Lake Santeetlah Free Camping - Nantahala National Forest, NC
Lake Santeetlah free camping on Pine Ridge Road is arguably some of the best camping in the southeast US. Many campsites are right on the water with access to the lake. The beautiful landscape of the Appalachians and the surrounding forest make for a serene stay.
QUICK GLANCE
Price: Free
Type: Dispersed
Accessibility: Easy
Campsites: 10
Camping Types: Tent, Van, RV, Trailer (*some sites are too small for large RVs)
Amenities: Fire Ring, Grill, Tent Pad, Lantern Post, Picnic Table, Vault Toilets near sites P-10 and P119
Reservations: First-Come, First-Serve
Popularity: High
Best Time to Go: Summer
GETTING THERE
Latitude/Longitude: 35.367268, -83.853607
From Robbinsville, NC head north on U.S 129. Turn left on Pine Ridge Road, drive until you see the campsites to the left. The sites are marked with a small brown wooden sign with the numbers.
Pine Ridge Road, or NCSR 1147, is paved, and accessible by all vehicle types. The sites are open year-round but check for road closures due to weather before heading out here.
Pros:
Crazy beautiful views! Between the blue lake water and Smokey Mountains as a backdrop, Lake Santeetlah free camping scenery is hard to beat.
Water Access. It’s always a good day when you can go for a swim just steps from where you slept that night. Many of the campsites sit right on the lakeshore.
Space between sites. The sites are a good distance from one another, allowing for a private time with nature.
Endless recreation nearby. From fishing and boating to hiking and biking, and everything in between, adventure is just around the corner.
It’s free! A pro for obvious reasons.
The famous Tail of the Dragon (Highway 129) is just a couple of miles away.
There is a restroom. However, depending on which site you choose, it may be too far away to be much of a pro.
Cons:
Can be busy and spots will fill up fast! Make sure to arrive before late afternoon to secure a site during late spring through summer.
Poison Ivy. It’s everywhere. Be aware and be prepared with cream when you do end up in it.
While the tent pads are set back off the road, you may hear the occasional car drive by during the night.
Our Experience
We came across Lake Santeetlah free camping while traveling west from the Blue Ridge Parkway during late May. Needing a place to camp for the night in our teardrop trailer, Lake Santeetlah was on our route and checked all the boxes we look for in a site.
We arrived around 6:30 in the evening and were able to snag one of the last spots. While passing many of the other sites, it looked like the campers had just pulled in and were still unloading. So aim to get there no later than mid-afternoon in the summer!
The views were amazing and our site was near a huge rock outcrop. In the morning we hiked a short trail to Yellow Creek Falls before getting back on the road. We can’t wait to go back and spend more time enjoying the lakefront property!
Campground Notables
The campsites dot Pine Ridge Road and are designated by small wooden signs with a “P”. Some of the sites have pull-offs on the side of the road, and you have to hike a few yards down to the campsite.
There is a 14-day stay limit for Lake Santeetlah free camping.
Nearby Recreation
Lake Santeetlah was transformed from a river into a roughly 3,000-acre lake in 1928 with the completion of the Santeetlah Dam. This outdoorsman’s delight has approximately 80 miles of shoreline, mostly within the National Forest system.
A few of the many activities this region offers include boating, fishing, swimming, paddling, white water rafting, hiking, biking, climbing, horseback riding, off-roading, and wildlife watching.
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is located right along the lake and is definitely worth checking out!
Find Out More
For the best trails near Lake Santeetlah free camping click here!
If all spots are taken on Pine Ridge Road, there is additional free camping on Joyce Kilmer Road, and three nearby campgrounds with small fees: Horse Cove, Cheoah Point, and Raller Ford (group camping).
To make your next camping trip, a sustainable one, check out our top 6 tips here!
