Best Camping in North Carolina

Camping in North Carolina

North Carolina is home to serene beach landscapes and magnificent mountain ranges. Adventurers of all types can expect to create a memorable camping experience in North Carolina.

See a map of all camping in North Carolina.

North Carolina State Parks

North Carolina State Parks offer recreation areas for daytime activities and places to camp at night.

Carolina Beach State Park is the perfect destination if you want to experience the coast. This park has 69 camping sites with limited facilities. There are also ten campsites with full hookups, which include water, electricity, and sewer. If you feel like glamping, there are four camper cabins with heat and air-conditioning.

If you’re looking for more adventure while camping in North Carolina State Parks, try the Hanging Rock State Park. You’ll find breathtaking mountain drops, waterfalls, and over 20 miles of trails for hiking and mountain-bike riding.

Or, visit Mount Mitchell State Park and check out the highest summit east of the Mississippi River!

North Carolina’s 34 State Parks have a combined powerhouse of over 3,000 campsites. They offer tent and RV sites, primitive camping, backpacking, and paddle-in sites. If you enjoy camping with your horse, two state parks offer equestrian sites (Medoc Mountain and South Mountains).

See all North Carolina State Parks.

North Carolina National Parks

Camping in North Carolina may take you to one of its three national parks:

• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Cape Hatteras National Seashore
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park

You’ll find park campgrounds with varying levels of amenities at each of these parks. If you visit Cape Hatteras National Seashore, only a limited amount of campsites are accessible by vehicle. You will need a boat or ferry to trek out to the outer locations!

North Carolina RV Parks

There are no shortages of RV Parks in North Carolina! These popular camping options have varying amenities, with some RV parks only offer water and electricity, while other RV Parks have full hook-ups and may even have high-speed wifi available to "rent" by the day!

RV Parks are privately run and not a part of the state or national park system. Most RV Parks will not permit tent camping.

Learn more about North Carolina RV Parks.

Free Camping in North Carolina

Dispersed camping or boondocking is a popular way to camp for free in national forests. Be sure to filter by free when searching the North Carolina map on Campendium. Some stores with large parking lots sometimes allow overnight RV parking. Be sure to check with store management or security before settling in for the night.

Learn more about Free Camping in North Carolina.

North Carolina National Forests

North Carolina’s National Forests attract visitors looking to hike, explore, or experience an adrenaline rush!

The Nantahala National Forest is known for white-water rafting, and the Uwharrie National Forest is a favorite for ATV enthusiasts.

If you’re looking for less adrenaline, visit the Croatan National Forest or the Pisgah National Forest. At the Croatan National Forest, you can enjoy hiking in a coastal pine forest. Pisgah National Forest is known for its waterfalls and serene mountain hikes.

There are many designated camping areas for you to enjoy camping in the National Forests in North Carolina.