Cardinal MountainCampsites near Franklin, NC
Every site is named for a national or state park and numbered by where it sits on the mountain. Sites 1 through 6 climb the shared road up from the gate. Above 6 the road forks: 7 through 10 run up the right side, 11 through 17 up the left. Every site has a fire ring, nearly all have wooden decking, and most sit at least 100 feet from the nearest neighbor.
Will my vehicle fit?
Up to 25 feet, drive-in
Sites 1, 5 and 6. This is where to book a full-size Class B — and not by coincidence, these are also our roomiest sites.
Up to 25 feet, back-in
Sites 2 and 3. Same length limit, but you’ll reverse up a paved grade to reach the site. Straightforward if you’re comfortable backing a van.
Up to 20 feet
Sites 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. Tents, cars, and shorter vans — a 136" ProMaster or 144" Sprinter is right at home.
Up to 18 feet
Sites 16 and 17. Cars, small trucks, and the shortest vans only. Access to these sites is paved, but the last turn at the top doesn’t easily accommodate larger vans.
Cars and small trucks
Sites 7 and 15. No camper vans at these two campsites — park and walk a very short distance in.
Not sure? Length is only half of it — wheelbase and turning circle matter just as much on a mountain road. Tell us what you drive and we’ll tell you which sites work.
Room to spread out
Most sites give you a 16 x 16 deck and a comfortable amount of ground around it. Three are considerably bigger: Blue Ridge 1 and Glacier 6 are the two largest on the mountain, both with decks and a great deal of space left over, and Yosemite 5 is a wide expanse of flat open ground with no deck at all.
If you’re traveling as a group, bringing more than one tent, or you just don’t like camping elbow to elbow, start with those three.
Bringing two vehicles? Every site takes two except 7, 14 and 15, which have room for one.
Which sites have the long-range views?
These five: Shenandoah 2, Everglades 3, Katahdin 9, Nantahala 10, Arches 13, Big Bend 14, Smokies 17. The rest sit in the trees. Both are good ways to camp — but if the view is what you came for in summer, book one of those.
Worth knowing that the five above are the ones that hold their view through summer. Once the leaves come down, some of the wooded sites open up too.
Pick your side of the mountain
Lower sites have the most room to maneuver. Higher sites are quieter and have the longer views. There is no bad site here.
Driving a Class B? Sites 1, 5 and 6 take up to 25 feet. Sites 2 and 3 take the same 25 feet as a back-in. Everything from 7 up is good to 20 feet, except 16 and 17 at 18 and 7 and 15 which take cars and small trucks only. Tent campers in a car can take any site on the mountain.
Right fork · sites 7–10
The road splits above site 6
↓ Entrance & gate