Beach camping is available in North Carolina in four areas of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (www.nps.gov/caha; 1401 National Park Dr., Manteo, North Carolina; 252-473-2111). Three of the sites allow for mobile homes, tents and trailers. Cape Lookout National Seashore (www.nps.gov/calo; 131 Charles St., Harkers Island, South Carolina; 252-473-2111) is a primitive campsite only allowing tents. Cape Lookout is open from April through October. Extra long tent stakes are needed for putting up a tent in the sand. Contact either Cape Hatteras or Cape Lookout for reservations.
Camping is available in the metropolitan Charlotte area at the McDowell Nature Center and Preserve (no website; 15222 York Road, South Charlotte/Pineville, North Carolina; 704-583-1284) near Lake Norman State Park. McDowell offers 56 campsites and can accommodate motor homes, tents and trailers. Tent rentals are available. Thirty-two campsites are available at Lake Norman State Park (www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/lano; 159 Inland Sea La., Troutman; 704-528-6350). The park also offers hiking, water sports and space for group events.
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park (www.nps.gov/grsm; 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee; 865-436-1200) extends into Tennessee and North Carolina. Ten developed campgrounds offer 947 camping and RV camping spaces scattered throughout the park. There are more than 100 backcountry shelters and campsites and campsites are available for those who travel with horses. The backcountry camping spaces are free; the developed camping sites range in price from $14 to $23 as of 2011. Reservations are recommended.
Pisgah National Forest is located northeast of Asheville in the Appalachian mountains. The Black Mountain Campground (no website; Hwy 80 South, Burnsville, North Carolina; 828-682-6146) offers 44 camping spaces for tents, trailers and motor homes. It doesn't have hookups. Restrooms and hot showers are available. The campground is open from April through November; in 2011 the rate was $16 per night. No reservations are accepted. Forest Route 472 offers access to Mount Mitchell, the tallest mountain on the East Coast.
