Western North Carolina - Suggestions?

[BMW442]

My wife & I are planning our second trip with our 30 year old/new to us truck camper and are looking at the Western North Carolina area. We're heading down from Massachusetts and plan to hit Shenandoah VA first, then Lexington NC (to check out the BBQ scene) and then go west from there.

Planning to do smaller roads/smaller towns most of the way. I've heard good things about places like Brevard, Hot Springs, Boone, Cherokee, Waynesboro, and Asheville. We are going in April so hopefully the weather will be warmer but the crowds will still be somewhat thin.

Going on a small budget and planning to camp most of the time -- Pisgah NF, Smoky Mountains NF, maybe Nantahala NF -- we don't really need full-hookups with cable & all that, though we'll usually try to find a cool hotel/motel for 1 or 2 nights in a week.

We've been to the Outer Banks once but other than that have no experience with the rest of the state. Any recommendations or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[the_happiestcam]

Just a few miles into Pisgah Forest is Davidson River CG. Showers and toilets, water spigots on each loop, and a dump station. And you would get there at the beginning of trout season. Convenient to Brevard, Asheville, End of World, etc.

[rgstarnes]

I would recommend Lake Powhatan NP which is just south of Asheville a couple of miles off I26. It is adjacent to the NC arboretum, close to the Western NC farmers Market, and downtown Asheville. Would recommend this camp ground, and also the many things to do around Asheville. If you are there on a Friday evening, you get a great meal downtown next the square and enjoy the drum circle there that starts around 5pm. Another great site to visit is the Grove Park Inn, most all of the Presidents have stayed there, and it is a great place for lunch and walking around the Inn. Built more house is there also.
If you are around Johnson City Tenn or Damascus, Va, make sure to try the Virginia Creeper trail. Google it on the web, and Grindstone NP close to Damascus.
Both of these camp grounds can be found on the Recreation.gov site.

[doughere]

New River State Park has a 20 RV site campground with electric at all the sites, and full service at half.

One of our favorite campgrounds.

Doug

[anaro]

Depending on how you come down, if you are in the more central area (between Durham and Greensboro) then Jones Station rv campground in Mebane is a good stopover and dickie dos bbq in Haw River has some really good bbq. He uses Lexington style. Near Lexington is Crosswinds family campground.

Heading out towards Asheville is blowing rock. Hooker falls is nice and if it's summer you can swim at the falls. Boone has tweetsie railroad. Grandfather mountain is supposed to be beautiful and on my short list for the near future. Also check out the Brown mountain lights. If you are fortunate enough to go on a night this phenomenon occurs, it is really cool. I saw them a little over 20 yrs ago and keep meaning to go back. Most NC state park campgrounds are really nice. Just be aware they close and lock the gates at dusk and you will be stuck on whichever side of the gate you are on at that time. Enjoy your trip.

[Pops]

Bunch of BBQ places on or near your route that everyone has their favorites and all they recommend will be good. Couple I like are: Hendrix BBQ-Statesville Blvd-Salisbury, Little Richard's Smokehouse BBQ-Yadkinville, Woodlands BBQ-Blowing Rock

[magnusfide]

OH48Lt wrote:
If you are around Fontana Dam/Deals Gap in western NC, you may want to avoid US129 from the NC border and into Tennessee. Its extremely curvy with tight-tight turns, and is usually full of motorcycles. It is not a fun drive in a larger vehicle, and very difficult to do safely pulling any type of trailer. Lots of fun on a motorcycle though.

OP has a truck camper. I've driven 129 in that section with a 27' mh and had no problem. While it is serpentine, most drive that road carefully. That route runs alongside a beautiful man made lake.

[ncscz]

BMW442 wrote:
...
as for the bbq - we actually hit B's as well as Skylight Inn when we were on the eastside of the state a few years ago, both great. I know Western NC has a different style, we're looking forward to checking out Lexington BBQ (aka The Honeymonk) and BBQ Center. We run a seasonal BBQ spot out here so we like to check out different places (especially old school ones) when we're on the road.

