Stayed at the 221 walk/paddle in group site. The walk in wasn't a blast, but that was our fault, but the whole campground was kept up nice, bathroom was clean, sites were cleaned n trimmed. I didn't shower but my wife did, and said the water didn't really ever fully get warm, not sure what that's about. All around a good stay, probably will stay here again.
Great place for camping, plenty of tent camp, also plenty sites for campers with 30 & 50 amp service with water, dump station available onsite also. Best canoeing and kayaking on new river, class 2 & 3 rapids on the 10 mile float, worth the $20 shuttle to take you up river to float right back to camp ground. Also have have cabins/apartments , and store available
Twin rivers campground is located in Crumpler NC on the river. It is a primitive campground with both RV and tent sites. The tent sites are found by following a dirt road around the base of the mountain, at river level, which left us a little wary that the road could wash out. We followed the path a bit to a private site down a ways, just past a porta potty. There is a bathhouse up in the RV section of this campground, but we were camping in primitive tent land.
The site we were on was fantastic! It was steps from the river, we had a flat, grassy spot with shrubs creating some privacy between us and our neighbor. Our next neighbor was as far down as we could see!
The campfire was perfect, our site was superb and we had a great night sleep!
(PLEASE NOTE! THE CAMPGROUND HAS SINCE CHANGED OWNERSHIP AND SITES ARE NOW MUCH MUCH CLOSER TOGETHER)
Found this place in September 2018 and went back 3 more times before winter. The owner (Barry) takes great care of the place and customer service is top notch. Access to a sliding rock and waterfall in Stone Mountain State Park with an approximate 1 mile easy hike.
Contact information can be found on Facebook.
The bath house is kept spotless.
Probably the most beautiful and peaceful state park in the country! Plenty of things to do to keep you busy here. Ampetheatre, tennis court, pool, Rhododendron Gardens, Carver's Gap, Little Doe River, Miller Farmstead, & visitor center museum; all worth checking out. Only a few things you need to look out for. Some of the spaces are short and roads are narrow. Be picky choosing a site. Also some of the sites are grossly off level. You may need 2 sets of leveling blocks! When it rains you get alot of runoff from the steep banks. We woke up and everything we had outside was covered in mud. Also you may want to make sure you have everything before you leave. With all this peacefulness comes not a big selection of stores and restaurants. Roan Mnt. has a few small markets, mom & pop restaurants, Dollar General. Elizabethton is about 20 minutes out if you need any fast food, Food City, or Walmart. I know I had some setbacks here, but I will definitely be coming back. Multiple times. Just take plenty of time to do research on this one.
Hikes, The river, the activities the camp ground provides!
I was very disappointed when we arrived for a 5 night stay to say the least. Very small, dirt campsite with a short section (6ft) of wood fence separating the next small dirt campsite. We had to go down a hill to the fire ring. There was no parking space at all. They put as many campsites as humanly possible there. There was a very new, nice bathhouse and a nice playground. It was a very loud place, too. If I was planning on staying in camp, this is not the place to relax.
Not sure that there is even a campground here. I ended up traveling 15 miles passed this spot and camped along side of the dirt road. Best I could say about this is “don’t go chasing waterfalls”
We’ve stayed at Grindstone multiple times in both a tent and pop up. Sites are well spaced and have excellent shade. There are plenty of recreational opportunities— hiking and exploring the Grayson Highlands area.
This campground was pristine - from the moment we turned the corner, until the moment we left!
We met Kimberly within seconds of pulling on the property. She was incredibly kind and made us feel at home immediately. As tent campers, she told us our best choices were a 30 amp site on the river ($50) or a 30-amp site off the river ($44). These prices are steep for tent camping, but include 2 adults, kids and pets. Additional adults come with a fee, but we were happy the kids were included. Not only were the pets included, but they have a dog park area that they can run free and stretch their legs!
