The Carolinas: Van Life and Mountain Biking State Guide.
Ahh… The Carolinas. Like Georgia they impress you with their beautiful beaches and tall mountains. Internationally renowned for mountain biking opportunities, its plethora of playful opportunities, whether combing the sand or riding the dirt, will provide something for everyone. Again. Why chose between beaches or mountains when you can have both within a reasonable drive of each other?
🗺️ Trail + Van Life Highlights Map
Quick Stats:
Time in State: 20 days
MTB destinations visited: 4 trail systems
Favorite campground / boondocking spot: BlackForest Family Campground (near DuPont State Forest).
Favorite Highlight:| DuPont State Forest
🚐📓 Quick Trip Notes.
The Carolinas overall are reasonably van life friendly. I’m not so sure Myrtle Beach is – and there are so many camgrounds with rigs squeezed in so tight Wrigley’s sent engineers down to learn how to make better a chewing gum wrapper. But the rest of the state felt quite open to Van Lifers.
Do not miss the opportunity to visit Charleston, S.C. It was one of my favorites. You can legally sleep overnight in the Visitor Center Parking Garage (click here for info.), present cost is $24 for the day and evening, but you also are one block from most tourist destinations, and a block off King Street. The visitor center felt safe and comfortable.
MTB Info + Ride Logs
MTB Info + Ride LogsMy absolute favorite mountain biking destination of the trip was Dupont State Forest. The forest itself is beautiful with many waterfalls, hiking opportunities and other recreation opportunities. The mountain biking stood out because it was fast and flowy, felt comfortableto this newbie and thus beginner, intermediate, friendly, and was easily accessible with large trailhead parking, In addition, Dupont is near several other potential riding destinations and so it is very convenient to stay around the area. You can read my complete summary of beginner/intermediate friendly North Carolina MTB destinations below:
North Carolina’s Mountain Biking Paradise: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide
Dreaming of an NC mountain biking road trip? Our ultimate guide for North Carolina mountain biking van life beginners covers top trails in Brevard, DuPont, Tsali, van-friendly campgrounds, and essential tips to kickstart your adventure.
🏕️ Campground + Van Life Recap
Most of my time in the Carolinas was spent in established campgrounds. I enjoyed Myrtle Beach State Park quite a bit and I also enjoyed Black Forest family campground near Dupont State Forest. Below is my recap of my time in the Carolinas that was not spent mountain biking haha.
My South Carolina Interlude: A Van Life Pit Stop on the Way to North Carolina’s Mountain Biking Mecca
Discover the best of South Carolina van life as a mountain biker on a mission! From Myrtle Beach to charming Charleston, find out where to stay & what to see before hitting NC’s epic trails.
🎥 Videos
Check out my videos on the Carolinas! From Campground reviews to Van Lifin’ and Mountain Bikin’ Adventures, I”ve god you covered!
Campground Reviews
Black Forest Family
Camping ResortCedar Mountain, North Carolina
Resort Parks International
Pride RV ResortWaynesville, North Carolina
Thousand Trails
Carolina LandingFairplay, South Carolina
Thousand Trails
Oaks at Point SouthYemassee, South Carolina
🖼️ Favorite Photos:
Useful Info/External Resources
Van Life & Camping Resources.
Van Life & Camping Resources.- South Carolina State Parks Reservations – Reserve campsites including Myrtle Beach and coastal parks
- Campendium: Myrtle Beach Boondock & RV Sites – User reviews of RV parks and free camping spots
- Blackforest Famiy Campground near DuPont State Forest.
Mountain Biking Resources – North Carolina
Mountain Biking Resources – North Carolina- Two Wheel Wanderer. Excellent Blog with Great Information. I’ve found her advice to be spot on.
- MTB Project: DuPont, Tsali & Kanuga Maps – Interactive maps and GPX downloads
- MTBikeWNC: Beginner’s Guide to WNC Trails – Deep dive into Pisgah, DuPont, and surrounding areas. Very useful – and part of the reason I skipped Pisgah!
Additional Trail Info
Additional Trail Info- Pisgah National Forest – Official USFS Info – Forest maps, seasonal closures, regulations. Not a beginner/intermediate friendly area – so I skipped it. But there are cheap campgrounds and free dispersed camping opporuntities there and its only about 45 minutes from DuPont, Ride Kanuga, and Ride Rock Creek.
A Little Bit About Me.
I started writing this blog as a way to capture the adventurous and free lifestyle I’m privileged to live. I’ve traveled to over 28 countries and 35 U.S States. I’ve lived aboard in multiple countries and averaged over 100 days a year of travel for work. I’ve skied and hiked all over the world – and my new obsession is mountain biking.
What I bring to you isn’t AI generated. It’s based on my feet on the ground – or sometimes conversations with locals. Click here to read more about me!