Where to sleep on a North Carolina paddling trip, from state parks to river camps.
Where to sleep on a North Carolina paddling trip: mountain state parks, the New River and Roanoke paddle-in camps, Cape Hatteras and the Outer Banks, Forest Service and Army Corps lakes. Every fee, reservation line and rule on these pages came from the people who run the place, and each card says who. Where they do not publish something, the card says so instead of guessing.
The first 6 pages open right here. One email opens the whole guide, and the same email opens every other Blackwater guide too.
The Camper's Guide covers 46 places to sleep on a North Carolina trip, from state parks to river camps. Each entry below is taken from the book: what kind of camp it is, the sites, the reservation details, pets and fire rules, and whether you can paddle from it. Fees and rules were checked Sept 2026 and change, so confirm with the operator before you go.
Cold water and big views. Stone Mountain, Gorges, Mount Mitchell and South Mountains state parks, the Pisgah camps, Fontana and Deep Creek, and the New River paddle-in camps.
Cataloochee is a National Park Service campground. The site count, fees and rules were not published when we checked, so confirm them with the park before you drive in.
Davidson River Campground is in Pisgah National Forest, with Davidson River frontage published by the Forest Service. You book through Recreation.gov. Fees and rules were not published when we checked.
Paddling: The Forest Service publishes Davidson River frontage.
Deep Creek is a National Park Service campground with Deep Creek access. Fees and rules were not published when we checked.
Paddling: Deep Creek access.
A private campground at Fontana Village Resort, with Fontana Lake access published by the owner. The nightly rate and site count were not published when we checked, so use the owner's page before you plan.
Paddling: The owner publishes Fontana Lake access.
Gorges has 16 tent sites, 14 RV sites with electric, water and sewer hookups, and 5 camper cabins. The bathhouse has hot showers, and the park lists firewood.
Lake James offers regular camping and paddle-in camping through NC State Parks. The site count and unit details were not published when we checked.
Paddling: Lake and Catawba access. State Parks publishes paddle-in camping.
Lake Powhatan is a Pisgah National Forest campground with lake access, booked through Recreation.gov. Fees and rules were not published when we checked.
Paddling: Lake access.
Nine walk-in campsites with 10 by 10 foot tent pads, drinking water and bear-resistant storage. You need an advance reservation, and the campsites are open May 1 through October 31.
Alleghany Access has paddle-in camping and river access on the New River. The exact site count was not published when we checked.
Paddling: Paddle-in camping and river access.
A paddle-in camp in the New River State Park system, at the Kings Creek access. The park map shows the camping, but the individual camp count was not published.
Paddling: Paddle-in camping corridor at the Kings Creek access.
Prather's Creek Access has paddle-in camping and river access on the New River. The exact site count was not published when we checked.
Paddling: Paddle-in camping and river access.
Riverbend Access has paddle-in camping and river access on the New River. The exact site count was not published when we checked.
Paddling: Paddle-in camping and river access.
The U.S. 221 Access has a bathhouse with showers, a dump station and firewood, along with a river launch and paddle-in camping on the New River.
Paddling: River launch and paddle-in camping.
Wagoner Access has a bathhouse, canoe access and a paddle-in campground on the New River. The site count was not published when we checked.
Paddling: Canoe access and a paddle-in campground.
North Mills River has 26 numbered sites and a group area in Pisgah National Forest, with the Mills River running through the campground. It is open year-round, but services are limited from November through March.
Paddling: The Mills River runs through the campground.
South Mountains is an NC State Parks campground with tent and backpack camping, trailer and RV sites, and equestrian camping. It has showers and firewood.
Paddling: Near the Catawba watershed.
Stone Mountain is an NC State Parks campground with backpacking, trailer and RV, and group tent camping. It has showers, firewood and a dump station.
Paddling: In the upper Yadkin watershed.
Lakes and river gorges. Hanging Rock, Morrow Mountain and Raven Rock state parks, Jordan and Falls lakes, and the canoe camp at Raven Rock.
These are hike-in campsites at Sparrow Springs, reached by a one-mile hike from the parking lot. Register at the visitor center for an overnight parking tag.
Holly Point is a campground on Falls Lake with RV hookup and tent camping, a camper boat launch and a camper-only swim beach.
Paddling: Falls Lake boat access.
Shinleaf is a primitive, hike-in campground on Falls Lake.
Paddling: Falls Lake boat access.
Hanging Rock is an NC State Parks campground in the Dan River watershed. It has tent, trailer and RV sites, group camping, showers and firewood.
Paddling: In the Dan River watershed.
Crosswinds is a campground on Jordan Lake. The campgrounds at Jordan are run by the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, and reservations go through the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area.
Paddling: Jordan Lake boat access.
Seaforth is a campground on Jordan Lake. The campgrounds at Jordan are run by the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, and reservations go through the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area.
Paddling: Jordan Lake boat access.
Wellons Village is a campground on Jordan Lake. The campgrounds at Jordan are run by the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, and reservations go through the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area.
Paddling: Jordan Lake boat access.
Kerr Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir with several campgrounds, booked through Recreation.gov. Amenities and rates vary by facility, so check the one you plan to use.
