Places I've camped, paid campgrounds as well as free dispersed campsites.
My reviews of nearly every place I’ve camped with tips, features, and directions to each. So far I’ve only visited places in the southeastern United States. North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida. However, the list is constantly growing as I continue to travel around.
23 Places • 9 Saves • ago
Free
Gorges State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
This park features hiking trails, waterfalls, and an off-roading trail that leads to a beautiful dispersed campsite next to a river. It’s 6 miles from the parking lot to the campsite. September through December they open up the gate at the bridge so you can drive several more miles and the trail gets more technical. Any stock 4x4 can make it to the bridge. Four-wheel-drive is required. No fee for dispersed camping. 1st come 1st served. No designated sites. Some trash in the woods at the river. I’ve never stayed on the weekend but I assume it would be busier then. I always go early mid week when no one’s there. I’m not sure how many miles it is on the hiking trail to the waterfall. I would recommend it for experienced hikers, although I’ve seen families with young children do it. They close the 4wd road for maintenance in January. Check before going to make sure it’s open in Winter. They also have a new RV campground, although I haven’t stayed at it. This is a great option for vans and car campers.
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Pinnacle Trailhead and Parking
@mygracefilledjourney
Have camped on Old NC 105 numerous times. Several free dispersed campsites along the approx 15 mile rough gravel rd. 4wd not required. Most recently camped at the site .4 miles south of this hiking trail. Quiet, clean, mostly level. Suitable for tents, small rvs, rooftop tents.
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Upper Creek
@mygracefilledjourney
Several dispersed campsites are available on FR 982. I've spent a few nights here without any problems. Most sites are next to a noisy stream with clear water.
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Fs 475b Road
@mygracefilledjourney
I've camped on this road a couple times. Most recently June 2022. It features a nice waterfall and approx 6 designated dispersed campsites. They are free but camping is only allowed at the designated sites, although there is evidence people have made several makeshift campsites. These are mostly for ground tents. Must park very close to the road, making it not a great option for car camping. I drove around an open barrier at a site and camped 2 nights. The 2nd night I was politely asked by a ranger to remove my vehicle from the tent area.
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Brown Mountain OHV Trail System
@mygracefilledjourney
I've camped here a couple of times in 2022. There are about 5 dispersed campsites on the gravel road leading to the OHV trails. 4wd is not required to access these sites. A vault toilet is centrally located between the sites. There are pads for ground tents but I slept in my rooftop tent and had room to spare in the area I had to park. There's also a nice swimming hole next to the campsites. The 4wd trails here are nice but primarily cater to dirt bikes and sxs. There's only 2 Jeep trails but for the $5 cost of the trail pass they're fun, if you're in the area. Like most places, weekends are crowded and noisy.
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Tsali Campground, US Forest Service, Cheoah Ranger District
@mygracefilledjourney
Nice paid campground beside the bike trails ($20). No hookups but can accommodate small RVs. Clean bathhouse.
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Lake Norman State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
I camped at this paid campground in June of 2022. Very clean, safe, newly renovated. Highly recommended for tents, rvs, cabin rentals. Great mtn biking trails and even a swim beach.
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Stone Mountain State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
I camped here in June of 2022. Nice quiet campground with tent sites, as well as sites with RV hookups. The hiking trail features a waterfall and a nice mountain view.
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Carolina Beach State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
My favorite campground near any NC beach. It's not on the ocean but it's close. Tucked away in a pine forest it's peaceful and a nice change if you've been on the beach all day. Stays full so book in advance. 4x4s are allowed on a couple beaches nearby for a fee.
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Santos Campground
@mygracefilledjourney
I've stayed here every winter for the last few years. Small and usually full if you don't book in advance. Clean bathhouse. Directly beside the mtb trails so very convenient. Love the trails! Side note, the bike shop across from the campground got me back on the trail in a couple hours when my shift cable broke. Highly recommended and they rent E-mtb's.
