How much does camping cost at Black Mountain Campground?

Camping fees at Black Mountain Campground range from $28-$56/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Book online to see exact pricing for your dates.

Is Black Mountain Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Black Mountain Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Black Mountain Campground before I book?

Yes! Black Mountain Campground has 15 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

What is the best time to visit Black Mountain Campground?

Black Mountain Campground is open April 15 to October 30. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Black Mountain Campground?

Yes, Black Mountain Campground has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

How many campsites does Black Mountain Campground have?

Black Mountain Campground has 40 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Black Mountain Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Black Mountain Campground. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Black Mountain Campground?

Black Mountain Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Dump Station, Electrical Hookups, Pets Allowed, Camp Store. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Black Mountain Campground?

Popular activities at Black Mountain Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Biking, Climbing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Black Mountain Campground

4.65

154 reviews

50 Black Mountain Campground Road, Burnsville, NC 28714, USA

Top 20% in NCFall

Great HikingFishing

Featured in:Fall Camping North Carolina#3 Winter Camping North Carolina Hiking Camping North Carolina +6 more

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

3,040 ft

Price

$28 - $56/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

40 campsites

Season

Open season: April 1...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

ElectricShowers

Book on Find Outdoors Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

3,040 ft

Price

$28 - $56/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

40 campsites

Season

Open season: April 1...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

ElectricShowers

Book on Find Outdoors Official Website

Get Directions

Black Mountain Campground

$28.00 - $56.00 / night

Campsite Fees

STANDARD ELECTRIC: $35.00; STANDARD NONELECTRIC- Double Site: $56.00; STANDARD NONELECTRIC: $28.00; TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC: $28.00. Plus...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

828-675-5616info@gofindoutdoors.org

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

50 Black Mountain Campground Road, Burnsville, NC 28714, USA

Black Mountain Campground

50 Black Mountain Campground Road, Burnsville, NC 28714, USA

Nearby places

Burnsville (~30 minutes, 15 miles)

Asheville (~60 minutes, 38 miles)

Marion (~50 minutes, 29 miles)

Weather at Black Mountain Campground

Current alerts(5)

Cell service is limited, texting might be a possibility.
Click here to learn more about the National Forests in North Carolina
First-come, first-served sites available and sites available for advanced reservation are available.
Generators may be used up to 4 hours per day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Best Time to Camp at Black Mountain Campground

Best season: fall. Fall delivers the most dramatic experience here: crisp, stable weather, spectacular alpine and cove-forest color (peak typically mid-to-late October), and excellent hiking and photography conditions around Mount Mitchell (6,684 ft). Daytime highs are often in the 45–60°F range with chilly nights near freezing at higher spots, making for comfortable hiking and great sleeping weather at the 3,040 ft campground. River fishing and wildlife viewing are excellent as insects wane, but expect higher day Peak months: October, September, May, June Avoid: November, December, January, February

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

5.0 / 5

Top 20% in NC

Fall is the standout season with peak color mid-late October and ideal temperatures.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: April 15 to October 30. Book 2-3 months ahead.
Operating Season: Open season: April 15, 2025 – October 30, 2025; closed outside these dates.

About Black Mountain Campground

Black Mountain Campground sits along the South Toe River in the foothills of North Carolina's national forest, operated by Find Outdoors with seasonal access during peak months. The mid-sized facility offers electric hookups, showers, and a dump station for RV campers, plus tent and primitive options for those seeking a quieter experience. Visitors come for hiking access to Mount Mitchell and nearby trails, fishing and swimming in the river, and fall color displays that peak in mid-to-late October.

Black Mountain Campground offers a mix of primitive and electric campsites. The focus is on tent camping, with limited spots for RVs. Group camping is not explicitly mentioned.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: fall. Fall delivers the most dramatic experience here: crisp, stable weather, spectacular alpine and cove-forest color (peak typically mid-to-late October), and excellent hiking and photography conditions around Mount Mitchell (6,684 ft). Daytime highs are often in the 45–60°F range with chilly nights near freezing at higher spots, making for comfortable hiking and great sleeping weather at the 3,040 ft campground. River fishing and wildlife viewing are excellent as insects wane, but expect higher day Peak months: October, September, May, June Avoid: November, December, January, February

Elevation3040 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryThe South Toe River runs clear and cold through the campground, popular for native trout fishing and wading on hot afternoons. At this elevation, hardwoods and evergreens create dense shade over most sites. Mount Mitchell rises to 6,684 feet a short drive away, its summit cloaked in rare spruce-fir forest. The surrounding Black Mountains form some of the oldest geology in the Appalachians. Black bears are active here. Reviews mention the campground's bear-proof storage requirements. And songbirds are common at dawn.

Lodging & AccommodationsThe campground does not have lodge-style accommodations but is focused on primitive camping with some electric hookups.

Programs & ActivitiesNo explicit mention of cultural or educational programs is provided.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Stay Limit

Maximum of 14 consecutive nights per visit.

Guests Allowed Per Site

Each site accommodates 2 tents and 2 vehicles
maximum occupancy varies.

