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Wrong Way is an urban cabin campground that provides a comfortable basecamp to explore Asheville AND a convenient gateway to the outdoors. You’ll have easy access to Asheville’s most popular attractions such as the French Broad River Greenway (across the street), River Arts District (1 mile), West Asheville’s Haywood Rd (1 mile), Biltmore Estate (2 miles), and downtown (3 miles).
The property features 16 tiny A-frame cabins with all the creature comforts, including private bathroom, HVAC, and high-speed WiFi. Sorry, there are no TVs, but every cabin does have a record player with vintage records, a hammock, and a selection of books and games so you can unplug and reconnect. The communal River Lodge with Canteen, lounge, and event space anchors the property as a place to eat, drink, gather, and shop.
Go the Wrong Way to experience the simplicity, adventure, and relaxation of the “River-Life” without having to compromise on comfort or convenience.
All cabins include a private bathroom, queen bed, queen sleeper-sofa, seated workspace, mini-fridge, microwave, electric kettle, HVAC, private balcony/deck, and high-speed WiFi.
All cabins include a private bathroom, queen bed, queen sleeper-sofa, seated workspace, mini-fridge, microwave, electric kettle, HVAC, private balcony/deck, and high-speed WiFi.
All cabins include a private bathroom, queen bed, queen sleeper-sofa, seated workspace, mini-fridge, microwave, electric kettle, HVAC, private balcony/deck, and high-speed WiFi.
All cabins include a private bathroom, queen bed, queen sleeper-sofa, seated workspace, mini-fridge, microwave, electric kettle, HVAC, private balcony/deck, and high-speed WiFi.
All cabins include a private bathroom, queen bed, queen sleeper-sofa, seated workspace, mini-fridge, microwave, electric kettle, HVAC, private balcony/deck, and high-speed WiFi.
Gather at the River Lodge to eat, drink, play, relax, recharge, and even shop.
The “Canteen” has a curated selection of provisions and supplies.
The “Eddy” is available to rent for events and activities. Click here for more photos and information.
The “Boardroom” is available to rent for small group meetings. Click here for more photos and information.
Explore The Area
Some of Asheville’s most popular destinations are within walking distance of Wrong Way. This includes Haywood Road in West Asheville with a diverse mix of shops, restaurants, and pubs; the River Arts District (RAD) with more than 200 artists creating and displaying their work; and the French Broad River Greenway with three recreation parks situated along 9 miles of paved trailways. Scroll through the images of these popular areas or explore our map of recommended activities, attractions, and businesses in Western NC.
West Asheville
Haywood Road is home to bohemian shops, foodie hotspots, and a creative community.
Bring your camera to collect some stunning art by talented muralists. Pictured mural by Gus Cutty at Beauty Parade Salon.
Some of Asheville’s most popular and highly rated restaurants can be found in West Asheville.
River Arts District
With everything there is to see and do in the River Arts District, it might be a good idea to plan your trip. Check out the RAD website to see what the area has to offer.
The Foundation is easily one of Asheville’s most visually engaging areas due to its eye-catching graffiti art murals. It is also home to some very cool businesses and artists. Definitely worth checking out!
Take a stroll through the River Arts District and pop into the artist studios to see some amazing artwork. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch them working at their craft.
River & Greenway
The French Broad River flows north from Rosman NC to Douglas Lake in East TN. The stretch that flows through Asheville is perfect for kayaking, tubing, or paddle boarding.
There are more than nine miles of flat paths that follow the banks of the French Broad River. Perfect for a morning run, family bike trip, or sight-seeing stroll.
The easily accessible greenway parks include a cycling velodrome, playground, sand volleyball courts, basketball court, roller hockey rink, baseball field, lawn bowling court, pavilion, and dog park.
What Our Guests Have to Say.
5 stars
“Great location with a super friendly & helpful staff. We met 6 couples there for 5 nights each. We were close enough to bike or walk to several attractions. Yet far enough to feel like we were in our own private space. The staff set up tables, lights, & a place for us to BBQ in the “meadow” which yielded a fantastic setting to dine under the October moon. We had nightly campfires to visit & reconnect with our friends. I highly recommend the setting & the staff!” – Bill D.
5 stars
“We held a small organizational multi-day meeting/retreat at Wrong Way with folks from around the East Coast, and it was a delight. The cabins are lovely and welcoming, the meeting/event space was great, and Shelton and the staff couldn’t have been more hospitable. It was perfect being on the greenway and right near the river while still being within easy reach of all the good stuff Asheville has to offer. All in all a great experience!” – Rachel M.