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Lake Manatee State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
I've camped here in the winter for the past 2 years. Great weather, clean safe campground. Looking forward to going again this coming January.
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Horse Creek Campground
@mygracefilledjourney
There's a small fee campground here but it was full when I checked it out. It's 1st come 1st served. There's a 4wd trail just past the campground in the park with several shallow stream crossings. There was evidence others have been primitive camping on this trail although I'm not sure if it's technically allowed or not. I chose not to stay the night but it's a nice trail that any stock 4x4 can tackle. I passed others on the trail who seemed friendly. Several side by sides passed me at one point so this appears to be a popular trail frequented by locals.
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Horse Pasture Road
@mygracefilledjourney
Nice mostly smooth gravel road. Approximately 26 miles out and back. Terminates at Lake Jocassee, a great place to swim or fish. Great views along the way. 15mph speed limit. No camping allowed near lake but a few dispersed designated sites are located throughout the road. I did this on a Wednesday in September and only saw about 10 other vehicles. I’m sure it’s very popular on weekends and portions are only 1 lane wide. Check to make sure it’s open before you go. I passed through several open gates but I don’t know if they close them for parts of the year.
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Grayson Highlands State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
Great hiking trails with views, even some wild ponies. There’s tent camping if you backpack in for a couple miles. There’s also an RV park that I did not stay in since I only visited here for the day.
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Noccalula Falls Park & Campground
@mygracefilledjourney
Nice campground with full hookups for RV’s and free Wi-Fi. Tons of singletrack mountain biking trails. Hiking trails along the gorge to the base of Noccalula Falls. Swimming pool in season. Sites are right on top of each other with no privacy. Not a great place for tent camping. Highly recommended for RV’s and vans.
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Little Gassaway Creek
@mygracefilledjourney
Nice easy to access roadside dispersed campsite in eastern Tennessee. There’s a small campground at the start of the road but it’s usually booked on weekends if you don’t already have reservations. Take the fork to the left when the road turns to gravel. Two miles on the left is this campsite. Not a level spot on it so be prepared for that. Nothing designating it as a campsite other than a rock fire ring. Room for two or three vehicles. I camped for two nights in a 24’ RV. I don’t recommend anyone else in a RV attempt this. Road is narrow, rocky, bumpy, dusty, with steep drop offs. There are other sites past this one I’m sure. I went about another mile and didn’t come across one though. At that point I turned around. Best for Jeeps, trucks, or vans. I had a good AT&T cell signal here. No water source. There’s a hiking trail about one mile back down the road but I didn’t hike it.
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Jackrabbit Recreation Area, Tusquitee Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest
@mygracefilledjourney
Nice campground, room for RV’s under 30’. A great option for tent camping with level gravel tent pads with picnic tables and fire rings. No hookups but they have bathhouses, and an RV dump station on the way out. When I visited reservations could only be made online, there’s no office or camp host. Lots of sites in 3 different loops. Many are right on Lake Chatuge. Really nice MTN biking trails accessible right from the campground. Beginner and advanced loop trails that change direction depending on the day of the week so make sure you pay attention to signage. Highly recommended, safe, great for families. Fishing, swimming, and kayaking are options here. Easily accessible right off the main hwy.
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Smokemont Campground
@mygracefilledjourney
Good option if you’re visiting Cherokee. I’ve definitely been to better campgrounds but for 1 night passing through town it worked for me. Sites are right on top of each other. I stayed in an RV so all the RV’s around me were running generators a lot during the day. Quiet hours are 8P-8A. There are no hook up’s, no showers, only bathrooms. Usually very crowded but people are friendly. Just don’t expect a backcountry experience here. Pluses are: they have a nice walking trail over the creek and through the forest, and they have an RV dump station on the way out. I had no cell service here, which could be a positive thing for some of you. But overall it’s a clean, safe campground, at an affordable price.
