The best safari tent rentals near Shelby, North Carolina

Shelby, North Carolina is east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and provides a mix of camping options from rugged backcountry areas to pet-friendly cabin rentals and RV parks outfitted with full hookups. Walk oak-tree-lined streets in town before paying a visit to Shelby’s City Park, which offers 155 acres of green space, including an original wooden carousel from 1919 and the Rotary Special mini train. Campers can then trek to Stone Mountain State Park for hiking, day-trip to Lake Norman State Park to float the day away in a kayak, or hop the border to South Carolina to view Whitewater Falls.

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Top-rated campgrounds

Shelby, North Carolina is east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and provides a mix of camping options from rugged backcountry areas to pet-friendly cabin rentals and RV parks outfitted with full hookups. Walk oak-tree-lined streets in town before paying a visit to Shelby’s City Park, which offers 155 acres of green space, including an original wooden carousel from 1919 and the Rotary Special mini train. Campers can then trek to Stone Mountain State Park for hiking, day-trip to Lake Norman State Park to float the day away in a kayak, or hop the border to South Carolina to view Whitewater Falls.

100% (502)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. TangleWood Creekside Campsites

99%

(635)

46mi from Shelby · 28 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Marion, NC

16 miles North of Marion and closer to "Linville Gorge", "Linville Falls" and "The Blue Ridge Parkway" area, we are a perfect jump off point for all your adventures including "The Apple Orchard" at Altapass, "Linville Caverns" in addition to the ones mentioned above. TangleWood Creekside Campsites offers a rocky creek winding through the woods at the base of several hikable peaks hidden just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife enthusiasts are encouraged to explore, on foot or mountain-bike, anywhere within our 170 acres (or the adjoining 250 acres owned by the US Forestry Service off our North Western border) and are likely to catch glimpses of turkey, beaver, deer, fox, eastern box turtle and the many species of songbird and raptor. The location is convenient to tons of local attractions for sightseeing and outdoor activities as well as shopping, dining, even wine tasting. We would be happy to supply a comprehensive list of the various local attractions upon request but the following are a few of our favorite things to do within a short drive: visit Linville Falls, Caverns, Gorge and/or Winery; drive the Blue Ridge parkway; tube/kayak down the Catawba river; hike beautiful Crabtree Falls; cross Grandfather Mountains mile high bridge and explore the nearby towns of Spruce Pines or Little Switzerland. The scenic drives to Asheville, Blowing Rock or Banner Elk make them each wonderful day-trip destinations.

2. Emberglow Outdoor Resort

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(62)

34mi from Shelby · 61 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Mill Spring, NC

Come enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends in the rolling hills of Western North Carolina at Emberglow Outdoor Resort. We’ve assembled one-of-a-kind lodging options on 72 acres in a beautiful private valley, complete with spring-fed creeks and a night sky of a billion stars. We’re conveniently situated between Asheville, Charlotte, Greenville, and Columbia. Get a closer look at the beautiful Emberglow Outdoor Resort property in our photo galleries and book now to experience it for yourself. An elevated camping experience nestled in the Blue Ridge Foothills of Western NC. A CONVENIENT ESCAPE Located near Lake Lure, a less than 2-hour drive from Charlotte, Greenville, Columbia, and Asheville, we offer our guests a convenient escape from the commotion of the weekly grind. UNIQUE LODGING OPTIONS Pick your unique lodging experience or bring your own. Yurts, AirStreams, Treehouses, and more are available for rent or park your RV or pitch a tent in one of our beautiful campsites. OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS There are endless outdoor activities and attractions in nearby Lake Lure, or you can take advantage of our resort-quality amenities without ever leaving the property. At Emberglow, you can play outside on your own terms, limit your travel time, and disconnect from the daily hamster wheel. Our mission is to deliver to our guests an exceptional place to enjoy the great outdoors with a variety of comfortable lodging options and unique amenities. Book your stay today! EXPLORE OUR Unique Lodging Choose from more than 20 memorable lodging options or set up your own in one of our fully-equipped RV or tent sites, all with access to our resort-quality amenities. • Vintage Campers • Treehouses • Tiny Homes • Yurts • Glamping Pods • Safari Tent • Primitive Tree Houses • RV Rental Trailers • RV Sites • Primitive Tent Sites ON-SITE AMENITIES A resort-quality pool awaits you to kick your feet up. Take on the family in sand volleyball or hit the hiking trails. Emberglow’s premium on-site amenities are just the start of your vacation possibilities. • Resort Quality Pool • Hiking/Biking Trails • Dog Park • Pedal Kart Rentals • Free Wifi • The Jump Pad • Sand Volleyball • Bicycle Rentals (Adult + Youth Sizes) • Sport Fields • Community Fire Pit • GaGa Ball Pit • Playground

3. Take a Hike on a Wild side! Camping

100%

(26)

44mi from Shelby · 11 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Lenoir, NC

