Campgrounds in Western North Carolina
On this page, you’ll find our recommendations for campgrounds that are suitable for the camper van you are renting.
All of these campgrounds are a short drive from Asheville. We believe they feature some of the best sights, adventures and experiences available in the “828.” We have camped at all of the campgrounds that we include on this page.
We tend to camp in state parks and national forests. We enjoy the outdoor adventures, natural beauty, private and spacious campsites – and lower prices. Western North Carolina has many private and resort style campgrounds too.
We give a campground synopsis to help you decide where to pitch camp in your van. We have highlighted some adventures we think are worthwhile and that we wouldn’t want you to miss.
We recommend Pisgah Map Company and Nat Geo maps to accompany you. They are waterproof, tear-proof and you wont get lost if you use them properly. You can purchase the maps at Blue Ridge Hiking Company or any outdoor retail store. You can also hire a hiking guide at BlueRidgeHikingCo.com. Phone service can be spotty in WNC, so we often carry a Garmin InReach satellite communicator. Pro tip: If you are out hiking and can’t get a signal on your cell phone, head for the high ridges, where you’ll often eke out a bar or two of service.
It’s a good idea to reserve campsites in advance online at recreation.gov. If you’re over 62 years old, don’t forget to apply for an America The Beautiful Senior Pass for discounted campsites.
We invite you to follow and tag us @my828life; hashtag your adventures #my828life. Enjoy!
By the way, we have our own campground, of sorts. It’s called Bearwallow Moon. Check out our website for more details.
Bearwallow Moon
Camp in your camper van (or ours) or in our vintage trailer. Enjoy views of Bearwallow and Little Pisgah on our old farmland near Asheville. Situated in beautiful Cane Creek Valley.
Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cades Cove is on the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in the northwest of the park. From Asheville, it’s about a 3- to 4-hour drive, especially in winter when you have to drive around the park. Route 441 through the park between Cherokee and Gatlinburg is often closed in winter due to snow and ice.
Smokemont, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Smokemont has a lot of great hikes right from your site. Bradley fork joins the Oconaluftee River here. Sometimes in winter, the main road through the park, as well as the adjoining southern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway, is closed due to snow and ice. This is a great opportunity to road bike or run without any vehicle traffic. For technical mountain biking, check out Cherokee’s Fire Mountain.
Winter Camping In Western North Carolina
Nature turns ice into fascinating sculptures. Waterfalls are brimming. Bluebird days illuminate the forests and mountain summits. Sunsets seem even more rich and colorful. The golden hour casts its magic and hypnotizes, putting the observer in a trance of gratitude.
Davidson River Campground
Located right on the Davidson River at the entrance of Pisgah National Forest Ranger District in Brevard. Situated in Transylvania County (known as the “Land of the Water Falls”), this campground is a 15 minute drive from Brevard, 45 minutes from Asheville or 30 minutes from Hendersonville. Weather permitting you can ride your bike on the Greenway to and from downtown Brevard. The Greenway passes Oscar Blues Brewery and Taproom, where you’ll also find a food truck. In Brevard, you’ll also find Ecusta Brewing Co, Brevard Brewing and Upcountry Brewing.
Curtis Creek Campground
Curtis Creek campground is in Pisgah National Forest at the base of the Blue Ridge Parkway below Snooks Nose and Green Knob. It is just outside Old Fort along Curtis Creek. This is Bear Sanctuary in NC Game-lands. This historic area, is the first tract of National Forest land in America.
Mount Pisgah Campground
Located within Pisgah National Forest, Mount Pisgah Campground is 20 miles south of Asheville, on the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 408.8, across from Pisgah Inn. At nearly 5,000 feet above sea level, you won’t need air conditioning here.
Black Mountain Campground
Located in the Appalachian Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest, 50 miles from Asheville. This campground sits at the base of Mt. Mitchell, the tallest
Julian Price Campground
Julian Price Campground is located at Milepost 297 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is part of the scenic Julian price Memorial Park featuring 4,300
North Mills River Recreation Area Campground
Located 30 minutes from Asheville, this campground is in Pisgah National Forest. Bath houses have hot showers. Standard sites; only one is full hook up
Van Hook Glade Campground
Between Franklin and Highlands, NC, Van Hook Glade Campground proved to be better that we had expected, with a few surprises.
Lake Powhatan Campground
One of our favorite campgrounds, Lake Powhatan Campground is only 15 minutes from our home in Asheville, North Carolina. Lake Powhatan and the Bent Creek Experimental Forest feature more than 100 miles of hiking and biking trails, along with the North Carolina Arboretum and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
CHECK PRICING & AVAILABILITY
2020 Boldt
Luxury Drive. This Winnebago build on a Mercedes chassis is the cream of the Class B crop. With outstanding comfort for both driving and camping, a well-appointed kitchen, and a full bathroom, you’ll find this compact RV meets all your needs – with serious style!
Enjoy 12,800 watt-hours of clean, quiet power with the lithium based Pure3 Advanced Energy System. This system eliminates the need for shore-power or a generator, giving you plenty of power no matter where you’re camping.
The two twin beds can be expanded for queen-sized comfort. Captain’s chairs up front swivel to face the back when camping. The awning deploys or retracts with one button.
Bearwallow Moon
Camp in your camper van (or ours) or in our vintage trailer. Enjoy views of Bearwallow and Little Pisgah on our old farmland near Asheville. Situated in beautiful Cane Creek Valley.
Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cades Cove is on the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in the northwest of the park. From Asheville, it’s about a 3- to 4-hour drive, especially in winter when you have to drive around the park. Route 441 through the park between Cherokee and Gatlinburg is often closed in winter due to snow and ice.
Smokemont, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Smokemont has a lot of great hikes right from your site. Bradley fork joins the Oconaluftee River here. Sometimes in winter, the main road through the park, as well as the adjoining southern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway, is closed due to snow and ice. This is a great opportunity to road bike or run without any vehicle traffic. For technical mountain biking, check out Cherokee’s Fire Mountain.
Winter Camping In Western North Carolina
Nature turns ice into fascinating sculptures. Waterfalls are brimming. Bluebird days illuminate the forests and mountain summits. Sunsets seem even more rich and colorful. The golden hour casts its magic and hypnotizes, putting the observer in a trance of gratitude.
Davidson River Campground
Located right on the Davidson River at the entrance of Pisgah National Forest Ranger District in Brevard. Situated in Transylvania County (known as the “Land of the Water Falls”), this campground is a 15 minute drive from Brevard, 45 minutes from Asheville or 30 minutes from Hendersonville. Weather permitting you can ride your bike on the Greenway to and from downtown Brevard. The Greenway passes Oscar Blues Brewery and Taproom, where you’ll also find a food truck. In Brevard, you’ll also find Ecusta Brewing Co, Brevard Brewing and Upcountry Brewing.
Curtis Creek Campground
Curtis Creek campground is in Pisgah National Forest at the base of the Blue Ridge Parkway below Snooks Nose and Green Knob. It is just outside Old Fort along Curtis Creek. This is Bear Sanctuary in NC Game-lands. This historic area, is the first tract of National Forest land in America.