Let me tell you, finding a good, clean, and straightforward place to take care of business, and by business I mean emptying the tanks, can be a real challenge when you’re navigating the Raleigh-Durham area. The Triangle, as they call it, is booming. That means more traffic, more development, and sometimes, more headaches for those of us rolling in a big rig. You’re often stuck choosing between a sketchy-looking gas station on the edge of town or a private RV park that wants you to pay for a full night just to use their dump station. But I’ve got a spot that’s become one of my go-to’s when I’m passing through central North Carolina: Crosswinds Campground, tucked inside the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. It’s a classic state park experience, and it’s a lifesaver.
The real beauty of this place is its location. You can be cruising down I-40 or US-64, right in the thick of things, and then you take your exit and within minutes, the hustle and bustle just melts away. You’re suddenly surrounded by trees and the promise of a massive, beautiful lake. Jordan Lake is a huge draw for the entire region. On a warm weekend, it’s buzzing with fishing boats, kayaks, and families setting up for a day on the sandy swim beaches. This is what makes Crosswinds such a smart stop. You’re not just pulling off the highway to do a dirty job. You can make it part of the adventure. Plan to get there, empty the black and grey tanks, and then spend the afternoon by the water, letting the kids or the dog run off some steam. It transforms a chore into an experience, and that’s a win in my book. It’s the perfect place to decompress after battling city traffic, and it puts you in a much better headspace for the next leg of your journey.
Now, using a dump station at a state park campground is a different beast than your typical 24/7 truck stop. You have to adjust your rhythm. Don’t expect to just pull in and be out in five minutes. First, you’ll likely encounter a gatehouse or an entrance station. The folks there are usually friendly park rangers or volunteers, and they’re your first point of contact. This is where you need to have your story straight. The dump station is primarily for registered campers, so if you’re just dropping in for a dump and run, you absolutely must call ahead. I can’t stress this enough. A quick phone call to the park office to ask if non-campers are allowed to use the facilities, what the fee is, and what their hours are will save you a world of trouble. There’s nothing worse than driving your rig all the way into a park just to be turned away at the gate.
Once you’re in, you’ll notice the pace is slower. The dump station itself is usually a simple, wide lane, easy enough for big rigs to navigate. But on a Sunday morning around 11 AM, be prepared for a bit of a line. That’s checkout time, and it feels like everyone has the same idea. My advice? Plan your visit for a weekday morning if you can. Tuesday or Wednesday is perfect. You’ll likely have the whole place to yourself. It’s a much more relaxed experience when you’re not feeling rushed by the guy in the giant Class A behind you. Follow the signs, they often have one-way loops to manage traffic, and just be a good neighbor.
Let’s talk about what you get, and what you don’t. The sites themselves, if you decide to stay the night, are standard state park fare: water and electric hookups. That’s huge, especially in the humid Carolina summers. Being able to run your A/C and top off all your batteries is a major plus. But what you won’t find are full hookups with sewer at each individual site. All your wastewater business has to be handled at the central dump station. So, you have to plan for it. Before you pack up and pull out, you need to make that one last stop. For amenities, you can count on clean restrooms and showers, which feel like a five-star luxury after a few days of boondocking. And there are plenty of trash cans, so you can offload all the garbage you’ve accumulated. What you probably won’t find is propane. So, if your tanks are running low, you’ll need to find a fill-up spot in one of the nearby towns like Apex or Cary before you get back on the main highway.
When it comes to cost and value, state parks almost always deliver. The nightly camping rates are reasonable, and you get that priceless feeling of being out in nature. The fee for just using the dump station, if they allow it, is often a very small, nominal amount. Again, call ahead to know for sure and ask if you need exact cash. For what you get, a clean, safe, and well-maintained facility in a beautiful setting, it’s an incredible value. It’s more than just a place to empty your tanks; it’s a place to reset your whole rig and your mind.
So, here’s my final take. Is Crosswinds Campground the right stop for every RVer? If you’re in a massive hurry and just want the fastest in-and-out possible, maybe a travel plaza is more your speed. But if you’re traveling through the Raleigh area and you value a clean, scenic, and reliable place to handle your RV sanitation, it’s an absolute gem. It’s perfect for families, for full-timers who appreciate the quiet of a state park, and for anyone who wants to pair their chores with a little bit of recreation. Just remember the golden rules: call ahead to confirm access for non-campers, try to visit on a weekday, and have all your gear, your gloves, your dedicated rinse hose, and your tank chemicals, ready to go before you pull into the lane. It’s a solid, dependable choice that will make your journey through North Carolina just a little bit smoother.
Apex, NC 27523
Cost: Price not available
Category: Campground
Has Water
ncparks.gov/jordan-lake-state-recreation-area