Campgrounds and RV parks near Garland, NC

Garland sits in Sampson County in the coastal plain of southeastern North Carolina, roughly halfway between Fayetteville and Wilmington. Most RV camping for the area clusters around White Lake, a Carolina bay lake about 20 miles west in Bladen County, and at nearby state park land. Jones Lake State Park is comprised of 2,208 acres, which include Jones Lake at 224 acres and Salters Lake at 315 acres, and was established in 1939 as one of the oldest state parks in North Carolina. Close-in options for RVers include White Lake Motel and Campground, Gilligans Island Resort, Camp Clearwater Family Campground, and Sandy Ridge Campground and RV Resort, all set near the shoreline at White Lake. Jones Lake State Park adds a public-lands alternative with a smaller, quieter campground on a Carolina bay lake. Jones Lake State Park is located in Bladen County, four miles north of Elizabethtown on Highway 242. The 224-acre Jones Lake is one of the main attractions at the park, swimmers and sunbathers can take advantage of the sandy beach, and boaters and paddlers can glide across the water in their own or rented watercraft. Anglers can drop a line and reel in yellow perch, catfish, or sunfish from the scenic, tea-colored lake, and there are three different hiking trails that range in length and difficulty. That mix of private lakeside resorts and a state park makes the area workable for families who want beach access, hookups, and hiking within a short drive.

Private White Lake campgrounds, including White Lake Motel and Campground, Gilligans Island Resort, Camp Clearwater Family Campground, and Sandy Ridge Campground and RV Resort, take reservations directly through their own websites or by phone. Summer weekends and holiday weekends fill first, so booking several months ahead is standard for June through August stays. Each of the 20 wooded campsites at Jones Lake State Park is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring or grill, drinking water and a bathhouse are located nearby, six campsites have full RV hookups for electric, water, and sewer, and reservations are suggested but campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis if not reserved. Reservations can be made for today and can be made up to 6 months in advance through the North Carolina State Parks reservation system on ReserveAmerica.