While the Charlotte area has ample RV parks and commercial campgrounds available for family fun, there are also campgrounds near Charlotte offering the complete outdoors experience.
Some of the best campgrounds are in North Carolina state parks near Charlotte.
Best Charlotte camping | Best Charlotte hiking
Lake Norman State Park
759 State Park Road, Troutman
704-528-6350
www.ncparks.gov/lake-norman-state-park
This park rests on the largest manmade lake in North Carolina and offers a popular mountain biking network, 125-yard-long swim beach and bathhouse, boat ramp and fishing in addition to campsites. A family campground with 32-sites and a group campground are available during warm-weather months. For larger groups, there's a community building with kitchen facilities, restrooms and fireplace. Campers without reservations must confirm site availability with park staff before occupying a site.
Make a reservation on the park website.
Morrow Mountain State Park
49104 Morrow Mountain Road, Albemarle
704-982-4402
ncparks.gov/morrow-mountain-state-park
More than 15 miles of hiking trails thread Morrow Mountain State Park, which also includes a boathouse, boat ramp, fishing, an amphitheater and a swimming pool. The park has a family campground with 106 sites for tents, trailers and RVs (although there are no RV hookups). Camp Loop C includes a fully accessible shower house and 22 sites with electrical hook-ups. This is one of the few top camp grounds near Charlotte that offers remote backpack camping and rustic vacation cabins, including options for extended stays. A two-mile hike from the park office takes campers to the primitive camping site.
Make reservations on the North Carolina State Park website.
Best nature preserves in Charlotte | Closest mountains to Charlotte
Crowders Mountain State Park
522 Park Office Lane, Kings Mountain
704-853-5375
ncparks.gov/crowders-mountain-state-park
Privacy and great views are part of the camping package at Crowders Mountain State Park. The park has two campgrounds you reach by trail and campers must pack all supplies for the campsites. Backcountry family camping is a one-mile trail away in a forested area. Each campsite inclues a grill, picnic tables and tent pads and the park provides drinking water and vault toilets. A group camping area is available for groups up to 25 people.
Make a reservation at the state park's website.
Lake James State Park
7321 NC HWY 126, Nebo
828-584-7728
ncparks.gov/lake-james-state-park
The day use facilities at Lake James State Park include a 700-foot swim beach, bathhouse, picnic areas, fishing piers, and hiking and mountain biking trail. For those who want to stay overnight or a little longer, the park features 20 walk-in campsites along or near the shore at the Catawba River Area, reservations required. Disabled campers are accommodated at two sites, and potable water faucets are throughout the campground, along with a washhouse with toilets and hot showers. The Paddy's Creek Area features 33 drive-in sites, also by reservation. Lake James is also one of the few public campgrounds to offer boat-in camping: 30 campsites accessible by boat only, each with a fire pit, picnic table and space for a modest, six-person tent.