Davidson River Campground - Brevard, NC
Davidson River Campground is in the middle of a nature lovers playground, aka Pisgah National Forest. Not only are the sites spacious and plentiful, but you are right down the road from some of the best single track routes, hiking trails, breweries and scenic views in the southeast US. Plus, the Davidson River runs through the campground. If you are planing a trip near Asheville, NC, do yourself a favor and stay at Davidson River campground at least one night!
Quick Glance
Price: $24-$54 (depending on site type)
Type: Campground
Accessibility: Easy
Campsites: 144
Camping Types: Tent, Van, RV, Trailer
Amenities: Fire Ring, Grill, Tent Pad, Lantern Post, Picnic Table, Flush Toilets, Hot Showers, Dump Station
Reservations: Reservations Recommended
Popularity: High
Best Time to Go: Spring, Summer, and Fall
Getting There
Latitude/Longitude: 35.28083, -82.7225
From Brevard: Head northeast on US-64 E/S Broad St toward E Main St for 3.5 miles. Turn left onto US-276 N/Pisgah Hwy. After 1.3 miles, turn left toward Sycamore Cir at the Davidson River Campground sign. Follow signs to the check-in booth.
From Mills River: Take NC-280 W for 11 miles. Turn right onto US-276 N/Pisgah Hwy. After 1.3 miles, turn left toward Sycamore Cir at the Davidson River Campground sign. Follow signs to the check-in booth.
PROS:
Large, spacious sites. There is plenty of privacy with all the foliage, even though the sites aren't too far apart.
Right down the road from The Hub and Pisgah Tavern, one of our all-time favorite joints. Grab a beer, check out the mountain biking and hiking gear, and get some grub from one of the revolving food trucks. Just get there early because they close at 6pm most days.
There are restrooms with HOT showers. And depending on which loop you're in, they are all individual restrooms rather than one large men's and one large women's.
Adjacent to so many incredible hikes, mountain bike trails, driving views, waterfalls, and swimming spots in the Pisgah National Forest.
Cons:
Some loops have newer trees, and therefore less privacy between sites. Last time we stayed in Hemlock and we did not have this problem.
It can get busy on weekends and holidays.
OUR EXPERIENCE
We have stayed at Davidson River Campground three times now and each time gets better than the last. Well, the second time we had to deal with a bunch of rain so maybe that's a bit of a stretch. I digress. Anyway, we LOVE it here.
It is a campground, which isn't usually our go-to as we like to get as far off the grid as possible. But it's proximity to so many incredible sites, activities, and our favorite tavern makes up for it.
The most recent time we stayed here, our site was in the Hemlock loop. It was super spacious, very private, and had electricity so we could bring out the Edison lights. Plus it was fall, so we got to enjoy the leaves floating through the air and take in the beautiful colors.
One of the biggest perks about this spot is that it is just a mile down the road from The Hub and Pisgah Tavern. The first time we stayed at Davidson River Campground we were bike-packing 100 miles between Asheville and Brevard through the Pisgah National Forest and Blue Ridge Parkway. So, of course, we had to go to the local mountain bikers' hangout!
Danny is also trying to convince me to go back during fall next year and have our wedding AT the campground. So there's that. You could say we like the place.
CAMPGROUND NOTABLES
Davidson River Campground is open seasonally from April 1 through October 31. Check the campground status here. Campsites are organized into eight loops and some are adjacent to the water.
Check out these tips to stay safe in bear country while at the campground and on the trail.
Nearby Recreation
Just about any type of recreation, you could want is nearby Davidson River Campground. The campground runs along Davidson River, an excellent place for fishing, swimming, and tubing, and is one of the southeast's premier trout fishing spots.
There are multiple hiking trails that leave from the campground, including the 30-mile Art Loeb Trail, the 3.7-mile North Slope Trail, or a 1.5-mile walking trail. Or check out one of the many other hikes in the area. One of our personal favorites is Pilot Cove Loop. For some of the best single track mountain biking in the country, visit the Mountain Bike Project.
Take Highway 276 to the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, making stops at Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock. There are plenty of picnic tables dotting the road to stop and have lunch while exploring the creek.
Find Out More
To reserve your campsite at Davidson River Campground, visit Recreation.gov.
Click here for a map of the campground.
For the Pisgah Ranger District Map and Trail guide, click here!
Looking for a campsite that is a little more off the beaten path? Try Yellow Gap Road dispersed camping!
If you're thinking about building or buying.a tiny trailer, read about our top 11 reasons you need a teardrop camper.
