Commercial Vehicle Accident Injury Attorneys in Fayetteville, NC

March 20 marked the first day of spring, and warmer temperatures mean it’s the opportune time to get outdoors and camp before summer’s sweltering heat becomes an aversion.

North Carolina is home to numerous state and national campgrounds.

While there is no shortage of spots in the western Carolina Blue Ridge mountains or Outer Banks for those who don’t mind a drive, there are still options for those wanting the fresh air experience without hours of driving.

Here’s a look at what’s 150 miles or less from Fayetteville.

Raven Rock State Park

Raven Rock State Park is about 34 miles from Fayetteville in neighboring Harnett County and features a 150-foot tall natural formation known as Raven Rock that overlooks the Cape Fear River.

The park includes hiking and biking trails with other attractions like Lanier Falls and Fish Trap Rapids.

Camping is available by reservation.

Raven Rock State Park's newest campground includes nine RV sites, 15 drive-to tent sites, six cabins and a bathhouse.

Primitive campsites start at $12, and non-electric campsites are $23. Electric campgrounds are $33.

Lumber River Campground

Lumber River Campground and Trail Ride is family-owned next to the Lumber River in Columbus County. It is about 60 miles from Fayetteville at 416 Williamson Road in Evergreen.

Amenities include Wifi, tent sites, water, electric and sewer hookups, a swimming pool, playground, fishing, boat landing, arena, horse barns and two bathhouses with restrooms and showers.

The cost starts at $20 per person for primitive camping and is $45 to $50 for water, electric and sewer hookup sites.

Online reservations can be made at lumberrivercampground.com/.

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area in Apex is about 66 miles north of Fayetteville at 280 State Park Road. It features camping, boating and swimming.

The park includes more than 1,000 campsites at five access points with tent, trailer and RV options.

Reservations can be made online.

Rates start at $23 for nonelectric sites and $33 for electric sites.

Badin Lake Recreation Area, Uwharrie National Forest

Badin Lake Recreation Area, about 88 miles from Fayetteville, offers swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, and hiking, equestrian, four-wheel drive and mountain biking trails and views of the Uwharrie Mountains.

There are four developed campgrounds for trailers, RVs and 34 sites for tents, with two campgrounds offering showers, electricity and flush toilets.

Rates start at $35, and reservations can be made online at recreation.gov.

Carolina Beach State Park

Carolina Beach Start Park State Park is in New Hanover County about 110 miles southeast of Fayetteville at 1010 State Park Road and is home to the carnivorous Venus flytrap plant.

It is near the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and the N.C. Aquarium.

The park's marina provides access to the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway.

An 83-site family campground provides access to the park’s hiking trails. Visit its secluded fishing spots or enjoy a day at the beach.

Restrooms, showers and electric hookups are available.

Rates start at $23 and can be made online.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at [email protected] or 910-486-3528.

While a statewide open burn ban was lifted earlier this week, Fayetteville city leaders want to remind residents that burning yard debris and trash has been prohibited in the city limits since 2011.

“Both open fires and the floating embers that they produce pose a danger to residential and commercial properties,” the city said in a news release.

The ban includes the burning of yard debris, trash and construction and building materials.

The release states that the city fire marshal has the authority to set rules or even ban outdoor burning. The city's restrictions can be stricter than those set by the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources but cannot be more lenient, the release said. The fire marshal "works closely" with the NCDNR to ensure all fire safety rules are aligned with state regulations, according to the release.

"Open burning restrictions are in place to protect our community from the dangers of uncontrolled fires and harmful air pollution,” city Fire marshal Justin McLaurin said in the release.

Are all open fires prohibited?

The release notes that portable or stationary outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are not included in the ban.

“They must be made from non-combustible materials, and they must be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. They also must be at least 15 feet from commercial structures or combustible materials. They cannot be used to burn rubbish or yard waste,” the release said.

In order to conduct a controlled burn for things like land clearing, a permit is required, and the fire marshal has the authority to approve or deny a permit for any reason deemed necessary, the release said.

Anyone considering conducting open burning must notify the Fire Marshal Office by phone at 910-433-1730 and provide details including the location and purpose for burning, the release said.

To learn more about the city’s open burn ordinance, visit FayettevilleNC.gov/Fire.

This morning, for the first time since last September, Fayetteville didn't see the low side of 70 degrees. This crushed the standing "high-low" record for the date of 65 degrees, and odds are by the weekend we'll see the high side of 90.

But if you think it's safe to pack up the blankets and break out the flip-flops, you haven't experienced spring in the Cape Fear region.

