Map showing campground location near Pisgah Forest, North Carolina

Camper submitted image from Pisgah National Forest Davidson River Campground

Pisgah National Forest Davidson River Campground

Reservations are strongly recommended here. Davidson River Campground books up quickly during warm months, and sites run $32 to $71 per night depending on hookup needs. The campground operates from March 15 through November 1, managed by Adventure Pisgah as a licensed concessioner for the Pisgah National Forest. Electric hookups are available on select sites for an added fee, though most loops have no water or sewer connections. A dump station, showers, and drinking water are on-site, and loop hosts circulate regularly to assist campers.

Sites are large by most campground standards, with reviewers consistently noting the elbow room between neighbors. Several loops front the Davidson River directly, giving anglers and swimmers easy access without leaving the campground. Trout fishing draws repeat visitors, and the river also sees tubing and wading during summer. Cell signal runs thin throughout the property, with one reviewer noting ATT coverage at two bars and WiFi limited to a parking area near the gatehouse. Heavy tree canopy keeps sites darker at night, so headlamps are worth packing.

The Art Loeb trailhead sits just outside the campground entrance, connecting to mountain bike loops and hiking routes of varying difficulty. Looking Glass Falls, Moore Cove Falls, and Looking Glass Rock are all within a short drive. The town of Brevard is roughly 10 minutes away for resupply, and campers exploring campgrounds near Pisgah Forest will find this one among the most activity-dense in the district. Generator hours are enforced strictly, which keeps noise levels manageable after dark. This campground suits anglers, mountain bikers, and families who want structured amenities alongside direct river and trail access.

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Map & DirectionsPisgah National Forest Davidson River Campground is located in North Carolina near Pisgah Forest

Private Campground

Directions

In Brevard, NC, at intersection of US Rts. 64 and 276 and State Rt. 280, take Rt. 276 north 1.1 miles to campground sign. Turn left at sign into campground.

Coordinates

35.28285751 N
82.72903867 W

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Connectivity

T-MobileLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 4 users
Last on 9/18/26
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 6 users
Last on 9/18/26
AT&T
No Coverage
Verified by 5 users
Last on 9/18/26

Connectivity

T-MobileLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 4 users
Last on 9/18/26
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 6 users
Last on 9/18/26
AT&T
No Coverage
Verified by 5 users
Last on 9/18/26

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
WiFi
Showers
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

32 min from Asheville, NC
1 hr 11 min from Greenville, SC
1 hr 11 min from Spartanburg, SC

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Reviews10 Camper Reviews - Pisgah National Forest Davidson River Campground

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.5

out of 5

10 Reviews

Guests commonly noted spacious, private sites near Davidson River with helpful staff and peaceful atmosphere. Some visitors expressed disappointment with small bathroom facilities and tight dump station, though most found the location and site quality excellent.

Jeremy A.

Ranger

Reviewed Jun. 30, 2023

Great Blue Ridge basecamp

Privately managed by Adventure Pisgah, licensed concessioner for USDA USFS Pisgah district.

Trout fishing, tubing, and swimming, with easy access to the Blue Ridge and local attractions along Pisgah Hwy and Blue Ridge Parkway. 10 min to Brevard, 40 min to Asheville.

Reservations in season, first come first serve single day off season.

Well established sites, some with electrical hookups for additional fees.

Month of VisitFebruary

(9) View All

Robbie B.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 31, 2021

Pisgah Gateway

Great campground just inside Pisgah National Forest. Camped in the Riverbend section. Site was decent size with large tent pad, table and parking for two cars. A little close to neighbors but not too bad. Some sites in Riverbend offer more privacy. Can’t beat location, mountain bike trails easily rideable from campground. Plus The Hub, Ecusta Brewing just down the road. Easy walking access to Davidson River. Clean bathrooms/showers.

Site152

Month of VisitOctober

linz N.

Scout

Reviewed Oct. 11, 2021

Great for a weekend of MTB 🤘🏼

Weekend hangout. Was pretty quiet for late fall. Nice facilities. Close to great MTB’n!

