Badin Lake Campground
Badin Lake Campground borders the lakeshore and sits within a shaded forest, offering a year-round retreat for swimmers, boaters and anglers in central North Carolina's Uwharrie National Forest. Badin Lake Recreation Area is a hub for the area's outdoor activities, and the campground offers spacious, waterfront sites for both RV and tent campers.
The group site has its own page: Badin Lake Group Camp.
More like this: reservable in North Carolina · big rigs in North Carolina · pets allowed in North Carolina
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 33 |
| Tent-only | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
34 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | LOWER LOOP | Standard | Back-in | 22 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 002 | LOWER LOOP | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 003 | LOWER LOOP | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 004 | LOWER LOOP | Standard | Pull-through | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 005 | LOWER LOOP | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | |||
| 006 | LOWER LOOP | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Full | 16 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | LOWER LOOP | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 008 | LOWER LOOP | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 009 | LOWER LOOP | Standard | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | LOWER LOOP | Standard | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes | 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 4:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites 004, 008, 010 are listed accessible |
The campground has two loops of non-electric sites, some of which lie on the shore. Each site is near drinking water and is equipped with a table, grill, lantern post, campfire ring and tent pad. Flush toilets and showers are located in both loops. No dump station is available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Year Round |
| Forest | National Forests in North Carolina |
| Booking | Reservations can only be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777; TDD 1-877-833-6777; International 1-518-885-3639. We do not make reservations at the District Office. |
| Fees | $75 per site per night. Reservations must be made at least 3 days prior to camping in this area. Each site is limited to a group of no more than 50 people. |
| Rules | Alcohol Prohibited at Campground. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Troy, North Carolina, take State Highway 109 north for approximately 10 miles. Turn left onto Mullinix Road (County Highway 1154), and travel approximately 1.5 miles to a stop sign and "T" intersection. Turn right, and go approximately 2 miles to another stop sign and "T" intersection.
| Nearest town | Troy, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35.4485° N, 80.0787° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | West Trades Unlimited ↗ | 15 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Bass Pro Shops ↗ | 36.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Badin Lake Campground Sites
Worth a stop
A theme park with a petting zoo, nature center and mini golf course lies just under an hour away and makes a fun day trip for families.
- 0.8 miCove Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 1.6 miFlintlock Valley Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 0.4 miBadin Lake ↗5.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miBig Rock Loop1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miLake Trail1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.7 miJosh Trail1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miGreg'S Loop Connector0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miGreg'S Loop1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Birkhead Mountains Wilderness begins about 12.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 12.4 miBirkhead Mountains Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,065 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Lane's Chapel Methodist Church and CemeteryBuilding · New London (Eldorado Township) · 2.7 mi
- Chapel Hill Church TabernacleBuilding · Denton · 7.3 mi
- Harrington-Dewar HouseBuilding · Holly Springs · 9.2 mi
Natural features
The campground lies in a dense forest of pines and hardwoods near the shore of 5,000-acre Badin Lake. Winter temperatures range from the low 30s to upper 50s, while summer brings temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s and high humidity. The weather is pleasant in spring and fall, with high temperatures in the 60s and 70s.
Recreation
Badin Lake Recreation Area offers many ways for campers to enjoy the lake. Popular activities include picnicking on the shore or swimming, boating or fishing for bass, bream, crappie and catfish on the water. Anglers and boaters have the convenience of a boat ramp 2 miles from the campground. About 40 miles of non-motorized trails are available for horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking, as well as 17 miles of motorized trails for off-road vehicle riding. The surrounding land offers both big and small game hunting.
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 Badin Lake Campground?
Sites at Badin Lake Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations can only be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777; TDD 1-877-833-6777; International 1-518-885-3639. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Badin Lake Campground?
$75 per site per night. Reservations must be made at least 3 days prior to camping in this area. Each site is limited to a group of no more than 50 people.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Badin Lake Campground?
Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Badin Lake Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Year Round.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Badin Lake Campground have?
34 sites, including 33 standard sites without power and 1 tent-only site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Badin Lake Campground?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Badin Lake Campground?
Flush toilets and showers are located in both loops.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Badin Lake Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Badin Lake Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Badin Lake Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Alcohol Prohibited at Campground.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Badin Lake Campground?
Sites 004, 008, and 010 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 Badin Lake Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 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 Badin Lake Campground?
Badin Lake Recreation Area offers many ways for campers to enjoy the lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation