Morrow Mountain State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Morrow Mountain State Park first opened to the public in 1939. This lovely state park in Albemarle, NC encompasses 5,881 acres. Morrow Mountain itself is 936 feet tall, so it's a great vantage point from which to view the park. The Uwharrie Mountains provide a fabulous environment for hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and more. Lake Tillery and the Pee Dee River are top-quality locations for fishing, boating, and paddling. Multiple historic sites and exhibits shed light on this area's rich history as a prehistoric quarry and the headquarters of one of the area's first prominent medical men. The Charlotte area is less than an hour away, but you won't be thinking about the big city when you're exploring the natural wonders of this gorgeous North Carolina state park.
Nearby Cities:
Badin, NC
Albemarle, NC
Norwood, NC
Charlotte, NC
Spring 47-72 F
Summer 66-87 F
Fall 49-73 F
Winter 32-54 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Morrow Mountain State Park
Campground Accommodations
Morrow Mountain Family Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 57 feet
Other amenities: Showers, water spigots, restrooms, back-in, and pull-through sites, dump station, picnic tables, grills
Morrow Mountain State Park Campground
Take in epic views of Morrow Mountain and forested hillsides by staying in any of the park’s 106 campsites, which feature modern bathhouses and limited electrical hookups. Hike up the summit of Morrow Mountain, jump in the swimming pool, or simply breathe in the fresh mountain air — all close to your campsite. Rates are $25 per night.
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wifi: No
Pet friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Bathhouse, grills, trails, hiking, horseback riding, boating, fishing, swimming, pool, museum, amphitheater, dumping station
Norwood Campground
South of the park, this family-friendly campground features 86 campsites with full hookups surrounded by hardwood trees. Fish for bass and catfish in Lake Tillery, take a dip in the swimming pool, or enjoy camp-wide activities including bingo and live music. Rates are $34-38 per night.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wifi: Yes
Pet friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Bathhouse, laundromat, camp store, cable, fire pit, playground, fishing, swimming, pool, game room, trails, dumping station
What to Do at
Morrow Mountain State Park
Horseback riding is popular at Morrow Mountain State Park due to the park's 19 miles of bridle trails that take riders around the Morrow Mountain area. If you take the 0.6-mile Quarry Trail, you can visit the quarry that the Civilian Conservation Corps mined to extract argillite to use in the park's construction. On the summit of Morrow Mountain, you may notice evidence of prehistoric quarrying by the Native American peoples who mined rhyodacite for tool crafting. Another great historical location to visit in the park is Kron House, which was the residence of one of this area's first practicing physicians. You can also go picnicking here at one of the multiple picnic areas spread throughout the park.
Lake Tillery, the Pee Dee River, an Olympic-sized pool, and 32 miles of trails provide multiple exceptional venues for high-quality recreational opportunities.
Inside Morrow Mountain State Park
The Uwharrie Mountains are the perfect backdrop to all the recreational activities available at Morrow Mountain State Park, whether that’s hiking through miles of nature trails, swimming in the pool, or fishing and boating on Lake Tillery. There are several historical points of interest on-site including a small museum, which documents Uwharrie history, and the Kron House, which once housed the region’s first physician, Dr. Francis Korn. The park also hosts a variety of educational programs and events year-round such as ranger-led hikes, guided tours of the Kron House, and info sessions on North Carolina’s flora and fauna.
Here are more details on the park’s most popular activities:
Hiking - Over 15 miles of hiking trails wind through the park, varying in length and intensity. The moderate 2.6-mile Morrow Mountain Trail ascends to the summit for panoramic views of the area, while the short 0.8-mile Mountain Loop Trail showcases rock debris from the prehistoric quarry.
Boating - Enjoy the tranquil waters of Lake Tillery and the Pee Dee River by launching your boat or heading out in a rented canoe. The park has a boat launch, as well as a boathouse where canoe and kayak rentals are available.
Swimming - Cool off after a long hike or beat the summer heat by jumping in the park’s swimming pool. Younger children can splash around the kiddy pool. Open from June to September, the swimming facility includes a bathhouse, restrooms, and snack bar.
