The best camping near Lake James State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Lake James State Park adventure.

88% (6 reviews)

Swim in crystal-clear waters and soak up mountain views at this NC state park.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Lake James State Park

Public campgrounds in the park

Stay at a public campground in Lake James State Park

88%

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Lake James Campground

20 sites · RVs, Tents In Lake James State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Lake James State Park

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Starlight Hills

18 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Bostic, NC

Our Spa is now available for booking! We are a constantly evolving location. Our goal is to provide a genuine secluded camping experience immersed in nature in a mountainous forest with privacy and well spaced out, secluded camp sites. We also have minimal light pollution, so our skies are beautiful for viewing the stars. We offer trails through natural wooded habitat with hidden gems of nature. Wildlife viewing throughout. There are feed locations to increase viewing opportunities. A creek on the property is lovely for walking. Centered between Charlotte and Asheville we are within your reach! We offer primitive tent camping, Glamping Tents and a Cabin. Glamping and cabin have a private Mountain View, fire pit area, Queen bed, Night Stand (built in phone charger), Desk area, interior and exterior lighting, heater and fan (powered by solar system). As a part of Starlight Hills Campground you have access to filtered drinking water, common overlook (w/ BBQ pits & picnic tables), trails, bathroom and showers. Welcome to bring all your furry family members ❤️. Please Note: 2 Wheel Dr. vehicles can access all of our sites. Gravel/ Dirt road up hill.

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Tellurian Family Campground

7 sites · RVs, Tents93 acres · Casar, NC

For more information, visit our website at www.telluriancampground.com Tellurian Family Campground offers conveniently located spacious travel trailer, camper, RV and tent camp sites with incredible views and access to a pristine mountain river. The property consists of 93 acres and 2780 feet (1⁄2 mile) of river frontage on the First Broad River. The First Broad River offers canoeing, kayaking, tubing, and fishing. Smallmouth and freshwater sunfishing is incredible on this stretch of the river and there are also opportunities for mountain river catfish. Tellurian’s scenic location offers stunning vista views of the surrounding countryside, sprawling views of the South Mountain and Cherry Mountain ranges, as well as long range views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The sunsets are amazing and the star lit skies are uninhibited by city lights. One of the few lights that can be seen at night lights up a steeple silhouetted against the mountain ridges. It’s truly a peaceful site. Tellurian is centrally located between Charlotte NC, Asheville NC, and Spartanburg SC in the small town of Casar, NC. We are located in a rural setting in the foothills on the edge of the South Mountains Range, a branch of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Thank you for checking out our place! We are Jud and Amanda Wortman. We have three children – Emma Grace and Baxter (twins) and Elena Jo. As a family, we enjoy canoeing, kayaking and camping. We live 9 miles from Tellurian on a family farm. We have always enjoyed quiet secluded campsites, river floats and sitting by the river. After years of looking all over the mountains for a river property we could call our own, our favorite spot on the river came up for sale. It just so happened it was nearly halfway between where we both grew up. After many sleepless nights worrying if we could succeed or not (it was much larger than properties we had been looking for), we bought it! Our favorite spot on the river was virtually inaccessible by any way other than floating. But after hundreds of hours of hard work, we think we have developed a place where others too can enjoy the things we do about the property. We dream big and Tellurian remains a work in progress, but we feel we have created a place where folks can enjoy the peacefulness of nature, the river and incredible views. Naming our campground proved to be one of the most challenging tasks throughout the process of developing it. After many ideas and brainstorming sessions as a family, we decided to go with Tellurian. We know it’s a bit different; that’s what we like about it. We think our place stands out and, after visiting Tellurian, we think you’ll agree it does too. Tellurian Family Campground tel·lu·ri·an [təˈlo͝orēən] ADJECTIVE: of or inhabiting the earth. NOUN: an inhabitant of the earth.

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Cold Spring Basecamp

6 sites · Lodging, Tents38 acres · Flat Rock, NC

Cold Spring Basecamp is the perfect spot to launch your adventure. Located in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Whether camping, glamping or high in a treehouse (coming soon), Cold Spring Basecamp is the jumping off point for biking, hiking, paddling, zip lining, waterfalls or just enjoy our beautiful 38 acre property with mountain bike trails, hiking trails, beautiful creeks, waterfalls and endless relaxation potential. Three rustic and historic cabins recently rehabbed, but keeping all the old charm. One open wall lets in lots of light and the old wood accents the walls, kitchen, eating area, and bunk beds (with queen on the bottom and twin up top). Cook over the stone fire pit or on cast iron pots and pan on the propane stove. Full equipped kitchen for all your needs, including French press, and tea pot. Relax under the solar lights and charge your devices using our solar powered charging station. Campsites are all nestled in the woods and next to the creek and are all spacious and private. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring with grill for cooking over the fire. Additionally a water filter is provided for purifying drinking water from the creek. Launch your adventure from Cold Spring or stay on the property to enjoy the mountain bike trails, hike to the waterfall and cliffs or relax in the meadow. Minutes to the world class trails of Ride Rock Creek Bike Park and beautiful Lake Summit, just down the road from Ride Kanuga Bike Park and the world famous Green River, with class I-V rapids. We are at the back door of 86 miles of trails and dozens of famous waterfalls in Dupont State Forest. The steep, fast and fun Gorge Zipline is located in the quaint town of Saluda, along with shops and great restaurants. The shops and restaurants of Flat Rock and just up the hill and a bit further is the thriving town on Hendersonville, apple country and many of the areas wineries.

