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Best Equestrian Camping in North Carolina

702 Reviews

North Carolina offers several equestrian camping options where horse owners can stay with their animals. Bent River Equestrian provides peaceful camping with horse facilities in a farm setting where visitors can pet and interact with horses and barn cats. The campground features an outdoor shower and porta-potty facilities for campers. Sites feel secluded and private even when multiple groups are present, creating a community atmosphere for horse enthusiasts. The camping area sits on higher ground with leveled tent sites suitable for overnight stays, and the property allows tent camping while providing opportunities to observe and interact with the resident horses.

Direct trail access from campgrounds connects riders to scenic routes throughout the state. Horse-friendly camping options exist in both private facilities and public lands including national forests. Mills River Dispersed camping area offers designated sites near a cold, flowing stream with well-maintained, level areas for pitching tents. Campers should note that cell service is limited or non-existent in many horse camping areas, requiring advance planning. Four-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance are recommended for accessing certain equestrian camping areas, particularly at Hurricane Creek Camp where the rough terrain includes rocks, creeks and tight spots. Horse owners should verify specific equine accommodations before arrival as amenities vary significantly between locations.

Best Equestrian Sites in North Carolina (70)

    1. Stone Mountain State Park Campground

    56 Reviews
    Roaring Gap, NC
    Website
    +1 (336) 957-8185

    $17 - $72 / night

    "But, ya know North Carolina summers."

    "The site also had a huge area for the picnic table and the fire ring is far away from your camper. There was a huge grassy area behind our site with a creek, lots of space for our dog."

    2. Smokemont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    54 Reviews
    Cherokee, NC
    +1 (828) 497-9270

    $30 / night

    "Smokemont is a great campground in the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains. It is a perfect base camp to enjoy this amazing national park."

    "We only stayed for 1 night but really enjoyed the campgrounds proximity to activities on the North Carolina side of the park."

    3. Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    49 Reviews
    Blowing Rock, NC
    Website
    +1 (828) 963-5911

    $30 / night

    "Julian Price Park is a beautiful campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. We enjoy this campground on the weekends throughout the fall and spring as it is less occupied."

    "This campground is on a beautiful lake. There is no swimming on the lake(its pretty shallow) but awesome for kayaking and paddleboarding."

    4. Morrow Mountain State Park Campground

    37 Reviews
    Badin, NC
    Website
    +1 (704) 982-4402

    $17 - $107 / night

    "Morrow Mountain State Park, near Albemarle, NC, has something for everyone.  Many hiking and equestrian trails are within the park. "

    "Water spigot close by, the pressure is high so slowly lift the handle haha. The sites are not too close together. Lots of hiking nearby. Beautiful area! Highly recommend."

    5. Cataloochee Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    31 Reviews
    Maggie Valley, NC
    Website
    +1 (828) 497-9270

    $30 / night

    "The North Carolina part has a slightly different feel. Less of a circus and less crowded and more laid back. Loving it! Beautiful. Just wish there were showers here....lol."

    "This: Access to Cataloochee is via a narrow, winding, mountain road. A 3-mile stretch of gravel road contains many narrow, blind curves."

    6. Crosswinds Campground — Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

    30 Reviews
    New Hill, NC
    Website
    +1 (919) 362-0586

    $27 - $77 / night

    "This area is such a short drive from the triangle area of North Carolina, yet this park feels quite remote. Like many state parks, this one excels in the services department. "

    "This is a pretty nice campground, similar to other state parks in North Carolina. The sites are spacious, we stayed at a double site that allowed up to 4 cars."

    7. Cane Creek Park

    29 Reviews
    Mineral Springs, NC
    Website
    +1 (704) 843-5909

    "Located just outside historic Waxhaw NC, Cane Creek is part of the NC Soil Conservative Sites. They offer day passes,$4.00 per car where you can launch you kayak canoe or fishing boat."

    "Equestrian trails are everywhere and are good for hiking, a few trails are a bit rough for bicycles though"

    8. North Mills River

    28 Reviews
    Mills River, NC
    Website
    +1 (828) 552-8040

    $31 - $62 / night

    "Small campground, but there are free off road sites not too far down the road. Cell service disappears but I love that kind of disconnect."

    "State stocked river is close by for trout fishing, and the bathrooms are always clean being for what they are."

    9. South Mountains State Park Family Campground

    26 Reviews
    Casar, NC
    Website
    +1 (828) 433-4772

    $27 - $32 / night

    "The family campground is a short distance further inside the park on the left side(approx 2 miles) marked by a small brown sign...and is situated at 1400 ft elevation. "

    "Beautiful but crowded trails. There are equestrian trails and camping facilities. Dogs welcome. Ice cold creeps and lovely waterfalls."

    10. Medoc Mountain State Park Campground

    27 Reviews
    Hollister, NC
    Website
    +1 (252) 586-6588

    $27 - $75 / night

    "Good location off of 85. Great trails and equestrian trails!"

    "Not far from the Roanoke River and right around the corner from Halifax, this spot is perfect for getting away from it all."

