Whether you like roughing it or prefer a glamping adventure, Asheville, Tennessee, has the campground for you. Each one allows you to savor the beauty of the mountainside without going too far away from town. If you choose carefully, you could even go to campgrounds right on the lake or river, allowing you to enjoy waterside activities all throughout your trip. Ready to find the perfect camping spot? Here’s a look at the top 10 campgrounds in the greater Asheville area.
Asheville Bear Creek RV Park
If you’re an RV camping extraordinaire, Asheville Bear Creek RV Park is the place to go, for sure. This campground accommodates all types of RVs and big rigs with 25 pull-throughs and 65 back-in sites.
The 30- and 50-amp hookups let you tap into the power and get enough juice to run your AC, refrigerator, and electronics. Water and sewer hookups are available as well. Other amenities onsite include three bathrooms, two laundry facilities, a clubhouse, large playgrounds, dog walk areas, and an outdoor pool. Free cable and Wi-Fi also come with your spot.
Lake Powhatan Recreation Area & Campground
For endless adventures on the lake, you cannot go wrong with a trip to Lake Powhatan Recreation Area & Campground. Although it’s only 10 minutes from Asheville, this campground will make you feel like you’re far off the beaten path.
You can come by for day use if you’d like, but reserving a campsite lets you truly enjoy all the lakeside has to offer. Depending on what time of year you want to camp, you have between 39 and 75 tent and RV campsites to choose from. Amenities include electric and full hookups, tent pads, flush toilets, hot showers, fire rings, and picnic tables.
Wilson’s Riverfront RV Park
If the beautiful river calls your name, set your sights on a trip to Wilson’s Riverfront RV Park. At this popular campground, you can set up right on the French Broad River banks or a bit inland if you prefer. Either way, you’ll get to park your RV on a stable concrete pad and hook up to power, water, and sewer.
If you’d like to camp in a tent instead, plan your trip anytime between April and October when they open their tent sites. Their bath house also opens up during that time, allowing you to easily get cleaned up in between all your adventures.
Asheville East KOA Holiday
At the Asheville East KOA Holiday, you get to choose your own adventure. Bring your RV, get a tent site, or even rent a camping or deluxe cabin to perfect your stay. If you travel by RV, you’ll love their oversized pull-through and back-in sites, complete with full hookups.
Their cabins are second-to-none as well. You can get a basic cabin with room for four plus your pets. Or you can go all out with a deluxe cabin, which features a bathroom, kitchen, and 20 cable channels. The tent sites don’t have all the bells and whistles, but they’re the best way to relax right on the Swannanoa River.
Mama Gertie’s Hideaway Campground
If you’d like to camp in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, let Mama Gertie’s Hideaway Campground sweep you off your feet. Built with your comfort and convenience in mind, each pull-through and back-in campsite is perfectly level and set up with 20-, 30-, and 50-amp service. There are picnic tables and fire pits available for your use throughout your stay.
On top of that, you get access to their fitness and rec room and camp store, where you can restock your RV. Wi-Fi internet service and cable TV is complimentary as well, so you can make the most of your downtime.
Mount Pisgah Campgrounds
By planning your stay at the Mount Pisgah Campgrounds, you can start and end your camping adventures with a memorable road trip. Set right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, this campsite has both RV and tent sites, letting you camp on your own terms.
Unlike many other campgrounds, they have 71 campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis only, and 53 more set aside for those with reservations. All of their sites are basic, lacking power connections and other creature comforts. So, you will have to fill your time with hikes, birdwatching, and stargazing excursions instead.
Campfire Lodgings
Another Blue Ridge Mountains favorite, Campfire Lodgings allows you to build your perfect camping experience. To do that, you’ll just need to decide if you’d like a tent or RV site—or prefer to rent a cabin, yurt, or cliff house.
Each option puts you right on the mountainside, where the air is fresh, clean, and wholly rejuvenating. All their RV sites have full hookups, while their tent sites let you get back to nature. If you choose to rent a space, you’ll get cozy digs built to impress and keep you warm, dry, and comfortable throughout your stay.
Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins
Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins have reinvented the camping experience by creating an urban campground. Set right off the French Board River Greenway, this campground features 16 A-frame cabins equipped with all the best amenities. High-speed internet. Record players. Board games galore. You name it, and they’ve got it.
When you want to meet up with your fellow campers for an evening of fun, you can just head over to the River Lodge. While there, you’ll find a quaint library, a full-service café, and plenty of places to kick back and relax.
North Mills River Recreation Area
If you’d like to enjoy a truly serene riverside camping trip, get to the campgrounds at the North Mills River Recreation Area. From March through November, you can reserve one of their 26 standard sites or their single RV site with full hookups. Across the rest of the year, there are 12 sites available first-come, first-served.
Each campsite puts you just steps from the North Mills River, where you can go tubing, swimming, and fishing to your heart’s content. In between your adventures, light a fire in your fire rings and enjoy hot dogs, smores, and more. There are also picnic tables, hot showers, and flush toilets available when you need them.
Rutledge Lake RV Park
When nothing else will do but glamping fun, get on over to Rutledge Lake RV Park. At this luxury RV campground, you can get set up at pull-through and back-in RV sites with 30- and 50-amp service for the ultimate camping experience. Your site also comes with a fire ring, picnic table, and free cable TV and Wi-Fi.
When you want to get out and have some fun, you’re welcome to take a dip in the full-size heated swimming pool. Prefer to go fishing? Grab a canoe or paddleboat and head out on the lake. There’s also a recreation hall, featuring table tennis, a pool table, and a big-screen TV.
As the weather starts to heat up across Asheville, TN, you can expect the camping spots to fill up fast. So, try to reserve your spot well ahead of the camping season to ensure you don’t get left behind. If you’re not sure when to make reservations, call the campground well ahead of time to ask when they start getting the most visitors.