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Waterfall camping close to CLT

1 site · RV, Tent2 acres · Bessemer City, NC

My Neighbor has started his own Campsite, "The Swimming Hole". If mine is booked up and you still want to camp, look him up. His is better suited for small groups but has much more privacy. We have a new road to the campsite; you can now drive down with two-wheel drive vehicle or RV down and park near your tent! There is plenty of soft sand to set up one tent or ten tents; large groups are welcome for an extra fee. A Porta-Potty is available at the campsite. Swimming is usually possible at the base of the falls; however, large amounts of rain can change conditions and make it unusable. I should also add, this is not a completely private campsite deep in the woods. The camp is visible from a shared driveway, and my residence is up a hill that overlooks the area. Also, I do not own the land on the other side of the stream. Occasionally, the owners of that land will spend a weekend afternoon enjoying the waterfall view also. Still much quieter and more private than a regular campground. Glamping tents and additional camping tents are available through a local company. Look in the pictures for the tent with red, white, and blue balloons. Message me for details. Close to US National Whitewater Center (mountain biking, whitewater rafting, kayaking), Kings Mountain National Military Park (Horseback riding and history), Crowders Mountain (Hiking), 3 miles off of I-85 and US-321 for people passing through.

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TangleWood Creekside Campsites

23 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents170 acres · Marion, NC

A rocky creek winds through the woods at the base of several hikable peaks hidden just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife enthusiasts are encouraged to explore, on foot or mountain-bike, anywhere within our 170 acres (or the adjoining 250 acres owned by the US Forestry Service off our Western border) and are likely to catch glimpses of turkey, beaver, deer, fox, eastern box turtle and the many species of songbird and raptor. The location is convenient to tons of local attractions for sightseeing and outdoor activities as well as shopping, dining, even wine tasting. We would be happy to supply a comprehensive list of the various local attractions upon request but the following are a few of our favorite things to do within a short drive: visit Linville Falls, Caverns, Gorge and/or Winery; drive the Blue Ridge parkway; tube/kayak down the Catawba river; hike beautiful Crabtree Falls; cross Grandfather Mountains mile high bridge and explore the nearby towns of Spruce Pines or Little Switzerland. The scenic drives to Asheville, Blowing Rock or Banner Elk make them each wonderful day-trip destinations.

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Blue Ridge Ranch

21 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents440 acres · Ferguson, NC

Blue Ridge Ranch, established in December of 2020, is located on 440 acres nestled between two mountain ridges in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The property features an established pasture, mountain ridges, barns, and a homestead. In addition, the ranch is home to five ponds (some stocked and one trophy), more than a mile of trout streams, waterfalls, and hiking trails. Together, they provide the perfect foundation for the establishment of farming, livestock, camping, and community events. All profits of Blue Ridge Ranch go to Hope for His Children, Inc., a 501(c)(3) that conducts youth camps at the ranch. Tours of the ranch are available for $10/person (to offset fuel expense) and includes interaction with some farm animals. We pride ourselves in doing everything possible to help our guests have a great experience. We offer coffee during morning hours in our farm store! We are sorry, but we are not able to allow guests to bring ATV's and motorcycles to operate on the property. There are many acres of hay that we must protect and our agritourism insurer does not allow guests to operate ATV's and motorcycles on property.

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Mountain Paradise

7 sites · RVs, Tents27 acres · Marshall, NC

Enjoy a campsite to yourself on top of a mountain with beautiful mountain and sunset views. Situated near the charming and historic town of Marshall, nearby Hot Springs, Mars Hill and Asheville, you'll have access to a variety of delightful experiences. Despite being close to these attractions, our location is tucked away at the end of a dead-end, low-traffic road. With easy access off the paved road. You’ll have the camp area to yourself although there are some other homes in the neighborhood around our land. Tag us and follow our Instagram @mountainparadisecampground Outdoor enthusiasts will be thrilled with the proximity to the Pisgah National Forest, the Appalachian Trail, and numerous other beautiful hiking trails, recreational activities, and tourism opportunities.

