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A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Public land camping

Camping in North Carolina

69 federal places to camp in North Carolina, from Forest Service, National Park Service and Army Corps of Engineers, on the land they sit on.

69
federal places to camp
37 Forest Service, 27 National Park Service, 5 Army Corps of Engineers
2,636
campsites you can book ahead
At the 61 places that take reservations on Recreation.gov. The rest are first come or not listed there
5,310 ft
the highest you can drive to
Balsam Mountain Campground
23
counties with federal camping
47 gateway towns, each with three or more within 30 miles

The North Carolina campground map

Select a pin for its elevation, its sites and its page. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see how you get there, and use the finder for a campground, a town or a peak.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Camping near a town

Every federal campground in North Carolina

69 places

  1. Arrowhead Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Montgomery County 571 ftelevation 49sites 45 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  2. Art Lilley Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Montgomery County 853 ftelevation n/asites n/alongest rig First comeor not listed
  3. Badin Lake Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Montgomery County 528 ftelevation 34sites 40 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  4. Badin Lake Group Camp group campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Montgomery County 589 ftelevation 3sites n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  5. Balsam Lake Lodge cabin or lookout Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Jackson County 3,654 ftelevation 1site n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  6. Balsam Mountain Campground Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Swain County 5,310 ftelevation 43sites 24 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  7. Balsam Mt. Campground Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Swain County 5,359 ftelevation n/asites n/alongest rig First comeor not listed
  8. Bandits Roost Army Corps · W. Kerr Scott Dam · Wilkes County 1,113 ftelevation 103sites 77 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  9. Big Creek Campground (Great Smoky Mountains National Park) Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Haywood County 1,700 ftelevation 12sites 18 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  10. Big Creek Group Camp group campground Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Haywood County 1,694 ftelevation 1site n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  11. Big Creek Horse Camp horse camp Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Haywood County 1,676 ftelevation 5sites 35 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  12. Black Mountain Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Yancey County 3,040 ftelevation 37sites n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  13. Boone Fork Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Caldwell County 1,319 ftelevation n/asites n/alongest rig First comeor not listed
  14. Briar Bottom Group Campground group campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Yancey County 3,040 ftelevation 6sites n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  15. Canebrake Horse Camp horse camp Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Montgomery County 469 ftelevation 28sites 75 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  16. Cape Point Campground Park Service · Cape Hatteras National Seashore n/aelevation 200sites 50 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  17. Carolina Hemlocks Rec Area Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Yancey County 2,900 ftelevation 35sites 35 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  18. Cataloochee Campground Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Haywood County 2,627 ftelevation 27sites 34 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  19. Cataloochee Group Camp group campground Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Haywood County 2,540 ftelevation 3sites n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  20. Cataloochee Horse Camp horse camp Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Haywood County 2,773 ftelevation 7sites 30 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  21. Cedar Point Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Carteret County 15 ftelevation 38sites 75 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  22. Cheoah Point Cabin 1 cabin or lookout Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Swain County 3,894 ftelevation 1site 22 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  23. Cheoah Point Cabin 2 cabin or lookout Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Swain County 3,894 ftelevation 1site 22 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  24. Cheoah Point Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Graham County 1,760 ftelevation 23sites 40 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  25. Cove Creek Lower Group Camp group campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Transylvania County 2,966 ftelevation 1site 35 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  26. Cove Creek Upper Group Camp group campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Transylvania County 2,966 ftelevation 1site 35 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  27. Crosswinds Campgrounds Army Corps · B. Everett Jordan Lake · Chatham County 247 ftelevation n/asites n/alongest rig First comeor not listed
  28. Curtis Creek Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · McDowell County 1,729 ftelevation 24sites n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  29. Davidson River Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Transylvania County 2,150 ftelevation 132sites 67 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  30. Deep Creek Campground Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Swain County 1,866 ftelevation 92sites n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  31. Deep Creek Campground Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Swain County n/aelevation n/asites n/alongest rig First comeor not listed
