Rocky Bluff Campground, near Hot Springs, North Carolina, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature without the frills. This campground offers a straightforward experience with well-spaced sites that come equipped with picnic tables and fire pits, perfect for evening gatherings under the stars.

The setting is beautiful, surrounded by the Smoky Mountain forest, providing a sense of privacy and tranquility. Visitors have noted the clean facilities, including flush toilets, and the availability of drinking water, making it a comfortable base for your outdoor adventures. One camper mentioned, “The campground itself is beautiful - nestled in the forest, it feels very remote.”

If you’re up for some exploration, you’re just a short drive from downtown Hot Springs, where you can find restaurants, gas stations, and outdoor outfitters. Plus, the nearby Max Patch trailhead is only about 30 minutes away, offering stunning views and hiking opportunities. 

While the campground doesn’t have electric hookups or showers, it’s well-maintained and offers a lovely little loop trail that follows a stream, providing a refreshing escape even in the summer heat. Just remember to bring bug spray, as some visitors have reported pesky chiggers. Whether you're pitching a tent or parking your RV, Rocky Bluff Campground is a solid choice for a peaceful getaway.

## Overview

 Rocky Bluff Campground offers solitude in a wooded setting located just 3 miles south of the quaint town of Hot Springs and the majestic French Broad River. The campground is conviently located off of NC Scenic Byway 209 in the Spring Creek Gorge Area. 
## Recreation

 Recreation opportunities abound in and around the Hot Springs area. Located on the Appalachian District of the Pisgah National Forest, Rocky Bluff Campground itself is host to three different trail heads. If you are looking for longer-distance hiking opportunities, the famous Appalachian Trail runs right through the town of Hot Springs. Other popular recreation in the area include white water rafting, kayaking, tubing and fishing on the French Broad River. 
## Facilities

 The campground offers 18 rustic campsites that are designed for passenger car and tent camping. Accessories include picnic tables, tent pads, lantern posts and campfire rings with grills. There are potable water sites located throughout the campground.\_As of 2023, Restroom building is closed and porta-johns are available. 
## Natural Features

 Rocky Bluff Campground located near Spring Creek, a [North Carolina Mountain Heritage Trout Water][1] .\_\_Winding it's way through deciduous oak forests, stocked with Brook, Brown and Rainbow trout, this creek is touted as a trout angler's paradise, making Rocky Bluff a perfect destination for your fishing camp. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Hot Springs has been a well-known relaxation destination for centuries. The natural hot springs are a main draw for the town, along with the abundance of recreation. Visitors can also find several restaurants, art galleries, shopping, live music and festivals here. 

[1]: https://www.hotspringsnc.org/wp-content/uploads/Spring_Creek_Map.pdf

Rocky Bluff Campground — National Forests In North Carolina

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Hot Springs

The Best Camping Near Hot Springs, North Carolina

Beautiful campground on the side of a mountain, just ouside of Hot Springs, NC. Very well designed &amp; built campground so each sight has privacy and a view of the smokey mountain forest all around you. Very clean campground. Nice bathrooms.

Surrounded by forest & Smokey mountains.

What a fabulous find. I wandered here during the night on my way to Burnsville. I couldn't ask for a better campground. The nearby town is just indescribably lovely, and the campground itself is just gorgeous. I can't believe it is only 8 bucks a night. If you're on the fence stay a night and you won't want to leave. This campground is in danger of being shut down due to revenue loss and park funding cuts so come show it some love!

Magical Hidden Gem

The campground itself is beautiful - nestled in the forest, it feels very remote. Each campsite has a ~10x10 level tent pad, a nice picnic table &amp; fire box. There's a mix of more open campsites (if you want a few next to each other for a larger group) or a little more secluded. If you want really secluded - there is an upper loop that the road is closed, but you can hike your stuff up to if you'd like. The bathrooms were nice &amp; clean, and there are spigots for drinking water. The park also features a lovely little loop trail that follows along a stream, which was nice &amp; cool despite the fact that I visited in late July. The last neat feature is a small and very old cemetery above campsite 10

The nearby town Hot Springs is about 8 minutes away and features everything you would need - food, a few small convenience stores, and gas.

The negative bit is I got absolutely eaten alive by chiggers at this campsite, so make sure you apply bug spray!

Small & Simple Campground


The location is absolutely stellar. Less than 10 minutes into downtown Hot Springs with a hardware store, outdoor outfitters, gas station, two bar/restaurants, and of course lots of hiking. Just over 30 minutes away from the Max Patch trailhead. 

We stayed at spot #4 for one night. I thought the fire pit for spot #4 and the tent pad for spot #3 were a little close. Other than that, the sites were spaced out well. 

There were no electrical outlets available at this campground, not even one in the bathroom. Bathrooms have flush toilets but no showers. 

I used the reservation.gov website to reserve the site and paid $23 - $15 for the site and a $8 reservation fee. There is a lock box for walk ins and the fee is $15 per night. 

I had spotty cell phone service with AT&amp;T - I had two bars the site and was able to make a call. I lost service when walking around the campground. 

This is a well-maintained, no-frills campground which is the perfect base camp for exploring the area!

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