Davidson River is a large campsite that still provides a decent amount of distance between sites. I booked this trip kind of late and did not get a prime spot but luckily all of my neighbors were quiet and respectful. This place is great for families I saw tons of kids riding bikes and tubing in the river. The beach is small and crowded, it was not good for me to have my dog swimming since they have people fly fishing right next to everyone swimming. It didn’t matter though because there is so much to do in the area away from the campsite! I drove to several beautiful look out spots, did an easy hike down to Graveyard Fields and Looking Glass Falls for some time playing in waterfalls and then hiked Andy Cove Nature Trail which had a cool suspension bridge. All doable with my 12 yr old dog and beautiful. At night there were more fireflies than I’ve seen in my whole life out together. All in all a great campsite for solo travelers or families, be aware you will not have cell service until you leave the campground.

I camped here with a friend and the dogs over the weekend. The campground is pretty big with several loops. Our campsite was on the roadside loop. It had the typical amenities like a fire pit, a lantern post and a picnic bench. We were pleasantly surprised that we also had a bear box. We were warned before, that the bears are very active in the area, but we were startled when we had one just a few feet from our campsite. The bathhouse was close by but unfortunately had just one stall open, which is not enough. The cleaness was ok. Down the road was a much nicer bathhouse. Our campsite was pretty private and there was a nice hiking trail a few feet from our site. Unfortunately the quiet time hours were not enforced. People were yelling and screaming until late at night. It's a short drive to Brevard, just in case you forgot something. There are also a lot of points of interest like Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you like to hike, there are a lot of amazing trails near by. Even it was a very nice weekend, since it was such a big campground, it would not be our first choice.

Davidson River campground is my favorite spot when I go to Brevard to see some waterfalls. It's located right at the entrance to the forest, close to amenities such as Walmart supercenter, gas stations, breweries, restaurants, a great BBQ place and an ice cream joint. On the other hand, it's just a few minutes away from several easily accessible waterfalls such as Looking Glass falls, Moore's Cove Falls and Sliding Rock. A short drive up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and you can get to Skinny Dip Falls and Graveyard Fields. Drive in the other direction and you can walk around Dupont State Forest with its beautiful waterfalls that were featured in major movies. A little further away you can reach Gorges State Park with more amazing waterfalls and trails. Drive to downtown Brevard to dine in fancy locally sourced restaurants with live music and local beer. What a wonderful place!

The campground itself is located near the river, has nice spacious sites and clean bathrooms and showers. The staff is always helpful. When I travel with a large group of friends, we book a double and a single site, one across from another to have enough room and enjoy each other's company. The sites don't have cover or shelters, and since the probability of rain is always high (don't trust your weather forecast!), I recommend bringing a tarp or some sort of a shelter.

I have heard a lot of people mention this campground, so I had to try it for myself. One of the first things I learned about national forest campgrounds in North Carolina is that if you want to check out campsites ahead of time, you cannot go in the campground if it is at 85% capacity. You cannot even get through the gate. With that said, my friend and I showed up at Davidson River and were told there were only two sites left. One was a pull-through and the other one was a pull-in. I asked the host which one was more private and better for tents. Since there are over 100 campsites at this campground, I also found out that national forest campgrounds fill up quickly. The site we got was not great, and the layout was not well thought out. Why would you place the fire pit next to the lantern pole. That seems dangerous having a lantern so close to the fire. Nevertheless, it worked out since I placed my propane lantern on the picnic table. For the record, I HATE gravel pads in which the gravel is several inches deep. It is almost impossible to drive tent stakes through it. If you do manage to get a stake through the gravel, you will probably end up with a bent stake. Fortunately, I had a free-standing tent this time, but I also had to set up tarps. Rain was in the forecast, and there was a thunderstorm with a deluge of rain. I didn’t think we were going to be able to have a fire, but there was a break about 9:00 pm. This site also needed some maintenance as far as landscaping. There was lots of poison ivy, and the weeds were too close to the driveway and the tent pad. 

