Viewland Campground looked very nice on its website and we were eager to check it out because we love walking everywhere! The idea of camping where we could walk to swimming, restaurants, local shops, and amazing ice cream (shout out to Shibley's) was exactly what we were looking for.
The road to get to Viewland Campground is very steep. The campground loop is a one-way loop that is not easily marked. The road was very narrow and we were very close to some RV's that had been on the property for decades. We could see the small sign from the road and pulled in. The office was immediately on the right. As you pass the office, the bathroom building is on the left and the loop continues. We passed many campers that had been on this property permanently, several of which had porches attached or additional rooms built on the side.
As I returned to the website to double check our location, we realized the pictures had been posted in 2014. It felt like an established community of people that reside on a permanent or semi-permanent basis, but not a place we wanted to camp.
Turtle Kraal RV campground is a gated RV campground just outside Alton Bay NH. Lots of great restaurants, ice cream shops and water activities are nearby!
The sign was easy to spot, right off the road, GPS leading us right to the entrance. There is a long approach after you see the sign, and even a sharp turn before you see the gate. We met the man at the gate (with his incredibly enormous husky) and provided us all the information we needed. This campground has wifi, good cell signal (AT&T and Verizon), a great pool, is pet friendly and well maintained. The bathhouse and pool were both very clean, and for as many RV's that were there - that was amazing! Each site has a firepit and a picnic table - though many sites have additions and build for an extended stay!
This campground is huge - there is a lower loop and an upper loop with the bathhouse and pool right in the center. Kids can ride their bikes around both loops, walk the dogs, play cornhole or horseshoes, etc. Trash is well maintained, with enough dumpsters for the amount of campers they could hold at capacity. They also have firewood for sale on your way in, so you don't have to chase a campground host or a little golf cart - you can buy what you need on your way back. This is a very family friendly campground about an hour and a half north of Boston and about the same from the Whites. A great base-camp for amazing days on Lake Winnipesauke!!
Silver Lake Park Campground and Cabins was an incredibly well maintained campground off Jamestown Road in Belmont NH. Brent and Dee Phillips have owned this campground for 3 seasons - and their love for this place shows!
This is a very clean, quiet, gated campground, with easy beach access for the kids (and launching space for pontoon or bass boats). There is a playground, rentable kayaks and canoes, a basketball goal, frisbee golf, corn hole, horseshoes, yard darts etc. Pets are asked to stay home.
Brent and Dee offer both wifi and laundry facilities available to campers, and while most campers are seasonal campers, they do offer around 10 overnight sites for both tent campers and RV's. Cabins are available for rent and firewood is for sale in the camp store.
This campground feels clean, safe and well-maintained. It is a step above many other campgrounds in the area and well worth giving Dee a call! (603-524-6289)
As with so many places along the lake in July, this campground was fully booked. We drove through anyways and got a feel for the place.
Right off the road, you will spot the Hackmatack sign and you turn in. An office is immediately on your right with instructions on the sign outside the door. We pulled around the first loop as there were maintenance workers on bucket trucks blocking the back driveway. 95% of the sites we saw were seasonal or permanent with added structures like porches and mud rooms. Many flags were flying as we pulled through, there were bathrooms, golf cart parking and dumpsters on site. We saw a few RV sites that were short term, and taken. The road was well established and within a couple miles of the lake! There was also a fenced in pool.
Hancock is a first-come, first-serve campground close to the visitor center as you enter the Whites. It is also close to Loon Mountain Resort. Camping at this campground provides you river access, or is relatively close to the Hwy, depending which site you choose. One area is your standard campground - parking area, tent area, next site. The other area, only for tents, is a communal parking area with walk-in campsites near the water.
This campground had clean pit-toilets, no shower, spotty cell service, and both trash and recycling dumpsters, which were nice to see!
One of the greatest features of this campground, aside from being in the White Mountains, is that each site is very large, often terraced. Several of the sites in the loop had steps approaching the tent area, either up or down.
The campground host was found immediately upon entry to this campground, past the self-pay station. Water spigots were found throughout this campground with each site having a picnic table and firepit. Also interesting was that this campground had several LARGE solar panels inside the campground….what they were used for was unclear.
