Skip to content
North Mills River Campground in North Carolina
Moderate to BookNational Forest

North Mills River Campground

National Forests in North Carolina, North Carolina

Sold out? We check North Mills River Campground for cancellations and email you the moment a site opens.

Sold out for your dates?

Free to start. Email alerts included.

As of October 2026, North Mills River Campground is a campground in National Forests in North Carolina with 25 campsites. North Mills River Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks North Mills River Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • North Mills River Campground is located at 35.4072° N, 82.6458° W.
people allowed on 21 of 25 sites
8
people allowed on the largest site
30

North Mills River Campground reservations and next available dates

October 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Next Available Dates

Oct 1 (12 sites)Oct 2 (5 sites)

12 sites open on Oct 1 at North Mills River Campground. Book one now, or pick your dates above and get an alert when a site opens.

As of 30 September 2026, 01:14 UTC.

Stay and booking rules

  • Group bookings open: 6 Months
  • Book up to: 6 Months

Published by Recreation.gov for North Mills River Campground, read on September 28, 2026.

Campsites at North Mills River Campground

  • Standard 20
  • Tent 4
  • RV 1
  • Accessible 1
  • Hookups 2

What an RV fits

  • 18 ft8 sites
  • 20 ft4 sites
  • 28 ft1 site
  • 30 ft1 site
  • 32 ft1 site
  • 35 ft5 sites

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • showers
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Mountain.

Things to do: fishing, swimming, hiking, photography, stargazing, water sports.

All sites at North Mills River Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

SiteLoopTypeSleepsMax RVHookupsAccess
002NORTStandard818 ft--
003NORTStandard835 ft--
004NORTStandard835 ft--
005NORTStandard818 ft--
006NORTStandard830 ft-Accessible
007NORTStandard8---
008NORTStandard820 ft--
009NORTStandard820 ft--
010NORTStandard832 ft--
011NORTStandard820 ft--
012NORTStandard835 ft--
013NORTStandard835 ft--
014NORTRV828 ftWater-
015NORTStandard820 ft--
016NORTStandard818 ft--
017NORTTent8---
018NORTTent8---
019NORTTent8---
020NORTStandard1635 ft--
021NORTStandard818 ft--
022NORTStandard1618 ft--
024NORTStandard1618 ft--
025NORTStandard818 ft--
026NORTStandard818 ft--
Group SiteNORTH MILLS RIVERTent30-Water-

About North Mills River Campground

Overview

North Mills River Campground is a rustic mountain getaway in Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina. Located just outside the popular city of Asheville, the campground provides access to a variety of cultural and natural attractions, including an arboretum, the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, and numerous hiking, fishing, and mountain biking opportunities.

Winter Operations (November 16, 2025 - March 20, 2026):

During winter months, this facility operates with limited services:

No running water

No electricity

Pit toilets only

Sites 1-13 are available on a first-come, first-served basis for $15 per night (14-day stay limit). Sites 14-26 are closed during winter. Payment by cash or check must be placed in the fee tube within 30 minutes of arrival. Winter sites cannot be reserved online.

Recreation

The forest is known for its hiking and mountain biking trails, several of which are near the campground. Mills River offers excellent trout fishing, as well as tubing and swimming, which are kid-friendly favorite activities. Visitors wishing to learn more about the area can attend educational programs during the summer.

Facilities

This is a relatively small facility with campsites organized into two loops on opposite sides of the river. Sites are mostly shaded and lie within a short distance of the water.

The facility provides picnic tables, tent pads, lantern posts and campfire rings with grills, in addition to restrooms with hot showers and flush toilets. Campers can purchase firewood and fire starter on-site.

Natural Features

The campground is situated in the Appalachian Mountains at an elevation of 2,200 feet. The surrounding land boasts mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls and slopes densely forested with hardwoods. The group camping area is adjacent to the beautiful, shallow waters of the Mills River.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (828) 577-4167.

Nearby Attractions

Several natural and cultural attractions are within close proximity to the campground. Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Falls and the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway are among the most popular sites. The small town of Brevard offers various amenities and services, and visitors can take a trip to Asheville to visit art galleries, music venues, shops and restaurants.

Rules and notices at North Mills River Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 28, 2026. Check North Mills River Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

•

Check-in required: All guests must check in with the campground host before setting up their campsite. Hosts are on-site March 20 - November 15.

•

Campsite rules: Tents must be placed on gravel tent pads. Limit of 2 tents and 2 vehicles per site. Additional vehicles are $5 per vehicle (collected on-site).

•

Pets allowed: Dogs must be kept on leash at all times during your stay.

•

Bear country: North Mills River is located in black bear territory. All food, toiletries, and scented items must be stored in a vehicle, camper, or provided bear box when you are away from your campsite. Failure to comply may result in removal from the facility for public safety reasons.

•

Availability: Reservations are strongly recommended for weekends and holidays, as availability is extremely limited during peak times.

•

Year-round access: Open year-round with full services March 20 - November 15. Winter operations (November 16 - March 20) feature walk-up sites only with limited services (no running water, no electricity, pit toilets only).

•

Firewood: Don't move firewood! Protect our forests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.

•

Contact information: Campground staff are located at the manager's site from March 20 - November 15. From November 16 - March 20, the site is managed remotely. Call 828-577-4167 for assistance or 911 for emergencies.

•

This campground is managed by Naventure .

North Mills River Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at North Mills River Campground?

North Mills River Campground is rated "Moderate to Book" based on historical demand. With 25 sites available, you have good chances of finding availability, especially on weekdays.

How do I find last-minute availability at North Mills River Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at North Mills River Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does North Mills River Campground have?

North Mills River Campground has 25 campsites.

More campgrounds in National Forests in North Carolina

Same forest, same drive. Set an alert on any of them alongside this one.

All 34 National Forests in North Carolina campgrounds

Campgrounds

Browse Campsites

Monitor campsite availability across federal and state parks. Get alerts when sites open up at sold-out campgrounds.

One tick helps us more than you’d think

Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our campground pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.

Add PermitSnag in Google

Takes less than a minute.