This property is 180 acres of woods and mountains with streams and ponds. Beautiful settings. If you like hiking in the mountains this will definitely hit the spot. YO can fish in the ponds it has blue gills and catfish. I also added grass carp there as part of weed management. This used to be an abandoned farm which I want to bring back to life. The site offers three luxury large Safari Style Tents and 4 Pioneer wagons. All tents are far away from each other to provide privacy and freedom of going Wild (still remaining civilized in your manners and careful attitude to Nature around you). Tent 1 is in the Forrest itself and it is pretty cook and serene. Tent 2 is on the top of a rocky hill overlooking the forest. Tent 3 is the most remote and closest to the ponds. It has most of the open space around it, and can be a great place for parties. We are working on making the sites and the area more comfortable, but I do not want to make it a manicured park. I want it to remain wild and still offer comfortable stay. The farm is work in progress. Eventually it will be an Ostrich farm. and have other animals too. The closest town - Lenoir is about 12 miles away . Closest Grocery store (Dollar General) - about 3 miles away. Closest Gas station - 2 miles away. Professional Tennis court, Basketball court and large kids playground are in a public park within - 5 minute drive. Lenoir has restaurants, shopping, etc. Hickory is a larger town about 25 minutes drive. Hickory Lake is a large reservoir with marina where you can rent a boat and it also offers a good game fishing. Nice swimming beach access on Lake Hickory 13 miles ( 20 Minutes) from here: Lake Hickory Wittenburg access area (Wittenburg Access Area, 175 Wildlife Access Rd, Hickory, NC 28601) Asheville is 1:25 hrs to the West, Charlotte is 1:25 hr to the East. There are couple of Ski resorts 45 minutes to an hr away.

Stories from the community

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Tyler

2 weeks ago

Group trip

3 nights at TangleWood Creekside Campsites

This was the perfect spot for us. A group of long time friends wanting to spend time together. Have some comforts that make it easier then camping but still enjoy the outside was a perfect fit. The tent was incredible and the location was secluded. Definitely hope to make it back here in the future.

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William

2 weeks ago

Group trip

3 nights at TangleWood Creekside Campsites

Amazing campsite! 10/10 and Blair was an amazing host. Clean bathroom. Tent was awesome as well. Beautiful location. We will be making this a yearly camping trip.

Daniel

2 weeks ago

Group trip

3 nights at TangleWood Creekside Campsites

Blair was an exceptional host. He takes great care of his guests and responded to things very promptly. He brought up a second solar generator for us because the first wasn't fully charged and got us tiki torch oil when we needed it. The property is beautiful and I definitely plan on going back. The hilltop safari tent is a great spot and I highly recommend it. The tent was in immaculate shape and ready for us to have a great weekend.

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Christy Lynn

3 weeks ago

Weekend Trip to TangleWood Creekside Campsites

We loved our visit and will very likely return! The safari tent was exactly as described, and it made for an easy and relaxing overnight after a big hiking day. Really enjoyed the creekside spot, winding-down around the fire-pit and the Adirondack chairs on the deck. Other campers were around but were no bother. The peaceful sound of the creek reduced any noise, plus wooden dividers around sites increased privacy. Thank you Blair for hosting us!

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Megan

3 weeks ago

Weekend Trip to TangleWood Creekside Campsites

Amazing campsite. The glamping tents were spacious, clean, and the beds were so comfy! The sites themselves were spacious with a picnic table and fire ring. Definitely would stay again.

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Chris

3 weeks ago

With kids

Weekend Trip to TangleWood Creekside Campsites

Great spot for a fun weekend! Our kids loved running around and playing in the creek. Facilities were clean and well maintained. Also, it was a good jump off location for hikes and other activities in the region.

Sunni

October 2025

With kids

2 nights at TangleWood Creekside Campsites

We had a great time camping in the safari tent! The beds were very comfortable and the creek was beautiful! We also enjoyed exploring nearby Linville Falls and Linville Caverns. We’d love to come back another time and try one of the cabins!

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Christina

October 2025

Group trip

Weekend Trip to TangleWood Creekside Campsites

Camping on Blair’s land, was the break we all desperately needed. The land is beautiful and serene. We stayed in Mt Glade tent. It was so accommodating. Blair was very attentive to our needs. Even came by multiple times to drop off firewood as we miscalculated. Will definitely be back

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Jake

October 2025

Weekend Trip to TangleWood Creekside Campsites

We had a great experience staying in the Safari Tent! Blair was a great host and I would highly recommend staying here.

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tabitha

October 2025

1 night at Take a Hike on a Wild side! Camping

Highly recommend staying in one of the wagons!! Such a cute and beautiful scenery! Individual picnic tables and fire pits along with one major fire pit for group events! The host was extremely quick with responses and understanding and helpful!

