Lake Powhatan

LAKE POWHATAN

Part of National Forests in North Carolina

Overview

 Glamping sites are now available at Lake Powhatan! Experience nature and outdoor recreation without sacrificing the comforts and luxuries of home. Choose one of 12 custom designed, fully furnished canvas platform tents in the heart of the national forest for your next mountain adventure, only 10 minutes from downtown Asheville, NC. Learn more about glamping near Asheville . To book your glamping site, click here

Located just minutes from the popular city of Asheville, North Carolina, Lake Powhatan has something for everyone. The campground is convenient to a variety of cultural and natural attractions, including art and music venues, shopping and dining in Asheville, scenic driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway, numerous hiking trails and lakeside recreation.

Facilities

The shaded, private campsites are organized into four loops, all within walking distance of the lake. The facility provides picnic tables, tent pads, lantern posts and campfire rings with grills, in addition to restrooms with hot showers and flush toilets. A few sites have full hookups. 12 glamping tents are available in the upper Hardtimes Loop. Campers can purchase ice and firewood from the gatehouse.

Natural Features

The campground is situated in a heavily wooded area on the banks of Lake Powhatan in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. The elevation is 2,200 feet. The surrounding land boasts mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls and slopes thickly forested with hardwoods and conifers.

Recreation

Visitors have a number of different activities to choose from. Kids love the lake's sandy swimming beach and anglers enjoy the calm waters for trout fishing. The French Broad River, popular for fishing, is also nearby. Note that use of personal watercraft is STRICTLY PROHIBITED in the lake due to potential introduction of foreign material to the Lake Powhatan riprarian ecosystem.

The forest is known for its hiking and mountain biking trails, several of which are located near the campground. 

Nearby Attractions

Among the more popular nearby destinations are Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Falls, the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, The NC Arboretum and the Biltmore Estate.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (828) 577-7278.

Important Notices

  • Check-In Process: 

    Winter Gatehouse Hours (Nov. 15-March 24): 10am-5pm. 

    - During gatehouse hours, stop at the gatehouse to be checked in by a camphost. They will provide you with a map and review the rules. 

    - Outside the gatehouse hours, stop at the gatehouse to grab a map. Please review the campground rules on the back of the map.  

  • Check-in: 2 pm

    Check-out: 12 noon 

  • Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm - 7:00 am. 

  • Generators are not allowed between the hours of 8pm-8am, and may only run for up to 4 hours at a time. 

  • Lake Powhatan is located in black bear territory. Visitors are expected to keep all smellable items locked away inside a camper or locked vehicle. Visitors who do not comply with this rule may be asked to leave the facility due to an increased risk of public safety.

  • Pets are allowed on-site and must be supervised for the duration of your stay. All pets must be kept on-leash or contained for the duration of your stay. Pets are not allowed on the beach. Dog fences are not permitted by the USFS.

  • Limit 8 people and 2 vehicles for single sites and 16 people plus 4 vehicles for double sites; $5 daily extra vehicle fee collected upon arrival
  • Swimming area open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day.
  • Campground hosts can be found by clearly marked sites. Hosts are present to provide assistance to visitors should the need arise.

  • Fires are only permitted within established fire rings. DO NOT burn material which could contain metal objects such as nails, screws, etc...
  • Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
  • This campground is managed by Naventure

  • Firewood and ice available for purchase during gatehouse hours.

Available Activities

  • Swimming Site - Swimming Site
  • Picnicking - Picnicking
  • Hiking - Hiking
  • Fishing - Fishing
  • Camping - Camping
  • Birding - Birding
  • Backpacking - Backpacking
  • Day Use Area - Day Use Area
  • Mountain Biking - Mountain Biking
  • Mushroom Picking - Mushroom Picking
  • Photography - Photography
  • Star Gazing - Star Gazing
  • Swimming - Swimming
  • Water Access - Water Access

Directions

<p>From Asheville, take I-26 to exit 33. Go south approximately 2 miles on State Route 191 to the Lake Powhatan Recreation Area sign. Turn right and follow signs to the campground.</p>

Cancellation Policy

Any cancellations must be taken care of directly with recreation.gov. Note that this facility does not provide refunds for No Shows or incliment weather.

Contact Information

Phone: 828-552-8040

375 WESLEY BRANCH ROAD
ASHEVILLE, NC 28806

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Available Campsites

Photo Gallery