Sites & Rates
Average nightly rates103 total sites · $28.88 avg/night
RV Sites
85 sites
$30/night
average
Tent Sites
18 sites · $20-$85 range
$28.88/night
average
About Bandits Roost
Number of accommodations: 103
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Boating
Fishing
Hiking
Swimming
Year-round
Fishing
Hiking
Spring
Boating
Summer
Boating
Swimming
Fall
Boating
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Rates, Sites & Availability
103 Sites Available
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Site Details
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103 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (1925)
What Guests Are Saying
Bandits Roost campground offers beautiful lake views, clean and well-maintained facilities, and spacious sites, making it a popular choice for campers. Guests appreciate the friendly and helpful staff, as well as the peaceful and quiet atmosphere. However, some areas, including the bathhouses and fire pits, require updates and maintenance, and there are occasional issues with the entrance gate and site cleanliness between campers. Overall, it remains a beloved destination for many.
What Guests Are Saying
Bandits Roost campground offers beautiful lake views, clean and well-maintained facilities, and spacious sites, making it a popular choice for campers. Guests appreciate the friendly and helpful staff, as well as the peaceful and quiet atmosphere. However, some areas, including the bathhouses and fire pits, require updates and maintenance, and there are occasional issues with the entrance gate and site cleanliness between campers. Overall, it remains a beloved destination for many.
Review Summary
Julie L
VerifiedJuly 21, 2024 • Stayed at: 29, Loop: A
Beautiful camp ground however not as well maintained as years past and was not secure. Many rule changes this year including noon check out time reducing the amount of time we can enjoy our stay. Very limited ranger patrol, no control over pets with out leases, boats were docked beside swimming area all week, bath houses were not stocked with soap all week, camp sites were covered in ankle deep weeds, lack of any ranger presence made it not seem safe like past years. Very sad:(
Adrienne C
VerifiedJuly 21, 2024 • Stayed at: 73, Loop: B
Disappointed in the changes, especially the lack of staff on duty. Enforcement of policies and rules were lacking, if not absent. Small children were running around all over the place with no supervision, riding and walking through campsites, and not adhering to Quiet Time. I had an issue with the power box and breaker but there was nobody to contact on the matter. Been coming here every year since my childhood so I’m definitely disappointed.
David K
VerifiedJuly 22, 2024 • Stayed at: 26, Loop: A
Broken gate, the peninsula bathroom and shower were flooded and not very clean, had to use the boat launch side. Camp host was great and check in was very simple this year. Sites were very clean
David K
VerifiedJuly 22, 2024 • Stayed at: 26, Loop: A
Broken gate, the peninsula bathroom and shower were flooded and not very clean, had to use the boat launch side. Camp host was great and check in was very simple this year. Sites were very clean
David K
VerifiedJuly 22, 2024 • Stayed at: 26, Loop: A
Broken gate, the peninsula bathroom and shower were flooded and not very clean, had to use the boat launch side. Camp host was great and check in was very simple this year. Sites were very clean
Richard E
VerifiedJuly 23, 2024 • Stayed at: 17, Loop: A
Usually, my experience is excellent at Bandits Roost. The last trip began on July 5 and I'm sure that it was hard to keep up with all the 4th of July guest, trash and cleaning. The men's restroom toilets were stopped up the entire trip. with water running out the door into the handicap camp site. Dumpsters were overflowing and trash piled all around the dumpster. Maybe on holidays the core of engineers could get extra help to keep these areas taken care of. The lake is beautiful, quiet, wonderful asset for Wilkes County. We are very appreciative and thankful to be able to enjoy it.
Richard E
VerifiedJuly 23, 2024 • Stayed at: 17, Loop: A
Usually, my experience is excellent at Bandits Roost. The last trip began on July 5 and I'm sure that it was hard to keep up with all the 4th of July guest, trash and cleaning. The men's restroom toilets were stopped up the entire trip. with water running out the door into the handicap camp site. Dumpsters were overflowing and trash piled all around the dumpster. Maybe on holidays the core of engineers could get extra help to keep these areas taken care of. The lake is beautiful, quiet, wonderful asset for Wilkes County. We are very appreciative and thankful to be able to enjoy it.
Richard E
VerifiedJuly 23, 2024 • Stayed at: 17, Loop: A
Usually, my experience is excellent at Bandits Roost. The last trip began on July 5 and I'm sure that it was hard to keep up with all the 4th of July guest, trash and cleaning. The men's restroom toilets were stopped up the entire trip. with water running out the door into the handicap camp site. Dumpsters were overflowing and trash piled all around the dumpster. Maybe on holidays the core of engineers could get extra help to keep these areas taken care of. The lake is beautiful, quiet, wonderful asset for Wilkes County. We are very appreciative and thankful to be able to enjoy it.
Danny T
VerifiedJuly 25, 2024 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: A
There was no hand soap in the men’s room every time I went there. But otherwise my stay was great!
Danny T
VerifiedJuly 25, 2024 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: A
There was no hand soap in the men’s room every time I went there. But otherwise my stay was great!
Location Bandits Roost
Address:
667 Jess Walsh Road
Wilkesboro, NC, 28697-0182
United States
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.
From Charlotte, North Carolina, take I-77 North (approximately 60 miles) before merging onto Highway 421 North towards Wilkesboro/Boone. Continue to Exit 286B (approximately 20 miles), 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.
Travel times from:
Winston Salem: 1 hour.
Charlotte: 1.5 hours.
The campground is accessible via Highway 421, which is approximately 5 miles from Highway 268, and I-77 is also within reach, merging onto Highway 421 toward Wilkesboro/Boone.
Elevation: 339 feet
6.9 mi drive to downtown Wilkesboro (about 12 min)
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: September 11, 2026
