NF Campground Review – Lake Powhatan, Pisgah Forest (Asheville, NC)
Another wonderful National Forest campground only ~6 miles from Asheville, NC in the Smoky Mountains
Link to campground here: Lake Powhatan, Pisgah National Forest
Link to map here: Lake Powhatan, Bent Creek Recreation Area
- Site Quality = 4.5/5
Very nice forest sites here. They are all hard gravel back-ins with picnic table and fire-pit. There’s an assortment of sizes as well as some tent-only sites, but all are nicely level and beautifully shaded with very good separation between campers. Some sites are wider than others. There’s a selection of either water/sewer or electric (50 AMP) hook-ups. - Facilities = 4/5
Good selection of facilities. There’s flush toilets, showers, dump station and potable water. In addition there’s a swimming area, fishing pier and picnic sites all around the lake. Only slight ding is the showers have a push-timer (although it gives a decent time), plus they’re not quite as hot as we’d hoped. - Location = 5/5
Another fabulous location. You’re only ~6 miles from downtown Asheville and yet you’re in the middle of a gorgeous and serene forest setting surrounded by miles of fabulous hiking and biking trails. You’re also right next to the Blue Ridge Parkway and within a 40-min drive of Smoky Mountain National Park. - Pet Friendliness = 5/5
Awesome place for doggie. Lots of space to hang out, hike and even bike with your favorite furry friend. Lots of cold-mountain creeks and streams for pooch water-lovers too.
Overall Rating = 4.6
BONUS ALERT = Gorgeous deep-forest mountain campground right next to Asheville, NC
Summary: Once again it seems we’ve hit the jackpot. This is a gorgeous, deep-forest campground with lovely flat and shaded sites just ~6 miles from downtown Asheville, NC and right next to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The sites offer a selection of either water/sewer or electric hook-up and there’s always a set of first-come-first-serve for those non-reservation folks like ourselves. The whole area is part of Pisgah National Forest and is a hiking and biking paradise with miles of different trails right on your doorstep interspersed beautifully with forest, the lake, streams and creeks. To top it all off Asheville and the surrounding area is super dog-friendly allowing dogs on all trails and in restaurants with outdoor spaces. So, you can have an expresso downtown in the morning, go for a bike-ride with pooch in the afternoon and relax by your campfire in serene forest in the evening. Another keeper-campsite for us, for sure!
Extra Info: No connectivity here, but we were able to get a slooow (just barely usable) internet w/ Verizon using our external amplifier and antenna. Selection of reservation and first-come-first-serve sites. Sewer/water or 50 AMP hook-ups. Sites are $23/night for sewer/water, $25/night for electric. Central dump and potable water. Fishing pier and swimming beach on Lake Powhatan.
We are leaving Pigeon Forge after 10 fantastic days to Powhatan Lake near Ashville,no reservation sites are available but we hope to get an electrical site on first come first served bases.
Thanks for your info on the place.
We are getting very close to the end of our trip,getting ready to store the rig and fly home for the winter-just to come back next fall and pick it up from where we ended this summer.
Best regards.
So happy you guys are headed there! It’s a great park (at least we thought so) with some really nice hiking trails.
Enjoy Asheville too…such a great little town.
Nina
Lake Powhatan is about a 25-minute drive from where I live. I’ve never stayed there, though once I spent an evening with some RV friends from Michigan that were staying there (they enjoyed it). Powhatan adjoins the Bent Creek recreation area and also backs up to the North Carolina Arboretum, which features a bonsai garden, native gardens and trails of an easier variety. It’s the ideal — and only — SP to stay in close to Asheville. Lots of opportunities for hiking and day trips.
Hi. Great review, thanks! We are planning a trip to Ashville and I was looking for a place to camp and thinking about Lake Powhatan; your review sealed the deal.
Do you recall what site number that is in your second photo? It is the photo labeled “Typical campsite view”.
Thanks again!
It’s a LOVELY campground and so well-situated. I don’t think you’ll regret it. Sadly I don’t recall (and seem to have no firm record) of that exact campsite #. Sorry!
Enjoy the area. We really loved it here!
Nina
I love tent camping. Thanks for the review. My daughter moved to Asheville last year. She checked out the lake and said it was awesome. I will def be planning a trip here soon. Thanks
Awesome! It’s an absolutely beautiful campground. Enjoy!
Nina
Nina, I so much appreciate the detail you include in blog posts when you were traveling in the states. We now find ourselves looking into a route from St. Augustine Florida to Charleston and on to Nashville. This would be our first trip through the mountain areas other than the Ozarks in Missouri and Arkansas which we knew well from past travels. Folks at the park gave us a suggested route that includes going through Asheville. Booked marked your post when I had read about it in 2017.
Already ordered a Mountain Directory..
Hope all is well over there. I’ve been keeping up with your posts.
Mark from Missouri
So glad my old posts are still helping folks to explore the US. And what a lovely trip you’ve planned! Enjoy!
Nina