Try to camp in the Mt Mitchell State Park if at all possible! There are only few campsites there and they fill up fast but a night on the mountain is beautiful because the sites are way up high in elevation. I believe the restaurant in the lodge is open for lunch and dinner.

Be sure to put any food in a duffel bag and hang it on a hook in the rest room building. Bears wander through all of the BRP campgrounds and this one is no different.

I just checked the park website and see that they now have the ability to reserve a site ahead of time. The last time I stayed there it was first come first served and I had to arrive before noon to get a camp site. Here is the NC State Parks reservation number:1-877-7-CAMP-NC (722-6762).

Have fun, I have done the BRP end to end several times and hope to do it again in August on my way to the Boone Rally.

Mark