National Forests in North Carolina
Forest Service3,026,237 acres · USDA Forest Service
Can you sleep here
Dispersed camping is generally allowed
On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.
Stay limit14 days in most forests — the exact limit is set per forest and district
In an RVDispersed sites are unimproved: no hookups, no water, no dump station, and access roads are often unsurfaced. Designated wilderness inside the unit is closed to all vehicles.
Rule36 CFR 261.58 — occupancy and use, set by forest order
Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page
- Area
- 4,728 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 42
- Longest rig
- 85 ft
Where the land is, and what fits
The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.
Map loads as you scroll
Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 42 campgrounds shown
42 of 42 campgrounds
- Appletree Group CampgroundApril 1 - October 31 · Reservations accepted
- Arrowhead Campgroundto 45 ft · 49 sites · Electric · Pull-throughYear round · Reservations accepted
- Art Lilley CampgroundApril 1 – December 15 · First-come, first-served
- Badin Horse Camp or Old Horse CampYear round · First-come, first-served
- Badin Lake Campgroundto 40 ft · 34 sites · Pull-throughYear round · Reservations accepted
- Badin Lake Group Camp3 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Black Mountain Campground41 sites · Electric · Pull-throughApril 15 – Oct 30 · Reservations accepted
- Blue Valley Dispersed CampingYear round · First-come, first-served
- Briar Bottom Group Campground6 sitesApril 14 – Oct 30
- Bristol Fields Horse CampSeason not published
- Canebrake Horse Campto 85 ft · 28 sites · Electric · Pull-throughYear round · Reservations accepted
- Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Areato 35 ft · 39 sites · Electric · Pull-throughApril 15th – October 30th · Reservations accepted
- Cedar Point Campgroundto 75 ft · 40 sites · Electric · Pull-throughYear round · First-come, first-served
- Cheoah Point Recreation Areato 40 ft · 23 sites · ElectricSeason not published
- Cove Creek Group CampgroundYear round · Reservations accepted
- Curtis Creek CampgroundMarch 31 · Reservations accepted
- Davidson River Recreation Areato 67 ft · 144 sites · Electric · Pull-throughYear round · Reservations accepted
- Fires Creek Hunters CampSeason not published
- Flanners Beach/Neuse River CampgroundYear round · First-come, first-served
- Harmon Den HorsecampMay 1st – October 31st · First-come, first-served
- Horse Cove CampgroundYear round
- Hurricane Creek Horse & Primitive CampgroundMarch 15 – January 1
- Kimsey Creek Group CampgroundApril 1 – November 30 · Reservations accepted
- Kuykendall Group CampgroundYear round · Reservations accepted
- Mortimer Campground17 sites · Pull-throughMarch 31 – October 31 · Reservations accepted
- North Mills River Campgroundto 35 ft · 29 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Overflow Horse CampFirst-come, first-served
- Oyster Point Campground15 sitesYear round · First-come, first-served
- Rattler Ford Group Campgroundto 30 ft · 4 sitesApril 15 – October 31 · Reservations accepted
- Rocky Bluff Campgroundto 55 ft · 17 sitesWeekend of Memorial Day – Weekend of Labor Day
- Standing Indian Campgroundto 50 ft · 81 sitesApril 1 – October 30 · First-come, first-served
- Sunburst Campground10 sitesSpring – Fall · Reservations accepted
- Swan CabinReservations accepted
- Tsali Recreation AreaFirst-come, first-served
- Uwharrie Hunt CampYear round · First-come, first-served
- Van Hook Glade Campgroundto 36 ft · 24 sitesApril 1 – ? Late October
- Wash Creek Horse Camp1 sitesReservations accepted
- West Morris Mtn. CampgroundYear round · First-come, first-served
- White Pines Group CampgroundYear round · Reservations accepted
- Wine Spring Horse CampYear round · Reservations accepted
- Wolf Ford Horse Campto 50 ft · 11 sitesMarch 23 – November 15 · Reservations accepted
- Wolf Laurel Hunters Camp FDR#81FSeason not published
No vehicles past these lines
Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.
- Southern Nantahala Wilderness23,604 acres
- Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness19,247 acres
- Shining Rock Wilderness18,478 acres
- Linville Gorge Wilderness11,948 acres
- Pocosin Wilderness11,802 acres
- Sheep Ridge Wilderness9,315 acres
- Catfish Lake South Wilderness8,490 acres
- Middle Prong Wilderness7,482 acres
- Birkhead Mountains Wilderness5,216 acres
- Pond Pine Wilderness1,692 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
National parks close enough to pair
Plan it
Drive to National Forests in North Carolina the long way
Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.