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Camping in North Carolina: campsites, permits and passes

Camping in North Carolina starts in one of a few places: North Carolina State Parks for state park campsites, Recreation.gov for federal campgrounds, or free dispersed camping on National Forest land. Here's where to book each, plus permits, passes and licences.

Most people go to:

State park campsites

North Carolina state park campgrounds are booked through North Carolina State Parks ↗. Book as early as you can for summer and holiday weekends, and check each park's page for cabins, yurts, group sites and pet rules.

National parks in North Carolina

• Great Smoky Mountains (part) National Park

Campgrounds in national parks are booked on Recreation.gov. See every park, monument and historic site in North Carolina on the National Park Service North Carolina page ↗.

National forests and free camping

North Carolina's national forests include Pisgah, Nantahala, Uwharrie, Croatan. Developed campgrounds are booked on Recreation.gov (some are first-come, first-served), and most national forest land allows free dispersed camping away from developed sites, usually for up to 14 days. Check the forest's rules and any fire restrictions first.

Permits and lotteries

• Great Smoky Mountains requires a parking tag for vehicles parked longer than 15 minutes; backcountry camping needs a permit.

Fishing and hunting licences

Licences for North Carolina are sold by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ↗, online or at local retailers. Rules and seasons differ by species and water, so check before you go.

Passes

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at national parks and many federal lands in North Carolina. State parks usually sell their own day or annual passes; see North Carolina State Parks.

Best time to camp in North Carolina

Spring and fall are most comfortable. Summers are hot and humid with afternoon storms; winter is mild in the south.

Questions

Packing checklists

Nearby states (Southeast)