Best Tent Camping near White Oak, NC
Merchants Millpond State Park offers several tent camping options near White Oak, North Carolina, including canoe-in sites at Bennetts Creek and Merchants Millpond campgrounds, as well as backpack campsites accessible by foot. These primitive tent sites provide direct access to the park's unique swamp ecosystem with cypress trees and diverse wildlife. The park also features group walk-in sites for larger gatherings of tent campers.
Campers should bring all necessary water supplies as filtering is not recommended due to the swampy conditions. Sites at Merchants Millpond feature fire pits, grills, and picnic tables, though amenities remain minimal. The tent platforms are well-maintained but closely spaced at some locations. Navigation to canoe-in sites can be challenging as water levels affect visibility and create unexpected obstacles. Pit toilets serve the canoe-in camping areas, while the park maintains basic sanitation facilities. Fires are permitted in designated rings, but firewood is not provided on site.
The park's swamp ecosystem creates a distinct backcountry tent camping experience with abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Paddlers can access remote tent sites through marked buoy routes, though underwater obstructions require caution when navigating to campsites. Seasonal considerations include avoiding summer months due to intense insect activity, with spring and fall offering more comfortable conditions for tent camping. Sandy Bottom Nature Park in nearby Virginia provides an alternative walk-in tent location with sand-bottom tent platforms and short hiking access from parking areas. A visitor noted, "The campsite was clean and enjoyable. I would go again, but bring your third-party map/GPS as the maps they provide are almost useless because it's a swamp and the terrain changes with water level."