We came into the cute little office where Kimberly gave us a campground map (which was painted by a resident camper glass blower) and told us about her property. Several items were on sale inside the store, including many shirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc. They also sell kids fishing poles, stickers and even a fresh coffee cup machine. They have recently renovated the bathhouse (wait until you see it!) they have a library with books and games, an outdoor sink to wash dishes etc. and even a laundry room that operates on the honor system. How great is that! I thought it was wonderful that we could wash a wet sleeping bag or a quick load of stinky hiking clothes if necessary! Kimberly explained that they have a pretty good mix of short and long term campers (primarily RV's) and even a cute little cabin that can be rented.
Kimberly said that they choose not to allow on-line bookings to maintain the atmosphere that they desire. You can call, or submit a request, but they want to have a conversation with you before booking. The campground was calm, friendly and so so clean. Campers were friendly, the campground host was as kind as could be, and so proud about her new bathrooms. (See below). This is the kind of campground we would feel good about our kids biking around in the evening as they chase fire flies and meet new friends!
The campground was located on the river, but the slope was challenging from several sites. With kiddos, I may prefer a site closer to the road because it was nearly a flat walk out to the river. We will surely be back!
Julian Price is one of those hidden gems. There are 6 loops with about 50% being reservable. What this means is that if you get there you will normally be able to find a campsite. Now if you happen to be a truck camper that doesn’t mind off level and out of the way (yeah, like that’s the go to norm for most TC’ers we know.) there is a dump and water fill at the entrance and you can use generators till 10 for those that need to. They have put showers into loop B but I’ve never used them so I can not speak about them. The roads in the campground have been repairs and are all in much better shape than past years.
Buck Hill Campground is located near Newland NC. The family owned, Buck Hill campground has been with the same owner for the last 10 years. We spoke with both husband and wife while on this trip - both as friendly as could be!
Upon arrival, we were a bit confused because there was no office to check into. After riding around and exploring the (TOTAL) available 5 or 6 tent sites, we chose the one we wanted and asked around for the owners. We easily found the family working near the gathering room and they immediately made us feel welcome. They informed us about laundry, bathhouses, the playground and gathering room etc.
We chose the only tent site on the water - which was phenomenal! The site had a fire ring only, but we were ok without a picnic table, in exchange for the view! We had water and greenery surrounding us on 3 sides. We positioned our tent just right and blocked the RV's from behind us - leaving us feeling like we were on a private peninsula. It didn't take long for kiddos to be playing in the shallow river water (finding a snake) and us to have camp set up.
The campground has 2 bathhouses, both containing toilets, sinks, showers and a deep sink for washing. We needed firewood - and upon suggestion from an RV neighbor, looked for the blue topped golf cart - which was up at their house - on site. We pulled into their driveway and the owner told us he would bring us wood to our site.
We enjoyed a calm, quiet evening in this campground. The views were fantastic and the fireflies beyond words! With so much darkness, the other side of the river looked like a sparkling Christmas tree with the fireflies dancing their magic! We would come back again just for this site!
The tiny homes and cabins looked enticing, but the other tent sites were a bit rough. There were several platforms, which are so helpful for wet camping trips. There were workers actively building a new cabin as we were there! We would surely come back for the riverfront site - it was beyond beautiful!
We stayed here 10 days in our 34-foot travel trailer and were very happy with our stay. The campground is located on Hwy 105 heading down from Boone towards Linville. There are two grocery stores within a 5-minute drive (towards Banner Elk) and several restaurants close by as well. When you turn into the campground, you will cross a narrow 1-lane bridge across Watagua Creek. The office is located around a circle and there are several sites backed up against the creek. We stayed up the hill, where there are three lanes of diagonal pull thru sites sloping up the hill. The sites are fairly level, long but a little narrow. Because of the slope, there isn't much 'yard' space, just a platform with a picnic table. However, there is a large field to the east of the rows that is great for play (even has a decent playground) with a fantastic view of the mountains. There's a decent mix of people here for the weekend vs staying longer term. Up in the trees there looks to be campers that haven't moved in years. The store is decently stocked with camping odds and ends though no groceries. The bathrooms I didn't have much occasion to use, but I heard several people complain about them during the busy weekends (dirty and low on supplies). The laundry facilities are pretty icky, but they did the job. The wifi is decent when there aren't a lot of campers. Over the weekends, forget about it. Overall, I would stay here again and recommend to others.