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Above the Fray Glamping, Black Mtn.

6 sites · Lodging11 acres · Black Mountain, NC

The views are hypnotic and look down and out over the continental divide. Good morning sun and sunsets can be seen in the same spot. Your car is parked within feet of your deck so Car Campers and experienced campers can enjoy. Designed with campers and dogs in mind. The deck is large (384 square feet) with a tin roof. Some roofs are full size, some 2/3rds and some 1/3rd, depending on what one wants for tent size or sun exposure. (See pictures of each site/deck) Each deck has sun and rain curtains for helping keep comfortable in normal weather. Dogs enjoy a two gate system so quests and dogs can be leash free and away from the road. All dog owners know to pick up after their pets. The human Private Porta John is cleaned weekly. Lights and electrical is 110V (3 prongs) for YOUR coffee pots, electric grills, mattress inflators, crockpots, electric blankets fans, etc. I do not provide any electrical appliances, other than counter area lighting and low level string lights so one can see the night sky. Many of my campers will "Pay it Forward" and leave coffee pots, hot plates, fans and such, so count yourself lucky to find a deck with them. I provide chairs, 5 gallons of fresh water in containers, fickle solar shower and pop up changing room along with an assortment of camping supplies from dog bowls to antimicrobial wipes. I provide various size garbage bags to manage your garbage. Your parking area is next to the deck. Black Mountain’s tasty restaurants are 4 miles away and All Trails is a great app for finding trails suited for your interest. Be respectful to the place and please be friendly to the people you meet. Learn more about this land: Private Glamping Decks with a view that pictures do not do justice. Private decks on a dead-end gravel road mean hopefully the sounds will only be of nature. The conveniences of electricity, porta john, water, chairs, table, roof, cleaning supplies, rain curtains, and astounding views have my Glampers coming back often. Designed with Dogs in mind with a two-gate system and no need for a leash when on the deck. Obnoxious, barking dogs are not welcome, so bring only controlled and well socialized dogs. Help me keep it dog friendly. Never block the road with a park car.

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Barnhill Mountain in Fletcher, NC

2 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Hoopers Creek, NC

My wife and I moved to the area, from Boone, in the spring of 2014. Our dream was to own a house, preferably a cabin, on top of a mountain with long range views and a gradual winding road to the top. Living in Boone, this dream was definitely out of reach. When we began our search for a new home in the Asheville area, we discovered that the more affordable homes were in fact on the mountains. Perfect! In general I always have a pretty positive outlook on what’s possible, however, I was skeptical that we would ever find our dream home. As Jeannie began her Zillow browsing adventures, one particular cabin with acreage, that was outside of our budget continued to pop up. Jeannie would delete it and then it would come back. At some point the price began to drop, and drop, and drop. On our way back into town one weekend after attending a wedding, I convinced Jeannie to drive by the cabin just because we had the time. Immediately we fell in love and reached out to our realtor buddy. It was more of a shot in the dark but it couldn’t hurt, right? We held our breath for the next month totally expecting someone to get it under contract before us or the sellers not accepting our offer. It had already been reduced significantly so we knew our chances of a lowball offer were slim. We offered the most that we could get a loan for. They accepted! I still get anxious thinking back to that month, October 2014. Many years and two children later, here we are, just as excited everyday to make the long trek up our mountain as we were that August of 2014, and now we are happy to offer a similar experience to you, without having to buy the place. Never stop dreaming! Hope to see you soon, cheers! Learn more about this land: Pitch your tent in the grass on the tip top of the mountain or park your camper in the flat gravel spot with a fire pit just below the top with beautiful views overlooking Cane Creek. In the fall and winter enjoy 360 degree views and in the summer enjoy the shade and cool breeze while relaxing & snacking on wild wine berries and black raspberries. What you will not find is light pollution, traffic, and a desire to leave the mountain. Fall asleep to the calls of the hoot owl and wake up to the knocking of the wood pecker. If & when you decide to explore the area, be sure to checkout Hickory Nut Gap farm just 7.9 miles away & Whistle Hop Brewery 7.7 miles away. Turgua brewery just down on Cane Creek road is only 6.2 miles from camp. Cane Creek Valley Farm as well as the Cane Creek Community swimming pool is also at the base of camp just in case the kids need a dip of ice cream or a dip in the pool. Justus Apple Orchard is only 10 miles down the mountain towards Hendersonville. We love taking our kids there. We are only 15 miles from downtown Asheville & Hendersonville, and 22 miles from Lake Lure. The site backs up to over 100 acres of forest for a truly wilderness feel just outside of town. *Please message me proof of Military Service to receive your 25% discount code. We support our troops and their families.

