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The best camping near Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Jordan Lake adventure.

100% (22 reviews)
100% (22 reviews)

If you like boating, bass fishing, and bald eagles, this lakeside retreat is a winner.  

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Community favorites near Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Top-rated campgrounds near Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

100%
(45)

Rural Chapel Hill Forestry Stay

2 sites ¡ RVs, Tents25 acres ¡ Chapel Hill, NC
Our property is a private 25 acre forestry plot connected to an adjoining 130 acre family-owned plot, with only 1 house on the 150+ acres. Most of the land is wooded with a couple large fields. Long private driveway. 3+ miles of private maintained walking trails great for human and dog guests! There are a number of creeks that run on the property and a decent size pond with many species of birds- perfect for watching while having a morning coffee, or for an afternoon stint of fishing. Close proximity to downtown Carrboro and Chapel Hill (12-15 minutes), 15 minutes to downtown Hillsborough, and 25 minutes to Durham.
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$30
 / night
99%
(67)

Holt’s Hideaway

2 sites ¡ RVs5 acres ¡ Fearrington Village, NC
Small hobby farm in a family owned neighborhood just outside of downtown Chapel Hill. Learn more about this land: Large, level gravel RV sites with 30amp and 50amp power and water hookup. No dump station yet. Big rig friendly. Only 5 minutes to Jordan Lake and 10 minutes to UNC hospital. Private and safe area, each site has a fire pit. Tent campers welcome. Firewood available. Pull right in off paved state road. One pull through and one back in site available. Pets must be on a leash at all times.
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$37
 / night
100%
(1)

The Pint Sized Pasture

4 sites ¡ RVs, Tents30 acres ¡ Sanford, NC
Welcome to our 6th generation farm, dedicated to miniature livestock and memorable events. Enjoy a range of activities, including a petting zoo, goat yoga, field trips, on-farm events, and camping. We often have fresh eggs, fruits, and vegetables available for purchase. Conveniently located near downtown Sanford, you'll find plenty of dining options and three breweries to explore. If you wish to extend your stay beyond one night, please let us know. Check out the video below for a glimpse into the unique experiences our guests enjoy here with us.
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$25
 / night
100%
(9)

Tanglewild

4 sites ¡ RVs, Tents8 acres ¡ Raleigh, NC
This beautiful spot is tucked away in a secluded private street. It feels like the country, but in the middle of Raleigh suburbs so we are close to all the amenities. There is a small stream running through the backyard and about 4 acres for exploring if you up for it. There are birds, deer, and other wildlife that also call Tanglewild home. This is a great spot if you are passing through, visiting friends for family nearby that don't have space for your RV, or just want to get away from home for a few days but don't really want to go that far away. Amenities are close: RDU (4 miles), RTP (7 miles), Crabtree Valley Mall (4 miles), Umstead (3 miles), Target (1 mile), several grocery stores (1 mile), Falls lake (10 miles), and Brier Creek (4 miles) Note, the spot is a bit tricky to back into. You might need to back down the driveway so take a look before you drive down and get yourself in a tricky spot.
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$20
 / night
100%
(2)

Sugarneck Glamping Resort

2 sites ¡ Lodging400 acres ¡ Broadway, NC
Set on 400 acres of pure privacy, Sugarneck boasts luxury glamping with wildlife ( Turkeys, Deer) Walking Trails, Lawn Games, Gathering areas, 1 mile away from the Cape Fear River Boat Ramp and close to the many outdoor adventures Sanford NC has to offer including Kayaking, Zoos, Beautiful parks & Restaurants.
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$120
 / night
98%
(134)

Sparkroot Farm

5 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents8 acres ¡ Moncure , NC
Sparkroot is a gathering place with permaculture gardens and growing food forest orchard. We invite campers to enjoy our land, tiny cabin and funky, post-apocaMythic Airstream. We are located atop a hill surrounded by a woodland grove of ancient oaks. You are welcome to explore and make yourselves at home amongst the forest and gardens, as you listen to the owls hoot to each other at night under the stars. Be welcome.
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$25
 / night
100%
(4)

Sugarneck Glamping Resort, NC

2 sites ¡ Lodging400 acres ¡ Broadway, NC
Situated on over 400 acres, Sugarneck has private and communal gathering areas to stay put and soak in the escape or take a short drive to great things to and places to eat. Private Amenities include: Bathrooms, Mini Refrigerators, Heat & A/C, Luxury Bedding and Private Solo Stove Campsites. Communal Amenities include: TV/Game room, Grill, Fire Pit, Walking trails and lawn games.
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$122
 / night
98%
(63)

Private meadow and pond

1 site ¡ RV, Tent21 acres ¡ Mebane, NC
Our property is a small hobby farm. The meadow you will be camping in was formed in 1994 when hurricane Fran came through and laid down several acres of hardwood trees. The fallen trees were harvested and the land was cleared and a pond was built and a blueberry patch was planted. Learn more about this land: Pitch your tent(s) in our private meadow with a small pond on our 21 acre property. You're welcome to fish and walk around the property. Enjoy a peaceful evening by the firepit and the beautiful starry nights. We have two very friendly farm dogs that do roam the property and will likely visit you. Chapel Hill, Mebane, and Hillsborough are all short drives from your campsite.
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$35
 / night
99%
(40)

