National Park Camping In North Carolina

Carolina Outdoors Guide – Parks & Forests – Camping – Hiking – Adventures

National Park Camping in North Carolina

Several National Parks in North Carolina operate family campgrounds for tents and RVs or offer primitive tent camping. Parks and campgrounds have various maximum consecutive-night stays.

Discounts on fees charged at national parks and other federal recreation lands are available with a Senior Annual Pass, a Senior Lifetime Pass (age 62 or older) or an Access Pass for those those who are blind or permanently disabled.

The federal government, through its Recreation.gov site provides online reservations and information about campgrounds in North Carolina national parks and forests. They are linked individually below and on the National Forests Camping page.

After destructive storms, check at the links below to make sure sites are open.

National Park Campground Links

Updated July 2025.

Camping at National Parks in North Carolina includes opportunities at:

Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Trail Map
There are more than 250 wooden shelters plus designated campsites and dispersed camping located along the trail spaced about a day’s hike from each other. Spots are generally available on a first-come, first-served basis. Shelters in heavy-use areas, such as Great Smoky Mountains National Park, require a permit. Campsites, consisting of a cleared space, water source and possibly a privy, are often near shelters. Some may have tent platforms. Some in heavily used areas may charge a fee, usually $8 or less, to support local clubs that maintain them.

Blue Ridge Parkway
Park Map

Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds are closed for the 2025 season due to Hurricane Helene damage and ongoing road maintenance and construction projects. Information below about individual campgrounds may be outdated.

Camping is allowed at developed campgrounds along the Parkway for tent and RVs (up to 30 feet) and in specified backcountry campgrounds.

Developed campgrounds have restrooms, drinking water, RV dump stations and at least one wheelchair-accessible campsite, plus ranger programs and access to hiking trails. Each campsite has a table and fire ring. The Mount Pisgah campground has showers. They typically open in early May and close at the end of October. Reservations are available for about 40 percent of sites; others are first come, first served.

Standard campsites are $30 per night.

– Crabtree Falls, aka Crabtree Meadows (MP 339.5 – locator map, campground map) 71 tents, 22 RVs. Campground is on the Crabtree Falls waterfall hike.
– Doughton Park (MP 241.1 – locator map, campground map) 110 tent sites, 20 RVs, fishing, camping supplies, telephone. Group camping for up to 20 people per site, $45 per night. Extensive trail system, with hiking opportunities ranging from a short hike at Fodder Stack Trail to the strenuous 7.5 mile Bluff Mountain Trail.
– Julian Price Park (MP 297 – locator map, campground map) 129 tents, 68 RVs, showers, fishing, telephone. Parkway’s largest campground. Click on the photo for more information.
– Linville Falls (MP 316.3 – locator map, campground map) 50 tents, 20 RVs, fishing, visitors center. (828) 765-7818. Group camping for up to 20 people per site, $45 per night.
– Mount Pisgah (MP 408.6 – locator map, campground map) 66 tents, 61 RVs, showers, camping supplies, telephone. Parkway’s highest campground (elev. aprox. 5,000 ft.). The Pisgah Inn, which has a restaurant, small store and laundromat, is adjacent to the campground.

Backcountry camping is permitted only at designated sites and requires a permit from recreation.gov. Camping is available year-round but limited to three consecutive nights. The two backcountry campgrounds in North Carolina are:

– Basin Cove near Doughton Park (MP 239.2). Seven sites for up to six people each have fire rings, lantern posts and food storage boxes. $15 per night.
– Johns River Road near Julian Price Park (MP 296.9). Two sites for up to six people each have fire rings. $15 per night.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Park Map
Cape Hatteras has four campgrounds for tents and RVs up to 35 feet long. All campgrounds have modern restrooms and potable water. Oregon Inlet Campground has heated showers; Frisco, Cape Point and Ocracoke have unheated showers. Oregon Inlet Campground also has electricity and water at 47 campsites. The other three campgrounds do not have utility connections as of 2025.

Campgrounds are separated from the beach by barrier dunes. Three are on level ground; Frisco is among the sand dunes. Soil is sandy, so extra-long tent stakes are recommended, as are mosquito repellent and netting. Camping is not permitted on the beach.

Up to six people and two vehicles may occupy a single campsite. Check-out time is noon.

Campgrounds open the second Friday in April. They close the Monday after the last weekend in November. Reservations are available at Ocracoke and are required with two weeks’ notice for groups at Oregon Inlet; elsewhere is first come, first served. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, camping is limited to a total of 14 days within a 30-day period.

– Cape Point Campground, near Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Historic District. 202 sites, 49 tent only. $20.
– Frisco Campground, west of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse near the village of Frisco. 127 sites, 10 RV only, 3 tent only. $28.
– Ocracoke Campground, on Ocracoke Island east of the village of Ocracoke (accessible by ferry or private boat or airplane). 135 sites. $28. Click on the photo at right above for more information.
– Oregon Inlet Campground, near Oregon Inlet Fishing Center and Bodie Island Lighthouse. 107 campsites, 30 tent only, 47 with electricty, 1 group site for seven to 30 people. $28, $35 with hookups; group site $70.