It was almost a 4-star campground, but with pit toilets, no showers and no cell service, it was just simple - perfect to stay a night or two!
Passaconaway is a smaller campground, having only 33 sites. Interestingly enough, sites 1- 4 are walk-in sites, so there is a community parking area and then you walk to your site. Each site has a picnic table and firepit , spigots are located throughout the campground and site 21 has your firewood for sale ($8 per bundle). No cell service…AT ALL.
We liked this campground because it was close to the Sugar Hill scenic view and it has MANY old mature trees. There were also quite a mix of campers. Tent campers, a few RV's, hammocks and several rooftop tents were in our loop. There was no shower :( but with the proximity to great hiking, we could rinse off in the creek!
Jigger Johnson is located past the pass on the Kancamagus Hwy. There are 9 tent sites on the first tent loop with firepits and picnic tables. There are dumpsters located throughout the campground with appropriate animal deterrents. Firewood is for sale for $8 a bundle, clean water spigots are located throughout with quiet hours from 10pm to 6am. This is the ONLY campground we found on the Hwy with pay showers!!! 2.50 - and yes, the can change your quarters for you!
This campground was close to a great day-hike to Champney Falls, the Russel Colbath historic site and Sawyer Pond trail.
We stayed at the Blue Moon Cottage/RV in May 2022. It was wonderful! The directions we received from Jody were clear and detailed. We easily followed directions through the field and parked right below the camper.
The porch was very welcoming as was the RV! It has a queen bed, bathroom/shower combo, 2 gas burners, microwave, sink, fridge/freezer, a table inside, and a table outside. We loved how everything was labeled - every light switch, knob, valve etc. There were detailed instructions on every inch of camper, including how to flush! (important right?) She really has thought of everything- spices, Nespresso, lighters, flashlights, bottle openers - it was incredibly well stocked!
The bed was very comfortable as well as the little dinette for working purposes. We enjoyed most of our time on the porch watching the mountain colors change as we ate dinner. Did I mention the solar flame torches? They come out at dusk and line the driveway and are beautiful! We enjoyed dinner on the porch, followed by lounging in the lounge chairs and the AWESOME, color changing, super strong jetted hot tub!
This RV was about 20 minutes from Asheville city center- not a bad ride at all! We enjoyed tubing on the river, drinking some local brew and some excellent food!
This field was adjacent to Beaverdam Free Will Baptist church, gazebo and Cemetary. We could see all from our porch, but nothing was obtrusive or offensive. We enjoyed mountain views for hours, watching a storm move in and out. The field is full of fireflies! They began their nightly show looking like holiday lights in the field and the trees. Highly recommend this stay!
We were staying at a nearby campground in May 2022 and wanted to check out a waterfront campground for our next adventure. We followed GPS directions accurately and landed at Asheville River Cabins.
Asheville River Cabins is in the middle of an overhaul. There appeared to be around 4 original, rentable cabins, while the rest were undergoing major porch additions etc. There also seems to be a second phase of cabins going up immediately behind the original cabins. They are brand new and it was not clear from signage if they belong to Asheville River Cabins or not.
This property is waterfront (French Broad River) and had water/electric at each RV site. It is a work in progress!
Lake Jocassee is knows as the Caribbean of SC for good reason! This lake is pristine - the blue-green, transparent water is gorgeous and nice and warm in September.
We are tent campers, so we skipped through the RV section and parked in the tent parking lot to go explore the sites. We were pleased with the first 4 sites that presented themselves to us as we walked - but as we continued exploring - we realized WOW, these sites are phenomenal!!
So a couple things to know: You will be walking to your campsite. If you are not thrilled with this idea, pick another park. It is a walk - but well worth it! The first few sites are larger than the rest - almost double sites, with more space between you and your neighbors and lots of trees for some privacy. The lakefront sites are pretty snuggled together - but they are LAKEFRONT! You can walk from your site - into the lake, by climbing down the rocks. As you lay in your hammock or tent, you can hear the water lapping on the shore - it is stunning! If you plan to arrive during daylight and get set up - you'll be fine. The steps are marked with yellow paint - but seeing in the dark can be challenging!
