C
Cindy S.
Scout
ScoutFancy Gap Cabins and Campground
We were traveling through for an overnight stay, view was excellent and staff was very friendly.
Camping near W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir, NC
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W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir in North Carolina features several well-maintained campgrounds managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The area includes established options like Bandits Roost Campground and Fort Hamby Park, both offering water and electric hookups for RVs along with tent camping areas. These campgrounds provide access to the reservoir's shoreline with many sites positioned directly on the waterfront. Additional camping options extend to nearby Stone Mountain State Park and New River State Park, which expand the range of accommodation types to include cabins and glamping facilities.
Camping season at most developed campgrounds near W. Kerr Scott Reservoir typically runs from April through October, with some locations like Fort Hamby Park operating from mid-April to late October. Campsites generally include fire rings, picnic tables, and access to dump stations, though most lack full sewer hookups. Bathhouses and facilities vary in quality across locations, with some being more updated than others. The terrain features wooded areas with a mix of level and sloped sites, particularly at Fort Hamby where many campsites are tucked into forest settings. A visitor noted, "The secluded spots are a friendly distance from your neighbors and the water was peaceful and serene."
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, with many reviewers highlighting the lake views and easy water access. Both Bandits Roost and Fort Hamby Park offer swimming areas with beaches that are particularly popular during summer months. The campgrounds provide opportunities for various outdoor activities including fishing, canoeing, hiking, and mountain biking on the nearby trails. Several visitors mentioned the privacy of the campsites as a significant advantage, especially at Fort Hamby where one camper observed, "Not being able to see any of our neighbors made us feel so much more remote than we were!" Multiple reviews also note the cleanliness of the facilities and the helpful campground hosts who enhance the overall experience for campers.
Best Campgrounds near W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir (238)
1. COE W Kerr Scott Reservoir Bandits Roost Campground
"Swimming, kayaking, boat launch, small hiking trail. Sites have a fire pit, picnic table (it’s really heavy!) and a grill. I loved how each site is fairly unique."
"My wife and I biked/ ran the trails nearby. Our dogs loved walking around the campground. Some nice wooded tent sites that a very large areas. Our spot was a two level site."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $85 / night
2. Stone Mountain State Park Campground
"But, ya know North Carolina summers."
"The site also had a huge area for the picnic table and the fire ring is far away from your camper. There was a huge grassy area behind our site with a creek, lots of space for our dog."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $17 - $72 / night
3. Warrior Creek
"Warrior Creek Campground is located on the Kerr Scott Reservoir. It's beautiful and peaceful, at least Monday through Friday."
"Super mt bike trails that have been built and maintained by volunteers who really care and ride the trails often."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $22 - $85 / night
4. Fort Hamby Park
"Lake was gorgeous! Absolutely the easiest and cleanest dump station we have ever used! Well designed! Close to Willesboro!"
"There is a dumpsite near the front office. A short drive from campsite is a man-made beach with lake swimming area… very nice."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $125 / night
5. Moravian Falls Family Campground
6. Thousand Trails Green Mountain
"We had a deck at our site which was a but problematic due to our steps folding out, it took some finagling and leveling to get it to where we could close our door."
"This is our first time ever camping and this place feels like home away from home and everyone here is very friendly."
7. Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway
"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."
"This campground is on a beautiful lake. There is no swimming on the lake(its pretty shallow) but awesome for kayaking and paddleboarding."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
8. Stoney Fork Campground
"It's right on a creek and it was lovely to drink morning coffee next to the water."
9. Growing Faith Farms & Retreat
"Location is private and secluded, yet within reasonable driving distance to stores and other attractions like hiking/biking/kayaking."
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $190 / night
10. Wagoner — New River State Park
"You have to walk in but the park provides little carts and wheelbarrows. The sites and the bathhouse are very well maintained. The park host, Tom Keller, was just fantastic."
"We were too far away from the water to walk, so we missed out on that, which we were looking forward to, but overall a really nice experience."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $27 - $72 / night
Drive Time
- 54 min from Winston-Salem, NC
- 1 hr 21 min from Charlotte, NC
- 1 hr 55 min from Johnson City, TN
- 2 hrs 11 min from Kingsport, TN
Recent Camping Photos near W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir
504 Photos of 238 W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Fort Hamby ParkA
COE W Kerr Scott Reservoir Bandits Roost CampgroundJ
Wildwood Heart FarmC
Moravian Falls Family Campground
Growing Faith Farms & Retreat
Rocky Face Mountain Recreational AreaJ
CreekFall BaseCampb
Raccoon Holler Campground
Thousand Trails Green Mountainf
Cedar Rock Campground
New River Redemption
Wagoner — New River State Park
Recent Reviews near W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir
1271 Reviews of 238 W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir Campgrounds
- MMichelle A.
GuideMidway Campground Resort
1st trip in forever
Driving 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
tommy M.ScoutJomeokee Campground
Great location , clean bathhouse
- GGary M.Scout
Living Waters Campground
Nobody 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.
- KKristen M.Scout
Whitetop
Great camping spot! Road isn’t horrible going up but there are some rougher areas toward the end of the road. Gorgeous sunset and sunrise spot! Fire rings seemed fairly abundant at the pull offs.
Windy W.ScoutDoe River Landing
Beautiful Place, Ugly host, Oct 2026
Let 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
Jacob A.
TravelerWhitetop
The road was very bumpy but I got up on my 2WD Honda Odyssey. A couple people came during the day to take photos, but the night was peaceful. A couple campsites on the drive up, less secluded though. View was gorgeous and the sunset was amazing. Amazing spot for stargazing.
