Fanny's Ford Campground

We've camped in 4 of the 5 available campsites at Fanny's Ford Campground over the last couple of years. With a short mile hike from the parking, this is a great place for a quick overnight or get-a-way that offers some beautiful scenery and great local hiking. Each primitive campsite has a tent pad and a separate fire pit pad that includes a bench and a fire ring with grate. There is a hanging pole located at each site. The attached map shows the correct location for the pit toilet (red outline is the new/correct location), which approx. 15 yards from site 1. There is a wood bin near the pit toilet and the park typically leaves a small bundle of wood for each site, which is really nice when there is cooler weather. If you have the choice, I recommend staying in sites 2, 4 or 5. These offer the best separation from the other campsites. Campsites 1 and 3 are too close together IMO; however, would be good options if you had a small group wanting to camp together using both sites. Reservations can be made online via the Eno River State Park site making it easy to check availability and which site you want. Highly recommended for some great local camping.

Park scenery: 5/5 Campsites location from parking: 5/5 Campsites 2, 4, and 5: 4/5 Campsites 1 and 3: 2/5* Campsites 1 and 3 are VERY close to one another. We camped at campsite #1 and it is 40-50' from the outhouse and about the same distance to campsite 3. We decided to break camp and NOT stay the night due to a family with small children next to use at campsite #3 and us having our dog. The concern was that either the children would wake us up OR our dog would hear something during the night and wake them up. If you camp here, I recommend campsite #5 or campsite #2. Campsite #4 is ok but it's very near the camp trail.

This is a great campground. I hope the following tip saves some people -- perhaps those with small children or lots of stuff they are carrying -- some stress! While the campground is officially listed as a 1 mile hike from the parking lot, it is only a 0.35 mile walk if you are willing to cross the Eno by foot at Fanny's Ford. This is about 40 feet wide, 2-8 inches deep. The rocks underfoot can be a bit slippery so watch your footing, but it's very easy and safe, and the current is very gentle here unless Durham is coming off big storms -- and it's still low. You can do it barefoot or with water shoes. This 0.35 mile hike is also completely flat and better for small children, unlike the 1 mile hike in from the official access point. In order to access the camp site this way, park in the first parking lot to your right after the ranger's station (sign for "Buckquarter trail") instead of the second, larger parking lot. Ford the river about 200 ft in front of you from the trailhead, then take a right on to the trail on the other side, which has purple blazes. There will be two entrances on the left up the hill to the campsite after 0.35 miles, each marked with an official sign. The second goes to site #5 and then continues through the camp. The first I think goes to #2, but I'm not sure. If you accidentally go left after crossing the river (which is more going straight ahead) you will also stumble upon an entrance to the campground. This entrance is the one used by folks doing the 1 mile hike in and enters by the restroom, the firewood, and site #1. Another great thing about this camp ground is that at least one pair of blue heron live along the stretch of the Eno and you will see them all the time by the water, fishing and soaring about. The Eno is very accessible and you can hop in just about anywhere, including right at the foot of the campground. As someone else mentioned, there is often some firewood in the communal covered wood area at the front of the campground, which is really nice. There's a fallen cedar tree next to campsite #4 in fall 2020, and you can peel pieces of cedar off for your fires.

Really nice place to go camping. Quick access to the river and great sites to pitch a tent.

We didn't camp. Just hiked & it was great!