Horse Cove Campground
The campground is near the entrance to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. The main portion of the campground is closed indefinitely due to a water system issue. The lower 8 sites are open year round. These sites are primitive with access to a vault toilet but no running water. There is a creek nearby.
More like this: first-come in North Carolina · tent only in North Carolina
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | $15 a night |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Year round |
| Forest | National Forests in North Carolina |
| Fees | $15 a night |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 35.3650° N, 83.9200° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx - Buck Branch
17 mi from the campground · 652 acres
- PrescribedRx Bird Dog
33 mi from the campground · 34 acres
- PrescribedRx - Rymer Camp
34 mi from the campground · 381 acres
- PrescribedAnderson - Rx Freels Bend
45 mi from the campground · 100 acres · 0% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Lovin Equipment & Sales, Inc - Outdoor Equipment & Sportsman ↗ | 7.9 mi |
| Dump station | North River Checking Station ↗ | 12.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Rick's RV Center ↗ | 22.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Horse Cove, NC from Shari G.
Worth a stop
- 3 miCheoah Point Beach ↗Swimming
- 3 miCheoah Point Beach ↗Swimming
- 5.4 miMassey Branch Fishing Pier ↗Fishing site
- 13.9 miWalnut Grove Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 14.7 miBaby Falls Day Use Site ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miJenkins Meadow3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.3 miStratton Bald ↗7.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.7 miJoyce Kilmer Memorial NRT ↗2 mi trail · hiking, horse · national_recreation_or_other
- 0.8 miNaked Ground4.4 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.7 miDeep Creek Connector2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.3 miHaoe Lead ↗6.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside National Forests in North Carolina.
- inNational Forests in North Carolina ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,026,237 acres
- 1.5 miJoyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 19,246 acres
- 4.8 miCitico Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 16,213 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Guidebooks for North Carolina
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Great Day Hikes on North Carolina's Mountains-To-Sea TrailFriends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and Jim Grode, 2020Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Horse Cove Campground?
$15 a night
Source: Forest Service
Is Horse Cove Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Year round.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Horse Cove Campground have?
8 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Horse Cove Campground?
Horse Cove Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Horse Cove Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Rattler Ford Group Campground (0.4 mi), Rattler Ford Campground (0.5 mi, first-come), and Cheoah Point Campground (2.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby