Looking for an adventure where you can explore Wendell and then fall asleep in your tent? Finding a place to camp in North Carolina with your tent has never been easier. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
Sites are meant for tent/pop-up camping only. No RV or Trailer is accessible.
Located in Wake County 10 miles northwest of downtown Raleigh, William B. Umstead State Park is a cherished retreat from bustling urban life. The park features an extensive network of hiking and multiuse trails, as well as three manmade lakes and their tributaries that are perfect for fishing. Both park entrances offer picnic shelters, and Crabtree Creek offers camping areas. Group camps and the historic Maple Hill Lodge let visitors experience a rustic overnight experience without typical modern camping amenities.
$10 - $32 / night
Located in Durham and Wake counties 15 miles east of downtown Durham, Falls Lake State Recreation Area provides seven access areas to the reservoir. More than 300 campsites offer a variety of overnight experiences. Trails include a portion of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail, as well as one of the premier mountain bike trail systems in the Triangle area, located at Beaverdam access. During the spring and fall, migrating monarch butterflies add to the picturesque beauty of the lake.
Not every access has all the listed facilities. Please check the General Information page to view a table of the facilities at each access: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/falls-lake-state-recreation-area/plan-your-visit
$25 - $35 / night
$26 - $30 / night
FIND PEACE AND PURPOSE IN NATURE
If needed for an additional $25 Your camp site comes with a zero contact (New) factory shipped tent that you can keep. Always includes fire pit, camping grill, and good times. This site is adjacent to a city park. When you wake up after a day of fishing and a night of s’mores and campfire stories with the mist in the air and this peaceful lakefront view you will know God is good, you are safe, and you are alive. The air is more crisp and clean and the birds sing you a personal lul-a- bye.
The space Privately owned lakefront property, you can fish, bring a kayak or canoe, the nature is beautiful. The local park is in walking distance
Guest access A 1/2 acre of privately owned lakefront land
$45 / night
This is on the Mountain to Sea Trail -
There is an authorized camping area available on private property in this section of the Falls Lake Trail (between Red Mill Road and Old Oxford Road). Follow the blue-blazed trail off the MST approximately 1 mile west of Red Mill Road. NOTE: This campsite is on private property. It is a HUGE PRIVILEGE to be allowed to camp at this location. Vandalism, neglect or any trash left at this campsite could result in closing of this campsite by the landowner. No water or toilet facilities are provided. There are seven established campsite pads for 2-person tents. Campsite rules: (1) Practice Leave No Trace ethics. (2) Do NOT leave any trash. Pack it in = Pack it out. (3) There is a 2-night maximum stay. (4) Do NOT explore past a 75 yard radius of the Shelter. (5) NO FIRES except in the established fire pit.
San-Lee Park is a 177+ acre park, located at 572 Pumping Station Road, that offers hiking trails, a mountain bike trail, a Nature Center with a multipurpose room that is available for rent, playground, picnic facilities, campgrounds, and two stocked lakes for fishing. Paddle boat rentals are available seasonally.
Campsite rentals are available during park operational hours. A driver’s license or similar identification is required for registration. Sites are available on a first come, first serve basis. Reservations are not taken. For additional information, please call 919-776-6221 Ext. 4.
Program Date:
April – October Exceptions for weather & burning bans
Fee:
$15.00 per night
Register:
At park office during park hours Must be 18 years or older or accompanied by an adult
Tent Camping
The park provides tent sites, tables, charcoal grills, water, and a shower house. Campsites are located in a private section of the park close to the lake.
$15 / night
At the Family Wilderness Camp, there are five campsites just off of the Campbell Creek Loop Trail, approximately 2.5 miles from the parking lot and 0.5 mile from the river. The maximum number of campers for each site is six.
Backpackers can also utilize the canoe camp, located beside the river off of the Little Creek Loop Trail, in a low-lying area. The camping area is a 1.7-mile hike in from the park office. There are six campsites, each accommodating up to six campers.
All supplies, including water, must be packed to the sites. Neither the Family Wildness nor Canoe Camp is accessible by vehicle.
Both camping areas offer a vault toilet, and all sites include a fire ring with a grill.
$12 / night
The Owl Creek Horse Camp provides primitive overnight campsites for trail riders on a first come, first serve basis. The Owl Creek Trail System is approximately 26 miles and suitable for equestrian riding.
$5 / night
Guide
Good lakeside campground, cool hiking trails, nice views and the bathrooms are really well kept and nice.
Scout
My dog Indy and I spent a night here just to try it out and it was the perfect spot. The site is #64 and there's water access right next to the pad. We will definitely be back.
Traveler
The sites are level, not much shade. Garbage cans everywhere. Convenient to get into and out of with full hookup. There are no amenities at all but security drives around. Felt safe. Across from stadium. Price is worth the value.
Traveler
The state park has excellent hiking trails and the RV park is located in an excellent location to use them.
The sites are huge, level, and clean. The bathhouse is clean and modern. While there aren’t many recreational amenities besides the hiking, the price makes this park an excellent value.
Legend
If you find yourself in the hustle and bustle of nearby Raleigh and are looking to get away from the crowds and pavement in exchange for some nice shaded nature, hiking trails and calm, peace& quiet that only nature can offer, then make your way here to Shinleaf@ Falls Lake SRA. You’ll discover all of the basics are provided– from picnic table, fold-up fire ring/ grill, bear-proof garbage hanger and a nice pebble-strewn patch of well-maintained flat pitch, perfect for striking camp for the night in your tent amongst the best of what nature has to offer along with pristine shade from an unrelenting bit of summer North Carolina sunshine.
The only real down-side I could find to Shinleaf is that there’s not a whole lot of brush between the campsites so you will be exposed to neighboring sites, which wasn’t a problem when we visited as the place was fairly vacant, but during high season, I could see how this would be a bit of a turn-off. The on-site facilities(limited to just bathrooms& showers) are typically better than you’d expect from a state-run campground, and so this spot gets high marks versus some others– and there’s even a designated‘pot wash’ spigot that is near the campsites making for EZ clean up after any meal. There’s plenty of hiking trails to explore and the on-site rangers are incredibly helpful and positive folks that want to ensure you have a great time.
Insider's tips? Here's a few: (1) If you like to fish, there's tons of different varieties here to catch, including: walleye, crappie, white bass, large- and small-mouth bass, blue gill, striped bass as well as catfish; (2) There is no need to go anywhere else to look for a boat launch as Shinleaf has its very own kayak/ canoe launch that is fantastic and located on the eastern side of the property; (3) If you are looking for some really cool outdoors adventures while in these parts, check out Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park that offers treetop rope trails and adventure courses - our kiddos loved it!; (4) When you grow tired of attempting to conjure up your next meal from the depths of your roto-molded Cordova cooler and want to try out some local fare, then I highly recommend nearby Carolina Ale House in Wake Forest or Buffalo Brothers Restaurant & Bar - both have fantastic local cuisine and nice iced area craft beers to pair with; and (5) IMHO, the best campsites here at Shinleaf are: #6, #14, #16-17; #30-33; #37-39; #40; #42-43; #45-47.
Happy Camping!
GuideIt’s ok. Semi secluded and has necessary hookups. Quit packed for what it is. I would not stay here for weeks. Just a stop and go kinda deal. But price is very good.
Traveler
We camped overnight making our way south. There are a number of sites right on the lakefront, so snag one of those if you can! Many of the sites offer good flat terrain, and electric hook-ups are available at many sites. Nice, shady and quiet, the campground is very clean. Pretty convenient to I-85. Be sure to go out near sunset to see the beautiful reflections in the lake waters! We will be back!
Guide
Very nice campground. Lots of trees for shade and the park is very quiet. I would recommend staying here. The spots are big and not right up on each other. No laundry facility.
Traveler
The site is directly on the lake. Mere steps from your door. Beautiful view on the adjacent shoreline and bridge. Rocky shoreline. Easy to back in. I only have 2 complaints. The proximity of neighbors. The only thing separating you from site 24 is the tent pad. And the site length listed is a little misleading. It says 40 feet which I assume is true. But we fit our 27 foot travel trailer in there and had a really hard time wedging our tow vehicle (F250) in there. Parked at an odd angle on the tent pad. Wouldn’t choose this site again but definitely recommend for a smaller trailer.
