All Rights Reserved. Riley Draper is a writer and entrepreneur from Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Appalachian Trail passes directly through the center of this national park, so it’s a perfect place to check out a section of this infamous through-hike. The primitive group sites offer a fantastic wilderness experience in this scenic state park. Outdoor 76 – Cherokee, NC Located just ¼ mile from the Cherokee entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Outdoor 76 is an outdoor shop serving everyone from weekend warriors to Appalachian Trail thru-hikers. Many people visit Cape Lookout National Seashore to see the iconic lighthouse. There are 55 different campsites with full utility hookups on top of cable TV and wireless internet, picnic tables, grills, and fire rings. Combining the calm of the salt marshes with the beautiful starry night sky, campers are spoiled for choice with the four campgrounds near the ocean. Tent and RV sites are available with flush toilets and potable water provided. One of the most popular areas to explore is Bear Island, a three-mile-long, undeveloped barrier island only accessible by the park’s passenger ferry or by paddling a canoe or kayak. With a breathtaking view of the Piedmont plateau, campers will find tent and trailer campgrounds and cabins for those who prefer a more glamping-type experience. RV Rentals in North Carolina Plan your next adventure. It’s the largest national forest in NC at more than 500 thousand acres. It’s one of the most diverse landscapes you’ll come across in the United States. This stone mountain state park also offers some fantastic rock climbing opportunities. Stretching across 12 miles, here you’ll find rock formations, canyon walls, and the beautiful Linville Falls waterfalls. The summit trail is only 10 minutes from the car park but is fairly steep. If you’re looking for a real backpacking experience out in nature, then the remote Linville Gorge is the place to go. Mount Pisgah Campground is located in the Pisgah region of the Blue Park Ridgeway, which covers the final 139-mile stretch of this iconic road. Providing a unique way to experience the barrier islands, here you can get an up close and personal look at the plants, wildlife, and natural landscapes. The Fort Fisher State Recreation Area offers even more fishing opportunities nearby. As a world traveler, he has been to more than fifty countries and hiked some of the most elusive trails in the world. This state has an impressive 41 state parks, 10 national parks, and 4 national forests. There are several historic villages to explore, and a 163-foot lighthouse constructed more than 100 years ago. passes directly through the center of this national park, so it’s a perfect place to check out a section of this infamous through-hike. There are 20 walk-in campsites along the shoreline of the Catawba River, offering a stunning view over the water when you wake in the morning. Carolina Beach State Park is a popular 761-acre park, where you’ll find easy access to some of the state’s best fishing spots. Considered an angler’s paradise, Pettigrew State Park is the home of the famous Lake Phelps, a 16,600-acre lake where fishing is king. Here’s our top 7 North Carolina campground picks: Blue Ridge Parkway. A large sandy beach makes for wonderful relaxation when the weather allows, and 8 hiking trails are newly established around the park. More than 500 thousand acres of hardwood forests, whitewater rivers, towering peaks, and crashing waterfalls make up this prime adventure destination. Lake James is nestled in a valley at the base of Linville Gorge, a stunning part of the Appalachian Mountains. Nantahala is the name of the deepest gorge in the park, and translates to, “Land of the noonday sun.” In this deep cut valley, the sun can only reach the forest floor at midday due to the huge surrounding mountains. Image Source: goodsamclub.com. If you’re looking for a real backpacking experience out in nature, then the remote Linville Gorge is the... Mount Pisgah Campground. From beachside camping to pitching a tent sky high in the mountains, here are some of the best places to go camping in North Carolina. We particularly like Linville Gorge, a stunning valley in the middle of this National Forest with excellent tent camping options. The highest peak east of the Mississippi, Mount Mitchell is one of the state’s most beautiful places to pitch a tent. Blue Bear Mountain also offers luxury Tepee and Cabin rentals to provide you with more choices of how to experience your mountain getaway. Campers Share Their 9 Favorite Places to Camp in North Carolina North Carolina has over 320 miles of coastline and nearly 40 peaks over 6,000 feet, including Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Rocky Mountains, and the uber-popular Chimney Rock State Park. Considered one of the state’s rarest ecological communities, Merchants Millpond State Park is home to a coastal pond and swamp forest. Considered one of the greatest geological mysteries in the country, Jones Lake State Park is home to the phenomenon of the Carolina bays. Hiking is the most popular activity by far, as on foot you can see many of the park highlights. Maybe you're chasing a sunrise over sprawling mountains or waking up lakeside and paddling out over a glassy lake. The perfect place to go swimming, birding, windsurfing and shelling, camping is also a favorite pastime here, as this is a place that you can truly get away from it all. 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