Federal Campgrounds in North Carolina
Federal coverage only. This directory lists campgrounds on federal land (Forest Service, Park Service, BLM, Corps of Engineers and other agencies) from the Recreation.gov RIDB export. State-park, county and private/KOA campgrounds are out of scope.
North Carolina has 85 federal campgrounds offering approximately 3,116 overnight sites across three managing agencies. The U.S. Forest Service operates 42 campgrounds, the National Park Service manages 33, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers runs 10. Of these, 77 campgrounds accept advance reservations. These federal facilities span diverse landscapes, from mountain forests to coastal areas and reservoirs, providing camping options for visitors seeking public lands recreation.
This directory covers federal campgrounds only. State parks and private campgrounds including KOA facilities are outside our scope and can be researched separately. For current site availability, specific amenities, and to make reservations, visit Recreation.gov, the central platform for federal campground bookings. Availability and facilities vary by location and season, so checking current information before planning your visit is recommended.
How to read the North Carolina directory
Use this page as a starting map of federal camping in North Carolina: the agency split tells you whether you're mostly looking at national-forest sites, park-service grounds or Corps-of-Engineers lakeside camps, and the busiest rec areas below point to where the campgrounds cluster. Every name links to its live Recreation.gov page for current site counts, photos and booking.
| Rec area / forest | Campgrounds |
|---|---|
| Asheville | 7 |
| PISGAH FOREST | 6 |
| Cherokee | 6 |
| ASHEVILLE | 5 |
| National Forests in North Carolina | 5 |
| ROBBINSVILLE | 4 |
| Wilkesboro | 4 |
| Bryson City | 3 |
Common questions
How many federal campgrounds are in North Carolina?
85 in this directory, with about 3,116 overnight sites, across national forests, parks, Corps of Engineers and other federal land. State and private campgrounds are not included.
Are these campgrounds reservable?
77 of the 85 take reservations through Recreation.gov; the remainder are generally first-come, first-served. Confirm on the facility's Recreation.gov page before you travel.
Largest federal campgrounds in North Carolina
- Oregon Inlet Campground · National Park Service · 245 sites · Manteo
- Cape Point Campground · National Park Service · 202 sites · Buxton
- Julian Price Campground · National Park Service · 194 sites · Asheville
- Davidson River · U.S. Forest Service · 144 sites · Pisgah Forest
- Peaks Of Otter Campground · National Park Service · 143 sites · Asheville
- Smokemont Campground · National Park Service · 142 sites · Cherokee
- Ocracoke Campground · National Park Service · 140 sites · Ocracoke
- Doughton Park Campground · National Park Service · 135 sites · Asheville
- Frisco Campground · National Park Service · 128 sites · Buxton
- Mount Pisgah Campground · National Park Service · 128 sites · Asheville
- Rocky Knob Campground · National Park Service · 110 sites · Asheville
- Bandits Roost · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · 103 sites · Wilkesboro
- Deep Creek Campground (Nc) · National Park Service · 92 sites · Bryson City
- Jackrabbit Mountain · U.S. Forest Service · 92 sites · Hayesville
- Lake Powhatan · U.S. Forest Service · 84 sites · Asheville
- Standing Indian Campground · U.S. Forest Service · 81 sites · Franklin
- Otter Creek Campground · National Park Service · 69 sites · Asheville
- Linville Falls Campground · National Park Service · 66 sites · Asheville
- Warrior Creek · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · 63 sites · Boomer
- Arrowhead Campground · U.S. Forest Service · 49 sites · East Troy
- Balsam Mountain Campground · National Park Service · 43 sites · Cherokee
- Black Mountain Campground · U.S. Forest Service · 41 sites · Burnsville
- Flanners Beach Campground · U.S. Forest Service · 41 sites · New Bern
- Cedar Point Campground · U.S. Forest Service · 40 sites · Cedar Point
- Carolina Hemlocks Rec Area · U.S. Forest Service · 35 sites · Burnsville
Ranked by overnight-site count from RIDB; “n/a” means the site count isn’t published (often a first-come or dispersed area). Each name opens the Recreation.gov facility page.
Compare every managing agency → · Reservable vs first-come in North Carolina → · Choosing a North Carolina campground →
Compiled from the federal RIDB export, verified June 2026. How we compile this. Confirm current details on Recreation.gov.