Jomeokee Campground is located in Pinnacle NC, near Pilot Mountain NC - and has a great view of Pilot Mountain from many of the campsites. This campground is set back off the road, quite a ways, which makes it nice and quiet from road traffic, though you can hear trucks rumble in the night on 52.
The fields and the grassy areas are goregous - leaving the kids to run and explore and watch fireflies. Yet many of the campsites are uneven and picnic tables are in need of repairs. You can find a nice campsite (shown below) when you pull through the one way road which left us wondering about our alignment!
The campground owner was very friendly and kind - and the sunset was fantastic! Hiking in Pilot Mountain State Park is just minutes away and the views from the top can't be beat!
Lots of nice spot, tons of wildlife and deer. Plenary of hiking and mice shower house. A must do.
Large camping area but Government shut down for a time. It now open. Great spots but lots of snakes last we were there.
Very clean and neat park. Camp host was very helpful. Plenty to do for adults and children.
Just upgrade the sites. Night woody dark and quit. Kayak put in fishing is good some spots on the water.
Army Core of Engineers. Super clean and the host is the best. A must do.
I'd have given RM a 5 star review except for the RV sites are small and so close together. We have a small camper, 15" including the tongue and I felt the site too small. The tent sites are lovely., large and more private. Next time we''ll see if we can get a tent site since our camper is so small. No hook ups on the tent sites, but hey we're camping. The staff was friendly and extremely accommodating. We had some severe weather during our visit. 45mph, horizontal rain and a power outage. The staff was right out after the storm to clean up and help out. Our traveling companions were in a tent and their site was in standing water. The staff hauled in gravel and made an elevated pad as well as helping to move the tent. Great service! The area is spectacular and has something for everyone.
Awesome sites very quit and relaxing. I love it Army Core of Engineers. Very well kept up and the host are the best.
Awesome sites very quit and relaxing. I love it Army Core of Engineers. Very well kept up and the host are the best.
Clean. Beautiful. Run by wonderful people. Would definitely recommend and will stay again
First off - if you are driving an RV or travel trailer up here - know what you are getting yourself into. The drive up here is challenging and only recommended from the East. It is not for the faint of heart or amateur driver. Do your research and drive only in the daylight.
Past that…. GHSP has two campgrounds - Chesnut Hollow and Hickory Ridge. HR is the main campground with store and some led programs (you can reserve sites on Reserve America) and CH has adjacent stables and is more of an overflow campground (reserve non-site specific). We stayed at CH in a 34 foot travel trailer. The sites are close together and some are smaller than others. If you are traveling during the busy summer season, get here early to have to best pick of sites. Because we stayed in mid-May, it was not busy and we really liked the campground. Electric and water hook-up only, but the bathhouse was nice and clean with a dishwashing station. You could hike (0.8 miles) or drive up to Massey Gap where it was just a short hike up to the ponies. There was no wifi or cell signal, but if you drove up to the Visitor Center you could sit on the rocking chairs and get some signal. The ponies are beautiful, but please use common sense. Do not approach them, let them come to you, and avoid the stallion (he will protect himself and his herd with kicks).
We stayed here during Trail Days in Damascus. An hour drive but doable. There is a convience store with some groceries about 15 minutes away from the park. Be prepared otherwise. You are isolated. But that's why you come here. It is beautifully rugged. Would stay again and recommend to others.
Another lovely campground along the BRP, close to Linville Falls and gorge, picnic area and visitor center.
Erwin’s View Trail: Moderate Linville Gorge Trail: Strenuous {amazing view of falls}
Get a map at the visitor’s center.. redundant: the gorge is rather crowded on the weekends.
Check online for road closures when visiting the parkway.
$20 per night
There are 70 sites, some reservable sites and walk ins -and an RV loop {dump station} All sites non electric, generators permitted before quiet hours.
Lovely rangers and camp host that I found to be pleasant and helpful.
Open field sites, with decent sized pads, fire pits & picnic tables. Some of the sites are more secluded, the ones nearest to the parkway road.
Dog friendly for leashed puppers 🐾 Kid Friendly
There are bear lockers, keep food and supplies in the locker and in car at night.
Alcohol is prohibited
No showers but access to clean water and flush toilets.