Bonnie H.ScoutDoe River Landing
Kylie T & Andrew W. Review not accurate
My 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?"
- SSherri B.Guide
Spacious Skies Bear Den
Seems 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.
Guide to W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir
Camping at W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir offers access to 4,000 acres of water and 55 miles of shoreline in the foothills of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains. The reservoir sits at an elevation of 1,030 feet, creating a moderate climate with summer temperatures averaging in the mid-80s and spring/fall in the 60s-70s. W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir campsites feature varied terrain with some waterfront locations requiring reservations months in advance during peak season.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Near Warrior Creek Campground, the trail system attracts enthusiasts from across the region. "Super mt bike trails that have been built and maintained by volunteers who really care and ride the trails often... 10 to 15 minutes drive by car to Wilkesboro with plants of food and amenities," notes one Warrior Creek visitor.
Disc golf course: Fort Hamby Park offers an on-site course suitable for various skill levels. "The campground has... disk golf. Quiet," mentions an Fort Hamby Park reviewer. The course is free to use and accessible year-round.
Hiking options: Stone Mountain State Park provides extensive trail networks with varying difficulty. "We camped here and didn't even leave. It has so much to do and see... There's a roaring large creek that flows behind the site and a grassy field full of deer beside it," shares a camper who stayed at site 40.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Fort Hamby Park stands out for generous site dimensions. "The large campsites! In fact, not being able to see any of our neighbors made us feel so much more remote than we were!" remarks one reviewer who appreciated the privacy.
Quiet weekday camping: Warrior Creek offers peaceful mid-week stays. "It's beautiful and peaceful, at least Monday through Friday. Weekends tend to get filled up fast and often with large groups stretching the limits of a campsite," explains a Warrior Creek regular.
Creek-side camping: Stoney Fork Campground provides sites along a flowing creek. "It's right on a creek and it was lovely to drink morning coffee next to the water," writes a camper at Stoney Fork Campground. Their eight total sites offer full hookups with creek access.
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir campsites operate seasonally. "We went in December and there wasn't many people there at all, maybe 4 other campers all weekend," notes a winter visitor at Stone Mountain State Park, one of the few year-round options.
Limited cell coverage: Prepare for spotty connectivity at most sites. "Terrible cell service so be prepared to dish out $8 a day for internet," warns a camper at Green Mountain Park.
Campground closures: Check status before planning trips. "Unfortunately we were unable to camp here. According to park ranger said this campground is closed for one year or longer. No explanation was given as to why," reported a Warrior Creek visitor in 2021.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming areas: Elk Shoals access at New River State Park provides child-friendly water spots. "I highly recommend spending an afternoon at the beach at the Elk Shoals access. Beautiful spot with awesome swimming hole!" recommends a visitor to New River State Park.
Transportation carts: Some walk-in sites offer equipment to transport gear. "The park provides little carts and wheelbarrows... The sites and the bathhouse are very well maintained," explains a New River State Park camper at the Wagoner access.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Stone Mountain State Park offers deer watching from select sites. "There's a roaring large creek that flows behind the site and a grassy field full of deer beside it," shares an enthusiastic family who enjoyed site 40.
Tips from RVers
Dump station access: New River State Park allows non-campers to use facilities for a fee. "Didn't stay but did use the dump station for $17, so wanted to update info," notes a passing RVer.
Site selection guidance: Bandits Roost Campground requires careful site research. "The site was 98b and was on the side of a hill. Rather that having one large area, it was divided with an upper and lower section connected by steps... It worked well with a tent, but a camper would take up the upper part and leave no room for hanging out under the awning," advises a Bandits Roost Campground visitor.
Leveling challenges: Be prepared for uneven terrain at many sites. "The sites are mostly level, well maintained and have tent pads, tables and fire rings," reports a camper at New River State Park's 221 access, one of the more RV-friendly areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping options are available at W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir?
What camping options are available at W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir?
W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir offers several camping options to suit different preferences. Warrior Creek provides drive-in and walk-in sites with water and toilet facilities. The campground is reservable and accommodates big rigs. Another option is Fort Hamby Park near Wilkesboro, which features drive-in sites with toilets and is also big-rig friendly. Both campgrounds require reservations and offer scenic views of the reservoir. The area provides a mix of developed campgrounds with amenities and more rustic options for those seeking a quieter experience in North Carolina's beautiful Wilkes County.
What facilities are available at Warrior Creek Campground on Kerr Scott Reservoir?
What facilities are available at Warrior Creek Campground on Kerr Scott Reservoir?
Warrior Creek Campground offers well-maintained facilities including modern restrooms with hot showers, flush toilets, and drinking water. The campground features spacious drive-in sites with electric hookups (30/50 amp), picnic tables, and fire rings. Many sites offer beautiful views of the reservoir. Amenities include a dump station, playground, boat ramp, and access to hiking and mountain biking trails. Similar to Moravian Falls Family Campground in the region, Warrior Creek is family-friendly with clean facilities. The campground is reservable online, and sites can accommodate both tents and RVs, including big rigs. The surrounding area offers excellent recreation opportunities with easy access to the water.
Are boat rentals available at W. Kerr Scott Lake?
Are boat rentals available at W. Kerr Scott Lake?
Yes, boat rentals are available at W. Kerr Scott Lake during the regular season. The marina offers various watercraft options including pontoon boats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. This makes the lake accessible for visitors who don't bring their own boats. For those camping nearby, Stone Mountain State Park Campground is within driving distance and offers beautiful, quiet sites that make a good base for lake activities. Rental rates vary by season and watercraft type, with hourly and daily options available. It's recommended to call ahead during off-peak seasons to confirm availability and current rental hours.
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