RV campgrounds near Hot Springs, North Carolina position travelers within the Blue Ridge Mountains at elevations between 1,300 and 2,700 feet. The region experiences distinct seasonal changes with cooler mountain temperatures even during summer months. Many campgrounds follow the French Broad River, creating waterfront camping options with variable cellular reception due to the mountainous terrain.
What to do
Kayaking and tubing access: Wilson's Riverfront RV Park offers direct river access with rental options. "Wilson's is right on the French Broad River and is neighbors to 'French Broad Outfitters,'- a company that rents kayaks, canoes, and tubes to take down the river," shares one camper, adding that "they have a bar and outdoor games like corn hole, making it an awesome spot to chill with a beer and hang by the river."
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds provide stocked fishing ponds or stream access for anglers. At Pride RV Resort, visitors can enjoy "two fishing pounds, a creek, swimming pool, store and much more," according to a camper. The resort also offers spaces beside Jonathan Creek, which provides peaceful natural sounds.
Walking trails: The French Broad River Greenway runs through several camping areas. As one visitor to Wilson's Riverfront notes, "The French Broad River Greenway, a shared bike path, runs right through the campground and is great for taking you to nearby places by bike, like Carrier Park or ClimbMax Climbing Gym."
What campers like
Private bathroom facilities: Many RV campgrounds near Hot Springs provide individual bathroom suites rather than traditional communal facilities. At Creekwood Farm RV Park, "the bathrooms were amazing, individual bathrooms, very roomy and oh so clean," notes a camper who rated it among their top five campgrounds.
Creek-side camping spots: Multiple campgrounds offer water-adjacent sites that provide natural white noise for sleeping. "There is also a creek running through the back of the property and there are many sites along the creek," reports one Creekwood Farm visitor, while another adds, "Many creek side spots. All are back in. 30,50 amp power, sewer and cable TV hookups."
Entertainment options: Several campgrounds include on-site activities beyond just camping. At Pride RV Resort, "along with a swimming pool, there is a rec room, a mini golf course, basketball court, a covered shuffleboard court, a playground, and much more. For large groups, there is an indoor pavilion."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Most popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. At Anchor Down RV Resort, one visitor advises: "It is so hard to get a reservation here, so we decided to take what we could get so we could try it out! A tip to get reservations! Call and put your name on a waiting list for the dates you need. If they have cancellations, they call the people on the list instead of releasing the dates on the website!"
Site layout considerations: Many campgrounds feature varying site designs and proximities. "Some of the internal resort roads are in need of resurfacing, as there are quite a few potholes. There are a few sites along the creek on the back left that are a little wooded and have some separation," notes a Rutledge Lake RV Resort visitor.
Office hours limitations: Some campgrounds restrict certain activities outside office hours. A Rutledge Lake camper points out: "The only thing I would recommend is keeping office open later then 5. When office closes you can not take boats, or kayaks out. So when you spend day out site seeing and return office is closed. Can not get Ice, wood or boat rentals."
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity planning: When selecting a site, consider bathroom access if traveling with small children. One visitor to Pride RV Resort observed, "There is no restroom even close to the playground area. Thankfully we didn't have a bathroom emergency with our toddler."
Pool facilities: Many RV campgrounds near Hot Springs maintain pools with various operating seasons. Creekside RV Park visitors note the facility "is clean and welcoming" with "bathrooms are clean. Pool was nice. Showers had plenty of hot water and appeared to be cleaned multiple times daily."
Entertainment planning: Some campgrounds offer scheduled activities worth planning around. At Creekwood Farm, "When we arrived, we noticed a lot of vintage campers and later found out it was a vintage camper show that weekend. Then on Saturday night, there was a live band! It was amazing."
Tips from RVers
Navigating tight entrances: Several RV campgrounds require careful maneuvering, especially with larger rigs. At Creekside RV Park, visitors warn "when you come off the interstate you have to make a extremely hard right to get into park, not possible with a big rig...had to go up to the office/shop and turn around."
Site selection strategy: Request specific sites based on your priorities. A visitor to Rutledge Lake RV Resort recommends: "We had spot #10 water front. It had plenty of space for the 5 of us and 2 dogs. Nice gravel level sites."
Cell service considerations: Coverage varies significantly across campgrounds. A Rutledge Lake camper reported "AT&T had 3 bars and 5 MB/s w/o a booster, 4 bars and 7 MB/s with it" while noting "Overall WiFi was problematic. It took numerous attempts on my computer to connect to the numerous router networks."
