Camping Sites in North Carolina State Parks

Now that the weather is warming up, camping is a great way to relax, spend time with family, friends and enjoy the simple pace of outdoor living. Whether you choose to hike, kayak, canoe or just sit peacefully and enjoy nature, camping is a great way to enjoy the best that nature has to offer.

Being a native North Carolinian, here is my top 5 camping sites in North Carolina state parks, 5 great camping tips and 5 essential camping items that saved me time, money and aggravation.

Top 5 camping sites in North Carolina (NC) State Parks:

#5 – Carolina Beach State Park – 1010 State Park Road, PO Box 475, Carolina Beach, NC  28428 Tel: 910.458.8206

“With a marina providing access to some of North Carolina’s best fishing spots, a secluded camping area beneath towering tress, and miles of hiking trails that traverse a variety of distinct habitats – not to mention the presence of the Venus flytrap, one of the world’s most unique carnivorous plants—it’s not wonder it’s one of my favorite camping sites in NC state parks."

Camping Facilities:
Family Camping: Pine and oak provide shade for 83 campsites, including two wheelchair-accessible sites. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and grill. Drinking water and restrooms with hot showers are located nearby. Hookups are not provided for recreational vehicles, but a dump station is available.

Group Camping: Two camping areas for organized groups are located along Swamp Trail and are available by advance reservation only. One site accommodates up to 25 people; the other accommodates up to 35 people. These areas include picnic tables, fire circles and pit toilets. Water and shower facilities are not available. This area is accessible by foot only. The camping area is approximately 400 yards from the parking area.

On-Site Activities: Boating, Educational events, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking and Visitor Center

#4 – Lake Norman State Park

With Hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, interpretive programs and campgrounds, there’s more to Lake Norman State Park than merely water.

Camping Facilities:
Family Tent/Trailer Camping: Tent pads, picnic tables and grills are available at 33 sites. Occupancy is limited to one family or six people per site. Park gates are locked at the posted closing hours. Campers may not leave the park after closing or before 8 a.m. except in an emergency. The Family Campground is open from March 15th through November 30th.

Group Tent Camping: No more than 25 people are permitted on each site. Drinking water and restrooms are available nearby; picnic tables and a fire ring are provided at each site. The Group Campground is open from April through November.

On-Site Activities: Fishing, Educational events, Community Building, Hiking, Biking, Picnicking, and Swimming.

#3 - Jones Lake State Park: 4117 Hwy 242 N, Elizabethtown, NC  28337 Tel: 910.588.4550

"Venture to Jones Lake State Park and view one of the greatest geological mysteries of the eastern United States—the phenomenon of the Carolina bays.  Peaceful surroundings and a variety of facilities including a trail with several outlooks that circles Jones Lake making this one of my top 5 camping sites in NC State Parks. "

Camping Facilities:
Camping: Jones Lake State Park has 20 campsites for family camping. Each wooded site is equipped with a picnic table and grill. Drinking water and restrooms with showers are located nearby. One site has electrical and water hookups and is available for both tents and recreational vehicles. However, the park does not offer a dump station for recreational vehicles.

Group camping: is available for organized groups. The site includes a fire circle and grill, picnic tables, benches and a pit toilet. Drinking water and restrooms with showers are located nearby. The site is available by reservation only. No more than 35 people can occupy the site.

On-Site Activities: Boating, Educational events, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking and Swimming.

#2 - Jordan Lake State Recreation Area: 280 State Park Road, Apex, NC 27523 Tel: 919.362.0586

Camping Facilities:
Camping: Pitch your tent or park your recreational vehicle at one of more than 1,000 family campsites.

Hike-in camping: For those who prefer a more primitive campsite, New Hope Overlook offers 24 campsites nestled in the woods. These sites range from 100 yards to a half mile from the parking lot. Each site has a picnic table, grill and lantern holder. Toilets and drinking water are provided nearby.

Group tent camping: Two areas offer sections for camping clubs and other groups. Parkers Creek has six campsites available for group tent camping. Vista Point also offers five group tent campsites. Drinking water and showers are located nearby.

Group RV camping: Vista Point offers 50 campsites for group RV camping. All sites contain water and electric hookups. Although these sites are open year-round, water to the sites is turned off in the winter. Showers, restrooms, trash containers and a dump station are conveniently located.

On-Site Activities: Bald Eagle Watching, Boating, Educational events, Exhibit Hall, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking and Swimming.

Accessible Activities: Person with disabilities will find access to a wide range of recreational facilities , including picnic shelters, swim beaches, campsites, and courtesy docks.

