North Carolina State Fairgrounds Campground — Hotel in Cary

The N.C. State Fair Campground is a fairly nice CG with full utilities (101 spacious sites w/ 50A/30A/20A service, water, sewer), attractive rates, but lightly maintained grounds, gravel roads (none paved), and no bathrooms. The free wi-fi has fair speed, which varies with occupancy. The fair’s security agents nicely manage rentals, collections, security, and referral of maintenance issues.

Access is first come, first served: Drive in, pick a site, and call the CG agent (phone # on entry sign) to pay, for up to a two-week stay. Agents advise that reservations will be necessary 1=Mar-2023 , as administrators expect to complete assignment of the CG to the NC State Parks’ system, still with a two-week stay limit.

Operated by the State Fair administration, some CG aspects get less attention than expected at pricier CGs, especially during the fairgrounds’ entertainment events, marketing shows, flea markets, pet shows and such. Utility issues are usually handled on the same or next weekday, but grounds maintenance seems a low priority. Campsite grass areas might be mowed on a 7-10 day interval in growing season, but sometimes lag to two weeks or more, while grasses reach adult knee height or more. Gravel road maintenance is spotty, and potholes in Feb-2023 may be the CG’s roughest ever, far too numerous, and 3-6” deep. (An agent advised that road rehab is scheduled soon, for the week of 20-Feb.) Along the entry road, a large storm drain, with heavy iron grate left askew, has remained a fall hazard for pets and small children for at least 2-3 weeks, despite multiple reports to the CG agents, for referral to grounds maintenance.

Trash bags may be deposited in numerous ~40-gallon plastic barrels (at every 2nd or 3rd site), which are emptied every day or two. Unlike the NC State parks, the Fair CG has no recycling containers or guidance for disposal of recyclable or hazardous waste. Trash disposal of hazardous waste (batteries, motor oil, certain chemicals, disposable propane cylinders, broken lawnmower? etc.) is illegal, but non-residents of Wake County (Raleigh area) are denied access or use of county waste & recycling facilities. A few commercial firms handle such waste, but they charge $100 or more for even the smallest disposals. Campers have little choice but to drop hazardous waste in their trash bags or the lone dumpster. Some campers leave discarded awnings, hardware, mattresses, or furniture on the grounds or at the dumpster.

Regardless of some negative issues, it’s still a convenient and useful CG, with many nice campers and friendly,...

Overview- If you need to be in Raliegh this campgrounds is convenient and has full hook ups. Nothing else. Oh and it can be very muddy with just the morning dew.

In/out- in and out is easy as the roads are wide but being fort they can get washed out or have large ruts. Bathrooms- they don't have any. You must be self contained with full hook ups. Laundry- the campground doesn't have one but there is a Maytag laundry about a mile away.

Sites Power- we had clean 50 amp service Water- water pressure was good, water tasted ok Waste- sewer hook ups need a doughnut as they don't screw in. Cable-no cable but you can get about 22 OTA channels if you want some local news. Cell service-we had great service (86db) connection on Verizon with no issues and no external antenna. Download over 40mbs and upload about 15mbs WiFi-no campground WIFI Workout- nothing Other amenities-none Near by activities- fair and the stadium. We were able to watch a horse jumping competition. And we're joined by FSU an N.C State fans for the game on Saturday. You can walk to the stadium from campground. A lot of good Restaurants near by but only a few good grocery stores so come prepared our plan to drive about 20 min to a grocery store.

Misc thoughts. Would use only if I need to be in Raliegh or tai tail gating. Because they are better places to stay just outside town.

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These are our opinions and we have not been compensated. You may have a different experience but this was ours. We have a 30' trailer and f250. Our reviews are based mainly on that rig setup. #TheAdventureKrewe #airstream

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This is a great park when staying in Raleigh for full hookups and large rig friendly. We have a 42’ 5th wheel and pull with a long bed F350 Dually. Spaces will accommodate an extra vehicle as well if you have and the lanes between sites are double wide so plenty of room to park/maneuver or get around if someone is in the road or passing. The location is perfect to hop on the interstate in any direction you need to go. Super convenient in that regard.

$30 FHU sites with 24 hr security. They also have a dump station for $10. All sites are back in with a gravel substrate but most of the sites the grass has grown through and they have bumpers on the ground so you don’t back through beyond your site. Power and water is to the mid/back portion of the site so well placed. (Some places put them too far forward or too far back).

Sites are all very good size and even the smallest which are very few sites should still accommodate most rigs. No trees to worry about when pulling through the campground but still a few decent trees scattered in the backs of sites to offer some shade. It does fill up if there is any event like equestrian shows or livestock shows etc. and they close it to public during the fair. Last year we were also able to park in the area near youth center drive along the road by the Hunt Building. We liked it there most because less people, easier/quicker to get in and out but it wasn’t open to public our last time here this year.

My biggest complaint would be the driveway into the campground area off youth center dr. It needs some work. Can be quite washed out and bumpy during rains. And it’s a pain when you are coming and going a lot to make that long and bumpy drive into the campground back and forth many times a day. Would be nice if they could get a better substrate or pave...