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Equestrian Camping Reviews in North Carolina

702 Reviews of 70 North Carolina Campgrounds

  • Kelsey L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 22, 2018

    Cedarock Park

    Hidden gem for a quick outdoor getaway

    Cedarock Park, located in Burlington, North Carolina, is a hidden gem for all sorts of outdoor activities. The park offers hike-in camping with a handful of sites scattered along Rock Creek. The sites are well spaced and can accommodate large groups (you only pay $1 for each additional person for groups larger than 10). The park is also home to 6 miles of hiking trails and 6 miles of equestrian trails. There are two fantastic disc golf courses (I personally enjoy the Wellspring course) and even a historical farm that sheds light on what life was like as a farmer in 19th century North Carolina.

  • m
    Apr. 10, 2021

    Smokemont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    Peaceful mountain retreat

    Smokemont is a great campground in the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains. It is a perfect base camp to enjoy this amazing national park. About 1 hour away from Gatlinburg, but this side is less crowded. The sites are plenty big, a little tight to back into, but not a big deal. There is no cell service but this is also a great opportunity to disconnect. Right next to the campground there are horse stables, really recommend an early morning horseback ride around the trails Mountains of the campground. Definitely looking forward to visiting again!

  • Katie B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2021

    Smokemont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    Great campground on the NC side

    We only stayed for 1 night but really enjoyed the campgrounds proximity to activities on the North Carolina side of the park. The bathrooms were nice and there is a little stream that runs by the park. From our site you could hear a busier road but I’m sure that’s not the case at other sites.

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 8, 2020

    Crosswinds Campground — Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

    A Short Drive, Yet a World Away

    This area is such a short drive from the triangle area of North Carolina, yet this park feels quite remote. Like many state parks, this one excels in the services department. 

    Bathrooms and showers were clean and comfortable, as were the campsites. 

    Each camping loop felt tucked away into its own little neighborhood, and the large campsites offered space so that you aren’t stacked right next to your neighbor.  We camped in the nonelectric loop (we always bring our solar panel) for 3 nights in mid-February and there were very few campers around, but the neighboring loop with electrical hook-up sites were 3/4 full with large rigs. 

    Hiking, biking, paddling, are all great things to do during your stay. There is also a boat launch within the park in case power boating or fishing is your thing, but kayaks and canoes can easily launch from the lakeside campsites.  It was a bit too chilly to get on the water in February, so we opted for hiking and biking.

    The closest services for gas or a few extra snacks are within 5 minutes of the park.

  • M
    Sep. 21, 2016

    Cataloochee Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    Yes!!! Great Smokey Mountains...Yes!!

    Not the biggest fan of the Gatlinburg/Tennesse part of the park. The North Carolina part has a slightly different feel. Less of a circus and less crowded and more laid back. Loving it! Beautiful. Just wish there were showers here....lol.

  • Kirsten J.
    Aug. 5, 2018

    Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    Wooded, shady campground near a lake!

    Julian Price Park is a beautiful campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. We enjoy this campground on the weekends throughout the fall and spring as it is less occupied. Reservations can be made on-line or walk up to the small building in the front of the loop. The campsites are separated into several loops. One loop is closer to the lake, the other loop has more availability and quite a range of campsites.

    Bathrooms are available here (upgrades coming soon!) as well as drinking water.

  • Kaitlyn F.
    Oct. 16, 2020

    Stone Mountain State Park Campground

    Absolutely beautiful

    We came here as our second ever camping trip and it wasn’t exactly what we were expecting but it was definitely an adventure. It was beautiful and quiet and relaxing. The only thing we were not happy about is the insane amount of bugs in the bathroom. But, ya know North Carolina summers.

  • R
    Jul. 29, 2023

    North Carolina State Fairgrounds

    Over-Priced Parking lot !

    I have stayed there twice over the past couple years.  The only changes to this Campground are the Prices !!  ..which keep going up (to $35 day now).  For this, you get a parking space with full hookups.. that's it, no Amenities whatsoever!

    It's pretty much a "Camper Trap", because there are so few options in the North Carolina Piedmont.  Spaces are tight, a lot of the people there are long-term workers, that totally ignore any "Dust" decorum, speeding through the area as if they were on public streets!

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2018

    Smokemont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    Welcome To North Carolina, the Smoky Mountain Way!

    On the most crowded of days sometimes you just find something that makes you happy and in my pursuit of a waterfall, that is how I stumbled upon Smokemont. I had thought it was a group only camp from other readings, but then discovered it was this great place with wide spaces big enough for RVs or tents.

    The sites were pretty flat and even and made for my tent night comfortable. Facilities were well maintained and this being my first campground in North Carolina, it left a very good impression on me to say the least!!

    I did find this campsite to be less crowded than the two major camps on the Tennessee side the Smoky Mountain entrance.

    The campsite I had was only $21 when I visited and was pretty standard with picnic table and fire ring. They do ask you only use heat treated wood and not bring in woods which might contain little critters not native to the area. This was the only real warning they gave me when I checked in.

Guide to North Carolina

North Carolina offers a fantastic experience for horse camping enthusiasts, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to both riders and their equine companions.

Equestrian campgrounds include essential amenities for horse owners

Activities for horse camping enthusiasts

Tips for equestrian camping in North Carolina

  • Always check for specific horse camping regulations at Cataloochee Campground, as some areas may have restrictions on riding trails.
  • Bring plenty of water and feed for your horses, especially when visiting remote sites like Standing Indian Campground, where amenities may be limited.
  • Make reservations in advance at popular spots like Cherokee-Great Smokies KOA to secure your preferred site and ensure a smooth camping experience.

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