Sixteen campsites on a mountain, 8 minutes from Franklin, NC.
Sites for tents, cars, trucks, SUVs and self-contained Class B vans, most of them 100+ feet from their nearest neighbor, each on its own wooden deck and screened by trees, many with long-range mountain views. Quiet enough to hear the wind move through the trees. Close enough to be at dinner in under ten minutes. We do not allow trailers (anything towed behind a vehicle) on site.
A quiet mountain, not a parking lot
Most campgrounds pack sites in tight. We did the opposite. Cardinal Mountain has 16 sites spread across 28 acres, and most sit 100+ feet from their nearest neighbor — considerably more for some. Trees and terrain do the rest. Generally you can’t see the people next to you because of the forest. It feels like the middle of nowhere, and it is 8 minutes from town.
Every site sits on cleared, level ground and has its own wooden deck (except Yosemite 5, which is open ground instead). No hunting for a flat patch. You sleep flat and dry, up off the ground. You pull in, set up on the deck — tent, chairs, table, whatever you brought — and you’re done in ten minutes.
What campers say
100% of campers on Hipcamp recommend us.
6 ratings on Hipcamp · 3 written reviews
It was a fantastic place, the spot I had was very private, will definitely return for another trip.
Great spot near Franklin, NC. Portapotties were especially clean and stocked. Host Damien was very specific and clear with details and instructions; we never… Read more
We had a great stay here! Very peaceful surroundings and a nice area to camp in. We’ll definitely be visiting again hopefully soon!
Sites are numbered up the mountain
Site 1 sits lowest, just past the gate, and the numbers climb from there. Above site 6 the road splits: the right fork carries sites 7 through 10, the left fork carries 11 through 17. Numbers follow the fork rather than strict elevation, so 11 and 12 sit a touch lower than 7 and 8 despite the higher numbers.
The higher you go, the more you see — and the less room there is to swing a long vehicle around at the site.
Right fork · sites 7–10
The road splits above site 6
↓ Entrance & gate
Franklin is the good kind of small town
Waterfalls & hiking
Dry Falls, Rufus Morgan, Wayah Bald, the Bartram Trail — a dozen worthwhile trailheads within half an hour.
Gem mining
Franklin sits on one of the richest gem fields in the country. Rubies and sapphires come out of the ground here.
The Appalachian Trail
Franklin is an official Trail Town. Mile 110 runs just west of here, and hikers roll through town every spring.
Downtown, 8 minutes out
Restaurants, breweries, a real hardware store, and groceries — close enough that you don’t have to over-pack.
We’re new, and we’re honest about it. Cardinal Mountain opened this season and we’re still building. Right now that means portable restrooms serving the property, and no water or power at individual sites. Everything we do have is listed plainly on the amenities page. Book early to lock in launch pricing.