This park is very busy - and the line to get into the park can be at a standstill for hours. We came on Sunday afternoon - and the campsites were all booked! We were very disappointed - but the helpful ladies at the visitor center suggested another campground nearby. The visitor center also has a very clean bathroom and everything you could have possibly forgotten at home!! We will surely be back to this campground!
We were heading to Table Rock this past weekend to camp. As you pull in the gate, the entrance to the campground is just ahead on the left. We pulled up to the camp store and spoke to the woman inside. She was very friendly, gave us our sitemap and some general information about hours and we were on our way!
We pulled through the campsite - the first 8 or so sites on the right are VERY close together, flat and very average. As you pull into the loops though, the campsites spread out and are more private. A couple recommended sites would be # 52, as it was a bit larger than the other sites - and a bit more private - with a longer site. Another recommendation is site 13 - due to the large nature - a double site that backs up to the creek with a dry, shaded tent pad.
There are clean bathrooms, not great cell reception - but no worries! There is renovation happening here and sites are currently being updated and this campground will be even more beautiful when they are complete!
Pine Point Primitive Campground is found in SC and considered part of Table Rock State Park. A handful of sites are offered, each with a tent-pad, picnic table and firepit. Best of all the remote sites had FLAT tent pads, which always make for a better night sleep!
Pine Point Primitive Campground is found just past the visitor center. If you pull past the visitor center and the beginning of the lake, you should park towards the far end of the lot. You'll see the sign (shown below) and the trail immediately to the right.
We trekked down to check out available sites before selecting ours. The hike is an easy half mile, on a trail, with slight ups and downs. I don't recommend rolling anything down the trail (no stroller, wagon, etc.) but instead, be ready for a short walk. It is a reasonable distance, even without backpacking equipment and each site is well suited for primitive camping!
There are many trails around this area - both on this side of the road and the other side. Most popular hikes are to the summit of Table Rock but easier hikes can be found on this side of the highway also - and around the lake! This is a quieter option for basecamp while exploring this park!
Keowee Toxaway State Park Campground was not where we were headed - but due to overwhelming volume elsewhere - this is where we ended up!
This campground fills quickly, but on a Sunday afternoon, was the perfect timing to enjoy the beauty!
As you pull into the campground, the road splits - you follow the road to the right (one way) and drive through the RV sites. They are nice - your regular RV sites with hook ups. As you continue around the loop, you enter a new loop, the tent sites - and this was where we found solitude and nice level sites! There were many trees which made for good hammock hanging for our daughter and lots of dead kindling to start our fire!
The bathhouse was nice - and had HOT showers - which is always a plus. The bathhouse was not directly in our loop, but close enough it wasn't a big deal just to have one bathhouse for the campground. We also liked that they recycled. (not everyone does!)
I would not recommend this site on the weekends, due to the close nature of each campsite. As the pictures show - lots of the uninhabited sites were VERY close together, so if your neighbor was disruptive, you could be disappointed. Overall, really nice!
Sandy Creek Family Campground is located in Traphill, NC near Stone Mountain. This is a great overflow campground from Stone Mountain. In fact, you can even walk to the falls from this campground!
Sandy Creek Family Campground has both tent and RV sites. The tent sites on the tree line were our pick. Lots of shade on a big grassy field, with both a play set for the kids and a volleyball court. All sites had nice picnic tables (that we saw) and easily accessible water. The bathhouse was clean and well maintained. Extended family was staying in an RV site while we were there and they had some problems with their power staying on….
Sandy Creek Family Campground has one incredible site that has a firepit just feet from the creek! This site was taken while we were there - but we have it in mind for our next visit!
Stone Mountain was a new spot for our family this month! Just north of Wilkesboro NC, Stone Mountain is on the eastern side of the mountain range that we usually summit heading towards Jefferson and Boone.
