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Merchants Millpond Family Campground










Merchants Millpond Family Campground Overview
Rating
Phone (252) 357-1191
Address 47 US Hwy 158 Business E, Gatesville, NC 27938, USA
Website https://www.ncparks.gov/merchants-millpond-state-park/home
Hours
Monday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Merchants Millpond Family Campground Location & Map
North CarolinaGates CountyGatesvilleUS Hwy 158 Business E
Merchants Millpond Family Campground About
For residents of North Carolina seeking an authentic and serene outdoor experience, Merchants Millpond Family Campground offers a compelling destination. Nestled in the tranquil setting of Gatesville, NC, this campground provides an ideal escape for those looking to reconnect with nature, enjoy peaceful surroundings, and experience camping in a more traditional, primitive style. It’s a perfect spot for individuals, couples, and families who appreciate quietude and the beauty of the natural landscape.
Merchants Millpond Family Campground has garnered positive feedback for its clean, well-kept grounds and its ability to provide a genuinely quiet and secluded camping experience, particularly during the cooler winter months. Visitors consistently highlight the spaciousness and privacy of the campsites, making it a favored spot for those who prefer a less crowded and more intimate encounter with the outdoors. Its ease of location off the main highway also adds to its appeal, making it a convenient choice for a quick getaway or a longer retreat.
While the campground embraces a primitive style of camping, meaning individual sites do not have electric or water hookups, this is precisely what draws many campers looking for a more traditional and immersive nature experience. The focus here is on the natural environment and the simple joys of outdoor living, from campfires under the stars to quiet mornings surrounded by the sounds of the forest.
Our aim with this article is to provide a comprehensive and factual guide to Merchants Millpond Family Campground. We will explore its convenient location, detail the services and features it offers, and provide essential contact information. This overview is designed to help North Carolinians determine if this peaceful and well-maintained campground is the perfect fit for their next outdoor adventure.
Merchants Millpond Family Campground is ideally situated at 47 US Hwy 158 Business E, Gatesville, NC 27938, USA. This location places it within Gates County, in the northeastern region of North Carolina. For residents throughout the state, particularly those in the eastern and central areas, Gatesville offers a manageable drive to a tranquil rural setting.
The campground's direct access off US Highway 158 Business East is a significant advantage, ensuring that visitors can easily locate the entrance without navigating complex backroads. This accessibility contributes to a stress-free start to your camping trip. Gatesville itself is a small, charming town that provides basic amenities such as local shops, gas stations, and perhaps a few dining options. For more extensive services, shopping, and entertainment, larger nearby towns like Elizabeth City, North Carolina, are within a reasonable driving distance. Elizabeth City offers a wider range of supermarkets, healthcare facilities, and retail stores, ensuring that campers can stock up on supplies before heading to the campground or make a quick trip for necessities during their stay.
One of the most significant advantages of this campground's location for North Carolinians is its close proximity to Merchants Millpond State Park. This renowned state park is famous for its unique natural cypress-gum swamp forest and offers exceptional opportunities for paddling, fishing, and hiking. The campground serves as an excellent base camp for exploring the natural wonders of the state park, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the area's rich ecology. This synergy between the campground's comfortable yet primitive setting and the state park's extensive outdoor activities makes it an ideal destination for nature lovers seeking both relaxation and adventure within their home state.
Primitive Campsites: The campground offers individual campsites that are primitive in nature. This means each site is designed for tent camping or RVs that do not require electrical or water hookups directly at the site. Campers should be prepared to be self-sufficient regarding these utilities.
Clean Restrooms/Showers: Despite the primitive nature of the campsites, the campground provides clean and well-maintained restroom and shower facilities for the convenience of all guests. This is a significant highlight, especially for those who appreciate comfort while roughing it.
Well-Kept Grounds: Visitors consistently praise the overall cleanliness and maintenance of the campground grounds, ensuring a pleasant and inviting environment.
Waste Disposal: While not explicitly detailed, campgrounds typically offer designated areas for waste disposal to maintain cleanliness and environmental standards.
Easy Access: The campground entrance is easy to locate directly off US Highway 158 Business E, simplifying arrival and departure.
Quiet Atmosphere: The campground is noted for its quiet environment, particularly during the winter months, making it ideal for those seeking a peaceful retreat.
Spacious and Secluded Sites: A major highlight is the generous size and secluded nature of the camping sites. This provides campers with a sense of privacy and personal space, contributing to a truly relaxing experience away from crowded areas.
Quiet Environment: The campground is repeatedly praised for its quiet atmosphere. This is a significant draw for campers looking to escape noise and enjoy the sounds of nature, making it a perfect spot for relaxation and reflection.
Proximity to Merchants Millpond State Park: Being very close to Merchants Millpond State Park is a massive advantage. This allows campers easy access to the park's unique cypress-gum swamp, offering opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and hiking among rare ecosystems.
Well-Maintained Facilities: Even for a primitive campground, the cleanliness and upkeep of the grounds and shared facilities like restrooms and showers are consistently noted as top-notch, enhancing the overall camping experience.