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The swimming hole

1 site · Tent10 acres · Bessemer City, NC

Secluded camping area next to the swimming hole on long creek. Very quiet and peaceful. Spend your evening relaxing or swimming. Picnic table is provided. No bathroom right now. It’s just a short walk down hill to the campground. (250 steps) It’s close to US National Whitewater center, Kings Mountain National Military park, and Crowders Mountain park. 3 miles off I-85 and US-321. Also check out my neighbors Hipcamp called the waterfall

Blue Bear Mountain Camp

46 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents150 acres · Boone, NC

Blue Bear Mountain Camp offers year-round camping experiences for every type of outdoor enthusiast. Car-accessible tent and RV sites in a natural setting. Hike-in sites for those looking for a little more adventure and privacy. Stargazer Domes and Cabin rentals for guests wanting a rustic, mountain getaway while staying in comfort. Located just 8 miles north of Boone, NC on over 150 acres of pristine mountain land, miles of hiking trails, a trout pond, and spacious low-density sites allow the guest to get away from it all in a rustic, remote setting. In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. At 4,000 feet elevation, come enjoy cool mountain breezes and mild temperatures. Blue Bear Mountain is a scenic location for large events such as weddings, corporate events, and family reunions. Come Get away from it all at Blue Bear Mountain! Blue Bear Mountain offers spacious, Low-Density RV camping, spacious, private, rustic car-accessible tent camping, and spacious, private remote tent camping. Blue Bear Mountain also offers luxury Stargazer Domes and Cabin rentals to provide you with more choices of how to experience your mountain getaway. In a beautiful mountain setting with incredible views, the Stargazer Domes are a great way to enjoy the camping experience without really roughing it. Great for a romantic getaway or bringing the family. Furnished with a queen size bed, complete with high-quality linens, a bistro table, and chairs, you will stay in complete comfort. Conveniently located near the bathhouse with private bathrooms, a Laundry room, and a dishwashing station. You can drive right up to the handcrafted stargazer dome. Relax and take in the views while sitting around your stone fire ring. A park grill, picnic table, and free bundle of firewood are also provided to complete your glamping getaway.

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Enchanting 2-Acre Asheville Oasis

4 sites · Lodging, Tents2 acres · Asheville, NC

Discover a serene 2-acre retreat adorned with vibrant roses, red orchids, and the melodies of hummingbirds and bluebirds. Perfectly blending natural beauty and functionality, this property features: -Main House: A welcoming residence paired with a lower-level beauty salon, a hub for pampering and social gatherings. -Charming Cabin: With a chapel-style front room, it's the ideal venue for makeover parties, beer tastings, surprise celebrations, and more. -Tiny Sunset Condo: Cozy accommodations for two with breathtaking mountain views and unforgettable Asheville sunsets. -Outdoor Spaces: Relax by the fire pit, swing with a loved one, or entertain across multiple patios surrounded by lush gardens. This property is perfect for living, hosting, and creating lasting memories. A rare gem in the heart of Western NC! 🌸✨

The best camping near Lake James State Park guide

Overview

About

Surrounded by the steep, forested Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake James State Park is a prime destination for outdoor adventurers. As well as swimming, boating, kayaking, and fishing in the 6,812-acre lake for which it’s named, the park also offers a 25-mile trail system, 15 of which are multi-use and welcoming of cyclists of all levels. Trails range from the flat and easy Holly Discovery Trail to the more adventurous section of the Overmountain Victory Trail. The landscape houses an abundance of wildlife, including deer, flying squirrel, red and gray fox, muskrat, and mink.

Notable campgrounds

Best for views: The Catawba River Area has 20 walk-in campsites, many of which offer lake views.
Best for families: The Paddy’s Creek Area has 33 drive-in, family-friendly campsites.
Best for adventurous campers: The remote Long Arm boat-in campground offers a true outdoor adventure accessible only by boat, kayak or canoe.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Booking in advance is recommended and can be easily done online or by phone up to 11 months in advance.
Reservations for the Long Arm boat-in campground must be made in advance.
If you cannot arrive by park closing hours on the scheduled arrival date, you must contact the park by 3pm the next day to reschedule your arrival.

When to go

Lake James State Park is open year-round, but closed on Christmas Day. Summer is the best time to visit to take advantage of the outdoor activities on offer. The beach at Paddy’s Creek is open for swimming from May through September while April through October is the best period for fishing for largemouth bass. If visiting in summer, it’s a good idea to make reservations in advance, especially on weekends.

Know before you go

Paddy’s Creek Area is the only part of the lake you can swim in, and an admission fee is required.
Canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at the Paddy’s Creek Area concession stand from May through September.
Pets are allowed except in park buildings and swim areas, but must be on a leash no longer than six feet and cannot be left unattended. Pets are not allowed on the beach.