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Courthouse Falls
@mygracefilledjourney
This is not the exact location of this dispersed campsite but it’s the only designated site on this road and it’s before you get to the Courthouse Falls trailhead on the left. It’s a large level roadside campsite next to the river. I stayed here 3 years ago and just checked it out again today 11/22. Both times were during the week in colder weather so no one else was around. If you’re in the area it’s worth checking out although like all other dispersed sites around here it’s 1st come 1st served. The next best option is a site on Forest Road 475b. ** I went back by this road 12/22 and the gate at the start of the road was closed. I don’t know what determines if they close the gate or not. Just be prepared that it may not be open when you come.
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Lazy J Campground
@mygracefilledjourney
I stayed here for 1 month. The price was the most reasonable I found in the area. It’s clean, safe, and has a peaceful river running through the campground. The majority of the RV sites are occupied by permanent residents but all seemed friendly. They have several tent sites along the river but only rent them out during warmer parts of the year. I never used the bathhouse so I can’t comment on that. If you’re staying monthly you have to pay for how ever much electricity you use. The only cons I have are it can be a little muddy after a rain, the exiting driveway from the camping area has large overgrown bushes that brushed the sides of my wide RV, and they don’t have a dumpster. Everyone just puts their bagged garbage into barrels without lids until management hauls it off. So enevitibly the wind and animals end up spreading it around. Other than that my stay here was fine and I would return if I needed a site with full hookups. Otherwise I’d choose one of the numerous dispersed campsites in the area.
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Hanging Rock State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
Nice state park to camp at. Around $26 per night. No services for RVs here although some sites can fit smaller units. This is mainly for car/ tent camping. Stays full on the weekends. Sites must be reserved online. Bathhouses are closed mid December- mid March with only an outhouse available during winter. Numerous hiking trails, mountain biking trails, a kayak put in/ take out on the Dan River. The Dan River Co can shuttle you for a small fee. The park has a lake for swimming (fee) and fishing. Great views, clean, friendly staff, everything I’ve come to expect at North Carolina’s state parks.
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Uwharrie National Forest
@mygracefilledjourney
Looking for a place to explore some challenging 4x4 trails in North Carolina? This is it! The Uwharrie National Forest features miles of trails with varying levels of difficulty. They’re open to any 4wd vehicle, dirt bike, and atv’s/ sxs’s. A daily use or season pass is required and can be obtained at any of the local gas stations. Most people buy theirs at the Eldorado Outpost. They even offer free air when you’re done for the day and need to air back up. Camping is allowed anywhere on the trails without reservations or fees. Just find a wide spot to pull off and make yourself at home. The trails are not directional and are open 24/7. The OHV trails are seasonal so you can only ride them April 1st- Dec 15th. Stock 4x4’s can access some of the trails, but you’ll have a better experience if you at least have a small lift and a minimum of 33” tires. At the time of this review a daily pass is $5 and a season pass is $30.
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Yellow Gap Road
@mygracefilledjourney
Yellow Gap Rd (aka #1206). This road was closed for a couple years but is back open now (2023). It features several free dispersed campsites, 1st come 1st served. Sites are designed primarily for tents as parking is only by the road edge. Vans and car campers can still be used here, there just isn’t a lot of room in the parking areas. No facilities of any kind. This is a through road that runs between the North Mills River Recreation Area and Hwy 276. Lots of mountain bikers ride this road. It has a fairly smooth gravel surface and any car can access it. If you can’t find a site available on this road there are several other gravel forest service roads in this area with similar campsites.
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CURATED BY
Hello friends, I’m Justin. I’m a wanderer, adventure seeker, and an avid outdoorsman who's grateful to my creator for giving me the ability to pursue my passions, and for showing me grace when I totally blow it. If you've found any value in the information I've posted please consider leaving a small tip. I would be most grateful as it would help to fund the journey. Have a blessed day!
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Places I've camped, paid campgrounds as well as free dispersed campsites.
