Where should I go camping?

Rebekah

I live in South Carolina and I want to go camping in November in the mountains (I want nice views and I want to hike) and I want to be able to go kayaking too. Some electric hookups would be preferred haha but I camp in a tent so it doesn't need to accommodate an RV or a trailer. I'm willing to go to North Carolina and Virginia. And it's fine if it's a couple mile drive to the lake of river or whatever to kayak. Access to the Appalachian Trail would be amazing of course but any mountains will do lol :)

Thank you!! xoxo

Oh, and I want to bring my Italian Mastiff too so it has to allow pets :)

Answer
There are several places along the Blue Ridge Parkway that I think you'd like a lot. Two camping areas I have stayed at many times specifically are Julian Price Park and Linville Falls. These 2 camping areas will put you very near Grandfather Mountain where there is wonderful hiking as well as near the Appalachian Trail and many other hiking spots. Amazing views in the area too!

Here is a link to the Parkways parts of their website that lists their camping areas. You may want to explore some of the others too. http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/camping-on-the-blue-ridge-parkway.htm

Julian Price Park has a nice small lake adjacent to the camping area you will like. Keep in mind that in November it can get quite chilly at these higher elevations so you'll be waking up to some cold mornings below freezing.

This area of the Parkway is a great place to drive to from SC also. You can follow highway 321 from in SC right to Blowing Rock where it intersects the Parkway and then it's just a few miles south on the Parkway to Julian Price Park. Linville camping area is a little further south and you'll be on the most beautiful part of the Parkway too. This section is the part that has the famous Viaduct.

At the Viaduct you can park at the visitors center and access the Tanawha Trail from the parking lot. This trail takes you to some amazing views of the Viaduct and beyond. Here is a link to photos of the Viaduct. http://www.google.com/search?gs_rn=24&gs_ri=psy-ab&gs_mss=lviaduct&pq=blue+ridge+parkway+camping&cp=2&gs_id=15&xhr=t&q=linn+cove+viaduct&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=667&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=IjUGUsTxFJCFyQGq-4BA andhere is some info on the Tanawha Trail http://www.virtualblueridge.com/maps/tanawha-trail.asp

A great place to take your Kayak would be along the New River if you have time. Like I said it will be very cold but you may want to google it and learn more about access points etc. I have gone to a place called Zaloo's Canoes a bunch of times and I love paddling that river.

Good luck and I hope this helps!

Know a good camping spot in NC near Charlotte?

monkey

What's the best place to go tent camping in NC? We live in Charlotte, and we don't want to go too far....about two hours away or less. We will be in a tent and want to go someplace where there are things to do and interesting sites to see. (fishing, waterfalls, outlooks, hiking, good food, showers)
We are going the last weekend of August, if that helps....in case there are any special events/festivals going on anywhere that would be near a good campground and worthy of attending.

Basically, we're looking for a fun, intimate, romantic, relaxing weekend in a safe, beautiful area.

If you have any suggestions please let me know! :)

Answer
I grew up in western NC and just returned from a camping vacation there. In about 2 hours you can be on the Blue Ridge Parkway (www.nps.gov/blri)and multiple campgrounds along that route. Linville falls, and Julian Price Park are 2 campgrounds in that area. You are also close to Grandfather Mtn/Blowing Rock. There are multiple trails off the parkway as well as in the Grandfather district of the Pisgah Nat. Forest. I recommend hwy 181 out of Morganton to access the Parkway. Its offers access to the Pisgah NF, Linville Gorge, and the Wilson Creek Drainage(beautiful waterfalls) that are loaded with hikes.
Enjoy!

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Good campgrounds near Yellowstone or Glacier Parks in Montana?

skygirl_21

I'm looking to go camping in Montana next year but wondered if anyone could give feedback on any of the campgrounds around the two major parks?

Thanks!

Answer
There are a few campgrounds in Yellowstone. There's a list of them at each entrance stating their availability. Some are operated by Xanterra and you can book through them. Some are run by the National park Service and you can book at the ranger stations located all around the park. If you're planning to go in July/August, please book. campgounds can be fully booked then, believe it or not. Enjoy your time.

Don't freak out if a lost bison greets you in front of your tent in the morning. it happens. but thats all part of the fun, isn't it?

What's the best drive to take from Kentucky to Yellowstone National Park.?

Tara

So I am trying to gather a couple of my friends to drive to Yellowstone for camping, relaxing, nature, good company, and a simple vaca away from the normal hassle of life!

I will be picking up my friends in Lex, Ky to drive to Yellowstone. That's a day's driving time, with hopefully at least 3 ppl. and maybe my black lab:) So we are looking for getting there on good time, but may want to stop along the way to see some new places, basically keeping it simple and cheap, camping, or cheap log cabin along the way! What's a good route to go, and what's a good place to stop along the way and back. We want to change it up and encounter new places, so we probably don't want to stop at the same place there and back! Any suggestions???
Thanks for the feedback:)

Answer
It would be nice if you could make it from Lexington to Yellowstone in a day's driving time but that is definitely not the case, unless you want to drive all day and all night. It is going to take you at least 3 days, especially if you're planning on stopping at all. I would suggest going up through South Dakota, the state itself isn't that exciting but there are a few places to stop (it's better than Nebraska by far). In Mitchell there is the corn palace, which is really not all that exciting, but it's one of those touristy things thats right next to the interstate. There is also Badlands National Park, which is cool to drive through even if you don't want to stop and hike or walk around or anything. The road through the park parallels the interstate, so despite going slower it's not all that out of the way. If you're heading west, the road back to the interstate leaves you in Wall, home of the infamous Wall Drug. If you drive through South Dakota I promise you will see hundreds of signs for it, you almost have to stop just to see what all the hype is about. Also, Mt Rushmore is a nice detour in SD, and Devil's Tower National Monument shortly after you get into Wyoming.

Look into National Park/Monument areas and state parks along the interstate before you go for generally pretty cheap camping. Usually the signs on the interstate direct you to RV parks, which are usually more expensive and it's kind of a waste if you just have a tent. Spend some time playing around on Google Maps before you go- it allows you to move routes around, create detours for sight-seeing, and pick multiple stops along a trip. It is really helpful in terms of trying to plan out how far you can go in a day, and where you might want to spend the night. The farther west you go, the longer it is between "towns" with gas/food/camping/hotels/ect, so it is pretty necessary to at least have an idea of your options. If you have campgrounds in mind, make sure they are going to be open for the season when you want to go, spring does not start in some places until May. Some campgrounds in Yellowstone don't even open until June. I hope your trip works out and have fun in the park!

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