Frequently asked questions
Can I bring a travel trailer or fifth wheel?
No. Cars, trucks, SUVs, self-contained Class B vans and tents are all welcome, but nothing towed — no travel trailers, fifth wheels or pop-ups. The road and the sites aren't built for them.
Are there bathrooms?
Portable restrooms, serviced regularly.
Is there water at my site?
Yes — there is water at every site, piped from our own well on the property. The permanent plumbing is still being finished, so a line or a fitting may change while the well company completes the work.
Is there WiFi or cell service?
Both. There's 5G on the mountain, so your phone should work fine at your site. There's also WiFi at Gleason, the community rendezvous spot between sites 4 and 5. It's at that one spot, not across the campground, so count on your phone's signal back at your own site.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, leashed at all times, cleaned up after, and not left unattended at your site.
Can I bring my own firewood?
No. On-property firewood only — moving firewood spreads tree disease and invasive insects. We sell it here: buy it through the pay page and Carman, who manages the campground and lives on site, gets it to you.
Can I have a campfire?
Yes, in the provided fire ring, as long as Macon County isn't under a burn ban. Bans are issued by the North Carolina Forest Service and announced by Macon County Emergency Services, but the simplest route is to ask Carman — he lives on site and will know the current status. Never leave a fire unattended, and drown it before you go to bed and before you leave your site.
Is the road hard to drive?
No. The last stretch up to the gate, Turkey Pen Road, is one-lane dirt, so take it slow. Once you're on the property the road is paved the whole way except one flat section, and it's about as wide as a highway lane. The speed limit on the property is 7 mph. There are photos of the road just inside the gate on the directions page if you'd like to see it before you come.
How far is town?
About 8 minutes from the gate. Franklin has three areas, all close together: Georgia Road for the supermarket, restaurants, entertainment, town hall and gas; Main Street for breweries, restaurants, shops and antiques; and Highlands Road for retail, restaurants, yoga, massage and gas. Gear and hardware are easy to find in town too — Outdoor 76, Three Eagles Outfitters and Fish Tales Outfitters are all in Franklin.
What do I do in an emergency?
Call 911. Give them the address — 341 Turkey Pen Rd, Franklin, NC 28734 — and your site name and number. That's how responders find you, so look at your site post when you arrive and remember it. The nearest hospital is Angel Medical Center, 124 One Center Ct, Franklin, NC 28734, (828) 524-8411. There's also a manager living on the property year-round.
Is there power at the sites?
No. There are no electric hookups — come self-contained. Every site does have its own well water, piped to a hose, a fire ring and a charcoal grill.
Where do I take my trash?
There are no bins on the property — bins are what teach wildlife that a campground is worth visiting. There are garbage bags at your site, and more if you need them. The Franklin town garbage and recycling drop-off is less than five minutes from the gate, at 3030 Old Murphy Rd, Franklin, NC 28734, and turn-by-turn directions are on the directions page. Or skip that drive: buy garbage bag pickup ($10) and we'll haul it out for you. $10 buys one collection of up to four bags, not an allowance across a stay — two bags today and two tomorrow is two purchases. You can buy it any day of your stay, not only on the way out. Ask by 4pm and we collect the same day; after that it is the next morning. Ask before the cutoff and the bags never sit out overnight; if they do wait, bag them and keep them in your vehicle, the same as the food and the coolers. Loose garbage or a mess left behind is still a cleaning charge, minimum $60. The county landfill (a separate location in Franklin) is for large items only.
How long can I stay?
Stay as short or as long as you like. Some people come for a night or two on their way through or just to get away locally; others settle in for several days or even weeks at a time and enjoy having downtown Franklin 8 minutes away and the quiet of the mountain to come back to. The one condition is that the vehicle you arrived in stays operational.
How do I extend my stay?
Ask us, and we'll check whether your site is free for the extra nights. If it isn't, we may be able to move you to another one, and a price difference may apply. Don't pay for an extra night until we've confirmed the site is open.
Can I switch campsites?
Often yes, if the site you want is free. Ask when you arrive or message us — easier to sort out before you've set up than after.
How do I pay for my campsite?
Through the booking page when you reserve. Nightly rates are handled there, not on arrival.
How do I pay for firewood, charcoal, garbage pickup or an extra night?
See the pay page. Put your site number in the note so we know who it's from.
What time is check-in?
Check-in is from 2:00 pm and check-out is by 11:00 am.
Can I bring two vehicles?
Two at most sites. Blue Ridge 1, Yosemite 5 and Glacier 6 take three. Rockies 7, Big Bend 14 and Acadia 15 have room for one — Acadia 15 parks at Big Bend 14 and you walk in from there. Each site page lists its own parking, so check yours if you'd like to drive in with more than one vehicle.
Where do I get firewood?
We sell it on the property. Buy it through the pay page and Carman, who manages the property and lives on site, gets it to you. Please don't bring your own: moving firewood spreads tree disease and invasive insects.
Can I run a generator?
Yes, outside quiet hours. Nothing running between 11pm and sunrise.
Where do I store food overnight?
In your vehicle. Black bears live in these mountains and may pass through here, so assume wildlife could come by and give it no reason to. Your car is nearby.
Can I meet other campers while I'm here?
If you'd like to, yes. We use CampgroundMeet — app.cgmeet.com — so you can see who else is on the mountain and say hello if you feel like it. Nobody has to use it.
What's the cancellation policy?
Cancel at least one week before your check-in day and time and you'll receive a full refund, minus the booking platform's service fee. Cancel inside that week and there's no refund. Bookings and refunds are both handled by the booking platform you used, so the terms you see at checkout are the ones that apply.
Thinking of something that’s not listed here? Get in touch.