Month of VisitNovember

ANGELA

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 18, 2021

Hiking, Waterfalls, Fishing, Biking + Even Ice Cream

OVERVIEW

No Water/Sewer Hookups on Any Site
Electric Hookup Sites Limited
WiFi/Cell Signal Limited[Booster Recommended]
Kid Friendly
Dog Friendly
Bath Facilities On-site

LOCATION

The location is incredible! We enjoyed the accessibility of hiking, biking and fishing right from the campground. ART LOEB trailhead is right outside the campground entrance and is excellent for hiking and mountain biking. Several loops and even sites provide access to the river for fishing. Just outside the campground are endless trails and several beautiful waterfalls that can be accessed within a 5-15 min car ride. Convenient to a few restaurants, grocery stores and even a Walmart (which is slightly dodgy so be warned).

SITE

014 WOAK site is an RV site. It’s spacious and very private. We loved how much room we had to spread out and entertain as we were traveling with several other camping families. Our site was the go to spot! Backing in wasn’t difficult. It was convenient that the pull through site across from us was vacant, this made backing in super easy. There are no hookups on this site. So be sure you have a generator! One bonus on the location of this site is the water access just feet away. We needed to fill up and had forgot to do so when we pulled in to the campground. What a relief to see a water access just steps from the campsite! The only downside was that generator hours are very limited. If you are traveling during warmer months or must have AC, this is not the site for you. We felt that the tree coverage really provided us protection from the heat and did very well without AC in early August.

ACTIVITIES

Slide Rock is a natural water slide that is fun for the whole family. Yes… it’s COLD and honestly worth every moment of chilly suffering.
Hiking is abundant and all levels are accessible within minutes to a few miles of the campsite. Our favorites are: Looking Glass Falls (steps going down make this a breeze), Moore Cove Falls is a MUST and an easy trail that leads to the perfect waterfall for a good photo, Looking Glass Rock is a moderate to difficult hike and worth it. Looking Glass Rock is a long hike so be prepared to go early and bring a rain jacket.
Fishing right within the campground makes it perfect for an early morning or late afternoon activity. The hatchery is nearby and offers some wonderful opportunities to catch and release. Be sure to look in to a guided tour for a hands on experience filled with lots of educational info on local fish.
Biking is a top activity for lots of overnight and day campers. The Art Loeb Trail provides endless miles that proves fun for the whole family.
Ice Cream at Dolly’s should make your list if you love a refreshing treat. This iconic little stop if right by the entrance to the Pisgah Forest and just around the corner from the campground. Also a great spot for a cell signal!
Breweries aren’t hard to find nearby. Small microbreweries are within a few minutes and Sierra Nevada Brewery is 25 minutes away.

DON’T FORGET

Generator (in case your site doesn’t offer electric)
Headlamps and Flashlights (tree coverage is heavy so it gets darker faster)
Fishing Poles
Rain Jackets (it rained almost daily in the afternoon)
Cordless Leaf Blower (for removing leaves from slide outs)

Site014 WOAK

Month of VisitAugust

Erik G.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 12, 2021

New to the area and I will be back

I went mountain biking from the campground and had an awesome stay. The river was nice to have close to the site and it was a fun spot to stay. I have a rooftop tent and it opened up easily in the site I stayed and it looked like you wouldn’t have an issue in most of the car sites there for clearance.

Month of VisitAugust

Jessica G.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 18, 2021

Fun

Family friendly fun and a perfect trail start up spot

Sitedavidson and mills river

Month of VisitJuly

Sarah N.

Guide

Reviewed May. 25, 2021

Nice Place!

I’d give it 4.75 stars if I could. It gets 5 stars for large sites with decent enough privacy, access to hiking and mountain biking, strict rule enforcement (you definitely won’t hear generators all night here!), good RV dump/fill station, and access to the town of Brevard which has a bunch of amenities. I’d knock it down just a bit for the bathrooms which aren’t always clean and they’re all pretty small (one shower per gender).