You may collect dead wood or bring in HEAT TREATED firewood that is certified with a federal seal.
Local stores that sell wood and/or other supplies: Linville Falls Visitor Center/Park store Linville Falls General Store {8896 NC-183, Linville Falls, NC 28647- trinkets, camp supplies, cold drinks, non perishable food, Hunt Brothers Pizza etc} Walmart Supercenter, Spruce Pine, Ingles Food Store, Newland
Nearby Attractions
Linville Falls Linville Gorge “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians”
Falls Trail - 1.6 mi RT/easy The Gorge Trail - 1.4 mi RT/ strenuous. The Plunge Basin Trail- 1mi RT/ moderate. Leashed dogs permitted 🐾
BRP Linville Canverns Crabtree Falls, Burnsville Grassy Creek Falls NC Gem Museum
The campground is laid out well, spacious, clean and located near awesome trails, falls, look outs and shops and restaurants.
I’m not even sure you can call this a campground! A majority of those staying here were in top of the line campers. It truly felt like a community. There are two bath houses, a dog park, an activity center, and a river flowing behind the sites. It was beautiful and had a cheery atmosphere. They even had WiFi! I was definitely spoiled here.
This campground was great for the night I stayed. It was spacious enough so I didn’t feel like I was on top of my neighbors, but I also felt safe having people around me (I travelled alone). I brought my dogs down to the river for some refreshing fun. The only reason I have this site 3 stars is because there weren’t many accommodations, compared to other campgrounds in the area. I didn’t expect any but if you’re hoping for high end camping, this is not the place for you! I would definitely stay here again.
Great park! Beautiful well marked trails for all skill levels. Large waterfall with access from two points depending on the difficulty you wish to hike. The river is awesome for cooling down by swimming or shallow enough to find some rocks and just relax. I stayed in the tent only sites which were quiet and had good space between camps unlike many state parks. Clean bathrooms with hot showers too.
This was our first time at Bear Den Campground. The sites were well laid out and semi-private, close together but there were trees and shrubs that helped to form a natural separation between many of the sites. There was power and water at the tent camping sites, a nice touch, and every site had a fire pit and picnic table. If you want to cook, you need to bring your own grill or a grate to put over the fire pit - we came prepared with a grill and camp stove.
We visited during Memorial Day weekend, and it seemed as though the campground wasn't prepared for the holiday weekend crowd. The store was very low on some basic items at the beginning of the weekend and ran out of those items quickly. The bathrooms were not kept well stocked or clean. The men's room nearest our site ran out of soap sometime on Saturday, and it wasn't replenished until Monday late morning, according to my husband. The ladies room experienced toilets not working well, and at least one eventually overflowed according to one of our fellow campers. They did have ice for the whole weekend, and the firewood that we purchased here was superior to a lot of other wood we have bought camping, a bundle would actually last a whole night - the pieces were larger and more dense than normal.
There are a lot of amenities geared towards children - there is an arcade, but the games that had the prizes that could be retrieved by a grapple hook were nearly empty early in the weekend, and were not replenished. The pool and air hockey tables have definitely seen better days, but with the size of the campground, they likely see a lot of use. The pond was separated into two sections, one half for fishing and the other for swimming, and both areas stayed busy. I also saw a basketball court, and cornhole boards. There was a great bluegrass band on Sunday afternoon, and a food truck to provide an easy, fast meal if you didn't feel like cooking.
This campground is great for families with kids. We had cell service, which is unusual in many areas we camp in. The campground also offers cabins and RV sites, which we did not take advantage of. Overall, it was a good experience, but if you are looking for peace and solitude when you camp you should look at a smaller campground.
Typically, I am skeptical of private campgrounds with many RV sites because of the noise that often accompanies them. Miller’s, however, was quiet, relaxed, and serene. The tent sites are somewhat secluded, yet they are a short walk to the bathhouse. Directly on the Blue Ridge Parkway, about 15 minutes from Doughton Park, the area is geographically beautiful. The remoteness, while ideal for camping, offers little room for packing errors. Altogether, the stay was pleasant, the people were friendly, and the area is beautiful.
Photos by Marybeth Wells