North Carolina is home to some of the best family campgrounds in the country. If you have kids, then you know that finding a place where they can run free and enjoy themselves while still being close enough to your campsite for an easy morning or afternoon trip back is key. Luckily, there are many options available to you all throughout North Carolina.
In this blog post, we will list out 10 of our favorite family campgrounds in North Carolina so that you can find one that fits your needs perfectly!
Blue Bear Mountain Camp
Blue Bear Mountain Camp is located in Todd, NC, and offers lots of activities for the whole family. This campground has a playground that is perfect for kids to enjoy themselves while having access to plenty of other fun stuff such as fishing on their pond or hiking alongside the Appalachian Trail.
Some of the facilities on-site include a pavilion, game room, and other great amenities. The best time to visit this campground is during the summer because they have a wonderful swimming pool and plenty of activities for kids to enjoy.
Hickory Nut Falls Family Campground
Hickory Nut Falls Family Campground is located in Chimney Rock, NC and has been rated the #19 family campgrounds in North Carolina.
This campsite offers a lot of amenities such as an outdoor theater with nightly movies, picnic pavilions that are perfect for families to enjoy their meals outdoors without having to worry about weather conditions or bugs, and a playground that is perfect for kids to burn off some energy.
The best time of year to visit this campground would be during the summer because they have many activities set up such as fishing on their pond or hiking along trails in the area.
Stone Mountain State Park – Roaring Gap, NC
Stone Mountain State Park is located in Roaring Gap, NC, and offers a wide variety of activities for families to enjoy.
Some of the amenities they have include an on-site swimming pool that has lifeguards present at all times, a playground with fun equipment and plenty of space available for kids to run around, courts where you can play some games or just shoot around, and other great amenities such as a pavilion and game room.
The best time to visit this campground is during the summer because they have lots of activities available for kids like fishing on their pond or swimming in their pool.
Dan Nicholas Park
Dan Nicholas Park, located in Salisbury NC on the Neuse River, is a great family campground. The location of this park makes it perfect for those who are looking to swim or fish because you will be able to have access to both from your campsite. There are also many different activities such as hiking and golfing that can be done right from the campground itself.
Dan Nicholas Park has a variety of different campsites to offer including those for RV’s, camping, and tenting. They also have a playground with an awesome jungle gym that is perfect for kids of all ages!
Hanging Rock State Park – Danbury, NC
Hanging Rock State Park is home to a beautiful waterfall and 800 acres of forests, streams, and fields for you or your family to explore.
The park has all the amenities that you would expect at any campground; including campsites with water and electricity hookups, primitive tent sites (with fire rings), picnic tables, grills, restrooms with showers, and a dumping station.
Danbury is about an hour from the Raleigh-Durham area. This campground offers many activities for your family to enjoy during their stay such as hiking trails, fishing, swimming in either the lake or pool (seasonal), wildlife viewing by way of nature walks or game drives; there is something for everyone here!
We recommend Hanging Rock State Park if you are looking to enjoy nature and want access to amenities at your campsite, Danbury is about an hour from Raleigh-Durham.
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Apex, NC
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is an excellent choice for many reasons. Firstly, Jordan Lake has tons of land to explore and enjoy so that your kids stay busy all day long!
Secondly, the lake itself provides fun opportunities for fishing or swimming in addition to all of the other outdoor activities at this campground. Lastly, they have camping sites available as well as RV hookups for those who prefer to camp in their own home on wheels!
Apex, NC is less than two hours from the Raleigh-Durham airport and about three hours from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. It’s also within a few miles of Durham, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Burlington, and Randleman so it’s a perfect destination for Raleigh-Durham travelers or those with a little more of an adventure planned.
Located near the town of Apex, Jordan Lake has 108 campsites available to RVs and tents alike spread out across two camping loops (Loop A & Loop B). The campground is open year-round so you can enjoy it in any season!
If you are looking for that perfect campground with tons of activities and amenities, then Jordan Lake is the place for your family!
Cape Lookout National Seashore – Harkers Island
This is a coastal camping destination that offers an array of activities and natural beauty. You can enjoy three miles of biking trails, hiking on pristine beaches or through old-growth forests, fishing in the surf or off the pier, swimming at guarded beach coves, playing golf at one of two courses (resort-style and nine-hole), taking in the view from the lighthouse, and more!
Harkers Island is a small island in North Carolina that offers some of the best coastal camping.
French Broad Paddle Trail, NC, camping
The French Broad Paddle Trail is a well-known area for families to camp. It’s designated as an “Outdoor Heritage Site” and offers many opportunities for outdoor activities.
There are three different types of campsites available: primitive sites (no hookups), moderate sites with water/electricity, or premium sites with water/electricity and a bathhouse.
An advantage of this campground is that it’s located along the French Broad River, meaning you can enjoy all the great fishing or canoeing opportunities while also camping close by! The best time to visit is during the summer when it’s warm and there are fewer bugs.
PANTHERTOWN VALLEY, NC, Camping
Pathertown Valley is a small campground that offers many activities for your family to enjoy during their stay. You can hike up the mountain or through nature trails with views of lakes and streams, fish in some of North Carolina’s best fishing spots (such as Lake James), take part in water sports at nearby Catfish Creek or enjoy a day at the beach. This campground also offers RV hookups for those with their own home on wheels!
Pathertown Valley is just outside of Morganton and not far from Lake James, giving you lots to explore in your time there. The camping ground has some campsites available that include water/electricity and provides access to the lake, as well. The best time for this camping destination is during the summer when there are fewer bugs!
Conclusion
There are so many great family campgrounds in North Carolina, all with unique features that will make your trip successful! Regardless of where you decide to go, we hope this list has helped narrow down some options for you. Happy camping everyone!