Camping in North Carolina: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across North Carolina's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from April to May and from September to October, with average highs of 72 to 82 F and lows of 48 to 61 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from October to April, most often in January, when they average 18.7 a month. State park sites are booked through ReserveAmerica (N.C. State Parks), up to six months ahead.
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The best months for camping in North Carolina
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in North Carolina is mild April to May and September to October. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan51° / 31°Freezing nights
- Feb55° / 33°Freezing nights
- Mar62° / 39°Freezing nights
- Apr72° / 48°Freezing nights
- May79° / 56°Mild
- Jun86° / 64°Hot
- Jul89° / 68°Hot
- Aug87° / 67°Hot
- Sep82° / 61°Mild
- Oct72° / 49°Freezing nights
- Nov62° / 39°Freezing nights
- Dec54° / 33°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Ashevilleelevation 2,117 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49 F | 29 F | 21.6 |
| February | 53 F | 31 F | 17.5 |
| March | 60 F | 37 F | 11.1 |
| April (mild) | 69 F | 45 F | 2.3 |
| May (mild) | 76 F | 53 F | 0.1 |
| June (mild) | 83 F | 61 F | 0 |
| July (mild) | 85 F | 65 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 84 F | 64 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 79 F | 58 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 70 F | 46 F | 2.4 |
| November | 60 F | 36 F | 13.3 |
| December | 52 F | 31 F | 19.2 |
Charlotteelevation 728 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 52 F | 32 F | 16.6 |
| February | 57 F | 35 F | 12 |
| March (mild) | 64 F | 41 F | 6.3 |
| April (mild) | 73 F | 49 F | 0.7 |
| May (mild) | 80 F | 58 F | 0 |
| June | 87 F | 66 F | 0 |
| July | 90 F | 70 F | 0 |
| August | 89 F | 69 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 83 F | 63 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 73 F | 50 F | 1 |
| November (mild) | 63 F | 40 F | 7.4 |
| December | 55 F | 35 F | 14.4 |
Raleighelevation 416 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 52 F | 32 F | 18 |
| February | 56 F | 34 F | 13.8 |
| March (mild) | 63 F | 40 F | 7.8 |
| April (mild) | 73 F | 49 F | 1.1 |
| May (mild) | 80 F | 58 F | 0 |
| June | 87 F | 66 F | 0 |
| July | 91 F | 70 F | 0 |
| August | 89 F | 69 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 83 F | 63 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 73 F | 50 F | 0.7 |
| November (mild) | 63 F | 40 F | 7.8 |
| December | 55 F | 34 F | 15.4 |
How to book a state park campsite in North Carolina
North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation takes reservations through ReserveAmerica (N.C. State Parks). The longest advance booking its page states is six months.
How far ahead you can book
Camping reservations can be made up to 6 months (to the day) in advance.N.C. State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
First come, first served sites
Some campsites are available for walk-ups. When you arrive at a park with walk-ups, you can make reserve the site with park staff. These sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.N.C. State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
How many sites
3,216 campsites across the state parks systemN.C. State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
What a night costs
Camping fees per night range from $15 to $145.N.C. State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Cancellations
There is a $15 fee to cancel a camping reservation. Rescheduling to a later date is free, when done at least 24 hours before arrival date.N.C. State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Campfires when you camp in North Carolina
Campfires in state parks and forests
Campfires are permitted in North Carolina state parks only in designated areas. Never leave a campfire unattended. Use the provided fire ring or grill located at your campsite.N.C. State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
North Carolina camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in North Carolina. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.