  32. Deep Creek Group Camp group campground Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Swain County 1,820 ftelevation 3sites n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  33. Doughton Park Campground Park Service · Blue Ridge Parkway · Alleghany County 3,626 ftelevation 122sites 50 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  34. Flanners Beach Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Craven County 29 ftelevation 39sites 80 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  35. Fort Hamby Park Army Corps · W. Kerr Scott Dam · Wilkes County 1,181 ftelevation 33sites 80 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  36. Frisco Campground Park Service · Cape Hatteras National Seashore · Dare County 9 ftelevation 124sites 49 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  37. Great Island Cabin Camp cabin or lookout Park Service · Cape Lookout National Seashore · Carteret County 3 ftelevation 23sites 35 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  38. Harmon Den Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Haywood County 2,895 ftelevation 22sites 30 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  39. Jackrabbit Mountain Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Clay County 1,860 ftelevation 92sites 80 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  40. Julian Price Campground Park Service · Blue Ridge Parkway · Watauga County 3,365 ftelevation 192sites 79 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  41. Kuykendall Group Camp group campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Transylvania County 2,331 ftelevation 1site 30 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  42. Lake Powhatan Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Buncombe County 2,253 ftelevation 71sites 50 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  43. Lake Powhatan Glamping cabin or lookout Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Buncombe County 2,253 ftelevation 12sites 26 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  44. Linville Falls Campground Park Service · Blue Ridge Parkway · Burke County 3,226 ftelevation 64sites 50 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  45. Long Point Cabin Camp cabin or lookout Park Service · Cape Lookout National Seashore · Carteret County 6 ftelevation 20sites 35 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  46. Mortimer Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Caldwell County 1,504 ftelevation 17sites n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  47. Mount Pisgah Campground Park Service · Blue Ridge Parkway · Transylvania County 4,940 ftelevation 126sites 80 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  48. North Core Banks - Beach Camping Park Service · Cape Lookout National Seashore · Carteret County 4 ftelevation n/asites n/alongest rig First comeor not listed
  49. North Mills River Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Henderson County 2,225 ftelevation 25sites 35 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  50. Ocracoke Campground Park Service · Cape Hatteras National Seashore · Hyde County 5 ftelevation 135sites 48 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  51. Oregon Inlet Campground Park Service · Cape Hatteras National Seashore · Dare County 6 ftelevation 242sites 47 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  52. Oyster Point Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Carteret County 11 ftelevation 15sites n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  53. Rattler Ford Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Graham County 2,178 ftelevation n/asites n/alongest rig First comeor not listed
  54. Rattler Ford Group Campground group campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Graham County 2,076 ftelevation 4sites 30 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  55. Rocky Bluff Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Madison County 1,753 ftelevation 17sites 55 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  56. Round Bottom Horse Camp horse camp Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Swain County 3,060 ftelevation 5sites 35 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  57. Smokemont Campground Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Swain County 2,204 ftelevation 142sites 40 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  58. Smokemont Group Camp group campground Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Swain County 2,222 ftelevation 3sites n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  59. South Core Banks, Beach camping Park Service · Cape Lookout National Seashore · Carteret County 3 ftelevation n/asites n/alongest rig First comeor not listed
  60. Standing Indian Campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Macon County 3,382 ftelevation 81sites 50 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  61. Sunburst Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Haywood County 3,240 ftelevation 9sites n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  62. Swan Cabin Group Camp cabin or lookout Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Graham County 4,477 ftelevation 1site 30 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  63. Tow String Horse Camp horse camp Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Swain County 2,133 ftelevation 3sites 35 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  64. Van Hook Glade Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Macon County n/aelevation 10sites 36 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  65. W. Kerr Scott Visitor Assistance Center Conference Room Army Corps · W. Kerr Scott Dam · Wilkes County 1,087 ftelevation n/asites n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  66. Warrior Creek Army Corps · W. Kerr Scott Dam · Wilkes County 1,077 ftelevation 63sites 80 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  67. Wash Creek Horse Camp group campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Henderson County 2,454 ftelevation 1site n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  68. White Pine South Group Camp group campground Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Transylvania County 2,600 ftelevation 1site n/alongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov
  69. Wolf Ford Horse Camp horse camp Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Transylvania County 3,298 ftelevation 11sites 50 ftlongest rig ReserveRecreation.gov

Camping rules worth knowing in North Carolina

On the Pisgah Ranger District, dispersed camping means designated camping
Forest Order 08-11-07-23-163 prohibits camping in any area not shown as a designated campsite on the order’s map, within 1,000 feet of a road open to public vehicle travel, across the Pisgah Ranger District in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Transylvania counties. In practice that turns the most visited district in the state into a numbered-site system for anyone camping from a vehicle. Graveyard Fields carries its own restriction on top of that. Source 19
Some of the best-known places are closed to camping outright
Max Patch, the grassy bald on the Tennessee line in the Harmon Den area, prohibits camping and fires, closes an hour after sundown and reopens an hour before sunrise, and bans horses and pack animals along with aircraft and drones. Camping is prohibited within 300 feet of the Cherohala Skyway. On the Nantahala Ranger District there are camping restrictions within 500 feet of the Wayehutta parking area and around Wayah Bald, Whiteside Mountain and Whitewater Falls. None of this is discretionary, and all of it is posted before you reach the ground. Source 20

The full guide to overlanding North Carolina

By agency

By county

Campground records: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), read September 19, 2026. Elevations: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Fees, seasons and limits change; confirm with the managing office before you go.

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