- Franklin
Cardinal Mountain Campground
Hosted by Damien · Franklin, North Carolina
15 sites · RV, Tent · 28 acres
Tucked into 28 private acres in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, Cardinal Mountain Campground offers long-range mountain views, quiet nights, and plenty of trees and space for privacy.
We are just 8 minutes from downtown Franklin’s restaurants, shops, cafés, and gem mining. Nearby, in the Nantahala National Forest, you’ll enjoy an abundance of hiking trails, waterfalls, creeks, and fishing opportunities.
Each site sits on cleared, flat ground with its own oversized deck (16' x 16' in most cases) for your tent, chairs, and anything else you’d like to put there, so you’re up off the dirt and set up in minutes.
Most sites are spaced 150+ feet apart on different elevations and screened by trees, providing true privacy. Reliable Verizon 5G is available across the property, so you can work from here if needed. This is a spot for tent campers and Class B van travelers who want seclusion without a long drive to town.
Wake up to mountain air, spend the day exploring the Nantahala National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains, and come back to a peaceful basecamp under the trees.
Roads are paved. Careful K-turns may be required to turn your vehicle around.
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RV/tent sites
15 sites
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01 - Blue Ridge
RV/tent site · Sleeps 8 · Vehicles under 25 ft
Blue Ridge 1 is one of our largest and most accessible sites - a wide stretch of level ground surrounded by trees in all directions, and the first site you reach after coming through the entrance. A long private driveway leads in, and there's a spacious fork just up the road where you can turn around - the best pick for larger vehicles and Class B vans. Pitch your tent on the 16x16 wooden deck and settle in.
This site is 150 feet away from the next site and screened by trees, so you'll have real privacy. There's a fire ring and a charcoal grill, and we sell firewood and briquettes on site. No hookups, so come self-contained - though water is on site with a hose right at your campsite, ready to go. Portable restrooms are available a short walk or drive up the hill.
At 2,330 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
02 - Shenandoah
RV/tent site · Sleeps 4 · Vehicles under 25 ft
Shenandoah 2 ends in a small clearing that feels like its own room in the woods. It's open right above the deck, so sun gets in from mid-morning through the middle of the afternoon, while the first part of the driveway stays shaded. Off to one side is a pile of large rocks tumbling down the slope - not a wall or anything to climb, more like a few rough steps you can walk down. It gives the site some shape. After a good rain you can sometimes hear a creek running somewhere below. Pitch your tent on the 16x16 wooden deck and settle in.
This site is 175 feet away from the next site and screened by trees, so you'll have real privacy. There's a fire ring and a charcoal grill, and we sell firewood and briquettes on site. Water is on site with a hose right at your campsite, ready to go. A portable restroom sits at the start of your driveway, just a short walk up from the campsite.
At 2,360 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
03 - Everglades
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 25 ft
Everglades 3 sits flat at the end of the road, with a gentle hill rising above you and another falling away below. It gets morning sun and holds it through the middle of the afternoon. The forest here isn't dense - it's the kind you can walk straight into, with room between the trees. Being the last site on the road, nobody drives past you to get anywhere. Pitch your tent on the 16x16 wooden deck and settle in.
This site is 175 feet away from the next site and screened by trees, so you'll have real privacy. There's a fire ring and a charcoal grill, and we sell firewood and briquettes on site. Water is on site with a hose right at your campsite, ready to go. A portable restroom is a short walk down the road.
At 2,410 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
06 - Glacier
Booked 1 time
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 25 ft
Glacier 6 sits in a central, easily reached spot with good sun through the day, trees all around and open sky above. Nothing steep to drive to get here - it's the site we picked as the staging area when we built all the decks, precisely because it's the easiest one to reach with a longer vehicle. The wide entry means you turn straight in off the road. It's private despite being central, and the restrooms are a short walk away. Pitch your tent on the 16x16 wooden deck and settle in.
This site is 120 feet from the next site with trees in between, so you've got your own pocket up here. There's a fire ring and a charcoal grill, and we sell firewood and briquettes on site. Water is on site with a hose right at your campsite, ready to go. Two portable restrooms are a short walk from the campsite.
At 2,410 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
07 - Rockies
RV/tent site · Sleeps 3 · Vehicles under 16 ft
Rockies 7 has something none of the other sites have: 100 feet from your deck, a short path opens onto a cleared area with wide views out over the valley, only 40 feet below the best view on the property. Site 9 can look out over it from above, but nobody's coming down here - it's effectively yours.
The site itself sits on a wide corner partway up the mountain, with two connected 8x8 decks (8x16 total) and a pile of rocks that marks the spot. It's small and it's right on the road, so you'll see cars heading up to the three sites above - that's the trade, and it's why this one costs less than the rest.