Benzai Bloomstead

6 sites ¡ Tents32 acres ¡ Graham, NC
8 minutes from the Saxapahaw General Store and the Haw River Ballroom, you'll find us tucked away off the road. 32 gorgeous acres with exciting topography including two creeks, vast healthy woods and several open pastures. During the day, the blue heron flies overhead. At night, a pack of coyotes sings a wild chorus. The property has a home, a studio and a barn on it, so when you're near the parking area, you'll see those of us who live here. The campsites are private/secluded. We look forward to hosting you. Please note that this camping spot does require walking from the parking area to the camping spot and crossing the creek.
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$20
 / night
100%
(330)

Honah Lee Farms

5 sites ¡ RVs, Tents144 acres ¡ Rougemont, NC
Our camp is the shared vision of Brian and Lee and son Michael. We fell in love with this beautiful property where we plan to build our eco-friendly, off-grid homestead and farm. Lee's favorite song and the inspiration behind our name is "Puff the Magic Dragon" by Peter, Paul and Mary. A land of whimsical imagination, beauty and maybe a dragon or three is our shared vision for the farm. The camping options are flexible, ranging from prepared campsites along both Little and Deep creeks with composting outhouses nearby, to "Camper's Choice" options where you may hike in or drive in and create your own camping experience. Please note that since the "Camper's Choice" options allow freedom to select hike-in or drive-in options, the exact distance to nearest outhouse may vary. There are 144 acres to explore so campers can set up a secluded getaway or cluster together in a group. We are flexible and can work with you to create a camping experience that suits your needs. Learn more about this land: Honah Lee Farms has over 140 acres of woods with open fields distributed throughout. We are bordered to the south by the Flat River, to the west by Deep Creek, and to the north by Little Creek. Most of our campsites are nestled in the trees along one of these bodies of water and all campers have access to the 10 foot waterfall area where Deep Creek runs into the Flat River.
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$35
 / night
100%
(17)

Runaway Farm

1 site ¡ RV, Tent40 acres ¡ Fuquay Varina, NC
Private RV spot south of Raleigh NC. Located on a 40 acre horse farm 2 miles north of Lillington, NC and near Campbell University. 60x60 cement pad, water, sewer and 50 amp. Access to kitchen, bath and laundry in barn beside the spot. Beautiful surroundings with a fresh water creek that runs through the property.
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$75
 / night
100%
(18)

Private Serene Camping

2 sites ¡ Tents60 acres ¡ Angier, NC
Learn more about this land: Hidden River Farm and Retrievers is located at the end of a private dead end road. We have two inviting campsites. Both have fire pits and the option to hook to power (for an additional fee) should the camper need or want it. We also have a patio with sitting and eating area.
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$35
 / night

The best camping near Jordan Lake State Recreation Area guide

Overview

About

Drive just a short way from Chapel Hill to visit this park. Have fun on the water with two swim beaches, three boat ramps, and five access areas. This 14,000-acre reservoir has an undeveloped, unspoiled shoreline. You get a truly natural vacation here.

Begin with a day on the lake. Two boat ramps are open 24 hours a day. Rent kayaks or pontoon boats at the marina. Fish for bass, crappie, catfish, and panfish.

View majestic wildlife that calls this lake home. Bald eagles and osprey are popular choices. The lake hosts the highest concentration of bald eagles in the eastern United States. Watch as these birds dive towards the lake surface to snag their prey.

Learn the history of this area at Heritage Day. The festival occurs every first Saturday in October. Take advantage of mild weather at this time of year to make a week-long vacation.

Reserve one of more than 1,000 campsites at the park. Over 600 of these sites have water and electrical hook-ups.

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for primitive camping: New Hope Overlook Campground has 24 walk-in tent sites in a tranquil wooded setting.
  • Best for RVs: Poplar Point Campground has 579 sites, many with water and electric hookups and all with picnic tables, grills, and lantern holders.
  • Best for lake access: Crosswinds Campground has 182 RV and tent sites within walking distance of a boat launch and swimming beach.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. You can reserve most campsites in advance via the Reserve America website. Select campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis only.
  2. Campsite reservations open 11 months in advance, and bookings are available up to 24 hours in advance. 
  3. Holiday weekend bookings require a minimum 2-night booking unless you are booking fewer than seven days before arrival.
  4. Campsites can book up as fast on summer and holiday weekends, so reserve your site as early as possible to avoid disappointment. 

When to go

When the mercury rises, Jordan Lake is a popular spot to cool off from North Carolina’s summer heat, but it’s often still warm enough to swim in late spring and early fall. Camping is available year-round at Jordan Lake, but the lake’s five campgrounds all have different seasonal opening dates, so be sure to check ahead. Bald eagle sightings are most common during the spring migration (April through June).

Know before you go

  • Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is in Chatham and Wake counties, 24 miles west of Raleigh or about a 30-minute drive away. Nine access areas dot the lake. 
  • A per-vehicle admission fee is charged daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day and on weekends in April, May, and September. Camping reservation fees also apply, and a state fishing license is required for fishing.
  • Jordan Lake facilities include three boat ramps, a canoe launch, two swimming beaches, three fishing piers, a marina, two playgrounds, and several picnic areas and restrooms.
  • There are accessible restrooms, picnic areas, swimming beaches, and courtesy docks at Jordan Lake. Accessible campsites are available at Parker's Creek, Poplar Point, and Crosswinds campgrounds.

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