In the world of RVing, there’s a time for the convenience of a bustling travel center, and then there’s a time for peace and quiet. When my soul is craving the latter, I start looking for places like Hagan-Stone Park. Tucked away in Pleasant Garden, North Carolina, this park is a perfect example of a hidden gem that’s hiding in plain sight. While most people are buzzing around the nearby city of Greensboro, this 409 acre county park offers a serene escape, a place where the sound of idling diesel engines is replaced by the chirping of crickets and the rustle of leaves in the longleaf pines. The fact that it also has a clean, accessible RV dump station makes it an absolute winner in my book. It’s a stop that lets you take care of a necessary chore while simultaneously recharging your own batteries.
The location, at 5920 Hagan Stone Park Road, feels a world away from the urban energy of the Triad region, but in reality, you’re just a stone’s throw from everything. Pleasant Garden itself is a small, quiet community, but a quick fifteen minute drive north lands you right in the heart of Greensboro. This makes Hagan-Stone an ideal basecamp for exploring the area. You can spend a day diving into the city’s rich Civil Rights history, wandering through the beautiful Greensboro Arboretum, or stocking up on fresh produce at one of North Carolina’s best farmers’ markets. For those of us who travel with bikes, the region is a paradise, boasting over a hundred miles of greenway trails perfect for a morning ride. And if you’re traveling with family in the heat of a Carolina summer, the Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe water park and the excellent Greensboro Science Center are both easy to get to.
Using a dump station inside a county park like Hagan-Stone is a fundamentally different experience. The whole atmosphere is calmer, more relaxed. The first thing you need to be aware of are the park hours. Unlike a 24/7 truck stop, county parks have gates that open in the morning and lock at night. The hours can change with the seasons, typically staying open longer in the summer, from 8 AM to 8 PM, and closing earlier in the fall and winter. A quick check of their official website or a call to the ranger station is always a good idea to confirm the current schedule. If you’re not staying overnight, you have to be out before those gates close.
The dump station is usually thoughtfully placed, often located near the exit of the main campground loop. This keeps the traffic for this specific chore contained and away from the folks who are just trying to enjoy their campsite. The presence of park rangers adds a layer of security and ensures that the facilities are generally well kept and the rules are followed. It’s a trade off. You get a much quieter and more scenic environment, but you lose the round the clock flexibility of a commercial travel center. For me, it’s a trade I’m happy to make whenever I can. There’s something deeply satisfying about taking care of your holding tanks surrounded by nature instead of concrete.
When it comes to the amenities, Hagan-Stone delivers what you’d expect from a well run park campground. There’s a water spigot right by the dump station, allowing for a quick and easy rinse of your equipment. For pet owners, this place is fantastic. Your leashed dog is welcome on the park’s nine plus miles of trails, giving them a chance for a real walk in the woods. The park features two main bathhouses for campers, which is great if you want to take a longer shower than your rig’s hot water tank allows. You’ll also find convenient dumpsters near the campground loops for getting rid of your trash. And if you decide to stay for a night or two, which I highly recommend, the RV loop offers 30 amp electric hookups. This allows you to fully recharge your house batteries while you’re out enjoying the park. You won’t find gas, propane, or laundry on site, so you’ll need to plan ahead and stock up on those supplies in Greensboro before you head into the park.
The cost structure at county parks often favors local residents, who might get a discount, but the fees are generally very reasonable for everyone. If you’re camping overnight, the use of the dump station is almost always included in your nightly rate, which is typically in the twenty five to thirty dollar range. If you’re just coming in for the day to dump, there will likely be a small stand alone fee. Again, your best bet is to call the ranger station directly to verify that fee and to double check the best times to arrive for day use. They might even ask you to use it during specific, quieter hours.
For a perfectly smooth visit, a little insider knowledge helps. If you do plan to camp, it’s wise to make a reservation online, especially on weekends, and they often require it to be made at least 72 hours in advance. It’s also a good idea to have a little cash on hand. While they likely take cards, you never know when a remote gatehouse might have a connectivity issue. To avoid any lines at the dump station, aim for a mid week morning. The trails will be quieter then, too. My favorite tip for this park? Bring your fishing gear. You can get a daily permit for just a dollar, and spending an hour or two casting a line into one of the ponds is the perfect way to unwind after you’ve dealt with the sewer hoses. Taking a hike around the three mile lakeside loop as the sun gets low in the sky is another must do. Hagan-Stone Park is the perfect blend of practical necessity and peaceful recreation. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best stops are the ones that force you to slow down and breathe.
5920 Hagan-Stone Park Rd, Pleasant Garden, NC 27313
(336) 641-2090
Cost: Price not available
Category: Park
Has Water
guilfordcountync.gov/our-county/county-parks