9 Family Campgrounds Near Charlotte
Bring the kids to McDowell Nature Preserve for relaxation with a side of education. McDowell Nature Preserve borders Lake Wylie and lies approximately 30 minutes from the heart of Charlotte. Despite lake proximity, there is no lake beach or swimming area.
McDowell Nature Preserve offers 56 campsites ranging from RV to primitive, fishing, picnic areas, shelter rentals, eight miles of hiking trails, two playgrounds, and a nature center. Prior to visiting, check out McDowell Nature Center’s hours and programs, which are affordable, educational, and memorable for the kids.
- Address: 15222 York Road
- Contact: 980-314-2267, McDowellCampground@MeckNC.Gov
Experience a different kind of camping adventure at Carowinds’ Camp Wilderness. Comfortably camp in a lodge, cabin, or RV before braving the thrilling coasters and waterslides Carowinds and Carolina Harbor. This campground is open year-round, but tent sites are not available. The Great Wilderness Lodge sleeps up to 14 guests and offers a television and DVD player. Each Camp Wilderness Cabin has two bedrooms and can sleep up to eight guests, along with a television.
Located only 15 minutes south of Charlotte, find Camp Wilderness adjacent to Carolina Harbor water park. This campground features a pool, shuffleboard, and cornhole. Registered guests receive discounted Carowinds tickets and guaranteed reservations to both Carowinds and Carolina Harbor.
- Address: 14609 Carowinds Blvd.
- Contact: 704-588-2600, option 4
Try camping at Rock Hill’s newly renovated Ebenezer Park approximately 35 minutes from Charlotte. The lake-neighboring park now offers a 10,000 square-foot dock that curves into Lake Wylie to encompass the lake beach, which has been expanded. Ebenezer Park also offers three public boat ramps, a basketball court, and volleyball. Fishing is also allowed in certain areas.
Campers may reserve one of the 66 campsites year-round, and campsites can hold up to one trailer or RV or up to two tents each. No primitive campsites are available. Reserve a campsite online.
- Address: 4490 Boatshore Road, Rock Hill
- Contact: 803-366-6620, park@yorkcountygov.com
Approximately 45 minutes from Charlotte lies Camp T.N. Spencer Park. This Cabarrus County park offers a 1.5-mile walking trail, volleyball, a playground, three fishing ponds, horseshoe pits, and a swimming pool. Take a dip in the pool from Memorial Day to Labor Day for $5 per person. A natural play area lies at the end of the 0.4-mile nature trail.
Choose from one of the six cabins or eight tent sites. Both cabins and tent sites accommodate up to six campers. Cabins offer a swing or rocking chairs on the front porch, and the online reservation system lists each cabin’s distance from bathhouse.
- Address: 3155 Foxford Road, Concord
- Contact: Jacob Wentink, 704-795-4492, jlwentink@cabarruscounty.us
Camp near the relaxing waters of Lake Norman, only about 45 minutes from Charlotte. Lake Norman State Park offers 32 campsites for tents, trailers, RVs, or cabins, as well as a group camping area. Guests may also reserve a community building complete with kitchen facilities and restrooms. Each of Lake Norman State Park’s six cabins can sleep up to six campers in two bedrooms, one with double bed and the other with two sets of bunked beds. Check the reservations section of the website for specific amenities of photos of campsites.
Lake Norman State Park offers more than camping. Try the trails, which include suitable options for hikers, mountain bikers, and families. Those with little ones should check out Dragonfly Trail, which offers nature displays along a paved, 0.15-mile loop. Utilize the lakeside location by fishing, swimming, or boating. Swim along the lake beach, or rent paddle boats, kayaks, SUP boards, or canoes.
- Address: Lake Norman State Park Campground, 759 State Park Road, Troutman, NC 28166
- Contact: 877-722-6762, lake.norman@ncparks.gov
Visit Dan Nicholas Park in Rowan County for a unique camping experience. Dan Nicholas Park, which lies just under an hour from Charlotte, offers nature programs, carousel, minigolf, gem mining, paddle boats, train station, splash pad, and Rowan Wild. Rowan Wild is home to a collection of animal ambassadors and is comprised of the Barnyard, Nature Center, and Wildlife Adventures.
Dan Nicholas Park holds six cabins and 70 campsites. One-room cabins include a full-size bed and twin-size bunk beds, accommodating up to 5 campers. Campsites accommodate up to six campers. Twelve campsites offer pull-through, and 67 campsites offer power and water. The fishing lake shares a border with twelve of the sites.
- Address: 6800 Bringle Ferry Road, Salisbury
- Contact: 704-216-7808
Cane Creek Park surrounds a 350-acre lake in Waxhaw. Use the Harkey Road entrance for access to a playground, volleyball, numerous picnic tables, disc golf, climbing wall, boat ramp, rental pedal boats, and lake beach. The campground entrance on Cane Creek Road is only for registered campers. This section of the park offers a boat ramp, lake beach, basketball court, miniature golf, playground, and lakeside lodge. Guests may hike or fish at either location. Check the Facebook page for upcoming events, such as summer movie nights.
Select one of the 108 sites in the family camping area to be near Cane Creek Lake and a bathhouse. Or try one of the nine tent-only wilderness sites that offer no water or electricity hook-ups. Cabins at Cane Creek Park can accommodate up to six campers with one double bed and two sets of bunk beds. Campsite rentals can be made here.
- Address: 5213 Harkey Road, Waxhaw, NC 28173
- Contact: 704-283-3885, parkreservations@unioncountync.gov
This KOA has all the amenities: WiFi, mini golf and a pool. A picnic pavilion is available for group use. Don’t feel like cooking? Enjoy Hunt Brothers Pizza on-site. Relax next door at John’s Place, a full-service lounge. Walk to Publix or drive to Walmart, just five minutes away.
There are tent sites, lodging, RV sites, and extended stays. Note dog breed restrictions: Rottweiler, America Bulldog, Pit-bull, Doberman Pinscher or any mix of these will not be permitted.
- Address:940 Gold Hill Rd, Fort Mill, SC
- Cost: See website for pricing
- Contact: 803-547-5416
Just about 90 minutes from Charlotte, Jellystone is a family favorite with a little something for everyone. “Glampers” or those that are new to camping can choose from a variety of cabin rentals – both rustic and luxury options. Those who have an RV can rent one of our spacious campsites, while tent campers can book a tent site for a rustic camping experience.
Campers enjoy access to their huge water park, swimming pools, mini golf course, jumping pillows, playground, sports courts, and more. There are a variety of additional rentals including paddle boards, kayaks, golf carts, and laser tag.
- Address: 182 Jellystone Parkway, Bostic, NC 28018
- Cost: Cabins range between $180 – $460 per night, Tent sites start around $110 per night, see reservation page on site for specific pricing
- Contact: 803-547-5416
