Badin Lake Campground
New London, North Carolina · on Badin Lake · Uwharrie National Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $20/night
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Badin Lake Campground
Badin Lake Campground is a U.S. Forest Service campground on the shore of 5,000-plus-acre Badin Lake within Uwharrie National Forest near Troy, North Carolina. Both Recreation.gov and the Forest Service describe it as a year-round site for swimming, boating, and fishing, and the designated swimming area along the lakeshore gives campers a ready-made swimming hole and a big lake to swim in.
The campground sits within a shaded forest of pines and hardwoods on the shoreline of Badin Lake, a large reservoir in the Uwharrie Lakes Region of the Uwharrie Mountains in central North Carolina, per the Recreation.gov listing.
Swimming at Badin Lake Campground
Recreation.gov lists shoreline swimming as one of the campground's popular activities, alongside picnicking, boating, and fishing for bass, bream, crappie, and catfish; the Forest Service similarly calls the recreation area 'a year-round retreat for swimmers, boaters, and anglers.' Neither source gives specifics on water depth, clarity, or bottom conditions at the swim area.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Troy, NC, take State Highway 109 north approximately 10 miles, then follow Mullinix Road (County Highway 1154) for about 1.5 miles, turn right at the first stop sign, then make a quick left to reach the campground after about 1 more mile (per Recreation.gov).
The hike in
- Time on foot
- A few minutes' walk at most from parking or a campsite to the water's edge.
Not applicable. Badin Lake Campground's swim site sits directly on the lakeshore inside the campground/recreation area, Recreation.gov notes some campsites 'lie on the shore', so reaching the water is a short walk from a campsite or parking pull-off, not a trail hike. (Uwharrie National Forest separately has about 40 miles of non-motorized hiking/biking/horse trails and 17 miles of OHV trails, but none of these are needed to reach this swim spot.)
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The swim area is a designated lakeshore site on a large (5,000+ acre) reservoir with a muddy bottom per a visitor account of the lake, and no lifeguards are mentioned in any official source. Boats and jet skis are permitted on Badin Lake, so young children should be supervised closely near the shoreline and any boat traffic, even though entry itself is a gentle lakeshore wade rather than a cliff or steep bank.
Parking
Lot
Parking is at individual campsites (some sit directly on the shoreline) or campground pull-offs within the two camping loops. Recreation.gov lists overnight camping fees ($20/night single site, $40/night double, $10/night discounted for Access/Senior Pass holders) but does not list a separate day-use parking or swim-access fee.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets and showers are located in both campground loops, per Recreation.gov's official facility description. No separate restroom is described at a day-use-only area distinct from the campground loops.
Water clarity
Often murky
No official source (Recreation.gov, USFS) describes water clarity at the campground's swim site. One visitor who stayed elsewhere on Badin Lake (a private lake house, not this campground) described the lake bottom as 'muddy' with 'very large, ugly catfish lurking about' and the water as 'somewhat chilly,' consistent with a warm, sediment-bottomed Piedmont reservoir, though this describes the lake generally rather than this specific swim site (visitor reports).
Hours
Recreation.gov lists the campground/recreation area as open year-round; the upper-loop campsites #23-35 close seasonally each year from January 1 to March 12. No distinct day-use gate hours are specified in official sources.
On the water
Recreation.gov's official activity list for the campground includes both 'Boating' and 'Water Sports (Jet Skiing)' with no stated no-wake or electric-only restriction. The Forest Service's Cove Boat Ramp, about 0.8-2 miles from the campground (sources vary), accepts both motorized and non-motorized craft.
Rentals nearby
Mobile kayak (solo and tandem) and stand-up paddleboard rental with delivery/pickup service; their own site states they serve both Lake Tillery and Badin Lake
Based at 4917 NC-24, Mount Gilead, NC; delivers directly to a customer's chosen spot on Badin Lake or Lake Tillery rather than operating from a fixed storefront · Listed as open daily 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Seasonal boat rentals (park lists 'Boat rentals (seasonal)') on Lake Tillery
Morrow Mountain State Park, on Lake Tillery (a separate, connected reservoir downstream of Badin Lake), roughly 5.5 miles straight-line / a short drive from Badin Lake Campground · Seasonal: April 6-May 26 and Sept 1-Oct 27 Sat-Sun 10am-5:30pm; May 27-Aug 31 Thu-Mon 10am-5:30pm
What regulars say
One visitor who stayed at a private house on Badin Lake described the water as 'somewhat chilly' with a muddy lake bottom and large catfish, and said lake activities there centered on boating, tubing, jet skiing, and sunset boat cruises; she also noted there are 'no fancy restaurants' right on the lake, with grocery runs taking about 15 minutes to nearby towns like Denton. These are general lake impressions from a different property on Badin Lake, not the USFS campground's specific swim site (visitor reports).
Backstory
Badin Lake is a reservoir created in 1917 when the Badin Lake (Narrows) Dam was built on the Yadkin-Pee Dee River to power an Alcoa aluminum smelting operation; the nearby town of Badin was named for company founder Adrien Badin (per Wikipedia). The hydroelectric facility was sold to Cube Hydro Carolinas in 2017.
Badin Lake Campground: FAQ
Does Badin Lake Campground charge a fee?
Recreation.gov lists campsite fees of $20/night for single sites and $40/night for double sites, with a discounted $10/night single-site rate for Access and Senior Pass holders; day-use swim access fees are not specified separately.
Is Badin Lake Campground kid friendly?
The swim area is a designated lakeshore site on a large (5,000+ acre) reservoir with a muddy bottom per a visitor account of the lake, and no lifeguards are mentioned in any official source. Boats and jet skis are permitted on Badin Lake, so young children should be supervised closely near the shoreline and any boat traffic, even though entry itself is a gentle lakeshore wade rather than a cliff or steep bank.
Do I need to hike to reach Badin Lake Campground?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Badin Lake Campground?
Parking is at individual campsites (some sit directly on the shoreline) or campground pull-offs within the two camping loops. Recreation.gov lists overnight camping fees ($20/night single site, $40/night double, $10/night discounted for Access/Senior Pass holders) but does not list a separate day-use parking or swim-access fee.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Badin Lake Campground?
Recreation.gov's official activity list for the campground includes both 'Boating' and 'Water Sports (Jet Skiing)' with no stated no-wake or electric-only restriction. The Forest Service's Cove Boat Ramp, about 0.8-2 miles from the campground (sources vary), accepts both motorized and non-motorized craft.
When is the best time to visit Badin Lake Campground?
Recreation.gov recommends spring and fall, when highs run in the 60s-70s°F; summers reach the upper 80s-90s°F with high humidity, and winter lows can dip into the low 30s.
What are the rules at Badin Lake Campground?
Alcohol and fireworks are prohibited (both Recreation.gov and USFS confirm an alcohol prohibition order for the forest). Off-highway vehicles are restricted to designated trails and only permitted April 1-December 15. Upper-loop campsites #23-35 close seasonally (Jan 1-Mar 12).
What water body is Badin Lake Campground on?
Badin Lake Campground is on Badin Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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