#2 - Pettigrew State Park: 2252 Lake Shore Road, Creswell, NC  27928  Tel: 252.797.4475

"Explore Lake Phelps and examine dugout canoes as ancient as the pyramids. Or cast your line into crystal-clear waters where largemouth bass reign. Take a trip trip in time at the grave of a great Confederate general. Or hug a tree as wide an elephant. Paddle down one of North Carolina's last undeveloped rivers.
With more than 1,300 acres of land around Lake Phelps and more than 4,000 acres along the Scuppernong Rive, with an additional 16,600 acres of water, Pettigrew State Park is an ideal blend of nature, history and recreation. "

Camping Facilities:
Family camping: Thirteen campsites, each with a picnic table and grill, are well-suited for tents and trailers.
The edge of a cypress/sweetgum forest furnishes a shaded area for some of the campsites while others are located in an open, grassy meadow. Water and restrooms with showers are nearby.

Group camping: Located in the midst of a beautiful forest, primitive camping facilities include tent pads, grills and toilets. Water is located nearby.

On-Site Activities: Biking, Boating, Educational events, Fishing, Picnicking, and Hiking Trails.

#1 - South Mountains State Park – 3001 South Mountain Park Avenue, Connelly Springs, NC  28612 Tel: 828.433.4772

“From equestrian camping to trout fishing, mountain biking to picnicking, a number of activities are available at South Mountains State Park. Visit one of the state’s most rugged parks. Hike the trail to High Shoals Falls to witness the roar of the waterfall as it pit pours into a large pool. Backpack through the woodlands for primitive camping. Fish for trout in miles of mountain streams, or bicycle along the 17-mile mountain-bike loop”.

Camping Facilities:
Camping: Sink gratefully into your sleeping bag after a day of hiking at South Mountains and fall asleep in the stillness of the forest.

Backpack camping: Twenty backpack camping sites are offered in six areas of the park. These sites are designated on the park map, and hiking distances to each backpack camping site vary. Each camping area has a pit toilet located nearby.

All supplies, including water, must be packed to the sites. To drink water from nearby creeks and streams, use a filtration device or boil the water for at least five minutes.

Family camping: Primitive family camping is available a half mile east of the Jacob Fork parking area. Eleven campsites include a picnic table and fire circle, and one site is wheelchair accessible. Pit toilets and drinking water are located nearby. When you arrive in the campground, set up in an unoccupied site.

Group camping: Group camping facilities are available in some backpack areas.

Equestrian camping: The equestrian camping area adjacent to the horse trailer parking area consists of 15 campsites, a 33-stall barn (nine stalls are 5'x10' and 23 stalls are 10'10) and a washhouse with hot showers and flush toilets. Campers without reservations must confirm site availability with park staff before occupying a site. Only campers with horses can stay at the equestrian campsites. Proof of a negative equine infectious anemia (Coggins) test is required for horses using the barn.

On-Site Activities: Educational events, Fishing, Picnicking, Trails

 
5 Extremely Useful Camping Tips

#5 - If you have exposed to poison ivy, wash up immediate with soap and cool water. Tecnu helps cleans, remove, and minimize the spread of the oil. Remove exposed contaminated clothes, if the oil is still present you can spread the unwanted itch.

 #4 - Purifying Your Drinking Water: It is very important to carry at least 2 - 3 quarts of water per person. However carrying gallons and gallons of water can become cumbersome and extremely heavy. With a portable water purification like the Katadyn Vario or Kayadyn Hiker Pro, you will never run low on clean filtered drinkable water. Or the families of 4 or more, I highly recommend the Katadyn Base Camp, just fill, hang and drink.

 #3 - Use baking soda to rid your clothes and hands of cooking odors, so the bears won't smell food on you.

#2 - Waterproof your wooden matches by dipping them in melted parafin wax.

#1 - Keep your tent zipped at all times to stop bugs from getting in. Always dress in layers.

 

 5  Essential Camping Must-Haves that saved me time, money and aggravation

# 5 - Campground Shower: The size, temperature, water pressure and the cleanliness are all common complaints shared by many campers about the campground shower facilities. I highly recommend the Seattle Sport Camp Shower. Five gallon capacity equals 8 minutes of nonstop shower time. Push-pull valve on hose is easy to use, allowing you to turn water quickly.

#4 – Leatherman New Wave Multi-Tool: This thing has everything! From a can opener, scissors, Philips screwdriver, pliers, just to name a few. Extremely durable.

#3 – LED Shake Flashlight: Shake for 1 minute and you’ll get 30 minutes of continuous bright light and the best part about this flashlight, NO BATTERIES. Never worry about being stuck out in the dark again. The Shake LED Flashlight is even waterproof, making it perfect for outdoor activities.

#2 - Lightnin’ Fire Starters: Perfect for fire-starting. They burn easily for up to 7 minutes. Unlimited shelf life makes them great for campfires, barbeques and fireplaces.

#1 – 12 Watt Portable Solar Energy Kit: Providing power wherever and whenever, the 12 Watt Portable Solar Energy kit, can operate a variety of electronics such as laptops, TVs, air-pumps, cells for hours. The really cool part, is I was able to show my kids how to use a solar panel.

 

Hopefully, I was able to share some great information! Happy Camping!

 

Karen