's claim of 20-30.

In truth, I have now used the Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe in 9 states, at 14 campgrounds for the past 50 days. Temperatures range from mid 20's to mid 80's, from dry cold conditions to steamy hot conditions. I possess no scientific way to gauge the 4.4 insulating R factor, but I can tell you that I slept directly on the bare pad in the mid 20's with my down bag unzipped and draped over me like a quilt...and I was cozy.

In the fine art of inflatable pad pressure, I preferred my pad at 19 deep puffs. Obviously, it is infinitesimally adjustable. With 2 valves, your tentmate can assist you with inflation, under duress or persuasion. Those two valves also make quick work of deflation. Quick one minute video on deflating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RBBzNvUw98&authuser=0

Klymit's claim is accurate...I slept comfortably on either side...on my back...and miraculously, on my stomach (not one of their claims). The 30 inch width permits tossing and turning without disturbing your tentmate. The Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe was so highly coveted, to keep family peace, I purchased two more. Keep this 30 inch width in mind, because I did not. Consider your tent dimensions...I did not. Fortunately, my 3 person tent is 60 inches wide and two Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe pads take up every inch of real estate in our tent, rendering it a 2 person tent very quickly.

The "V" chambers do several things. They do limit air movement internally which adds support and comfort. They also permit some airflow in the space between the "V's" so I never got sweaty nor stuck to my pad while sleeping in direct contact with it. I also found benefit with my heels resting deep between the air baffles, which took the stress off my knees.

The fabric is 75D polyester which I found soft against my skin, and had just enough profile to prevent me from sliding off the pad when we pitched on angled terrain. I also believe the Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe material was quieter than competitors pads, not having that "crinkly paper" sound or feel.

Deflation is rapid. Less than a minute to deflate and roll it up. It easily slides back into its stuff sack, which has a bonus pocket with a provided patch kit. I estimate the stuff size like that of a football and at 2.1 lbs. plenty light enough for me. I am no Ultra Light hiker, but if I was...I still wouldn't skimp on my sleeping pad. I'm looking forward to many years of comfort and service from our Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe sleeping pads!

My only wish, that it would inflate itself...which exposes my inherent laziness. Other than that, it is a coveted addition to my equipment.

This campground is minutes from Blowing Rock NC, which makes it super popular. There are restaurants and grocery stores nearby. There are two sides: the A-side is next to the lake but has no showers, just flush toilets, water spigots, and a food storage area. The other side has newer bathhouses.

RV spots have electric hookups, tent spots do not. Many on lakeside have to be reserved in advance and are not as isolated as they may appear on the recreation.gov website. If you are thinking the “first come first served campsites” that are lakeside will be up for grabs at any given time you will be disappointed. I would recommend reserving one if possible. Tent pads are decent and will have some small gravel in them, they will for a standard six persons tent but that’s about it. Fire rings are standard size and sites have a lantern post, along with a cement top picnic table.

Note that if you are towing a trailer and tenting you may have issues finding a place to park. Solid campground with friendly staff.

First of all... it is very hard to reserve a campsite for the weekend. And I completely understand why. It is simply beautiful. The campground has just 9 walk in sites. We stayed at site number 1 which is the closest to the parking lot. It was very private ( I think the most private of all) but number 5 and 6 have the best views. All campsites come with a firepit, picnic table, and a lantern pole.
The bathhouse is very clean but had no showers or hot water. A very nice ranger sold us some firewood which was available in the parking lot. There are several ways to go up to the summit. You can hike 0.6 miles, which starts on top of the campground, or you drive up. On top of the mountain is a observation tower, a gift shop, a little museum, and a drink and snack bar. The fact I loved the most, was the the nice cool temperature. It was in the lower 70's during the day and about 50 at night. Be careful with the weather. It can change very quickly. A ranger came by and warned us about a coming thunderstorm. We found shelter on the porch of the bathhouse. It was very nice to watch the rain and the wind. We would camp here anytime again. It is really worth it.

At the intersection of the North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia state lines, sits this national forest which offers multiple dispersed camping areas along Bear Creek. Opportunities for hiking, cycling, fishing, and paddling are abundant.  The Appalachian Trail and Virginia Creeper Trail are just minutes away, as well as some easy whitewater paddling fun on the White Top Laurel Creek.