As we pulled in to Stone Mountain, a huge afternoon thunderstorm was brewing, so we were happy to have a chance to set up rain free! This campground is huge - in fact there are 3 separate loops - each with their own personality and varying amenities. The visitor center was closed (due to Covid) but we drove through to find our perfect site. Take a ride around and decide for yourself, but for us - we surely picked the field sites - a bit of shade, while backing up to an enormous field (which had GREAT fireflies!)
The bathrooms and showers were clean (yes, hot water too!) Butterflies were abundant and we enjoyed our hike up Stone Mountain. Good to know - there is a service road just below the summit of Stone Mountain - so if you have a family member who cannot do a 5 mile hike - they can drive to the top and take about 200 steps to see the homestead instead of staying behind! We love this option for our parents!
Cedar Rock Campground is located near Traphill NC. We had hiked Stone Mountain and this is a great over-flow campground if Stone Mountain is full!
Cedar Rock is a quiet campground located within 15 minutes of Stone Mountain. The owner lives across the street - we actually pulled in his driveway first before finding the campground! He was very friendly and re-directed us across the street.
As we pulled in, the campground was clearly labeled and alcohol was clearly labeled not allowed. The campsites are right on the creek and a nice grassy hill is across from each site. The sites are reasonably spaced, but a bit close for our comfort.
The bathhouse was clean, trashcans were taken care of and tidy and this was one of the cleaner campsites we have been to. The kids loved the playground found in the middle of this campground. The babble of the brook was nice for sleeping and the field was great for rolling - the sites were a bit smaller than we like and the driveway was very close to each site. In a pinch, this campground works!
We attempted to visit Serenity Stables and Campgrounds while tubing on the Yadkin River this month. Serenity Stables and Campgrounds is not a campground. Please see attached pictures.
We stayed at Dusty Trails Outfitters (in Crumpler NC) last week and it was fantastic! He was recommended to us by a nearby campground and we were thrilled with our new riverfront go-to!
We met Dustin as he was packing up near his boat launch area. If you drive down Garvey Bridge road (past the bridge), you will easily see the shuttle bus labeled Dusty Trails Outfitters. Dustin rents out single canoes and kayaks, tubes and luxury fishing kayaks as well. We paid for our site and drove a few miles to get to a beautiful, spacious, quiet, remote campsite- our favorite kind!
As we pulled down the gravel road, we noticed each site had their own port-a-potty, hand washing station(with soap), campfire ring, picnic table and trash can. The port-a-potty was very clean- not even spiders inside! Dustin delivered our firewood to our site, did a quick once over to make sure everything was set and reminded us that we were in bear country and bears had been spotted on this road days earlier. As we unpacked, the only other group we could see over 150 feet away- at a site 2 away from ours. It was fantastic. We never heard them and could hardly see them through the brush that separates the campsites. The dogs were happy wandering around our site, the kids were happy playing in the babbling brook through our site and the river was GORGEOUS! Our site was both shaded and sunny- so if you were wet from river play, you could warm up and dry easily. Yet our tent was in the shade and we stayed nice and cool.
Aside from the great breeze off the river, the darkness with no artificial light and the size of our campsite- nothing could beat the fireflies. As darkness set in, the fireflies across the river began to light up, like festive lights. Not just a few hundred, but thousands of them, in the most amazing natural light show I have ever seen. This is our new solid go-to spot!!
Advice for this spot: Bring water(or a pump) - and camping chairs. The picnic table is perfect - but we like to sit around the fire and being so close to the river, the terrain is uneven as the area suffers from periodic flooding.
This is my ideal campsite - even with your own port-a-potty for social distancing! The firefly show and the sunrise over the river were breathtaking - I highly recommend it! (Please keep in mind all of these photos are JUST from our campsite :) It is that awesome!)
VanHoy Farms is a campground near Harmony NC, just off I-77. There were no tent campers while we were there (though it is available), but many RV sites, both seasonal and nightly available.
VanHoy Farms runs parallel to the highway, but with the large trees and brush, highway noise was not an issue (from the second loop). This was a dog-friendly campground for sure - several pups were running around without leashes on, but all with owners.
Great views of rolling green hills and the pool were added benefits! Several families were using the pool while we were there. We would like to come back for one of their music festivals - they have several scheduled.