Guide
first time doing any type of dispersed camping but it was really easy to find, just off the road in the woods, just follow the coordinates and its a lil past, look for the signs, with lil sites to pull my car up to deeper in the woods, though you can still see the headlights coming from the road.
I'm not a hunter but no one else was there and I pulled up at 10pm and left 6am on the first day of open season.
Guide
I came here with a large group and really liked it! We were all at crammed into the 4 large group sites so I admittedly can’t comment on the size of a regular site. However the bath houses were adequate. The staff was helpful. And the trails were nice. I wish I would have explored the park a little more as well as the surrounding area. But nice little get away.
GuideWe camped out the first night the campground was open for the season. They were performing controlled burns but nothing bothered us. Sure, we heard the planes overhead but it didn’t keep us up. We tent camped at an RV site just for some extra comfort with the water and power. Bathhouses were super clean. And we were a short walk to the lake to fish and hang out near the water. Absolutely will come back
Traveler
Our stay in Site #4 on February 25 in our 20' Mode LT was quiet and restful. The park has an interesting geomorphology, sitting atop cliffs overlooking the river below, and there are miles of hiking trails. The Campground Host was particularly helpful, checking us in when we arrived early. Unlike many state parks they offer their Senior Discount to out-of-state campers. The campground is very clean and sites are very large with gravel pads, but only 14 sites have hook-ups. Our stay was marred by heavy fire smoke from campfires penetrating our van. The distance from I-95 adds an extra hour to your travel if you are just planning a one-nite stopover, so we might not make the trek again.
Traveler
This was our very first full-time RV park. We loved being in the park and it easily accommodated our 39ft. Class A. Back-in site but with plenty of room to do so. Each site has water and electric hook-up. Sewer however is a dump station. The sites are big with a picnic table, fire pit and lantern hook. Plenty to do here with the lake at your fingertips. Great first experience.
Traveler
Excellent place to camp overnight or for a couple days to rest while traveling the I-95 corridor. Full hookups to empty your tanks (heated water to avoid freezing in cold), level sites - mostly pull through so you can get in and out with ease. Large open areas to walk the pups and a decent sized dog run so they can get exercise (I can’t run that fast :) ). They has a small pool for hot summer months to cool off and refresh. Camp store has needed essentials but don’t expect to find everything a camper can desire. Campus is sparsely appointed but it has all that travelers really want which is a quiet place away from the noisy highway that is safe and has the site amenities of bigger and fancier campgrounds. I rate 4 stars because it serves its intended purpose, has level sites (didn’t even need to unhook to get level) with full hookups, and it’s priced for a quick overnight or even long-term stay if you are of humble needs. We will make it a regular stop on our journeys south and north again.
GuideThis campground appeared to be very clean and well kept. I am disappointed that we were only there for a night traveling south. If I'm in the area will definitely come back.
Scout
Popular Point campground is one of my favorite places to pitch a tent in the Jordan Lake area. It's often not as crowded as the others at Jordan Lake are, esp., during the week and outside of holidays or summertime. The views are nice, with sites next to the water. Tents and RVs can camp in the same areas. We normally camp in a tent here, but never in the hottest part of summer, which is most of the summer in the Piedmont area of the state. You gotta go up to 3000 feet, as in the mountains of NC, for a cool weather experience in summertime, but for a night to get away from your regular routine or a weekend when the weather is nice, this is a suitable place. Locals like it because the drive isn't far from Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham or Pittsboro.
TravelerThis is our favorite campground in the area. It is clean and quite with easy back in sites. The bathhouse is well maintained as is the camp road. We have stayed here during all four seasons and there isn't a bad time to stay. I can't say enough good things about this campground
Guide
Wet
TravelerLoop C site 19 is a great location. It’s flat with a few good locations off the gravel for tents. Good trees for hammocks are present. There’s no other site within a couple hundred yards to the east. East access to the lake shore and plenty of woods for kids to play in. The bathhouse is a short walk away.
Legend
If you find yourself passing up or down the I-95 corridor and simply need a patch of land to layover for the night and you’ve got one of those incredibly large mobile homes on wheels, then this non-descript RV location near Four Oaks (look for the cross-roads of where Hwy 301 intersects Hwy 701(exit 90 on I-95) may just be the perfect spot for you. But to be perfectly clear, Four Oaks is more of a layover than a destination - I would really only consider this on the way to somewhere else where I am getting in late and leaving early.