Most of campsites are large, very shaded, along a beautiful treelined road, and surrounded by mountains. There is no drinking water, picnic tables, or even pit toilet, so come prepared. The only major problem is that folks tend to leave a ton of trash around, so we often spend about 20-30 minutes cleaning these sites upon arrival. Please Leave No Trace! 

Our site had a good fire ring, and was on the edge of a creek that we could filter water from with ease. We stayed at this camp for 3 weeks during the pandemic shutdown and it was a perfect place to ride out this crazy storm and decompress from some anxiety. 

The closest town is Damascus, VA, about 12 miles away. The town is small, but draws thousands of tourists each year who are either hiking the Appalachian Trail or cycling the famous Virginia Creeper bike path. It is equipped with a decent sized grocery store, gas, and couple of restaurants, and a cute downtown area. There is absolutely no cell service at this camp, you have to go into town or hike a local mountain to get service up high.

Hungry Mother State Park, just a short drive off I-81 in southwestern Virginia, is an easily accessible gem offering modern cabins, yurts, and campgrounds equipped for tents or RVs, with limitless activities.

We stayed in one of the cabins after Hurricane Michael rained out our plans for tent camping. This was our first time in one of the VSP cabins, and will not be our last. There are three types of cabins; log exteriors, part of the original Civilian Conservation Corps structures; wooden frame cabins with wooden interiors, and cinderblock exteriors with tile floors. Cabins range from economy to three bedroom, and all have a kitchen with microwave, stove, and refrigerator/freezer, a bathroom with a shower, and a fireplace, as well as heating and air conditioning. Most cabins also have covered porches, exterior picnic tables, and exterior fire rings.

The Creekside Campground loop has water and electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. The layout is similar to most water/electric sites in state and national parks in Virginia; not much privacy between the sites, but fairly shaded, and a quiet atmosphere. This loop is true to its name, and right on the creek running through the park. We were there during the rains from Hurricane Michael and the creek was running so high that sites 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, and 19 looked like they were in danger of flooding.

The Royal Oak campground has platforms for tents set into the mountain rather than dirt or gravel tent pads, however as there are hooks in each of the pads to anchor your tent they can only accommodate tents with a 20x20 footprint. These sites have picnic tables and fire rings on the dirt beside the platforms. The two VSP Yurts at Hungry Mother are in the Royal Oak loop, along the entrance that are set up from the road. This loop overall offers a lot more privacy for each site that I have typically seen in state parks due to the platforms, though you will still see/hear your neighbors. Both camping loops have bathrooms with electricity, flush toilets, and showers with warm water.

Amenities in the park include a lake with a swimming area, boat/canoe rentals, fishing (with license), a restaurant, hiking, biking, and ranger programs. The park office also has several cool displays of local wildlife and history of the area, as well as backpacks you can check out with books and gear for tree, wildflower, and animal identification. Hiking varies from short and easy trails with minimal elevation gain, to the difficult Molly’s Knob trail with one of the most epic sunset views I’ve ever hiked in Virginia.

I love Virginia State Parks, and this is definitely a new favorite. I’m skeptical of the comfort of the wooden platforms for future tent camping trips, but the cabins will definitely be a future stay for us, particularly during the winter months, and there is so much to do in this park even the most reluctant adventurer will find fun.

**Product Review **

As as Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time — on this trip I tested the RōM pack, from RōM Outdoors.

I was skeptical about this pack when I first received it—it felt extremely heavy for a day pack, particularly as it doesn’t have a hip belt, and while I was impressed with the removable pockets, it didn’t seem like the pack itself had a lot of cargo capacity.

After using this pack on our trip, I am a convert. We used it to pack clothes for my husband and I, knowing we would be able to leave our clothes at camp when we went hiking. This freed up space in the car that would normally go to a larger backpack, and we got to take advantage of the pack’s ability to convert to both a poncho and a blanket, not just for review purposes, but out of necessity.

The poncho’s rain resistance held up well, considering we were hiking in the outer bands of a hurricane. The first hike we took this on we started in the rain, and my husband wore the poncho—he stayed dry for the first half mile of our hike, but by end of our mile the water had started leaking through so he did get a little wet—though mostly around the the seams/openings. On our second hike he wore it as a backpack. Because it was raining when we set out and we anticipated needing the poncho feature again, we elected not to bring the detachable pockets, but the interior of the pack was enough to hold our 5 year old’s day pack once she got tired of carrying it.

