Envision your ideal camping spot. Whether a lake, ocean, or mountain landscape comes to mind, North Carolina has a campsite for you. Here are 10 scenic places to go camping in North Carolina.
Soaring through the trees with The Gorge Zipline Canopy Tour | @ Shawndra Russell
Linville Gorge
The stunning Linville Gorge has so many vantage points worthy of hiking to, and your home base can basically be wherever you want because backcountry camping is allowed anywhere that’s 100 feet from the road and 50 feet from the trail. Choose a spot along either rim and hike in during the day before returning to your scenic spot at night.
Atop the tallest peak in North Carolina, campers can enjoy the amazing sunrises and sunsets that strike out against an infinite horizon from over 6,000 feet up. An official campground has nine sites, but backpackers can scope out their preferred view. Stay at the full-service restaurant and lodge that sits at the very top to take a night off campfire cooking.
One of the many perks of camping at Mount Pisgah certainly has to be the drive into the park. The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway has been dubbed “America’s Favorite Drive,” and it winds to the Mount Pisgah Campground. Everyone should see this area in the fall and spring, as this extremely biodiverse region of the country becomes alight with rich leaves and bright flowers.
Hanging Rock has five waterfalls and a campground with a lake and bathhouse, making it a great destination to visit during warmer months. Groups of six or more can grab one of five primitive spots, and boats can be rented to explore the park’s 12-acre lake.
Easily one of the most unique places to camp in North Carolina, Merchants Millpond State Park has often been described as an “enchanted forest.” Although technically a swampland, the combination of aquatic plants and gnarled trees makes this much more magical than spooky. Fall asleep to the sound of frogs and keep your eyes peeled for the 200 species of birds that call this millpond park home. Canoe camping sites make for an extra special experience.
Lake James has a way of making you feel like the whole lake is yours in certain corners. Yet, the park has a rental kiosk for kayaks and canoes, plus two boat ramps and nearby marinas to play on the water. Camp right on the shoreline for walk-in sites, head to the Paddy’s Creek area for drive-in sites, or paddle to 30 sites on the Long Arm Peninsula section of Lake James.
Only four campsites exist on this wild stretch of the Outer Banks, so a camping trip here feels like stepping back to the beginning of time. You can avoid seeing another soul in this remote location. Renting jeeps is the most popular activity to explore the 70 miles of pristine coastline. Plus, the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – the second tallest in the world of its kind – and cars allowed on the beach make everything about this location extra special.
Like Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout is one of only 10 protection historic seashores in America. These remote beaches have zero amenities, so be prepared to bring everything you need for your stay, including water. Fires must be kept below the water line, but the extra effort is worth the serenity. Plus, water temperatures here can get especially warm, up to 80 degrees in the summer, making this quite a magical place to swim even when the sun goes down.
Go here for great fishing and to see the unique Venus flytrap as you camp underneath huge trees in this 761-acre park. Six miles of sandy hiking trails lead to 83 camping sites, while on-site hot showers and drinking water make this an easy adventure. Plus, Wilmington is only 13 miles away, with plenty of breweries, restaurants and activities if you need a break from tent life.
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