5 stars
“We had a fantastic time at Wrong Way, we booked the ADA cabin and the accessibility was perfect for my partner who is in a wheelchair. The little details in the cabin really made it a special place, and it was great to be so close to the river where I was able to put in my paddle board right across the street. Above all I was impressed by the friendly and helpful staff who went above and beyond to make our stay perfect. We will definitely be back, new favorite place to stay in Asheville!” – Megan V.
5 stars
“Wrong Way has such a happy vibe! Each staff member I encountered was friendly and helpful. The cabin was simple but had everything I needed, plus the added fun of a record player and vintage records! The attention to detail and focus on environmental care was obvious in every area. I would highly recommend Wrong Way as a base while exploring the Asheville area, or for a night’s stay while traveling through. You’ll leave refreshed either way!” – Karen K.
5 stars
“Lovingly curated, comfortable, and easy breezy! The vibe was great and we loved the lodge and deck overlooking the river. Our cabin was filled with everything we needed and I appreciated the extra efforts made to compost and create less waste. I would come and stay in the a-frames again. What a nice addition to lodging in Asheville.” – Amanda W.
5 stars
“Fantastic stay all the way around. Location is great (from walking on the river or quick access to getting around town). The cabins and property are just what you need after a day of hiking/checking out what Asheville has to offer. The staff was attentive, helpful, and incredibly nice. We’ll definitely be back.” – Zak B.
5 stars
“My husband and I were fortunate to spend a weekend away from home at Wrong Way. Everything between booking accommodations to check-out was smooth and seamless. During our stay, the staff were incredibly friendly, welcoming and helpful. We look forward to many more visits to Asheville and making our stay at Wrong Way a tradition.” – Elizabeth C.
5 stars
“Great location, welcoming staff and pet friendly accommodations. Such a gem to find – across from the greenway with biking, walking trails along the river. Clean, comfortable and adorable A-frame cabins with such a nostalgic feel and perfect place to disconnect while being close to everything Asheville has to offer. We really enjoyed making smores around the fire pit and getting to know other guests. Highly recommend!” – Angela A.
5 stars
“Beautiful cabin, location and property. Our experience couldn’t have been better. From checking in and meeting the nicest person ever, Emily, to sitting by the fire in the meadow, to coffee from Joe in the lodge in the morning. This place is definitely one of our favorite places we have ever stayed!” – Wendy E.
5 stars
“Perfectly designed rooms, with fun amenities, direct access to the lovely French Broad river and park with great walks, a fully stocked canteen with games, lattes and delicious food and….a really friendly service-focused staff. An inviting spot for a family reunion or relaxed business off site. Hope to be back soon!” – Nathalie G.
5 stars
“Getting to stay along the river was just dreamy: having your own stand alone place: spectacular. Larger than a hotel room but smaller than a house, you truly felt on vaca with all the amenities – oh hi ENO ready to hang on the balcony – but you’re 5 mins to any business meeting in Asheville. I loved it.” – Stephanie B.
Be ready with all your info — ahead of time
Low-hanging fruit first: Moreno recommends creating an account on the camping reservation website and confirming all your account details are up to date — before you need to reserve your campsite.
You should also have all other information you might need on hand, like even your vehicle license plate (some campgrounds require that when you’re finalizing your reservation).
Another part of making sure you have all the info you need? Understanding all the various California camping options out there — which can definitely be confusing — and making sure you have the right one (keep reading for those tips).
Finally, get logged into the reservation site before the time slot opens, so you’re ready to go when the clock strikes.
Understand the different types of California campsites
It’s also key to know that there are many different parks and campgrounds in California, with varying availability and reservation processes.
State parks and national parks are often the most crowded. Local and regional parks are sometimes overlooked, and can have open spots. And the (very rustic) U.S. Forest Service camping spots are often virtually empty if you want a real adventure.
Camping via the National Park Service
Reserve through: Recreation.gov
Reservations open: Typically, six months in advance at 7 a.m.
In the Bay Area, National Parks Service camping includes the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) and Point Reyes National Seashore, as well as the one campsite within San Francisco proper, the Rob Hill campground in the Presidio.
Camping in California State Parks
Reserve through: ReserveCalifornia.com
Reservations open: Typically, six months in advance at 8 a.m.
Camping in county and local parks
Reserve through: ReserveAmerica.com and individual park websites
Reservations open: Varies
In some cases, there are campgrounds run locally — like the East Bay Regional Park District campgrounds at Lake Del Valle and Anthony Chabot (which open 12 weeks in advance) or the Santa Clara County campgrounds at Uvas Canyon or Coyote Lake.
