Lake Powhatan

Lake Powhatan Recreation Area sits inside the Bent Creek Experimental Forest just southwest of Asheville, close enough for a downtown dinner run but wrapped in quiet hardwood forest. Sites range from tent spots to pull-throughs with electric hookups, and a small lake with a swimming beach anchors the day-use area.

For hikers this is one of the best-placed campgrounds near the city: the Bent Creek and Hard Times trail networks start within walking distance, and the Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah District waterfalls, and the North Carolina Arboretum are all a short drive away.