Site82

Month of VisitMay

Lisa A.

Scout

Reviewed Dec. 6, 2020

Quiet campground in Pisgah (in December)

We used this as an overnight stay on our way from SC to MI. We initially planned to disperse camp nearby, but due to the cold weather, we decided to get a site with electric instead. Not all loops are open this time of year, but there was no issue getting a site - even at 10PM. The bathrooms are clean and the showers are hot (no adjustment possible on temperature). There are many hiking trails in the area and it's beautiful even during December when there are no leaves on the trees. The gatehouse says there is wi-fi in the parking lot, but we did not test it out. We had 2 bars of ATT coverage. I wish we had more time to explore in this area - we'll be back.

Site58 Dogwood loop

Month of VisitDecember

Amurican L.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 20, 2020

Watch out for beauty and the bears!

What a beautiful site with plenty of elbow room between you and your neighbor. I wish we could have stayed longer. The staff was super helpful and nice. We enjoyed the peacefulness and the area in general. The only thing that was not on our side was nature! It rained the whole time! However we will be back to properly check this block because it was a beautiful area.

I rated a 4 star because the dump site is very tight, and lacking. That was the only thing on this campground I feel needed some work.

Great area!

Amy G.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 3, 2020

Great location, large sites

We are beginner campers and had a great experience here for a long weekend camping trip. We had a large double site with 2 tent pads and enough room for our friend's RV. The campground is right on the Davidson River with a number of hiking & biking trail heads and plenty of spots to get into the river for tubing, fishing and swimming either within or just outside of the camp grounds. The sites are spread out just enough to give you some privacy but close to make a quick trip to your neighbor in case you forgot something or need some help. :) There are clean bathrooms w/showers and helpful hosts on each loop. During our visit, our hosts spent the good part of one morning chasing a bear away due to someone leaving trash on their site. It's also within 1/2 hour drive to a number of water falls and hiking trails of all levels (but mostly easy - moderate) in the Pisgah National Forest + plenty more if you drive further. I would definitely come back here but I heard from the hosts on our loop that it books up quickly. We got lucky booking at the last minute.

Site28

Month of VisitAugust

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Davidson River Campground in NC?

Davidson River Campground offers large sites with tent pads, picnic tables, and parking for multiple vehicles. The campground provides electric hookups at select sites, though no water or sewer hookups are available at individual sites. Facilities include on-site bathrooms, an RV dump/fill station, and potable water access. The campground is both kid and dog friendly. WiFi and cell signal are limited (a signal booster is recommended). The campground operates on a reservation system during peak season and first-come, first-served during off-peak times. Some loops remain closed during winter months, but sites with electric are available year-round.

What recreational activities are available at Davidson River Recreation Area?

Davidson River Recreation Area offers an abundance of outdoor activities right from the campground. The river provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing, tubing, and swimming. Multiple hiking and mountain biking trail heads are directly accessible from the campground, making it a perfect starting point for trail adventures. The location within Pisgah National Forest provides easy access to forest exploration, with many visitors particularly enjoying the mountain biking - several sites mention it's an ideal base camp for MTB enthusiasts. The recreation area's proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway and local attractions along Pisgah Highway enhances opportunities for scenic drives and day trips, with Brevard's amenities just minutes away.

How does Davidson River Campground compare to other camping options in Pisgah National Forest?

Davidson River Campground stands out as a premier option in Pisgah National Forest with spacious sites offering decent privacy compared to other areas. It's managed by Adventure Pisgah as a licensed concessionaire for the USFS. The campground provides a unique advantage with its location right on Davidson River and proximity to multiple hiking and mountain biking trails. Unlike more remote forest camping areas, Davidson River offers electric hookups at select sites and proper bath facilities. Its accessibility to Brevard (10 minutes) and Asheville (40 minutes) makes it more convenient than deeper forest options, while still maintaining the natural forest setting with strict quiet hour enforcement that ensures a peaceful experience.

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