My reviews of nearly every place I’ve camped with tips, features, and directions to each. So far I’ve only visited places in the southeastern United States. North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida. However, the list is constantly growing as I continue to travel around.
23 Places • 9 Saves • ago
Free
Gorges State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
This park features hiking trails, waterfalls, and an off-roading trail that leads to a beautiful dispersed campsite next to a river. It’s 6 miles from the parking lot to the campsite. September through December they open up the gate at the bridge so you can drive several more miles and the trail gets more technical. Any stock 4x4 can make it to the bridge. Four-wheel-drive is required. No fee for dispersed camping. 1st come 1st served. No designated sites. Some trash in the woods at the river. I’ve never stayed on the weekend but I assume it would be busier then. I always go early mid week when no one’s there. I’m not sure how many miles it is on the hiking trail to the waterfall. I would recommend it for experienced hikers, although I’ve seen families with young children do it. They close the 4wd road for maintenance in January. Check before going to make sure it’s open in Winter. They also have a new RV campground, although I haven’t stayed at it. This is a great option for vans and car campers.
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Pinnacle Trailhead and Parking
@mygracefilledjourney
Have camped on Old NC 105 numerous times. Several free dispersed campsites along the approx 15 mile rough gravel rd. 4wd not required. Most recently camped at the site .4 miles south of this hiking trail. Quiet, clean, mostly level. Suitable for tents, small rvs, rooftop tents.
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Upper Creek
@mygracefilledjourney
Several dispersed campsites are available on FR 982. I've spent a few nights here without any problems. Most sites are next to a noisy stream with clear water.
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Fs 475b Road
@mygracefilledjourney
I've camped on this road a couple times. Most recently June 2022. It features a nice waterfall and approx 6 designated dispersed campsites. They are free but camping is only allowed at the designated sites, although there is evidence people have made several makeshift campsites. These are mostly for ground tents. Must park very close to the road, making it not a great option for car camping. I drove around an open barrier at a site and camped 2 nights. The 2nd night I was politely asked by a ranger to remove my vehicle from the tent area.
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Brown Mountain OHV Trail System
@mygracefilledjourney
I've camped here a couple of times in 2022. There are about 5 dispersed campsites on the gravel road leading to the OHV trails. 4wd is not required to access these sites. A vault toilet is centrally located between the sites. There are pads for ground tents but I slept in my rooftop tent and had room to spare in the area I had to park. There's also a nice swimming hole next to the campsites. The 4wd trails here are nice but primarily cater to dirt bikes and sxs. There's only 2 Jeep trails but for the $5 cost of the trail pass they're fun, if you're in the area. Like most places, weekends are crowded and noisy.
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Tsali Campground, US Forest Service, Cheoah Ranger District
@mygracefilledjourney
Nice paid campground beside the bike trails ($20). No hookups but can accommodate small RVs. Clean bathhouse.
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Lake Norman State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
I camped at this paid campground in June of 2022. Very clean, safe, newly renovated. Highly recommended for tents, rvs, cabin rentals. Great mtn biking trails and even a swim beach.
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Stone Mountain State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
I camped here in June of 2022. Nice quiet campground with tent sites, as well as sites with RV hookups. The hiking trail features a waterfall and a nice mountain view.
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Carolina Beach State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
My favorite campground near any NC beach. It's not on the ocean but it's close. Tucked away in a pine forest it's peaceful and a nice change if you've been on the beach all day. Stays full so book in advance. 4x4s are allowed on a couple beaches nearby for a fee.
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Santos Campground
@mygracefilledjourney
I've stayed here every winter for the last few years. Small and usually full if you don't book in advance. Clean bathhouse. Directly beside the mtb trails so very convenient. Love the trails! Side note, the bike shop across from the campground got me back on the trail in a couple hours when my shift cable broke. Highly recommended and they rent E-mtb's.
