Bandits Roost
Bandits Roost Campground is located on the south side of W. Kerr Scott Reservoir in western North Carolina. Constructed in the beautiful Yadkin River Valley, the lake offers extensive opportunities for outdoor recreational activities.
More like this: electric hookups in North Carolina · reservable in North Carolina · big rigs in North Carolina · pets allowed in North Carolina · group sites in North Carolina
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 85 |
| Tent-only | 17 |
| group standard electric | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 115 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
103 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | A | Tent only | Gravel | None | No | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| 02 | A | Tent only | 12 | Gravel | None | No | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 03 | A | Tent only | Gravel | None | No | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| 04 | A | Tent only | 12 | Gravel | None | No | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 05 | A | Tent only | 12 | Gravel | None | No | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 06 | A | Tent only | Gravel | None | No | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| 07 | A | Tent only | 12 | Gravel | None | No | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 08 | A | Tent only | Gravel | None | No | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| 09 | A | Tent only | 12 | Gravel | None | No | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 10 | A | Electric | Back-in | 110 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water |
| Max vehicle length | 148 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites 59, 73 are listed accessible |
The campground offers 102 campsites, including 17 tents sites and 85 standard sites with water and electric hookups. The popular group tent area offers a covered shelter with water and electricity, a grill, six tables and seven tent pads. Amenities include flush and pit toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. A boat ramp, swim beach, playground, basketball court and amphitheater offer additional recreation opportunities.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Winston-Salem, North Carolina, take Highway 421 North (approximately 55 miles) to Exit 286B, turn left onto Highway 268 and continue for approximately 5 miles. Turn right onto Jess Walsh Road. Campground entrance is located at the end of the road.
| Nearest town | Wilkesboro, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 36.1219° N, 81.2507° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Robert Handy Camping Center ↗ | 2 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 21.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Wahoos Adventures ↗ | 23.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Bandits Roost Campground, Wilkesboro, NC (USACE)
Worth a stop
- 0.6 mi
- 0.7 mi
- 1.1 miWilkes Skyline Marina ↗Boat launch
- 1.4 miW. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Benjamin Hubbard HouseBuilding · Moravian Falls · 3.2 mi
- J. L. Hemphill HouseBuilding · Wilkesboro · 5.1 mi
- St. Paul's Episcopal Church and CemeteryBuilding · Wilkesboro · 5.7 mi
Natural features
The gentle Yadkin River flows through its scenic namesake valley in the foothills of the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains. Forests of mixed hardwoods, including sycamore, poplar, oak and hickory, cover the region. Wildlife is abundant in the valley. White-tailed deer, black bear, eastern cottontails and more can be found among the hills. Birds in the area include wild turkey, woodpeckers, Carolina chickadees, red-eyed vireo, ovenbirds, mallards and wood ducks.
Recreation
The 1,475-acre reservoir offers excellent boating, canoeing, kayaking and swimming opportunities. Anglers will find channel catfish, large and smallmouth bass, bluegill, threadfin shad, spotted bass, striped bass, and hybrid striped bass. Miles of multi-use trails, that allow hiking and mountain biking, surround the lake, including the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, which has a trailhead at the campground. An additional 25 miles of trails can be found at the Warrior Creek and Dark Mountain areas.
Guidebooks for North Carolina
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Great Day Hikes on North Carolina's Mountains-To-Sea TrailFriends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and Jim Grode, 2020Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Bandits Roost?
Sites at Bandits Roost are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Bandits Roost?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Bandits Roost have?
103 sites, including 85 standard sites with power, 17 tent-only sites, and 1 group standard electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Bandits Roost?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Bandits Roost have hookups?
Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Bandits Roost?
Amenities include flush and pit toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Bandits Roost?
Yes, pets are allowed at Bandits Roost. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Bandits Roost?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Bandits Roost?
Sites 59 and 73 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Bandits Roost?
FCC coverage maps show T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Bandits Roost?
The 1,475-acre reservoir offers excellent boating, canoeing, kayaking and swimming opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Bandits Roost?
Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
Source: Getting there