Paddling: Roanoke River reservoir access.
Lake Norman has 44 campsites near the peninsula tip between the lake and Hicks Creek, plus 6 cabins. Sites 34 through 44 have electric, water and sewer, and there is a boat ramp for paddling.
Paddling: Paddling on Lake Norman and Park Lake, with a boat ramp.
Morrow Mountain is an NC State Parks campground near the Yadkin River corridor. Camping facilities and amenities are listed on the park page.
Paddling: The Yadkin River corridor is nearby.
Raven Rock has drive-in and primitive camping, plus a canoe camp with six sites on the Cape Fear River Canoe Trail. The canoe camp needs a reservation before you paddle.
Paddling: Cape Fear River Canoe Trail and canoe camp.
Six primitive paddle-in campsites beside the Cape Fear River, each fitting up to six campers. You reserve before the trip, and there is a vault toilet and a fire ring with a grill.
Paddling: On the Cape Fear River Canoe Trail. There is no launch inside the park.
Arrowhead is a Uwharrie National Forest campground on Badin Lake, booked through Recreation.gov. Fees and rules were not published when we checked.
Paddling: Badin Lake access.
Blackwater swamp, sound and sea. Merchants Millpond, Lumber River and Jones Lake, the Roanoke River paddle trail camps, and the Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke campgrounds.
Cape Point is a National Park Service campground with 202 sites, flush toilets, seasonal cold showers and drinking water. It is open spring through fall, with dates on Recreation.gov.
Carolina Beach has 79 family sites, 6 camper cabins and a marina with access to the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Ten sites have full hookups, and the bathhouse has hot showers.
Paddling: The park marina gives access to the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway.
Cliffs of the Neuse is an NC State Parks campground on the Neuse River. The site count and amenities were not published when we checked, so look at the park page before you go.
Paddling: Set on the Neuse River.
Frisco is a National Park Service campground on Cape Hatteras, booked through Recreation.gov. Fees and rules were not published when we checked.
Paddling: Cape Hatteras waters.
Goose Creek is an NC State Parks campground on the Pamlico River in a cypress-swamp setting. It has tent, trailer and RV sites, group tent sites, showers, firewood, a bathhouse, a boat ramp and paddling.
Paddling: Pamlico estuary access.
Jones Lake has 20 campsites, six with full hookups, and a group campsite. There is a boat ramp and seasonal boat rentals, and reservations are suggested.
Paddling: Paddling on Jones Lake, with a boat ramp.
Chalk Banks is a primitive Lumber River State Park camp with 15 sites, one of them a group site. There is a bathroom, and you can paddle in.
Paddling: Boat ramp and paddle-in camping.
Princess Ann is a primitive Lumber River State Park camp with 10 sites, one of them a group site. There is a bathroom, and you can paddle in.
Paddling: River access and paddle-in camping.
Merchants Millpond has overnight camping and canoe access in the millpond through NC State Parks. Camping facilities and amenities are listed on the park page.
Paddling: Canoe access in the millpond and the coastal plain water network.
Ocracoke is a National Park Service campground on the island with 136 sites, open year-round at $28 a night. Reservations are online through Recreation.gov, with Pamlico Sound and inlet waters nearby.
Paddling: Pamlico Sound and inlet waters.
Oregon Inlet is a National Park Service campground with 107 sites, 47 of them with hookups, open year-round. It costs $28 a night without utilities or $35 with hookups, with Pamlico Sound and inlet waters nearby.
Paddling: Pamlico Sound and inlet waters.
Pettigrew is an NC State Parks campground with canoe access on Lake Phelps. The site count and amenities were not published when we checked.
Paddling: Lake Phelps canoe access.
Roanoke River Partners publishes designated overnight river camps along the Roanoke River Paddle Trail. Amenities vary by camp, and fees and counts were not published when we checked.
Paddling: Official Roanoke River Paddle Trail access.
Roanoke River State Park is an NC State Parks campground with river access published by the park. The site count and amenities were not published when we checked.
Paddling: Roanoke River access published by the park.
This is cabin and group camping only, so tents are not allowed. You apply for a reservation, and applications open December 1 for the following year. There is a swimming pier for campers.
Paddling: Paddling on Singletary Lake.
Every fee in this book carries its check date, September 2026. North Carolina State Parks, the Forest Service and the Army Corps set their own rates and change them, so where a page did not publish a fee, the entry says so and points you to the agency.
Small places fill first. Backcountry, paddle-in and river camps often need a permit or a reservation. The Reserve line in each entry says what the agency published.
Pack out everything you pack in, food scraps too. Camp on sand, rock or an established site, well above the waterline. Use the toilet provided, or dig a cathole well away from water and camp. Leave what you find, and let the wildlife be.
Fire rules change with the weather. Fires only in provided rings where allowed; check the managing agency's alerts page before every trip. Carry a stove on every trip so a burn ban never costs you supper.
Storms, low water, construction, hunts and wildfire close campgrounds without warning. Check the agency page the week you go.
Every river in North Carolina, with put-ins, take-outs, gauges and hazards.
Home watersSeventeen rivers within reach of St. George, Georgia.
River pagesAccess, gauges and our trips, river by river.