Local Campgrounds
Statesville East/I-40/Winston-Salem KOA
The Statesville East/I-40/Winston-Salem KOA (midwaycampground.com) in Statesville encompasses 33 forested acres and is half a mile from Interstate 40. Camping options include partial hookup tent sites, full hookup RV sites with room for slide-outs, and cabins with half baths, a porch and picnic table. Recreational facilities include a jumping pillow, an outdoor swimming pool with a sundeck, a miniature golf course, and basketball, volleyball and badminton courts. The KOA also has a covered picnic pavilion and a five-acre lake where guests can fish. Standard amenities include restrooms, showers, a laundry facility and a camp store. All campers are escorted to their sites.
Lake Norman State Park
About 11 minutes south of Statesville, Lake Norman State Park (ncparks.gov) has 13 miles of shoreline along Lake Norman, the largest man-made lake in the state. The 32,510-acre lake a total shoreline of 520 miles. The park also has its own 33-acre lake where guests can can fish and boat. The park has hiking and biking trails, picnic areas and interpretive programs as well, along with 33 campsites. These sites do not have any hookups, but do come with tent pads, picnic tables and grills. Amenities in the camping area include restrooms, drinking water and a dump station. Campers can also choose primitive group camping sites that can only be reached on foot.
VanHoy Farms Family Campground
Approximately 20 minutes north of Statesville, the VanHoy Farms Family Campground (vanhoyfarms.com) in the town of Harmony encompasses more than 100 acres and features annual musical shows and festivals. The venue fo concerts on the campground can accommodate 12,000 people. Camping facilities include 34 full hookup sites, 85 sites with water and electric connections only, two cabins and primitive sites for pitching tents. Dump stations, restrooms, showers and a laundry facility are all on the grounds. Among the other campground highlights are a swimming pool, a volleyball court, a softball field, a hiking trail and a wading stream.
Hiddenite Family Campground
The family owned and operated Hiddenite Family Campground (hiddenitecampground.com) less than half an hour to the northwest of Statesville, has 37 full hookup sites, partial hookup tent sites and primitive tent sites. The sites come with picnic tables and fire rings. The campground covers over 30 forested acres and sits along the banks of the South Yadkin River. Features on the property include a swimming pool, small farm animals, horseshoe pits, walking trails, a volleyball court and a playground. Among its basic amenities are restrooms, showers and a dump station. Guests can also pick berries.
Doughton Park Campground
Nestled in a landscape of mountains, open meadows and pioneer cabins, Doughton Park Campground is surrounded by 30 miles (48 km) of hiking trails offering opportunities to view wildlife as well as get a feel for the lives of those who lived here long ago. Originally known as The Bluffs, the area came by its present name in honor of Congressman Robert L. Doughton, a long-time advocate and supporter of the Parkway.
Recreation
Trails in the Doughton Park area include the Cedar Ridge Trail, a strenuous 4.2 mile hike, and the Bluff Mountain Trail, a moderate 7.5 mile hike; both accessible from the Brinegar Cabin parking overlook (milepost 238.5). The short Fodder Stack Loop Trail (milepost 240.6) showcases the varied plant life of the area, while the Bluff Ridge Trail, Grassy Gap Fire Road (horse trail), and Flat Rock Ridge Trail are all moderate to strenuous trails that provide the hiker with beautiful views and abundant wildlife.
Bandits Roost Campground
Bandits Roost Campgroundis located on the south side of W. Kerr Scott Reservoir in western North Carolina..Constructed in the beautiful Yadkin River Valley, the lake offers extensive opportunities for outdoor recreational activities.
Recreation
The 1,475-acre reservoir offers excellent boating, canoeing, kayaking and swimming opportunities. Anglers will find channel catfish, large and smallmouth bass, bluegill, threadfin shad, spotted bass, striped bass, and hybrid striped bass. Miles of multi-use trails, that allow hiking and mountain biking, surround the lake, including the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, which has a trailhead at the campground. An additional 25 miles of trails can be found at the Warrior Creek and Dark Mountain areas.
Facilities
The campground offers 102 campsites, including 17 tents sites and 85 standard sites with water and electric hookups. The popular group tent area offers a covered shelter with water and electricity, a grill, six tables and seven tent pads. Amenities include flush and pit toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. A boat ramp, swim beach, playground, basketball court and amphitheater offer additional recreation opportunities.
Warrior Creek
Warrior Creekis located on the south side of W. Kerr Scott Reservoir in western North Carolina. Constructed in the beautiful Yadkin River Valley, the lake offers extensive opportunities for outdoor recreational activities.
Recreation
The 1,475-acre reservoir offers excellent boating, canoeing, kayaking and swimming opportunities. Anglers will find channel catfish, large and smallmouth bass, bluegill, threadfin shad, spotted bass, striped bass, and hybrid striped bass. The Warrior Creek trail system completely encircles the campground as it scenically follows the fold of the surrounding landscape. It is recognized by the International Mountain Biking Association as one of the top bike trails in the world. There are 17 miles of single track trail in Warrior Creek with multiple points-of-entry throughout the campground. These trails are also used extensively by hikers and trail runners.
Facilities
The campground offers 61 family campsites, 6 of these are tent only sites that do have electric hookups. The other 55 sites have full electrical and water hookups to support RV's. There are also two group camping areas that are perfect for large groups. Amenities include flush and vault toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. An amphitheater, swim beach, playground, basketball court and hiking and biking trails offer additional recreation opportunities. A boat ramp and three fishing piers, one of which is ADA accessible, can be found at Keowee Park which borders the campground.