Camping via the US Forest Service
Reserve through: Recreation.gov, but dispersed camping — i.e., camping not in a campground — is allowed for free across the country on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and in most cases on Forest Service land. Backcountry camping, or thru-camping, however, may require specific permits with the local ranger.
Reservations open: Varies
Forest Service land is found farther away from the Bay Area, in the national forests around Tahoe, the Mendocino National Forest or the wilderness area outside Big Sur. Use the Forest Service map to find possible campgrounds.
Ready to try dispersed camping in one of California’s national forests? It’s one way to nearly guarantee yourself a last-minute campsite. Don’t be intimidated: Here’s how to find free dispersed camping sites and get started.
Camping in private campgrounds
Reserve through: Individual websites and/or sites like Hipcamp
Reservations open: Varies
In popular camping areas near San Francisco — like around the Russian River — there are also private campgrounds. Services like Hipcamp can help narrow those down.
Look for last-minute cancellations and day-of walk-up spots
Of course, it’s easiest to find open campsites on weekdays (especially if you work remotely) or on non-holiday weekends. But if you have some flexibility, then you can also utilize last-minute camping options.
Hit the road and cruise for reservation-free spots
This is where we once more must shout out the benefits of dispersed camping and backpacking. If you make a list of possible campsites, then you can hit them up on the road until you find one that’s open — just remember to download an offline map of the area using a service like Google Maps, in case you lose cellphone service.
Want a weekend spot? Try making a booking that starts a few days before
Because reservations can fill up three or six months in advance (depending on the campground), many industrious campers will book a spot starting Wednesday or Thursday that extends through the weekend. This approach allows you to get into the reservation system earlier and book the weekend before it fills up.
However, if you’re trying this, it’s important to know the deadline by which you need to arrive at your campsite — so you don’t lose your spot. For example, Moreno said, state parks require you to be there by noon the day after your arrival date — and you need to actually call the park if you’re going to be late.
Be vigilant for cancellations
The flip side of that coin is a surprising number of people don’t actually use their hard-earned reservations. A bill currently in the state Legislature would incentivize people to cancel their reservations early, opening them up to others. Right now, though, you can use the reservation website to look for last-minute cancellations or call the campgrounds to find out whether there are no-shows. (Or, if you’re an adventurous person with flexibility, you can also just show up — and hope someone else doesn’t.)
Don’t want to keep pressing refresh? The site Campnab lets you know if a cancellation opens up. (Yes, this service is something of a bot – but it doesn’t book the reservation for you, rather just tells you when it opens up.)
Know about day-of spots and walk-in sites
Point Reyes National Seashore, for example, holds back a handful of campsites to give out each day. These four spots open up online at 7 a.m. for camping later that day, so you still need to reserve.
As for walk-ins, many popular campgrounds operate first-come, first-serve sites, which you can typically claim if you get there by noon — but if you want the site for a busy weekend, then you probably need to be there on Friday morning. The farther you’re willing to walk, the more likely you are to find a campsite.
A number of popular walk-in campgrounds are currently still closed from storm damage, but some remaining open options are:
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- Bootjack and Pantoll walk-in campsites on Mount Tamalpais
- Five backcountry sites at Castle Rock
- Huckleberry Campground at Portola Redwoods has four hike or bike first-come, first-serve sites
- Henry W. Coe State Park opens up backpacking permits first-come, first-serve
- Mineral Bar and Ruck-a-Chucky at Auburn State Recreation Area
- A portion of all the family campgrounds in the Tahoe National Forest are held back for first-come, first serve.
Sponsored
Cabins
Want to camp but don’t have a tent or an RV? Try camper cabins at Baker Campground or Elm Creek Park Reserve. Reservations required.
Bike-in Camping
The bike-in campsite at Lake Auburn Campground in Victoria is accessed by the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail.
Campsite amenities include:
- Space for up to 10 tents
- A common area with a fire ring
- Picnic tables
- Bike racks
- Hammock poles
- All the other nearby facilities of Carver Park Reserve
Cost: $10 per night
Elm Creek Horse Camp
The Elm Creek Horse Camp is located in Dayton on the north end of Elm Creek Park Reserve near the archery range. The horse camp has five sites. Each campsite can hold up to eight people and two sleeping units (two tents or one tent and one camper; two campers not allowed). Self-contained RVs are not allowed. Reservations are required.
Availability: May 10–October 13, 2024
Cost: $17 per site, plus a $7.50 non-refundable reservation fee (sales tax not included)
