Happy to report that there is a new host here as the one that was working in 2021 was AWFUL. Great sites but hardly any are level so be prepared to manage that. Nice fire pits and grills - love having both. Great bathhouse with hot showers. Terrific paved trail that is awesome for walking, biking, strollers, wheelchairs. Plenty of hammock trees! Zero noise except from other campers/vehicles and the occasional aircraft passing over. Cell signal is pretty spotty but passable. Would need a booster or satellite internet in order to work or attend school, though. Nearby El Dorado Outpost has everything you might need (gas, ice, hot food, small groceries, outdoor supplies, GREAT biscuits!!, etc) and locals sell firewood bundles for $4-5/each. 10-15 min drive into Troy where there are restaurants, gas stations, small regular grocery stores. Really nice new playground and skate park in Troy, too. Tons of hiking, offroading/overlanding, mountain biking, horseback riding nearby.
Do NOT stay here!! The hosts do not follow the published USFS/recreation.gov rules, oe even their own posted rules. FFS sites are in fact booked IN ADVANCE. You can book them for days at a time, anytime. The app is INACCURATE. The hosts simply do whatever they want, then argue when presented with published rules and policies. Additionally, no handicapped placard or other disability proof is required to rent the wheelchair accesssible sites across from the bath house and all were filled with able-bodied persons in huge RVs. Horrible experience and OUTRAGEOUS $8 reservation fee and $10-$18 cancellation fee. Furthermore, there are serious issues with the electric connections, which you have no choice but to pay for. We were only able to occasionally have reliable electricity, resulting in even small 5V items not charging. The biggest issue was inconsistent/incomplete charging of wheelchair batteries. We had to rely on vehicle power charging for most things. The campsites are also poorly arranged, forcing tents to be placed within 2-3’ of fire rings, which is ridiculously unsafe. The sites are also full of fire ant beds - including on the tent/table pad itself. One of the poorest managed campgrounds I have ever stayed in.
This is a really nice spot with easy access to/from Havelock and New Bern. Host is awesome and facilities are super clean. Picnic tables have been updated with fresh planks, fire pits/grates in good repair. Really nice bathhouse with great showers. Beach remains closed due to hurricane damage, just fyi. Many sites have electric hookup available. Great hiking/walking trails!
UPDATE 2024: This campground continues to reign supreme. The host is absolutely phenomenal and the facilities are still awesome. The only issue is the toilets in the tent area of the loop are closed, meaning you have to go all the way up to the main bath house. Otherwise, just a terrific as ever!
I have been camping at Deep Creek for nearly four decades. We absolutely love tenting creekside! Advise a WAGON for hauling stuff from vehicle to site because these are NOT drive up spots. Bugs are generally not a big issue. Most sites are shaded. Bathrooms always clean, though they do show age. Don’t expect a lot of privacy, but do expect you and your family/friends/pets to make friends! Shower just outside park for $3. Coin laundry in Bryson City, along with plenty of shopping and food. I have camped here in June, July, August, and September, in multiple sites. Happy tubing!
Thanks to my Access pass camping here is just $5/night. Gorgeous wooded sites, well-maintained. Waterside! Literally a 60-second walk to water from campsite. Great hiking & kayaking. Very quiet & private. Nice and flat but if you tent I would advise sand stakes. No bug problems whatsoever in mid to late October. Forest Service road in is newly graded and graveled. Zero potholes. About 15 min drive to civilization with gas/groceries/food. Host is wonderful!! So sweet and helpful.