Cape Lookout National Seashore
Park Map
Primitive camping is allowed on 50+ miles of beaches at North Core Banks, South Core Banks and Shackleford Banks. There are no designated sites and no utility hookups. Car camping (vehicle and tent), campers, trailers, etc., are allowed on North and South Core Banks. Only tent camping is allowed on Shackleford Banks.

Tents, campers, etc., must stay at least 100 feet from wells, shade shelters, bulletin boards, parking lots, docks, restrooms or other structures and at least 100 yards from any cabin or house. Permits are not generally required for camping, but overnight groups of 25 or more are required to obtain a Special Use Permit. All camping is limited to 14 consecutive days.

Vehicles must be kept on the oceanside beach seaward of the primary dunes, not between or on top of dunes. Tents should have insect netting, be designed to withstand strong winds and be anchored with foot-long stakes.

North Core Banks has restrooms and shower facilities are available seasonally. A dump station is located in the former Long Point cabin area.

South Core Banks has restrooms, public showers, and drinking water available seasonally. Dump stations are in the Great Island and near the point of the cape.

Shackleford Banks has restrooms open seasonally at Wade Shore. Water is not available on the island.

Rental cabins on Cape Lookout are open from mid-March to late-November, and reservations open in early January at recreation.gov and 877-444-6777 (TDD: 877-833-6777). Walk-up reservations may be made between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Cabin Office when cabins are available. Check-in time is 2 p.m.; check out is noon.

Great Island Cabin Camp on South Core Banks has 23 cabins that each sleep from four to 12 people. Cabin 2 is handicap accessible. Each cabin has a hot water heater, private bath with shower, table and chairs, and a kitchen with a propane oven/stove (propane is provided). All cabins are wired for generators (under 5,500 watts), which users must supply. Some have screened porches. Visitors need to bring linens, bedding, cookware, coolers and other camping gear. Rates run from $80 to $180 per night, depending on cabin size. Reserve online through recreation.gov or phone (252) 725-0256.

Long Point Cabins are not available for the 2025 season due to damage from Hurricane Dorian (September 2019). Information below may be outdated
Long Point Cabins on North Core Banks are 20 cabins that are each about 500 square feet and sleep six in bunk beds. Each has a hot water heater, private bath, individual propane heating system, lighting fixtures, a combination sleeping-eating area with ceiling fans, table, chairs, a kitchen with cabinets and an oven/stove combination. Visitors need to bring linens, bedding and cookware. Rates run from $84 to $145, depending on season and cabin size. Reserve online through recreation.gov or phone (252) 732-4574.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
GSMNP has 10 developed, or “frontcountry,” campgrounds, five of which are in North Carolina. Campgrounds have restrooms with cold running water, but no showers or electricity or water hookups. Campsites have a fire grate and picnic table. Up to six people are allowed per campsite.

Group tent camping, where allowed, requires reservations and a minimum party size of seven. Maximum stay is 14 nights. Phone (877) 444-6777 or use the links below to register online.

Permits are required for backcountry camping and are free at most ranger stations and visitors centers. All backcountry shelters and some backcountry campsites require reservations. Your permit will designate the shelter or campsite you may stay in each night. Phone (865) 436-1297 for information, (865) 436-1231 for reservations.

Big Creek and Cataloochee campgrounds have drive-in horse campsites, which must be reserved at (800) 365-2267 or online. Round Bottom and Tow String are dedicated horse camps.

Backcountry camping is permitted year-round, but seasons for other campgrounds vary. During summer and fall, sites at Smokemont and Cataloochee must be reserved at (877) 444-6777 or at recreation.gov. Otherwise, first come, first served for single sites.

Standard campsites are $30 per night as of the 2025 season. Front country campground map.

Frontcountry campers parked at their designated campsite will not be required to have a parking tag. If parked elsewhere in the park, a parking tag is required.

– Balsam Mountain Campground, off Blue Ridge Parkway at MP 458.2 (locator map, campground map). 43 sites, 19 tent only.
– Big Creek Campground, off I-40 at exit 451 in Tennessee (locator map, campground map). 12 tent sites, no RVs. $17.50/night. One group site for up to 25 people at $50/night. Horse camping, $29/site paid upon reservation.
– Cataloochee Campground, off I-40 at exit 20 (locator map, campground map). 27 tent and RV sites. Three group sites for up to 25 people each, $50. Horse camping, seven sites for up to six people and four horses each, $30.
– Deep Creek Campground, north of Bryson City (locator map). 92 sites, 60 tent only, 42 walk-in sites. Three group sites for up to 20 people each (one handicap accessible), $50.
– Smokemont Campground, north of Cherokee (locator map, campground map). 142 sites, 44 RV only. Three group sites for up to 20 people, $50.
– Round Bottom Horse Camp, north of Cherokee (locator map). Five sites for up to six people and four horses. Pit/vault toilet, fire ring, horse stalls, picnic tables. $30.
– Tow String Horse Camp, north of Cherokee (locator map). Three sites for up to six people and four horses. Pit/vault toilet, fire ring, horse stalls, picnic tables. $30.