Fishing - Fishers of all ages can cast a line into Lake Tillery to fish for largemouth bass, crappie, perch, bluegill, and catfish. A North Carolina fishing license is required.
Fishing
One excellent place to drop a line at Morrow Mountain State Park is Lake Tillery. Bass, catfish, bluegill, and crappie are some of the fish you might catch from your boat or on shore. If you want to do some fly-fishing, you can cast your fly into the Pee Dee River and try to catch some bass.
Geocaching
Several caches are listed as being present inside Morrow Mountain State Park.
Nature Watching
Multiple trails and waterways are fantastic venues for birding. If you visit Morrow Mountain State Park during the late fall, you might get to see some birds migrating south before the winter.
Stargazing
There are some nice places in Morrow Mountain State Park to go stargazing. The park is far enough from the Charlotte area to avoid much of the light pollution that plagues other areas closer to the city.
Flora and Fauna
In order to learn more about the local plants and animals, you should check out the park's nature center, which contains several informative exhibits. Some of the trees you'll encounter here include oaks, hickories, beeches, and sycamores. If you keep your eyes peeled, you might spot a bald eagle.
Hiking
Morrow Mountain State Park contains 12 hiking trails that are a combined 32 miles long. Whether you want to take an easy stroll on the Laurel Trail or to go on a difficult trek on the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail, you'll have plenty of great hiking options here.
Boating
Lake Tillery is a fantastic place to go boating at Morrow Mountain State Park. You can launch your motorized boat from the boat ramp; you can launch a canoe, paddleboard, or kayak from multiple other points on the lake. You can also take advantage of a boat ramp on the Pee Dee River; motorized and non-motorized boats are welcome on the river.
Swimming
You can't swim in Lake Tillery due to unsafe currents and hazards, so the best place to swim at Morrow Mountain State Park is the park's Olympic-sized pool. Young swimmers can take a dip in the nearby kiddie pool. Both pools are open from June through Labor Day.
How to Get to
Morrow Mountain State Park
From the Greensboro area, take Interstate 73 south. Take Exit 72B to access State Route 49. As you follow State Route 49, it will eventually transform into State Route 8. At this point, make a left onto Baldwin Road and then another left onto State Route 740. In the town of Badin, make a left onto Nantahala Street, followed by a right onto Valley Drive. Finally, take a left onto Morrow Mountain Road, and this will lead you to the entrance of the park.
Entering Morrow Mountain State Park
You don't have to pay an entrance fee to get into Morrow Mountain State Park.
You'll be able to take advantage of five parking lots spread throughout Morrow Mountain State Park. Parking areas are located near the Kron House, the picnic area, the Park Office, the Bridle Trail, and the boat launch.
If the mountains are calling your name, then look no further than Morrow Mountain State Park! Share your adventures by tagging us on social media or sending your pictures to [email protected]. We might even feature you on our blog or social media! Happy (RV) camping!
Frequently Asked Questions About Morrow Mountain State Park
Many park visitors' favorite activities center around summertime pastimes, so May through September is the most popular time to visit Morrow Mountain State Park. If you want to see some stunning fall colors, then you'll want to stop by the park during autumn.
This mountainous environment is home to 170 species of birds; kingfishers, woodpeckers, bald eagles, and more all make their homes here. Kingsnakes, frogs, deer, and spring peepers are some of the other animals that live in Morrow Mountain State Park.
All of the camp's 106 campsites are RV-friendly. The campground is divided into Loops A, B, and C; C Loop features more than 20 sites with electric hookups. Campsites with electric hookups are $28 per night, while non-electric campsites cost $28 a night.
Reservations are not required at Morrow Mountain State Park, but they are encouraged — especially during the summer. You can reserve your campsite up to 11 months before you arrive at the park. All North Carolina state parks require visitors to pay a $3 reservation fee.
Your four-legged friends are welcome at Morrow Mountain State Park and the campground as long as they are leashed. They are not welcome inside of park buildings, at the swimming pool, or in the cabins.