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Lake Manatee State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
I've camped here in the winter for the past 2 years. Great weather, clean safe campground. Looking forward to going again this coming January.
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Horse Creek Campground
@mygracefilledjourney
There's a small fee campground here but it was full when I checked it out. It's 1st come 1st served. There's a 4wd trail just past the campground in the park with several shallow stream crossings. There was evidence others have been primitive camping on this trail although I'm not sure if it's technically allowed or not. I chose not to stay the night but it's a nice trail that any stock 4x4 can tackle. I passed others on the trail who seemed friendly. Several side by sides passed me at one point so this appears to be a popular trail frequented by locals.
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Horse Pasture Road
@mygracefilledjourney
Nice mostly smooth gravel road. Approximately 26 miles out and back. Terminates at Lake Jocassee, a great place to swim or fish. Great views along the way. 15mph speed limit. No camping allowed near lake but a few dispersed designated sites are located throughout the road. I did this on a Wednesday in September and only saw about 10 other vehicles. I’m sure it’s very popular on weekends and portions are only 1 lane wide. Check to make sure it’s open before you go. I passed through several open gates but I don’t know if they close them for parts of the year.
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Grayson Highlands State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
Great hiking trails with views, even some wild ponies. There’s tent camping if you backpack in for a couple miles. There’s also an RV park that I did not stay in since I only visited here for the day.
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Noccalula Falls Park & Campground
@mygracefilledjourney
Nice campground with full hookups for RV’s and free Wi-Fi. Tons of singletrack mountain biking trails. Hiking trails along the gorge to the base of Noccalula Falls. Swimming pool in season. Sites are right on top of each other with no privacy. Not a great place for tent camping. Highly recommended for RV’s and vans.
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Little Gassaway Creek
@mygracefilledjourney
Nice easy to access roadside dispersed campsite in eastern Tennessee. There’s a small campground at the start of the road but it’s usually booked on weekends if you don’t already have reservations. Take the fork to the left when the road turns to gravel. Two miles on the left is this campsite. Not a level spot on it so be prepared for that. Nothing designating it as a campsite other than a rock fire ring. Room for two or three vehicles. I camped for two nights in a 24’ RV. I don’t recommend anyone else in a RV attempt this. Road is narrow, rocky, bumpy, dusty, with steep drop offs. There are other sites past this one I’m sure. I went about another mile and didn’t come across one though. At that point I turned around. Best for Jeeps, trucks, or vans. I had a good AT&T cell signal here. No water source. There’s a hiking trail about one mile back down the road but I didn’t hike it.
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Jackrabbit Recreation Area, Tusquitee Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest
@mygracefilledjourney
Nice campground, room for RV’s under 30’. A great option for tent camping with level gravel tent pads with picnic tables and fire rings. No hookups but they have bathhouses, and an RV dump station on the way out. When I visited reservations could only be made online, there’s no office or camp host. Lots of sites in 3 different loops. Many are right on Lake Chatuge. Really nice MTN biking trails accessible right from the campground. Beginner and advanced loop trails that change direction depending on the day of the week so make sure you pay attention to signage. Highly recommended, safe, great for families. Fishing, swimming, and kayaking are options here. Easily accessible right off the main hwy.
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Smokemont Campground
@mygracefilledjourney
Good option if you’re visiting Cherokee. I’ve definitely been to better campgrounds but for 1 night passing through town it worked for me. Sites are right on top of each other. I stayed in an RV so all the RV’s around me were running generators a lot during the day. Quiet hours are 8P-8A. There are no hook up’s, no showers, only bathrooms. Usually very crowded but people are friendly. Just don’t expect a backcountry experience here. Pluses are: they have a nice walking trail over the creek and through the forest, and they have an RV dump station on the way out. I had no cell service here, which could be a positive thing for some of you. But overall it’s a clean, safe campground, at an affordable price.
