Neuseway Nature Park & Campground, near Kinston, North Carolina, is a solid spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors without straying too far from civilization. With both RV and tent sites available, you can set up camp right by the Neuse River, making it a nice choice for fishing or just soaking in the views.

The campground is equipped with essential amenities like drinking water, electric hookups, and clean showers. Visitors have noted that the sites are generally level and well-maintained, which makes for a comfortable stay. One camper mentioned, “The sites are level, and many are pull-through sites,” highlighting the convenience for RV travelers.

For those who want to explore, the nearby Neuseway Nature Center offers a variety of live animal exhibits and even a planetarium. Plus, Kinston is just a short drive away, where you can find local dining options like the famous Chef and the Farmer. While some campers have pointed out that the walk to the bathhouse can be a bit long, the friendly camp host is always around to help with any questions.

Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer retreat, Neuseway Nature Park & Campground provides a mix of nature and nearby attractions that can cater to both relaxation and adventure.

Located on 55 acres along the Neuse River, this beautiful campground offers camping, hiking, fishing and canoeing just steps from your campsite.

You can spend the night under the stars at our full hook-up campground. We offer 32 full hook-up sites with 50-, 30-, and 20 amp service ($20/night) and tent sites without hook-ups are also available for primitive camping ($10/night). The campground has river access, hot showers, fire rings, picnic tables and a dump station.

The campground is open year round, 24 hours/day. We offer a max stay of 30 days. Currently, we do not take reservations, however please contact us at 252-939-3367 Tuesday-Sunday (closed Mondays for cleaning) to inquire about availability.

Neuseway Nature Park & Campground

Are you in need of a campground near Kinston, NC? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Kinston is surrounded by family-friendly activities. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Kinston, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Kinston

The Best Camping Near Kinston, North Carolina

This was my first visit, I plan on going back so I will update as I learn more about this site. There are RV and primativr sites. They are literally right next to each other. The RV sites have power and water hookups, fire pit, and picnic table at each site. The RV sited are also numbered. The primitive sites are not so well kept. The are not clearly marked and no dedicated fire pits. There is a little highway noise pollution, but not terrible. There is a free onsite dumpster. Fires are allowed. Showers/restrooms available on site are free. You pay by the day (in cash or check) at the Nature Center (during banking hours Mon-Thurs I believe). Prices are fair. Campsite is riverfront (keep in mind for the bugs). I didn't see or hear much wildlife aside from an owl, a rat snake, and one good sized spider. Campgrounds are pretty clean. There is a large communal fire pit with plenty of seating and little private-ish decks overlooking the river. 

Pretty pleasant 

This was my first visit, I plan on going back so I will update as I learn more about this site. There are RV and primativr sites. They are literally right next to each other. The RV sites have power and water hookups, fire pit, and picnic table at each site. The RV sited are also numbered. The primitive sites are not so well kept. They are not clearly marked and no dedicated fire pits. There is a little highway noise pollution, but not terrible. There is a free onsite dumpster. Fires are allowed. I had alcohol one night without any hassle. Showers/restrooms available on site are free. You pay by the day (in cash or check) at the Nature Center (during banking hours Mon-Thurs I believe). Prices are fair ($10 primitive site and $20 RV site). Campsite is riverfront (keep in mind for the bugs). I didn't see or hear much wildlife aside from an owl, a rat snake, and one good sized spider. Campgrounds are pretty clean. There is a large communal fire pit with plenty of seating and little private-ish decks overlooking the river. There is free wifi. Multiple people had their pets with them. Good cell phone reception with Verizon.

I’ve known about this campground for a long time, but I never got a chance to camp at it until now. It was long overdue. The campground has pull-through and back-in sites. The sites are level and most have 30/50 amp hookups, as well as water. There is also a primitive tent camping area. You can choose to stay along the river or next to the woods. There are viewing platforms to look at the river, trails, and at least three ponds in which you can fish. There is not a swimming pool or an arcade pavilion, but there are a lot of things for children and adults to do. The campground is along the Neuse River, and it is part of the Neuseway Nature Center complex. The Nature Center has a variety of live animal exhibits, and across the street there is a planetarium and science center. Also included on the premises are a playground, a fossil dig, a picnic shelter, and a small train in which visitors can ride. You have to register at the Nature Center, which is about a hundred yards from the campground, and the fee was$20.00, which I thought was very reasonable. The host was one of the nicest hosts I have ever encountered at a campground. He answered all the questions we had, and he walked us to the bath house to make sure we understood how to enter the code to unlock the door. There are some drawbacks to the campground, although not many. It is a long walk to the bath house from the campground, but our host said that they are trying to get a bath house within the campground itself. The reason it has not been done sooner is because the whole area is in a flood zone, and they have to figure out the best way to have bathrooms there. The waters from the Neuse River have covered the entire campground and Nature Center complex more than once and almost every year. With that said, you will want to make sure the river has not flooded before you decide to go. It rained the entire time we were there, so we didn’t get to enjoy many of the outdoor opportunities, but I enjoyed seeing the river and the animal exhibits. However, there is a lot more to do across the bridge into Kinston. With a short drive of three-tenths of a mile, you will be on Herritage Street. Over the last three decades, the city of Kinston has been in a steady decline in population, and the crime rate has increased. However, city leaders have been bringing things back to life. This campground is right across the river from Herritage Street, which has a nationally known restaurant(The Chef and the Farmer), the only full size Civil War ironclad replica in the world, a successful brewery(Mother Earth Brewery), and many other eclectic shops and parks. For breakfast and lunch, Lovick’s Café is a great choice, and it has been in business since the 1940s. It is most famous for its dough burgers. For some people, this might be a two star campground because it doesn’t seem to offer much. Others, including myself, would rate it five stars because it has a little bit of both worlds—nature and civilization(Herritage Street). I will give it only four stars because I’m trying to be objective, knowing that people looking for campgrounds want swimming pools, game rooms, Wi-Fi, etc.

A Hidden Gem in a Small Town

I'm currently in the primitive camping area in a tent next to my vehicle. I have not seen any signs about cost or payment, but I got in late last night, around 10pm on Saturday night in mid-October. The RV sites looked pretty full, but there was plenty of space in this primitive area which is next to the RV sites. I did not see any numbers or designated parking spaces, so I just sort of guessed. So far, no issues. 

Update: In the morning, a man in a golf cart drives around. He collected $10 from me and gave me the code for the bathrooms/showers. The showers are nicer than expected, but not fancy.

There are some endangered birds in cages outside the showers. Check out the owl and the hawk! 

nice enough / $10 for tent camping

Stayed here in February.  Was nice and quiet, especially the far away camp sites.  All sites seemed pretty level.  One note is that they only accept cash for payment.

Quiet, clean campground on the river

The camp host was extremely rude. When I was pulling into the campsite, driving the posted speed limit, he made a motion for to slow down. I did.

When I approached his campsite to secure my campsite, he approached my vehicle before I had a chance to get out. I did. He told I was driving too fast. I said I was driving the posted limit and did slow down regardless. He said the same thing repeatedly. I told him I would not be staying which seemed to upset him more. He made mention that he was assistant director of something and he was going to give my tabs numbers to the police in case I came back to do "something." 

In all of my years of camping in many states, I have never been treated or talk to so disrespectfully. Beware.

Rude Camphost

Very nice place to stay. $20 per night. I go there when l go home to visit and to hunt. Ron the camp host is a very helpful and friendly guy. Across the river from nice entertainment. About a 15 minute walk. 

Photos of Neuseway Nature Park & Campground

Real photos from real campers