With a couple dozen or so RV parking lanes for your parking pleasure, all of the sites come equipped with the typical 20 / 30 / 50 amp electrical hook-ups, waste disposal and water connections. There’s the standard picnic table, fire ring / BBQ, garbage receptacles, propane refilling stations, covered pavilions and even a community BBQ. The hosts are somewhat grumpy and offer pricing by the night, week and month. Overall, the community is inviting and friendly and there were a few that invited us over to chat with them and share a beer. While there’s not a ton of amenities to pick and choose from, this location does come with BBQ, doggie park, free WiFi & high-speed internet, store and vending machines. Near this RV parking lot, you do have access to Wilmington, Emerald Isle and lovely (but crowded) Myrtle Beach. One of the best perks though is that this campground serves up a nice continental breakfast on the weekends for campground guests, plus there's also free ice and cable for any overnight guests.
Insider’s tip? Here's a few: (1) Take advantage of the close proximity to 30 acre Tucker Lake (conveniently located where Interstate 40 intersects 95), where some decent fishing can be had – we caught (and released) several smallmouth bass, brook trout and black bullheads. Here, you’ll find white sandy beaches, paddle boats, kayaks and canoes for rent, rope swings, 165 foot waterslide for the kids to jump into the water and scattered open pavilions with BBQ’s and grills. There’s also a handful of ill-maintained trails to hike on; (2) If you'd like to hit the links then nearby Johnston County Country Club has some really nice fairways that you'll want to explore; (3) Should you grow weary of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your onboard mini-fridge and want to try out some local fare, then head on over to nearby JP's Country BBQ where they serve up smoked chicken, ribs as well as mac-n-cheese along with some good 'ol Southern cole slaw; (4) Should you find yourself in need of anything there's Ronnie's Country Store just down the road (you wouldn't even need to drive there from Four Oaks), where you can get basic groceries, ice and just about anything for your journey; (5) My favorite site on the property is #8 or #10 as they are furthest from the nearby highway and offer decent shade; and (6) If you come bearing kayak or canoe and are looking for a nice wet piece of paradise to launch into, then check out Holts Lake located just due north of this campground where there's also some pretty decent fishing to be had.
Happy Camping!
Scout
I’ve camped here twice now. The hike in and out is very easy. Only about 2 miles each way. The spots are clean and well spread out with a hook to hang things on, a fire pit, and a picnic table at each site. The pit toilet is central to all 6 sites. It’s a pit toilet so it’s nothing glamorous but it’s there if you need it. The river is a short walk away from all the sites if you want to get a great picture with the sunrise. Overall, I definitely recommend.
GuideExcellent new cabin’s perfect fire pit new tables/restrooms spaced out beautifully designed campground.
GuideGreat place. Plenty of shade and view of Lake Jordan. Restrooms were clean.
Guide
Great place to stay, safe location, and has a family atmosphere. Space was large and I was able to pull through without having to de-attach my car trailer.
Scout
We are from out of town. We picked this spot because it was a last minute trip and on their website it advertised they had first come first serve spots open. We drive over there see a completely empty campground and think we won’t have any issue getting a spot. And when I say empty I mean there was quit literally no other campers . So we tried to check in, but there is no place to check in. So we went to the nature center and asked around to try to get some help. We had to wait for some other man to come around because no one else who worked there could help us. After finally tracking this man down at the paddle boats and an hour of back and forth, we were told you have to call and make a reservation but we shouldn’t have a problem getting a spot since it’s empty. After calling and only getting voicemails, we found the man again who called his boss. His boss finally answered and said we can only camp there by making reservations 72 hours ahead of time. Probably the most difficulty I’ve ever had trying to get a camp site.
Guide
This park was beautiful and amazing. The views were phenomenal. We were water front. Bath houses super clean and staff very friendly.
Tent camping near Wendell, North Carolina offers a blend of natural beauty and convenient amenities, making it an ideal getaway for outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wendell, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wendell, NC is William B. Umstead State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Wendell, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Wendell, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
