When you choose North Carolina for your next adventure, you’ll make it even better with KOA. Whether you’re cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway, visiting the Cape Hatteras National Seashore or marveling at one of the state’s 350 waterfalls, you’ll find a great KOA campground nearby.
Put down roots at one campground and explore the surrounding scenery, or travel all over the state visiting multiple KOA locations. Take in as much as you can handle. However you like to get out and see North Carolina’s awesome beauty, KOA will be your partner along the way.
Want to explore the great state of North Carolina in depth? Register for our KOA Rewards program to save on your next adventure.
To make the most of your camping vacation in North Carolina, remember that KOA is the best option around. Each KOA location is staffed with passionate team members who make it their goal to provide incredible customer service, ensuring you have everything you need so that you'll have a great time. You'll also gain access to amenities that make your stay more comfortable, such as clean bathrooms with hot water, plenty of activities, laundry facilities, KOA stores for last-minute items and more.
No matter which KOA location you choose, you're bound to find fun for adventurers of all ages. How about hitting the water in a paddle boat or sinking a mini-golf putt? Maybe stretching out on a blanket for a movie night or testing your skills on a climbing wall? Every location offers something different. Take a look at each North Carolina KOA location, and you can select one of the best family campgrounds in North Carolina.
When most people think of KOA, they picture an iconic campfire in front of a cozy tent. If that’s your thing, KOA has you covered — but it doesn't stop there. This trip could be a great time to try a new, elevated camping experience. At KOA, you'll find tons of options, such as:
Do you daydream of lounging on pristine beaches or maybe taking a mountain hike? How about a picnic in a 400-year-old forest? Across North Carolina, you’ll have an opportunity to enjoy all these and much more, and KOA gets you right in the thick of it.
You can hike, bike or canoe through one of many beautiful state parks, including the famous Stone Mountain area with its 200-foot Stone Mountain Falls. You can take in marvelous vistas from overlooks at the Linville Gorge, often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the East." And when you feel the need for urban adventures, Charlotte, Winston-Salem and the Raleigh-Durham area will provide endless opportunities for entertainment.
Explore North Carolina’s 12 KOA campground locations, and you’ll find a perfect spot to give you a camping experience you won’t find anywhere else. You can reserve a spot online or via phone for your camping vacation in the Tar Heel state.
The time you visit North Carolina will vary depending on the goals of your trip, whether you're looking to go for a swim at the beach or check out some of the must-see attractions. Overall, the best time to visit North Carolina is between early April to mid-June and from early September to early November. During fall, you can take a scenic drive and experience the leaves on the trees changing colors to beautiful hues of red, orange, and yellow. It's a great time for camping, biking or hiking the wild areas. There are also tons of wine and beer festivals to check out during autumn. Late spring and early summer is a great option if you're looking for warm weather, less crowds, and cheaper rates. You can experience the beaches without experiencing the crowds.
No matter the season, there are plenty of things to do in North Carolina from museums, to outdoor activities, to theme parks. The state's long history means you'll be able to explore some of the most important historical sites.
One of North Carolina's must see attractions is the Biltmore Estate, owned by the wealthy Vanderbilt family. The grand estate is the largest house in the United States and is open to the public to explore the mansion and the surrounding gardens. The gardens include the Italian Garden and the Rose Garden, which features more than 250 varieties of roses.
Nicknamed "America's favorite drive", the Blue Ridge Parkway is scenic drive through the Blue Ridge mountains and the surrounding landscapes. Along the drive, there are tons of hiking trails that branch off from the pull-offs so you can plan a camping trip throughout the drive. For a more historical attraction, climb aboard the USS North Carolina Battleship where you can learn about one of the most successful vessels used during World War II.
North Carolina is the perfect place for someone who loves spending time in the great outdoors. With opportunities to camp, hike, fish, and more there are endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. The varying terrain and geographic regions appeal to natural lovers, thrill seekers, and travelers who are just looking to get away.
One of the top activities is hiking, especially along the beautiful Appalachian Trail or the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. If you're more of a water enthusiast, you can float down the Dan River or kayak through North Carolina's diverse coastal areas.
For the thrill seekers out there, you can go rock climbing or take to the skies in a hot air balloon. North Carolina is the place to be to cross off those bucket-list experiences!
North Carolina has only one traditional national park, though it was the second-most visited park in all of the United States in 2021. This is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While this park is often associated with Tennessee, it extends into North Carolina. Due to the free entry, Great Smoky can be pretty busy during the peak season of June to October but there are fewer visitors during the offseason. Hike, camp, and experience one of America's oldest mountain ranges.
Hiking and camping opportunities abound throughout North Carolina's parks. Many of the state's 41 parks and recreation areas don't charge for admission and fees for camping are reasonable.
When exploring North Carolina's state parks, Georges State Park is a must-stop place. There's no admission fee so anyone can enjoy it. The park is surrounded by river gorges and long-distance trails so you can pick your own adventure. It's the perfect place for swimming, hiking, fishing, biking, and camping.
For the beach lovers, Jockey's Ridge State Park is a must-see. It is the tallest living sand dune on the East Coast. A few of the many activities here are kite flying, sailboarding, and windsurfing. You can even hire a private instructor and take a hang gliding lesson.
A few of the other most popular state parks are Merchants Millpond State Park, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, and Crowders Mountain State Park. The number of outdoor activities at these parks are endless, so you'll be in for the adventure of your dreams!
North Carolina's cuisine ranges all over the place, from coastal seafood to multiple styles of barbecue. A few of the most popular staple dishes are she-crab bisque, fried green tomatoes, and pimento cheese. Let's take a look at some of the most popular restaurants in North Carolina.
If you're looking to try authentic Carolina-style barbecue, Wilber's Barbeque is the place for you. The menu is any barbecue lovers dream with BBQ platters, hand breaded chicken, spare ribs, hush puppies, cole slaw, and so much more.
If you want to get dressed up and make an event out of a meal, The Fearrington House is the perfect place to be. It has been ranked among the top restaurants in the country on numerous counts for providing the best fine dining in North Carolina. Another restaurant in the area of fine dining is the Gamekeeper Restaurant which makes use of all sorts of local, organic ingredients that cater to both meat lovers and vegetarians.
There is so much beauty to see in North Carolina, from waterfalls to scenic summit views. With a wide variety of climates and landscapes, North Carolina offers a broad range of campground options. From pitching a tent in the mountains to beachside camping, there are options for everyone. Your locations range from campgrounds within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean. You can even camp close to the major cities.
Camping at one of the state parks is a great way to stretch your outdoor adventures from a day-trip to several days. Staying overnight allows you to explore with much greater depth. Also, camping is the perfect way to save money on accommodations while exploring the outdoors.
That doesn't mean this area has to always be empty. When you start reviewing camping options, your history will display here to help compare sites and find the best stay. You will be able to share your stay information with friends or family and save it for a later time if you have a KOA Account.
Make checkout easy by booking all your reservations at once. Add your sites from different campgrounds into your shopping cart* and then choose checkout.
