10 Awesome North Carolina Lakes with Campgrounds
Looking for lakes with campgrounds in North Carolina?
Campgrounds by lakes are ideal places to camp because they offer amazing scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities for your camping trip.
I live in North Carolina so I know just how awesome the state’s lakeside campgrounds are.
This list of campgrounds with lakes covers locations all over the state.
For each campground, I’ve included information on the camping styles that can be accommodated and what recreation opportunities are available on the lake. This way, you can easily pick the best lake campground for you.
Ready to pick your campground? Here are 10 lakes with campgrounds in North Carolina.
Map of North Carolina Lake Campgrounds
If you want to find the lakeside campground that is nearest to you, check out this interactive map of the lakes on this list.
10 Lakes with Campgrounds in North Carolina
1. Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
Head to Jordan Lake State Recreation Area to find lakeside campgrounds near Raleigh.
Five campgrounds are available around Jordan Lake. Tents, RVs, and trailers are all welcome at most of these campgrounds.
There are tons of sites to choose from with over a thousand campsites between the five campgrounds! Some campsites are right on the lake’s shore, so try to snag one of these sites if you’re looking for waterfront camping in North Carolina.
Campers can easily get out on the lake since every campground has a boat ramp. If you don’t have your own boat, a marina near Crosswinds Campground rents out kayaks and paddleboards.
All campgrounds with the exception of the small, primitive campground at New Hope Overlook offer a swimming beach as well.
Campsites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area.
2. Falls Lake State Recreation Area
Another lake with camping in the Research Triangle is Falls Lake.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area offers over 300 campsites between two drive-up campgrounds, a hike-in campground, and a group campground. The drive-in campgrounds can accommodate both tents and RVs.
Although the campsites don’t offer waterfront views, they are spaced out well enough to give campers a tranquil place to return to after a day on the lake.
Campers who are staying at the main drive-up campgrounds can enjoy Falls Lake using the amenities offered on site. These campgrounds have both a boat ramp and swimming areas, making it easy to recreate on this large lake.
Don’t have your own boat? A privately-owned marina near Rolling View Campground offers kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals.
Campsites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Falls Lake State Recreation Area.
3. Lake Norman State Park
Lake Norman State Park offers lakeside camping near Charlotte.
This state park is up at the northern end of Lake Norman.
Lake Norman is one of the largest lakes in North Carolina but offers one of the smaller lakeside campgrounds in the state. The state park’s sole campground includes about 45 campsites for tents, trailers, and RVs.
A boat ramp, swimming area, and fishing pier provide campers with a variety of ways to enjoy Lake Norman. Boat rentals are also available elsewhere within the state park.
Campsites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Lake Norman State Park.
4. Badin Lake
Badin Lake is located in central North Carolina in Uwharrie National Forest.
There are several midsize campgrounds in the Badin Lake Recreation Area. Tents, trailers, and RVs are all welcome at some of these campgrounds while others are tent-only.
Badin Lake Campground is the only campground right on the 5,000-acre lake, with a few campsites giving campers glimpses of the water. However, each campground offers something different if being right next to the lake isn’t a priority.
The Cove Boat Ramp and fishing piers at the King’s Mountain Point day use area provide recreation opportunities within a few minutes’ drive of Badin Lake’s campgrounds.
Campsites in the Badin Lake Recreation Area can be reserved up to 6 months in advance on recreation.gov.
5. Julian Price Campground at Price Lake
Julian Price Campground is just 20 minutes from Boone, NC, along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
This campground sits next to Price Lake amid rolling hills.
The lake provides several recreation opportunities in this fantastic setting.
Canoes are available to rent at the lake. Additionally, a fishing pier makes it easy to fish from the shore.
Julian Price Campground is one of the largest campgrounds in North Carolina’s mountains with 190 campsites. Tents and RVs are both welcome here, but note there are no RV hookups available.
About half of the campsites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance while the other half are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Click here to reserve a campsite at Julian Price Campground.
6. Lake Powhatan
Lake Powhatan offers campers access to both a lake and North Carolina’s mountains for the ultimate outdoor adventure.
This campground is easy to access as it’s only 10 minutes southeast of Asheville.
Yet despite being close to this tourist town, it offers a tranquil setting as it’s in a heavily wooded area of Pisgah National Forest.
What’s more, the campground is within walking distance of Lake Powhatan. The lake provides a swimming area and a fishing pier for fun on the water. (Boating is not allowed.)
The 75 campsites at Lake Powhatan Campground can be used by tents and RVs. About 15 of the campsites offer full hookups.
Campsites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Lake Powhatan Campground.
7. Lake James State Park
Situated in the Appalachian Mountains, it’s no wonder that Lake James State Park is one of the most popular state parks in North Carolina.
This state park has three small campgrounds which are all for tents only.
Each campground offers a different style of camping. One is a drive-up campground, one is a hike-in campground, and one is a paddle-in campground.
Campers can get out on scenic Lake James using the park’s two boat ramps. The drive-in campground also has a swimming beach.
Between the lake’s beautiful scenery, unique camping options, and recreation opportunities, Lake James is one of the best lakes to camp at in North Carolina.
Campsites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Lake James State Park.
8. Kerr Lake State Recreation Area
Kerr Lake State Recreation Area is at the border with Virginia in central North Carolina.
This enormous reservoir has seven campgrounds: three on the lake’s western shore, four on the eastern shore, and one at the southern end of the lake.
There are hundreds of campsites across the seven campgrounds with spots for tents, trailers, and RVs. Multiple campgrounds offer waterfront campsites.
Fishing is a popular activity on Kerr Lake. Boat ramps are available at or near each campground, so although the lake is huge, campers never have to go far to find a place to put a boat in the water.
Campsites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area.
9. Jackrabbit Mountain Campground at Lake Chatuge
Lake Chatuge is in the southwestern part of the state, straddling the border between North Carolina and Georgia.
Jackrabbit Mountain Campground is on the North Carolina side of the lake in Nantahala National Forest.
It’s worth making the journey to experience this campground. Some campsites offer unobstructed views of Lake Chatuge, so consider this campground if you’re interested in lake camping for the waterfront views.
Campers can take advantage of a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and a fishing pier during their visit to Lake Chatuge.
Campsites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Jackrabbit Mountain Campground.
10. Jones Lake State Park
Jones Lake is 40 miles southeast of Fayetteville in southern North Carolina.
It’s a small lake that makes for a nice place to camp for North Carolinians who live locally.
There are 20 campsites for tents, trailers, and RVs on the lake’s eastern shore along with the state park’s other amenities.
Although the lake is relatively shallow at only eight feet deep, it is still plenty deep enough for a variety of recreation opportunities.
Jones Lake State Park has a fishing pier, boat rentals, and a designated swimming area.
Campsites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Jones Lake State Park.
MORE ADVENTURES IN THE CAROLINAS
- 10 Campgrounds On North Carolina’s Coast: Everything From Boat-In Sites To RV Parks
- 15 Spectacular Campgrounds In North Carolina’s Mountains
- The Best Campgrounds in (and Near) Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 10 Fantastic Family Hikes In Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 15 Beautiful Waterfall Hikes in South Carolina
As always, enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Leave no trace on all of your adventures.