Since you have an interest you might find a BBQ Festival to attend while on your trip. This site just lists a few of them, because there are not many weeks between March and October when there is not one somewhere in NC.

[OH48Lt]

If you are around Fontana Dam/Deals Gap in western NC, you may want to avoid US129 from the NC border and into Tennessee. Its extremely curvy with tight-tight turns, and is usually full of motorcycles. It is not a fun drive in a larger vehicle, and very difficult to do safely pulling any type of trailer. Lots of fun on a motorcycle though.

[BMW442]

This is awesome - exactly what I was looking for, thanks a lot guys!

RE the clearance issues, we have a pop-up so our rig is only 7.5 ft when driving, shouldn't be a problem at all

as for the bbq - we actually hit B's as well as Skylight Inn when we were on the eastside of the state a few years ago, both great. I know Western NC has a different style, we're looking forward to checking out Lexington BBQ (aka The Honeymonk) and BBQ Center. We run a seasonal BBQ spot out here so we like to check out different places (especially old school ones) when we're on the road.

Really appreciate all the campground & town info, I'm making a big master list of potential places for the trip

[huachuca]

You'll have to go a little further east to get good NC barbecue:) B's in Greenville or, for ribs, The Cue Pit in Princeville. They serve funny looking purple slaw in Lexington.

Many of the Federal campgrounds and exhibits in western NC may be closed in April, be sure to check their status on www.recreation.gov Great suggestions so far by other posters. I'll throw out a few that haven't been mentioned.

Big Meadows and Lewis Mountain will probably be the only two campgrounds open in April in Shenandoah NP. We've stayed at both and would do so again.

If you're an Andy Griffith fan, Pilot Mountain SP in NC is near Mount Airy (think Mayberry) and has a nice campground.

In the Asheville area, our favorite campground is Cataloochee. Its small but some sites are streamside and you're almost guaranteed to see Elk and other wildlife. Reservations required.



Also near Asheville is the NC Arboretum. A great way to spend a day and an awesome bonsai exhibit. $12 parking but admission is free http://www.ncarboretum.org/plan-a-visit-or-event/hours-directions/



The Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah NF is an interesting stop and opens in mid April http://www.cradleofforestry.com/site/contact-us/hours-location/

As mentioned, Smokemont is near Cherokee and a good base for visiting that area. Section "F" if open is our preference.

Horse Cove in Nantahala NF is our favorite NC mountain campground. The lower section is open year round; the upper opens on 4/15. Its near Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, The Cherohala Skyway (prettier drive than the BR Parkway) Great Smoky Mountain Railroad (take the train from Bryson City to Nantahala Outdoor Center; scenes from the train wreck in The Fugitive were filmed here) and other items of interest.

Hope you enjoy your visit with us.

[ken56]

You don't say what your interested in seeing. As suggested the Biltmore is a must see but its a $49 $59 ticket to get in....for each of you. Blowing rock/Boone is a nice place too, quaint with lots of antique shops and restaurants but that's about it. Grandfather mtn. is in that area but to me its not all that. Waynesville is quaint too and Cherokee is just Harrahs casino and a nice Cherokee museum too go thru. Very interesting. Smokemont NFS campground is not far from Cherokee heading towards Newfound gap. On the Tennessee side of the gap is Elkmont NFS CG and its quite nice and its close to Gatlinburg. Sounds like a nice trip your planning. hope this helped some.

[LakeN]

Tanglewood Campground at Clemmons, NC may be a good overnight spot before/after you see Lexington. Just off I-40. Lots of good suggestions given....Stone Mountain could be your first campgrd as you come from VA to NC.

[Veebyes]

The BRP is a very easy drive. Some of the access roads either side? Now THEY are another story. There is warning signage on some for long vehicles. Stick to the main access roads & all is easy.

[wbwood]

NC Roamer wrote:
Be aware that the Blue Ridge Parkway has a good number of tunnels, some with rather low clearances.

The lowest tunel clearances are in the northern part of the parkway in Virginia. They will bypassing that part according to their discription. And all have maximum clearances of at least 18' or more. Might need to tow the centerline, but doable...