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Courthouse Falls
@mygracefilledjourney
This is not the exact location of this dispersed campsite but it’s the only designated site on this road and it’s before you get to the Courthouse Falls trailhead on the left. It’s a large level roadside campsite next to the river. I stayed here 3 years ago and just checked it out again today 11/22. Both times were during the week in colder weather so no one else was around. If you’re in the area it’s worth checking out although like all other dispersed sites around here it’s 1st come 1st served. The next best option is a site on Forest Road 475b. ** I went back by this road 12/22 and the gate at the start of the road was closed. I don’t know what determines if they close the gate or not. Just be prepared that it may not be open when you come.
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Lazy J Campground
@mygracefilledjourney
I stayed here for 1 month. The price was the most reasonable I found in the area. It’s clean, safe, and has a peaceful river running through the campground. The majority of the RV sites are occupied by permanent residents but all seemed friendly. They have several tent sites along the river but only rent them out during warmer parts of the year. I never used the bathhouse so I can’t comment on that. If you’re staying monthly you have to pay for how ever much electricity you use. The only cons I have are it can be a little muddy after a rain, the exiting driveway from the camping area has large overgrown bushes that brushed the sides of my wide RV, and they don’t have a dumpster. Everyone just puts their bagged garbage into barrels without lids until management hauls it off. So enevitibly the wind and animals end up spreading it around. Other than that my stay here was fine and I would return if I needed a site with full hookups. Otherwise I’d choose one of the numerous dispersed campsites in the area.
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Hanging Rock State Park
@mygracefilledjourney
Nice state park to camp at. Around $26 per night. No services for RVs here although some sites can fit smaller units. This is mainly for car/ tent camping. Stays full on the weekends. Sites must be reserved online. Bathhouses are closed mid December- mid March with only an outhouse available during winter. Numerous hiking trails, mountain biking trails, a kayak put in/ take out on the Dan River. The Dan River Co can shuttle you for a small fee. The park has a lake for swimming (fee) and fishing. Great views, clean, friendly staff, everything I’ve come to expect at North Carolina’s state parks.
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Uwharrie National Forest
@mygracefilledjourney
Looking for a place to explore some challenging 4x4 trails in North Carolina? This is it! The Uwharrie National Forest features miles of trails with varying levels of difficulty. They’re open to any 4wd vehicle, dirt bike, and atv’s/ sxs’s. A daily use or season pass is required and can be obtained at any of the local gas stations. Most people buy theirs at the Eldorado Outpost. They even offer free air when you’re done for the day and need to air back up. Camping is allowed anywhere on the trails without reservations or fees. Just find a wide spot to pull off and make yourself at home. The trails are not directional and are open 24/7. The OHV trails are seasonal so you can only ride them April 1st- Dec 15th. Stock 4x4’s can access some of the trails, but you’ll have a better experience if you at least have a small lift and a minimum of 33” tires. At the time of this review a daily pass is $5 and a season pass is $30.
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Yellow Gap Road
@mygracefilledjourney
Yellow Gap Rd (aka #1206). This road was closed for a couple years but is back open now (2023). It features several free dispersed campsites, 1st come 1st served. Sites are designed primarily for tents as parking is only by the road edge. Vans and car campers can still be used here, there just isn’t a lot of room in the parking areas. No facilities of any kind. This is a through road that runs between the North Mills River Recreation Area and Hwy 276. Lots of mountain bikers ride this road. It has a fairly smooth gravel surface and any car can access it. If you can’t find a site available on this road there are several other gravel forest service roads in this area with similar campsites.
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CURATED BY
Hello friends, I’m Justin. I’m a wanderer, adventure seeker, and an avid outdoorsman who's grateful to my creator for giving me the ability to pursue my passions, and for showing me grace when I totally blow it. If you've found any value in the information I've posted please consider leaving a small tip. I would be most grateful as it would help to fund the journey. Have a blessed day!
Send A Tip
Support My Grace Filled Journey’s work.
Select your tip amount
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$10
$20
$50
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