How much does camping cost at Mortimer Campground?

Camping fees at Mortimer Campground range from $20-$30/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Fees are typically paid at the campground entrance.

Is Mortimer Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Mortimer Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays, to secure a spot.

Can I see photos of campsites at Mortimer Campground before I book?

Yes! Mortimer Campground has 9 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 Mortimer Campground?

Mortimer Campground is open March 28 to November 02. 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 Mortimer Campground?

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

How many campsites does Mortimer Campground have?

Mortimer Campground has 17 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Arrive early for the best site selection.

Are dogs allowed at Mortimer Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Mortimer Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Mortimer Campground?

Mortimer Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

Mortimer Campground

4.32

28 reviews

Mortimer Campground

Peace & Quiet

Featured in:Hiking Camping Tennessee

Real-Time Availability

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Quick Facts

1,400 ft

Price

$20 - $30/night

Booking

Check Site

Sites

17 campsites

Season

Campground is open A...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

RV FriendlyShowers

Book Online Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

1,400 ft

Price

$20 - $30/night

Booking

Check Site

Sites

17 campsites

Season

Campground is open A...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

RV FriendlyShowers

Book Online Official Website

Get Directions

Mortimer Campground

$20.00 - $30.00 / night

Campsite Fees

10: $20.00; 11: $20.00; 12: $30.00; 13: $20.00; 14: $20.00; 15: $20.00; 16: $20.00; 17: $20.00; 1: $20.00; 2: $20.00; 3: $20.00; 4: $20.00; 5:...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

(828) 652-2144grandfatherrd@usda.gov

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Mortimer Campground

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Campground Map

Mortimer Campground

35.9911, -81.7613

Nearby places

Wilson Creek Visitor Center: 3.2 miles

Julian Price Memorial Park and Campground: 24 miles north

Linville Falls and Linville Gorge Wilderness Area: 21 miles

Grandfather Mountain State Park: 17 miles.

Weather at Mortimer Campground

Best Time to Camp at Mortimer Campground

Best season: fall. Fall offers the most dramatic experience at Mortimer — crisp days, cool nights, and peak hardwood color in the Blue Ridge make hiking and photography outstanding. Expect daytime highs around 50–65°F in October with nights dipping into the 30s–40s; water in Thorps Creek is clear and lower, making fishing and creek-side exploring easier. Foliage draws more visitors on weekend days, but the campground’s small 17-site footprint still feels intimate compared with larger parks. Peak months: October, September, May, June Avoid: January, February

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.5 / 5

Fall delivers best conditions: peak colors, pleasant temps, and lower creek levels for exploring/fishing.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: March 28 to November 02. Book 2-3 months ahead.
Operating Season: Campground is open April 1st thru November 1st

About Mortimer Campground

Mortimer Campground sits along Thorps Creek in the Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River Corridor, about an hour from both Blowing Rock and Morganton. The 17-site campground splits into two loops: 14 accessible sites in the upper loop (small RVs up to 35 feet welcome) and 5 walk-in tent sites in the lower loop. Large hemlocks and pines shade the streamside setting, and the camp host keeps facilities immaculate.

17-site campground with an upper loop of 14 accessible sites that can accommodate small RVs up to 35 ft and a lower loop of 5 tent-only walk-in sites.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: fall. Fall offers the most dramatic experience at Mortimer — crisp days, cool nights, and peak hardwood color in the Blue Ridge make hiking and photography outstanding. Expect daytime highs around 50–65°F in October with nights dipping into the 30s–40s; water in Thorps Creek is clear and lower, making fishing and creek-side exploring easier. Foliage draws more visitors on weekend days, but the campground’s small 17-site footprint still feels intimate compared with larger parks. Peak months: October, September, May, June Avoid: January, February

Elevation1400 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryThorps Creek runs alongside the campground before joining Wilson Creek, carving swimming holes and fishing spots into the bedrock. Hemlocks and pines create a dense canopy overhead, with hardwoods filling out the surrounding forest. At 1,400 feet elevation in the shadow of Grandfather Mountain, the campground sits where feeder streams crisscross the terrain and the sound of moving water carries through camp at night. The Blue Ridge gorges and ridges define the horizon. You'll hear the creek from most sites. Multiple reviewers mention the peaceful running water, natural pools for cooling off, and easy access to waterfalls within hiking distance.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

AccessibilityUpper loop includes 14 fully accessible, barrier-free sites.

Site SizeMost sites have tent pads; upper loop sites can accommodate small RVs up to 35 ft; lower loop consists of 5 tent-only walk-in sites.

PrivacySecluded streamside setting shaded by large hemlocks and pines.