It stopped raining by the time we got to the summit of our hike, and we tested the blanket feature of the pack for a picnic. It unfolds to a size that was perfect for our family of four. The canvas is thick enough to make a great picnic blanket—it protects from damp ground and sharp rocks, and the lining makes for a very soft surface to sit on. On the way back I took advantage of the poncho. By this point it had gotten extremely windy and was getting dark quickly, and the poncho was excellent at keeping me warm. It’s very heavy, which was welcome in the strong wind, though it did make it hard to hear with the hood over my ears.

Pros to this pack:

-Versatility. In one trip we used the backpack, poncho, and blanket feature, and were grateful for all three.

-Durability. This is definitely a well-constructed pack, with heavy materials that seem like they will last for a long time.

-User-friendly. The pack looks intimidating at first, but it unfolds/folds from pack to poncho/blanket very easily. Combined with the drawstring inner pack and detachable pockets it’s easy to convert while still keeping track of your gear.

Cons to this pack:

-Space. This is great to bring on a camping trip where you can bring additional packs/bags for your gear, but it doesn’t hold much on its own.

-Weight. It only weighs in at 4.6lbs, which is less than a lot of backpacking packs, but as the pack doesn’t have the hip belt it’s a high starting weight.

-Thin straps. The width of the straps is comfortable, but they could use a little more padding.

Had a great time at Julian Price Campground! ⛺️ 🌲 

We had 2 groups and reserved sites B29 & B30 because they seemed more remote with water, restrooms, and trail access nearby. I could not have been happier about our sites!

LOVELY trees, shade, and close to everything we needed. This is a BIG campground and some sections have sites all smooshed together – we had plenty of room to ourselves at the edge of the woods by the start of the Boone Fork Trail. This trail connects to several others and is an awesome spot for wanderers to go for a walk or pick up some fallen branches to process while you mess around at camp or cook dinner.

We had a fantastic time and would love to go again! 

Notes: 

• We went August 2021, so it was really busy. People getting in a bit of camping before school starts… and maybe also looking to escape being cooped up during the pandemic. 

• Weather was low 80's daytime, 60's nighttime. Rained a couple of hours one evening, but clear otherwise. 

• Very peaceful & beautiful woods. Great trails! Lots of trees to hang a rain cover or hammocks. Plenty of down branches up the trail to use for extra wood. Stumps at the site for sitting or chopping up some kindling. Saw deer and rabbits about! 

• Some of the tent sites looked small and hilly, but B29 & 30 were big & pretty level.

• Sites had big fire rings with grills that come down over them. Ours was not exactly level, but got the job done. Stone picnic table with wood-top benches seat 4-6. Lots of space for extra chairs, etc around the campfire. 

• These sites were really great, but got a bit of traffic because of the water access, restrooms, and trail that ran between the sites. People were walking and driving by often – which wasn't a problem, but it might be good to know beforehand. 

• SOUND CARRIES here! It was a bit noisy some nights. 

• Tent pad is dirt & rocks – we picked out any big ones before setting up and had yoga mats under our sleeping bags, but the ground was still hard. Definitely think about bringing a thicker pad or something inflatable if you prefer that. 

• The lake is nearby and fun for canoes & kayaking! People fishing, too. The boathouse sells snacks, drinks, firewood, and bait. 

• The campground is well maintained and the hosts were around often to clean the bathrooms, check on campers, etc. Very friendly! 

• Hard to tell from the map, but the bathroom by B29 & B30 is NOT the one with showers. Showers are located at the larger facility in the middle of loop D, but there is a short path that runs from the back of this restroom to that area. The folks in our group that used them said they were wonderful. 

• Loop B's bathroom does not have lights, so bring a lantern

• EASY drive in & out, right on the blue ridge parkway. A short drive (20 min?) from Grandfather mountain which was AWESOME!! 

• AT&T had really spotty connection – OK for intermittent texting & I got sporadic emails… but on-demand internet usage was basically nonexistent. The boathouse has wifi, though!

• Check in@ 3pm, Check out@ 12pm.