Groups

No group-specific sites are mentioned in the authoritative or user-provided sources.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsReservations available via Recreation.gov website, mobile app, or contact center.

AccessibilityNo detailed information about ADA-specific accessibility features was provided.

Site SizeCampsites are generally spacious with some featuring specific setups such as parallel parking. One user commented, "Large campsites with good distance in between," and another noted, "The site was flat level with plenty of space for our 4-person tent and pop-up canopy.

PrivacyPrivacy levels vary; some sites are closer to thoroughfares, while others are more secluded. One user stated, "Our campsite seemed very large with plenty of privacy," while another remarked, "The site just felt completely exposed as people constantly walked or drove immediately past my campsite.

Total Campsites40 campsites

Recommended SitesSites along the river are highly recommended for scenic views and proximity to the water. Tent-only sites offer greater privacy and immersion in nature.

Best CampsitesSite 23 on the Upper Loop gets mentioned for privacy and river proximity. Site 36 is noted for quiet and views. Privacy varies widely. Some sites sit close to roads or foot traffic, while others offer more seclusion. One camper described their site as "very large with plenty of privacy," while another felt "completely exposed" to passing foot and vehicle traffic.

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Recreation.gov Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

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Cancellation Alerts

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Amenities available

Black Mountain Campground offers a mix of basic yet well-maintained amenities. The campground contains 37 primitive campsites and three with electric hookups. Each site has a picnic table, tent pad, lantern post, and campfire ring with grill. The facility includes hot showers and restrooms with flush toilets. Firewood, ice, t-shirts, and souvenirs can be purchased on-site. Elevation is 3,040 feet, providing a cool and lush forest environment. Notably, cell phone service is very limited, and there is no Wi-Fi.

Showers

Electricity hookups

Flush toilets

Dump station

Fire rings

Picnic tables

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

The campground offers diverse activities, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Adjacent to the South Toe River, visitors can enjoy fishing, hiking, scenic drives, and wildlife viewing. Trails cater to various skill levels—from a leisurely half-mile forest walk to a challenging 5.6-mile hike to Mt. Mitchell.

Hiking

Climbing

Fishing

Swimming

Biking

Winter Activities

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

Trash & RecyclingTrash bins are provided, and users are reminded to secure trash due to the campground's location in a bear sanctuary. Several campers appreciated the availability of organized trash disposal to manage wildlife interactions.

Cell CoverageCell service is extremely limited. One user noted, "Zero cell service and no Wi-Fi around. This could be good or bad depending on what you like." Another mentioned, "Make sure you follow the directions given by the campground as my GPS took me to their closed off entrance."

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

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Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

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From Booking Sources

4.7

154 reviews

Top-Rated

Black Mountain Campground is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviews for Black Mountain Campground vary widely, with many praising the natural beauty, well-maintained facilities, and hiking opportunities. Some criticisms focus on inconsistent campground management and cell service limitations.

Review Summaries

Based on 154 reviews

Best sites at a glance

Pulled from per-site mentions in 154 reviews.

Site 023Mentioned
Site 023 is repeatedly mentioned positively for its size and proximity to the river.
Site 009Mentioned
Site 009 has mixed reviews due to its closeness to restrooms.

What Campers Love

Commonly mentioned positives include clean facilities, friendly hosts, excellent hiking trails, and a serene setting by the South Toe River. One user remarked, "Wonderful campground, well-maintained,...

Based on 154 reviews

Common Concerns

Negative feedback centers on specific campground hosts' behavior, inconsistent rule enforcement, and occasional lapses in cleanliness. Some users noted management issues, such as favoritism or...

Based on 154 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Campers recommend preparing for the lack of cell service, bringing bear-proof storage, and reserving in advance due to high demand. One camper advised, "Make sure you follow the directions given by...

Based on 154 reviews

Seasonal Insights

Spring and fall are the most popular seasons, with reviewers highlighting the area's beauty during these times. Summer is also busy, but one user noted, "Heavy rainfall during summer can raise the...

Based on 154 reviews

Camper Quotes

"It’s a beautiful campground with friendly hosts and clean bathrooms." "No cell service at all, so plan to unplug." "The trailhead to Mt. Mitchell starts right in the campground, which is perfect for...

Based on 154 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

Pets are allowed, but users are reminded to keep dogs on leashes. One reviewer noted, "The family next to me had three dogs, which barked all night."

Based on 154 reviews

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Go if

You want a well-maintained base camp for hiking and fall foliage with modern amenities and river access.

Skip if

You need reliable cell service or prefer campgrounds with consistent rule enforcement during busy periods.

Nearby Campgrounds

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4.6

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Briar Bottom Group Campground

50 BLACK MOUNTAIN CG ROAD, BURNSVILLE, NC 28714, USA

Briar Bottom Group Campground sits in the foothills of National Forests in North Carolina near Burnsville, operated by the Cradle of Forestry In America Interpretive Association. This group-only facility offers flush toilets, hot showers, and access to hiking, fishing, biking, and climbing in a forested setting. The campground operates seasonally during peak months with a 14-day stay limit.