Ideal for Winter Camping: While enjoyable year-round, the campground is specifically highlighted as being particularly nice and quiet during the winter months, appealing to those who prefer cooler weather and fewer crowds.
Nature Immersion: Without individual hookups, the focus shifts to a more authentic and immersive natural experience, encouraging campers to fully appreciate the outdoor environment, build campfires, and observe local wildlife.
Convenient Highway Access: Its easy-to-find location directly off a main highway minimizes travel stress and maximizes time spent enjoying the campground and surrounding attractions.
Information regarding specific promotions or special offers for Merchants Millpond Family Campground is not publicly available through the provided data. Campground pricing and any potential discounts can vary by season, length of stay, or specific events. Prospective campers are strongly encouraged to contact the campground directly to inquire about current rates, availability, and any special deals that might be offered. It is always best to speak with the management team to get the most accurate and up-to-date information on reservations and pricing.
To book your serene North Carolina camping experience or to inquire further about Merchants Millpond Family Campground, please use the following contact details:
Address: 47 US Hwy 158 Business E, Gatesville, NC 27938, USA
Phone: (252) 357-1191
Mobile Phone: +1 252-357-1191
It is highly recommended to call in advance, especially during popular seasons, to confirm site availability and current rates, and to ask any specific questions you may have about primitive camping or park rules.
For North Carolina residents, Merchants Millpond Family Campground offers an unparalleled opportunity for a genuine and tranquil outdoor escape right in their home state. Its suitability for locals stems from several key factors that cater specifically to the desires of those seeking a nature-focused retreat without extensive travel.
Firstly, its accessible location in Gatesville, just off US Highway 158 Business E, makes it a convenient destination from various parts of North Carolina. This ease of access means less time spent on the road and more time enjoying the natural beauty of the campground and the adjacent Merchants Millpond State Park. For North Carolinians looking for a weekend getaway or a short break, this convenience is a significant advantage.
Secondly, the campground's emphasis on primitive camping, combined with spacious, secluded, and quiet sites, resonates deeply with those who truly wish to disconnect from urban noise and reconnect with nature. While lacking electrical and water hookups at individual sites, the presence of clean and well-maintained restrooms and showers provides a comforting balance, offering essential amenities without compromising the rustic charm. This setup appeals to campers who enjoy the simplicity of outdoor living but still appreciate basic conveniences.
Finally, its proximity to the unique ecosystem of Merchants Millpond State Park is a huge draw. Locals can easily access the park for paddling through its famous cypress-gum swamp, fishing in its dark waters, or hiking its serene trails. This makes the campground not just a place to sleep, but a base for exploring one of North Carolina's natural treasures. For families, friends, or solo adventurers, Merchants Millpond Family Campground provides an authentic, peaceful, and highly accessible camping experience that allows North Carolinians to fully embrace the outdoor lifestyle their state has to offer. It's a true hidden gem for those who cherish quiet moments in nature.
Customer Reviews
A very nice and quiet campground in the winter months. The grounds, sites, and restrooms/showers are very clean and well kept. I've been here twice the past month, and it's probably going to become one of my goto's.
Great camping sites. Spacious, secluded and quiet. Easy to locate entrance off the main highway. Sites are primitive, with no electric hookup or water at the individual sites.
This is one of the best state parks we’ve stayed at in North Carolina. Very private with large sites and nice, clean bathrooms with hot showers. The family campground is not at the visitor center. We checked in at visitor center and they gave us directions to campground. They also have firewood for sale at the visitor center so if you want wood buy it while you’re there. We will be back to this campground.
A perfect small campground except that the dumpster emptying service came at 3 am and was very loud. Very wooded sites offer lots of shade. Kayaking in Bennets Creek (swamp) at the nearby state park is gorgeous. Very easy hiking trails are lovely too No playground. Very clean restroom and hot showers. Dog friendly. Picnic area available a couple of miles away near the state park visitor center.
Wonderful spot. Very quiet and very wooded. No light pollution if you're into star or moon gazing, but you'll have to go to a small (50 yards) circle of clearing near the showers/toilets to see the sky. Which, there are some strong lamps illuminating that. If you're a serious night sky gazer, you could set up a t-scope somewhere nearby but might have to drive a mile or so. No electric for the sites (coming next year, we were told), and one water outlet for the circle of 12-15 sites. Plenty of water available, at considerable pressure. Hold onto your water jug/carriers! GREAT area for tent campers, and for "boondocking" RVs and trailers. The shower/toilet facilities are great, with good hot water and lighting, and I saw large heater units so probably comfy in the winter. We were also told that there will be a whole new shower/toilet thing next year. Easy access to things up and down the road (gas station, roads to somewhere, the boat launch, etc.). There are a couple of trails leading straight out of the campground, and several trails in the Park that those trails tie into. We've found that NC is seriously upgrading a lot of their state park's trailer camping spots (hence "next year" for the campsites and the "necessary"). Other NC state parks that we've visited have been very well done. This campground was very well set up originally, but getting dated for modern tastes. It's still a great place. If you're a tent camper but would like a nearby shower and "necessary", this place is perfect. Spacious sites, so privacy. Seems to be a solid tradition of quiet among the campers whether tent or RV.
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