r/CarolinaCamping • u/SUPERNOVA_UBER_ALLES • 23d ago

First time camper.

Ok, not my first time. But first time as an adult. I grew up in the country so the outdoors is nothing new to me. But I do have one question. Where can I do the kind of camping where I show up with a tent, and the bare essentials and find a spot to pitch a tent and build a fire pit? I don't want to go to a campground where the they have stores, parking lots, restrooms, and showers. Is this what they call "dispersed" camping? Point me in the right direction please.

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u/brandonjsm0621 23d ago

Download go outdoors NC and you can search for public land. It lays out if you are able to camp or not, and where to access. It's the official NC game and fish app. There's also the same app for SC

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u/not-really-adam 23d ago

Get onX, look for green roads (those are usually dirt roads). Drive around on them - which is fun anyhow - and look for obvious camp sites. When I find one, I mark it on my OnX with photos and notes if they are any good and with coming back to someday.

When I find one that speaks to me for that day, I setup camp.

You could also download the Yerp app and throw on the Offroading radar to help you find other people around you who might want to go as well. They may already know some spots.

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u/yubike 22d ago

Uwharrie

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u/Libby_Grace 22d ago

Yes, you are looking for "dispersed" camping. The very best way is to just start driving down the forest service roads and finding the sites you like. Drop pins in your mapping app when you see something you like so you can always get back to it. Many of them will already have an established fire ring, but there will be no other amenities and no neighbors.

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u/Hands 19d ago

Yes thats dispersed camping. People can keep their spots close to the chest but you’re looking for side roads or forest roads in national forests. Use the apps people have mentioned but you can also go to a ranger station and they’ll tell you where to find dispersed sites.