Danielle

October 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to TangleWood Creekside Campsites

Super cute spot! Had everything we needed for our first camping trip with an 18 month old and 4 year old. Brought our walkie-talkies and inadvertently made friends with some neighbor campers who had theirs too! Highly recommend :)

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Rebecca

October 2025

With pets

3 nights at TangleWood Creekside Campsites

This is a wonderful private get-away place for peace and quiet, the land and the stream are delightful!! It is an easy drive to BlueRidge parkway and places beyond for day trips, then back to the lovely quiet stream. Highly recommend if you want nothing but beautiful land!

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Lucas

October 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Take a Hike on a Wild side! Camping

Beautiful setup, secluded getaway. Enjoyed our visit and would love to come back!

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Stephanie

September 2025

Weekend Trip to TangleWood Creekside Campsites

We really enjoyed the opportunity to stay in a yurt! The sites are very private and makes you feel like your back wood camping. It’s also in a great location. It has Linville winery and we also enjoyed dinner in Little Switzerland. We will definitely be returning

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Arisa

September 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to TangleWood Creekside Campsites

The campsite was very cute and clean. We had a toddler and he loved it. The toilet was also clean.

Austin

September 2025

Group trip

Weekend Trip to TangleWood Creekside Campsites

The creekside camping was nice and serene, and the experience exceeded our expectations. We stayed at the Mt. Glade tent which had a lot of nice touches, even built-in shelves in the bunk areas. The porta-johns were very clean. The whole campground is really quite nice and well-kept. It's on our list to return and we highly recommend to those looking for a hybrid camp/glamp experience without breaking the bank.

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Meaghann

September 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to TangleWood Creekside Campsites

We had the best time. The tent was clean and so well done. Our kids did not want to leave! We will definitely be back!

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Chad

September 2025

Weekend Trip to TangleWood Creekside Campsites

Great little spot not too far off the beaten path. Well maintained with a great view! While you’re there check out the other great sites available. Blair, the host was extremely helpful pointing out some available fishing in the area. Highly recommended!

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Kelli

August 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Take a Hike on a Wild side! Camping

Such a a Cool spot! Adil provided So many awesome helpful ways to ease the stay including chairs, hammock, grill, camping and fire supplies! The hike to tent from car parking was tough on my 4 year old but the tent was super secluded and peaceful so hence the walk. We tried to fish in the pond-caught a sunny first cast then nothing else but property is beautiful and if kids were more patient we could have fished longer. Cutting down some spots along water would be helpful for fishing. Had a great stay! Thanks again!

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Erin

August 2025

Weekend Trip to TangleWood Creekside Campsites

This beautiful site was thoughtfully designed with comfort and relaxation in mind. Soon after arrival, the kind owner checked to make sure we had what we needed. The view was spectacular, but the sounds washed all the stress of the week away. The creek, along with bird and insect sounds were fabulous! I loved the rocking chairs and the unobstructed view of the creek below. The beds were comfortable and it was so nice not to get wet when there was a rainstorm overnight. My teenage daughter said she would love to stay again. The outhouse and tent were immaculate. A shower- even gravity fed- would be a great addition, as would a bear resistant trash can. However, we would absolutely stay again and plan to. Thanks for a relaxing visit!

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best safari tents near Shelby guide

Where to go

Lake Norman State Park

Find electricity-equipped cabins, RV parks with full-hookups, and tent campsites with firepits and hot showers at Lake Norman State Park. The 1.5-hour drive east brings campers to fun boating and fishing opportunities along a 375-foot long sandy beach. Rent a jet ski to cruise around, a speedboat to waterski, or a pontoon boat to leisurely experience the outdoor splendors of Lake Norman. Many companies also offer guided fishing tours as well as wakeboard, kayak, and canoe rentals. For campers looking for land activities, wander along Lake Norman Lakeshore Trail or hit the 30 miles of single-track mountain biking trails.

Whitewater Falls

Cascading 411 feet down, Whitewater Falls is dubbed the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. It’s open year-round from dawn until dusk and is roughly a 2-hour drive east from Shelby. While there isn’t any camping right at the falls, there are picnic tables and restrooms, making it a scenic stop for snacks or lunch. Then stay and savor the stunning views of the falls from two overlook areas—one of which is wheelchair-accessible. Peak hours are in the middle of the day, making morning or evening quieter times to visit.

Stone Mountain State Park

A 2-hour drive north from Shelby, Stone Mountain State Park delivers unparalleled hiking, horseback riding, fishing, rock climbing, and a variety of camping options year-round. Find tent campsites with fire rings, or hike Widow’s Creek Trail to four primitive backcountry campsites. For more amenities, try an RV park nearby that features electrical and water hookups as well as communal dump stations. Then check out the restored Hutchinson Homestead farm and the 600-foot granite dome that looms in the background.

When to go

North Carolina experiences four distinct seasons. June, July, and August are peak summer months, with temperatures reaching a high of 89°F, accompanied by plenty of rain. January and February are the coldest months, with temperatures dropping slightly below freezing. The busiest times to visit Shelby are in spring and autumn, when warm weather with less humidity makes outdoor activities like hiking and biking most comfortable.