This site is 150 feet from the next site with trees in between. There's a charcoal grill, and we sell briquettes on site. No fire ring at this one - not enough clear space around the decks to have one safely. If a fire matters to you, book this one alongside a neighboring site and you'll have both. Water is on site with a hose right at your campsite, ready to go. A portable restroom is a short walk from the campsite.
At 2,480 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
08 - Zion
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 20 ft
Zion 8 sits 280 feet from its nearest neighbor, surrounded by trees on all sides. It gets good sun through the day, and the clearing is cozy without being small: room to spread out around the deck, with the woods close enough to feel like walls. Pitch your tent on the 16x16 wooden deck and settle in.
There's a charcoal grill, and we sell briquettes on site. No fire ring at this site for now because we're finishing the water line and until it's running we can't safely offer one. There's a spigot at Yosemite 5, about halfway down the hill, and you're welcome to fill up there. Sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 have water at the site right now and are bookable if you'd rather not wait. A portable restroom is a short walk from the campsite.
At 2,480 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Toilet
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
09 - Katahdin
RV/tent site · Sleeps 8 · Vehicles under 20 ft
Katahdin 9 sits at the top of the northern branch with a long-range view out over the valley. The deck faces straight out into open sky - it's the view people come up here for. This site is 150 feet from the next site with trees in between, so you've got real space up here. With walls of trees on two sides you get the outlook with lots of privacy. There's room to spread out around the deck. Pitch your tent on the 16x16 wooden deck and settle in.
There's a charcoal grill, and we sell briquettes on site. No fire ring at this site for now because we're finishing the water line and until it's running we can't safely offer one. There's a spigot at Yosemite 5, about halfway down the hill, and you're welcome to fill up there. Sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 have water at the site right now and are bookable if you'd rather not wait. A portable restroom is a short walk from the campsite.
At 2,520 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Toilet
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
10 - Nantahala
RV/tent site · Sleeps 8 · Vehicles under 20 ft
Nantahala 10 is the last site on the road, so nobody drives past you to get anywhere. It sits flat and open with a tall ridge rising behind and trees all around, and there's real room to spread out around the deck. The pavement runs almost the whole way up, so getting here is easier than you'd expect this far up a mountain. Pitch your tent on the 16x16 wooden deck and settle in.
This site is 225 feet from the next site with trees in between, so you've got real space up here. There's a charcoal grill, and we sell briquettes on site. No fire ring at this site for now because we're finishing the water line and until it's running we can't safely offer one. There's a spigot at Yosemite 5, about halfway down the hill, and you're welcome to fill up there. Sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 have water at the site right now and are bookable if you'd rather not wait. A portable restroom is a short walk from the campsite.
At 2,540 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Toilet
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
11 - Sequoia
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 18 ft
Sequoia 11 sits surrounded by trees on all sides with no view out, which is the point - it feels closed in and private, like a room of its own. Good sun through the middle of the day. Pitch your tent on the 16x16 wooden deck and settle in.
This site is 200 feet from the next site with trees in between, so you've got real space up here. There's a fire ring and a charcoal grill, and we sell firewood and briquettes on site. Water is on site with a hose right at your campsite, ready to go. A portable restroom is a short walk from the campsite.
At 2,480 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
12 - Redwood
Booked 2 times
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 18 ft
Redwood 12 sits surrounded by trees with one opening: a view northeast, framed between stands of trees on either side. It's not a wide-open outlook - it's a window through the woods to the ridgelines beyond, and it's the reason to pick this site. Private, with good sun through the day. Pitch your tent on the 16x16 wooden deck and settle in.
This site is 200 feet from the next site with trees in between, so you've got real space up here. There's a fire ring and a charcoal grill, and we sell firewood and briquettes on site. Water is on site with a hose right at your campsite, ready to go. A portable restroom is a short walk from the campsite.
At 2,500 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
13 - Arches
Booked 2 times
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 18 ft
Arches 13 looks out north over the Blue Ridge Mountains with nothing in the way - open in front, trees closing in on either side, and behind you a natural wall of earth about twenty feet high with growth all over it. It makes the site feel enclosed and set apart, like a room with one wall taken out and the view put in its place. Good sun all day. Pitch your tent on the 8x24 wooden deck and settle in.
There's a charcoal grill, and we sell briquettes on site. No fire ring at this site for now because we're finishing the water line and until it's running we can't safely offer one. There's a spigot at Yosemite 5, about halfway down the hill, and you're welcome to fill up there. Sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 have water at the site right now and are bookable if you'd rather not wait. A portable restroom is a short walk from the campsite.