One of the biggest reasons people come to this area is to enjoy what the Pisgah National Forest has to offer. Within walking distance is the trailhead for the Art Loeb Trail, and many other trails are not too far away. It is within a short driving distance of one of my favorite waterfalls (Looking Glass Falls), the Blue Ridge Parkway, several other waterfalls, and several other trails. At the campground, there is a popular swimming area where people can fish, swim, and go tubing. I didn’t come across a group camping area, but there is a large activity field which was titled“Deer Field.”  Also within the confines of the campground, there is English Chapel, which is an active church. Campers are welcome to visit, according to the sign. There is an“exercise” trail, and I saw several joggers on the trail and on the roads throughout the campground. There is mountain laurel throughout the campground, which creates some photographic beauty. There are several camping loops throughout the campground, and each one has its own bath house. The one closest to us had one shower, a urinal, and one stall. The shower is a push button type, so you have to push it repeatedly for your shower. One thing that surprised me was that generators are allowed, except in one loop. As we explored the campground further, I can’t imagine how other campers can put up with the noise.  I could hear it from a hundred yards away. This campground takes precautions against bears and we had a metal food container at our campsite. That is one thing I did like about our site. There were also recycling bins located within the campground. The only reason I didn’t give this campground five stars is because it needed some landscaping work and that generators are allowed. Other than that, this is a great campground, especially since it is so close to great hiking and great waterfalls.

Campground Review

Davidson River is a really nice campground located in the Pisgah National Forest in Brevard. There are several sites that are right along the river. There is a short walking trail within the camgpground, and the Art Loeb trail starts right at the beginning of the campground as well. There are miles and miles of hiking/running and mountain biking trails in the surrounding area, as well as numerous waterfalls. The campground is less than a mile from The Hub bike shop/Pisgah Tavern, a great bike shop offering rentals also, and several breweries are nearby - check out Ecusta and Oskar Blues!

Our site was very spacious. We stayed in Late November/ early December, so there weren't leaves on the trees but the site was still pretty private. There are only 3 loops of the campground open in the off season. The bathroom facility for the loop was open and there were showers (free and hot) and the camp host was very friendly and helpful and had firewood for sale. Campground was very quiet. Very convenient starting point for trail adventures in the area! Campground was quiet in the off season, but definitely not empty.

Product Review

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - I was lucky enough to be able to take an Escape Campervan out on a camping road trip for a trail race that started at this campground.

Escape Campervans have become my favorite way to travel! The vans are small enough to maneuver in cities and to trailheads, and can be parked in a normal parking spot. Click here to see the different models they offer. There is something for everyone! The vans include....

• A kitchen area in the back, with a 2 burner propane stove, sink (5 gallon fresh water tank), and a drawer fridge. Dishes, pots, pans included. Just pull up, hop out, and get cooking! The dometic drawer fridge is fantastic, keeps things super cold and can fit a TON! (way more than it looks).
• Seats inside fold down to a bed. Add a rooftop tent to the top and bring your friends! (or just sleep up top, and don't worry about converting the seats to a bed. Both beds are really comfortable, and the ladder up to the rooftop sleeper is super easy to use. Bedding included (sheets, pillows, and duvet with cover).
• Plenty of extras. You can add on (for additional cost) and e-z up tent/awning, small picnic table, bike rack, rooftop tent, and more.

We have traveled as a couple and a group of four adults, and had an awesome time. The vans fit in anywhere. From boondocking in the wilderness to established campgrounds or RV parks, pull up, park, and have fun!

I really can't recommend Escape Campervans enough. From adventurous singles/couples to small families, they are the BEST way to explore.

For more pictures and a more in-depth tour of the Mavericks version of the van, check out one of my blog posts here: http://adventuresneaker.com/2017/01/04/escape-campervan-review/