The Alum Gap campground in Savage Gulf State Natural Area was a perfect destination for a first-time backpacker (like me!). The trail is easy-moderate, mostly flat with only a few inclines. Most of the sites are large, with lots of space to set up camp and hang out, and they're far enough apart to maintain a decent amount of privacy. There is a small outhouse available, as well as a small stream nearby (just make sure you have a water purifier!). We were lucky enough to get campsite #4, which has the best views of the bluff, hands down.
The campground is a short hike (1-2 miles) from Upper & Lower Boardtree Falls and Greeter Falls, which are all beautiful. It makes for a great way to spend the afternoon!
Gorgeous, gorgeous vacation spot. Perfect blend of relaxing + exploring. Highly recommend!
Pros: Very close to the beautiful Cape Hatteras Seashore with beach access, full bathrooms + showers (clean! Just be aware that the showers are COLD—nice in the summer, but still a shock to the system for sure), picnic tables, flat campsites
Cons: Not a whole lot of privacy. Some of the sites in the dunes offer a little extra coverage, but you're still pretty close to your neighbors. Also, very few (if any) sites have any shade at all, so plan accordingly!
Cape Hatteras + the Outer Banks are a fantastic spot to visit. We spent most of our time exploring, so this campground was perfect for setting up a base to sleep + leave our things.
Indian Boundary is beautiful, very well-maintained, and an overall great place to stay. The lake is great for kayaking and swimming, with an easy trail around the perimeter. The gorgeous Cherohala Skyway is very close by (highly recommend!). Be sure to walk down to the docks after dark for a stunning view of the night sky!
Really nice campground, although it does get very crowded during peak season. Well-maintained, pet-friendly, and close access to lots of great trails. There is a nearby lake, perfect for swimming. Just down the mountain is the Ocoee River, which is great for paddling (both flatwater and whitewater).
The entire Chilhowee Recreation Area is beautiful, with plenty of overlooks and places to explore. Be sure to check out as much as you can while you're here!
This campground is incredibly clean + quiet—and completely free. It's in the middle of nowhere (7 miles down a gravel forest road), surrounded by forest, with easy creek access (some sites are right beside the creek), and the Benton McKaye trail running directly beside it. Sites can accommodate tents and small RVs, complete with concrete picnic tables and a fire ring. The restroom, although primitive (no water—bring along some hand sanitizer), is incredibly clean. Sites are pet friendly and relatively private. Really fantastic place to stay!
This campground is very well-maintained. The bathrooms are clean with plenty of stalls + showers. The campsites are close together, but with all the trees, there's still a decent amount of privacy. It does get very crowded in the summer, so keep that in mind, but even being completely full, I still found it to be very peaceful and relatively quiet.
The big plus here is the ease of access to the Hiwassee River—perfect for paddling and swimming! It also borders the Gee Creek Wilderness, which has a gorgeous hike (with waterfalls), and Cherokee National Forest (lots of fun forest roads to explore).
I loved my stay at Lake Powhatan. It was incredibly clean, the campground hosts were very friendly and helpful, and the quick access to both the Blue Ridge Parkway and downtown Asheville are unbeatable. Lots of campsites, but far enough apart to still feel private, bathrooms + showers (both are single use, not stalls, which I suppose could be inconvenient if there were a lot of people waiting, but it's nice to have the privacy!). I would 100% visit again!
I've been camping here many times, in multiple places—the full RV-hookup campground, the group camps, and the walk-in sites. All are worth checking out! All of them are clean, although they can be pretty crowded during the summer. Fall Creek Falls has lots of beautiful hikes + swimming areas, so you might want to have access to a car (or at least bring a bike) to explore the whole thing. It's a great place to camp!
Fairly large campsites with easy access to Foster Falls and the Fiery Gizzard trail. Clean bathrooms + showers, and lots of trees (perfect for hammocking!).
The campground is very clean, and there are lots of campsites available. Cade's Cove is a gorgeous area in general, and camping is a great way to take advantage of the pedestrian and cyclist-only Wednesday/Saturday mornings (highly recommend this!).