At 2,540 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Strong and reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Toilet
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
14 - Big Bend
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 18 ft
Big Bend 14 sits with a wide open view out over the Blue Ridge mountains and a stone fireplace - the only one on the property. It's a spacious site with room to spread out, and behind you a path leads back to an old logging road. Pitch your tent on the 16x16 wooden deck and settle in.
One thing worth knowing before you book: guests at the next site walk in through this one and park alongside you. Most of the time you won't notice it, but if you're after complete seclusion this isn't the site for it. If you're traveling with friends, 14 books well with 15, or with 13 just below. This is the best view in Cardinal Mountain Campground with 9, 12 13 and 17 also at the top of the list.
There's a charcoal grill, and we sell briquettes on site. No fire ring at this site for now because we're finishing the water line and until it's running we can't safely offer one. There's a spigot at Yosemite 5, about halfway down the hill, and you're welcome to fill up there. Sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 have water at the site right now and are bookable if you'd rather not wait. A portable restroom is a short walk from the campsite.
At 2,560 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Strong and reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Toilet
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
15 - Acadia
RV/tent site · Sleeps 3 · Vehicles under 17 ft
Acadia 15 is the hidden one. You park at the site above and walk in about 300 feet on a gently downhill path, and once you're there you're surrounded by trees with nobody in sight. An 8x16 deck, no vehicle at your camp, no headlights, nothing but woods. Best suited to two or three people who don't mind carrying their gear in - if that's you, it's just about the quietest spot we have.
The ground slopes ever so slightly on the path above the deck, so the deck itself is where you'll want to be set up. The ground slopes on the path above the deck, so the deck itself is where you'll want to be set up. There's a charcoal grill, and we sell briquettes on site. No fire ring at this one - the site is too enclosed to have one safely. If a fire matters to you, book this one alongside a neighboring site (14 and 13) and you'll have both. Water is not yet running here - there's a spigot at Yosemite 5, about halfway down the hill, and you're welcome to fill up there. Sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 have water at the site right now and are bookable if you'd rather not wait. A portable restroom is a short walk from the campsite.
At 2,550 feet, it stays cooler up here than down in town. Reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park about an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Toilet
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
16 - Pisgah
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 18 ft
Pisgah 16 sits near the very top, enclosed on every side but the driveway, with a ridge wall rising behind it. It gets direct sun for part of the day. It feels genuinely private up here - and when you finally pull in, it feels like you've hiked the mountain, just with your car doing the work. Pitch your tent on the 16x16 wooden deck and settle in.
This site is 225 feet from the next site with trees in between, so you've got real space up here. There's a charcoal grill, and we sell briquettes on site. No fire ring at this site for now because we're finishing the water line and until it's running we can't safely offer one. There's a spigot at Yosemite 5, about halfway down the hill, and you're welcome to fill up there. Sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 have water at the site right now and are bookable if you'd rather not wait. A portable restroom is a short walk from the campsite.
At 2,620 feet, it stays noticeably cooler up here than down in town - close to 300 feet above our lowest site, which you feel in August. Reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park just under an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Toilet
Pets allowed
Water hookup
NewInstant book
17 - Smokies
Booked 1 time
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 18 ft
Smokies 17 is the highest point on Cardinal Mountain. A ridge wall stands behind you, trees close in on two sides, and the fourth opens wide onto a long-range view out over the Blue Ridge Mountains. A small fence runs along the edge and gives the site its character. Lots of sun through the day, with shade coming in late afternoon with the sun over sliding away over the ridge. Pitch your tent on the 16x16 wooden deck and settle in.
This site is 300 feet from the next site with trees in between, so you've got real space up here. There's a charcoal grill, and we sell briquettes on site. No fire ring at this site for now because we're finishing the water line and until it's running we can't safely offer one. There's a spigot at Yosemite 5, about halfway down the hill, and you're welcome to fill up there. Sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 have water at the site right now and are bookable if you'd rather not wait. A portable restroom is a short walk from the campsite.
At 2,630 feet, it stays noticeably cooler up here than down in town - 300 feet in elevation above our lowest site. Strong and reliable Verizon 5G, so you can work from here if you need to. It's quiet, and dark enough for real stars. You'll hear cows and the occasional dog somewhere down the valley. Deer come through the property often. Stay for a day, a week, a month or longer.
Downtown Franklin is just 8 minutes away for restaurants, shops, entertainment and gem-mining. You're in the Blue Ridge Mountains here, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park just under an hour north. Hike on the property or drive nearby for world-class waterfalls, fishing and hiking (Franklin is mile marker 110 on the Appalachian Trail) in the Nantahala National Forest.
Toilet
Pets allowed
Water hookup
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This place has been booked 6 times.
Location
Franklin, Macon County, North Carolina, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Damien R.
Joined in August 2026Things to do nearby
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