Total Campsites17 campsites

Recommended SitesThe campground has an upper and lower loop: the lower loop contains five tent-only walk-in sites served by a central parking lot; the upper loop contains 14 fully accessible, barrier-free sites that can accommodate small RVs up to 35 ft. Most sites include a tent pad, picnic table, lantern post, and fire ring.

Best CampsitesLower loop sites don't offer many suitable trees for hammock camping, so hammock users should stick to the upper loop. Creekside sites are colder in shoulder seasons but put you closest to the water. Reviews don't call out specific site numbers, but campers consistently praise the quiet, secluded feel across the campground.

Amenities available

Mortimer Campground has 17 sites split between an upper loop of 14 fully accessible, barrier-free sites (can accommodate small RVs up to 35 ft) and a lower loop with five tent-only walk-in sites. Most sites include a tent pad, picnic table, lantern post, and fire ring. The campground provides flush toilets, hot showers, running water, bear-proof trash and recycling receptacles, and an on-site campground host.

Showers

Potable water

Flush toilets

Fire rings

Picnic tables

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Activities include fishing, swimming, day hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, picnicking, and scenic driving. Two Forest Service trails depart from the campground (Thorps Creek trail to Thorps Creek Falls and the Bill Vines connector to Schoolhouse Ridge Trail) and many other trails and mountain biking routes are within a short drive. Wilson Creek and Thorps Creek offer swimming, wading, trout fishing, and kayaking opportunities.

Water Sports

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

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

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

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

From Booking Sources

4.3

28 reviews

Recommended

Mortimer Campground is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviewers are overwhelmingly positive about Mortimer Campground, consistently describing it as small, quiet, clean, and beautifully situated along Wilson Creek with easy access to trails, waterfalls, and fishing. The camp host (often mentioned by name as David/Dave) is repeatedly praised as attentive, friendly, and proactive, and facilities like restrooms and showers are described as immaculate or very clean. A few minor drawbacks include road access, lack of cell service, occasional noisy neighbors or dogs, and some water system quirks, but these don’t significantly affect overall satisfaction.

Review Summaries

Based on 28 reviews

Best sites at a glance

Pulled from per-site mentions in 28 reviews.

Site 11 (Upper Loop)Loved
Site 11 (Upper Loop) is repeatedly mentioned as part of a secluded, clean, quiet experience, with reviewers praising the helpful, caring camp host and overall…
Site 10 (Upper Loop)Loved
Site 10 (Upper Loop) receives praise for a great multi‑night stay with creek sounds at night and easy access to trails and waterfalls, though one reviewer…
Site 4 (Lower Loop)Loved
Site 4 (Lower Loop) is called an “excellent tent site,” and another reviewer there notes quiet surroundings, a diligent attendant, and very clean restrooms…
Site 7 (Upper Loop)Loved
Site 7 (Upper Loop) is part of a “beautiful, quiet, family-friendly” experience with great trail access, while a review of the Lower Loop in general warns…

What Campers Love

Campers love the peaceful, secluded, and intimate feel of this small campground, deep in the woods and set by a creek/river with the sound of running water at night. Cleanliness and maintenance stand...

Based on 28 reviews

Common Concerns

A few reviewers note practical drawbacks rather than major problems: one mentions lack of phone/internet service, and another comments on washboard gravel roads to and from the campground. One Google...

Based on 28 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

One camper advises that in cooler months, creekside sites are several degrees colder than others, which can matter for tent campers with kids, so bringing appropriate cold‑weather gear is...

Based on 28 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Mortimer is a small campground located in the Wilson Creek NRA. One feature is that it is very quiet there day and night and promotes relaxation. The facilities are immaculate and closely...

Based on 28 reviews

Accessibility Features

One reviewer notes that accessing the creek/river for fishing can be challenging because the banks are steep and deep, making the approach to the water difficult even though the fishing itself is...

Based on 28 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

One Google review mentions barking dogs at neighboring sites as a downside, indicating that pets are present and occasional noise from them can be an issue, but there are no detailed comments about...

Based on 28 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Fall color-chasers, trout anglers, and anyone craving creek sounds at night will get the most from this place. October weekends fill fast at 17 sites, so book early. Site 10 or 11 in the upper loop puts you close to water and trail access, with showers that actually work.

Skip if

No cell service is a hard reality once you turn off the main road, and the washboard gravel getting in rattles loose gear. Hammock campers should know the lower loop lacks good anchor trees, and one reviewer found brown, tea-colored water at the Site 10 pump.

Nearby Campgrounds

8410 Edgemont Rd, Collettsville, NC, 28611, USA

Mortimer Campground sits along Wilson Creek in the North Carolina foothills, offering tent and RV sites with flush toilets, hot showers, and an on-site host. The small campground provides access to hiking and biking trails in the National Forests in North Carolina, with fall bringing peak hardwood color and comfortable temperatures. Visitors value the scenic creekside setting and well-maintained facilities.