North Mills River

5289 N. Mills River Road, Mills River, North Carolina, United States
Check Availability
NORTH MILLS RIVER
North Mills River
NORTH MILLS RIVER
NORTH MILLS RIVER
NORTH MILLS RIVER

Featured amenities

Parking Parking
Restrooms Restrooms

About North Mills River

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 waterNo electricityPit toilets onlySites 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.

Available sites

25 total sites
RV Sites 21 sites Check Availability Tent Sites 4 sites Check Availability

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Hiking

Hiking

Year-round
Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking

Year-round

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Mar 20 to Nov 15

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Parking Parking
Restrooms Restrooms
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Restrooms
Parking and Transport

Parking and Transport

  • Parking
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

25 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 002, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 003, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 004, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 005, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 006, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 007, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 008, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 009, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 010, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 011, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 012, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 013, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 014, Loop: NORT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 015, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 016, Loop: NORT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 017, Loop: NORT Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 018, Loop: NORT Tent
Gravel
⛺ 019, Loop: NORT Tent
Gravel
🚐 020, Loop: NORT RV
Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 021, Loop: NORT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 022, Loop: NORT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 024, Loop: NORT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 025, Loop: NORT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 026, Loop: NORT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ Group Site, Loop: NORTH MILLS RIVER Tent

Reviews

585 reviews

Summary

AI generated

North Mills River Campground is a beautifully maintained site with clean and spacious facilities, offering a peaceful experience deep in the woods. Camp hosts are friendly and helpful, providing excellent service and local activity recommendations. While some bathroom facilities are older and access to certain sites can be improved, the campground is praised for its beautiful scenery, fishing, and proximity to hiking and biking trails.

Based on guest feedback

4.7

Overall rating

Based on 585 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 80.5% (471)
4 stars 14.0% (82)
3 stars 3.8% (22)
2 stars 1.0% (6)
1 star 0.7% (4)

Showing 585 reviews

Verified Only
Sort by: Newest First
Newest First Oldest First

MARGARET S

Verified

January 24, 2020 Stayed at: 010, Loop: NORT

Very nice campground. Gravel sites-so no mud to track in campers. Has a river and a road running through the campground, which is different, but low traffic up this far in the mountain.
We went to the Serra Nevada brewery about 5 mi away. That was awesome. It is like the 'Disney' of breweries. Has good beer and food, The grounds are beautiful.
The campground could use some up date on its bath/shower buildings. They are very old.

Helpful

Danny S

Verified

January 24, 2020 Stayed at: 013, Loop: NORT

Nice campsite and very friendly and welcoming camp host. Showers were clean. No cell phone service. Mountain bike trails are not far from this campground.

Helpful

Ben B

Verified

January 24, 2020 Stayed at: 005, Loop: NORT

Good location. Beautiful area. Nice creek running through the campsite. We watched a few fly fishermen catch a few trout. However, Campsite 007 and 005 are not good as they are next to a horrendous smelling bathroom. Don't stay near those and you will probably be fine.

Helpful

MARGARET S

Verified

January 24, 2020 Stayed at: 010, Loop: NORT

Very nice campground. Gravel sites-so no mud to track in campers. Has a river and a road running through the campground, which is different, but low traffic up this far in the mountain.
We went to the Serra Nevada brewery about 5 mi away. That was awesome. It is like the 'Disney' of breweries. Has good beer and food, The grounds are beautiful.
The campground could use some up date on its bath/shower buildings. They are very old.

Helpful

Danny S

Verified

January 24, 2020 Stayed at: 013, Loop: NORT

Nice campsite and very friendly and welcoming camp host. Showers were clean. No cell phone service. Mountain bike trails are not far from this campground.

Helpful

Kent P

Verified

January 17, 2020 Stayed at: 005, Loop: NORT

Beautiful camp.
Nice restrooms.
Friendly staff.

Helpful

Brian Z

Verified

January 17, 2020 Stayed at: 008, Loop: NORT

Great spot near yellow gap road and trace/spencer area.

Helpful

Michael B

Verified

January 17, 2020 Stayed at: 010, Loop: NORT

Clean grounds and restrooms, spacious campsites that are wooded with fire pits!

Helpful

Kent P

Verified

January 17, 2020 Stayed at: 005, Loop: NORT

Beautiful camp.
Nice restrooms.
Friendly staff.

Helpful

Brian Z

Verified

January 17, 2020 Stayed at: 008, Loop: NORT

Great spot near yellow gap road and trace/spencer area.

Helpful

Location & Directions for North Mills River

5289 N. Mills River Road, Mills River, NC 28742 United States

Elevation: 678 ft

Getting There

From Asheville, take U.S. Highway 280 west to North Mills River Road. Follow North Mills River Road to the campground.

Nearest town

Mills River, NC - 5.9 mi

About 12 min to downtown

Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The closest entrance is: Cataloochee Entrance

Approximate drive: 34.4 mi · 59 min

Policies & Rules

Cancellation policy

  • Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
  • Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
  • Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
    • Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
  • Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
  • Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
  • Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.

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Nearby destinations

Explore destination

Mills River

5 mi away

Day trip
Explore destination

Horse Shoe

7 mi away

City
Explore destination

Etowah

7 mi away

City

Last updated: October 24, 2026

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Explore Mills River, NC

Population: 7,281

Nearby city: Asheville, NC

Approx. 14 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 2,096 ft

Learn more about Mills River

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service