If you are anywhere near the Pisgah National Forest in the western mountains of North Carolina close to Brevard, drive, do not walk, to camp at Davidson River Campground. It’s just about one of my favorite campgrounds of anywhere I’ve visited. We just returned from a family camping weekend there, and I couldn’t wait to share it with you!
You can book a reservation for the Davidson River Campground through the Recreation.gov website. One caveat: book early. The reservation system releases available camp sites exactly six months prior to when you want to visit – not a day sooner. During peak season (summer through fall), it can almost be harder to book a camp site here than securing a FastPass at Disney World! Being that this is part of the National Park system, the rates are really reasonable, which also increases the campground’s appeal.
(There are some first come, first serve road side tent camping sites within the park gates. Call the campground to inquire how to arrange one of these).
We stayed on the Hemlock Loop (site 119). The campground is made up of several different loops – some are tent only, some are a mix of small(ish) RVs and travel trailers (no Class C Big Rigs allowed in here!). We love the Hemlock loop because it runs right along the Davidson River, so you can hear that wonderful “whooshing” river sound all day long.
While we were able to snag a site with 30-amp electricity (there are only a few throughout the campground), none of the sites within Davidson River have water or sewer hook ups. There is a potable water station and dump station at the campground entrance.
Once you’re inside the campground (and only people with campground reservations are allowed beyond the gates), you have access to hiking trails, swimming holes, fishing, tubing, meadows, walking trails and much more!
There’s also a quaint English Methodist chapel that dates back to the 1800s within the campground, and it still holds services each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Campers are welcome!
The sites are really spacious – some of the biggest I’ve seen – so you have plenty of room to spread out without feeling like you’re encroaching on your neighbor.
One tip: there is little to no cell service once you drive into the campground.
You’re in the forest! You might get lucky to get a text message out here and there, but no Internet or phone calls are likely to get through. Enjoy the break from electronics and commune with nature!
The bathhouses are typical state and/or national park service bathrooms. Nothing glamorous, with the shower water on a timer so as to conserve resources. But the shower water is warm, and the restrooms were mostly maintained from what I could see.
When you’re staying at Davidson River Campground, you’re also close to some amazing natural wonders – Looking Glass Falls (a beautiful waterfall you can actually swim and wade at the base), Looking Glass Rock hiking trail, Sliding Rock (you haven’t lived until you’ve plunged yourself down this slippery boulder into the coldest water you might ever encounter), fly fishing and much more.
Once you’ve worn yourself out for the day, head back down to the base of Pisgah Highway and enjoy a sweet treat at Dolly’s Dairy Barn, a local ice cream hangout. Or fill up your belly at Hawg Wild across the street, some of the best barbecue in the area!
I hope you’ll add Davidson River Campground to one of your must-see places to camp if you’re in the area. We think you’ll love it as much as we do! Happy camping!