The next several days will provide a grab-bag of weather that comes with spring around here. By the end of next week, we'll whipsaw from highs in the 90s to potentially lows in the upper 30s — all cloaked in the heaviest coating of pollen in recent years.

Here's the setup

The Cape Fear region will sit under an abnormally strong Bermuda high system, the kind we usually see toward summer. A warm front will lift into Virginia, with a resulting strong push of warm air. That's why lows Thursday morning across the region stayed above 70 and why the only thing keeping Fayetteville below 90 is an abundance of clouds.

The clouds will burn off earlier Friday, meaning things will get a bit warmer. A high of 90 is reasonable, given the conditions. That's not far off the record highs for early April in Fayetteville. Lows will hover in the mid- to upper 60s.

The weekend

We'll be near record highs again as the southeastern ridge builds. Look for scattered clouds as well, but any rainfall should stay well to our north. More "high-low" records are expected to fall, with low temperatures holding in the upper 60s.

The Bermuda high will begin to weaken late Sunday, ahead of a strong northern trough. Temperatures will still be close to 90 degrees, with southwest winds becoming blustery in the afternoon. Clouds will build late in the day, with scattered showers possible by evening.

Next week

Monday looks wet as a potent cold front arrives. Models differ on the timing but are universal in widespread showers, heavy at times. Given the dry conditions and choking clouds of pollen, it should be a welcome change.

Conditions don't appear to support severe storms aside from gusty winds, but there is a potential for heavy rainfall totals in training storms. Just where these lines will set up is, of course, unknown at this time, but be aware of a potential for local flooding. Highs will stall in the low 70s.

The storms will move through by Tuesday, with cooler drier air returning. Canadian high pressure on Tuesday will limit highs to about 65 in Fayetteville. In the evening, clear skies will lead to our old pal, radiational cooling. Lows will drop into the 40s again, possibly upper 30s in traditionally cooler areas. Right now, it should stay too warm for frost in these areas, but keep an eye on things Tuesday night.

After that, temperatures moderate through the rest of the week.

Have a great weekend!

Got a weather question? Chick Jacobs can be reached at [email protected] or NCWeatherhoundon X/Twitter and BlueSky.

After more than two decades of serving house-brewed beer and handcrafted meals, a longtime Fayetteville brewery announced it was closing its doors.

Mash House Brewing Company at 4150 Sycamore Dairy Road announced April 10 would be its final night of service. In a farewell post to social media, the Mash House team thanked Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and its patrons for their support over the past 24 years.

"Whether you've dined with us once or weekly, thank you for being part of our story," the post said. "To our past and present staff, we couldn't have done this without you, and there are no words to express how much we appreciate all of your hard work."

Known for its craft beer brewed in-house, Mash House opened in 2001. The brewery, located near Fayetteville's "Restaurant Row," featured a lineup of signature Indian Pale Ales, such as the Mash House IPA, a citrusy brew with a slight bitterness.

Mash House's predecessor, Cross Creek Brewing Co., opened in 1997 but rebranded as Mash House in 2001, The Fayetteville Observer reported in 2001.

With the closure, the community bids farewell to another local institution, adding to the growing list of breweries that have closed in the city. Bright Light Brewing Company closed in October after nearly eight years in business at 444 W. Russell St. and Huske Hardware Restaurant & Brewing Co., which operated out of a historic building built in 1904, closed abruptly last spring.

Attempts to reach Mash House Brewing Company for comment on April 10 were unsuccessful. An employee who answered the phone said a news release with further information would be sent to local media outlets and posted on social media on April 11 and declined to answer any further questions.

In the meantime, the brewery prepares for its last night serving the Fayetteville community.

"Tonight will be our final night of service, and as of tomorrow, we will be permanently closed," the April 10 post said. "It's been an honor to serve you."

Reporter Lizmary Evans covers dining, retail, entertainment and culture for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at [email protected].

It's been a long dry spell for the Cape Fear region. But, for the first time in months, it appears we may be getting back to normal.

After this week's widespread rainfall, portions of the northern region are entirely clear of drought. Elsewhere, only southern Bladen and Robeson counties are still under Level 1 drought conditions.

Things may further improve over the next couple of days as a series of low-pressure systems cross the Carolinas ahead of the weekend. It's impossible to say exactly where and when rainfall will occur, but Friday looks fairly wet, and showers could linger into Saturday morning. After that, the region will see calm, warmer conditions.

Here's the setup

Offshore high pressure will drift east through Thursday, making way for low pressure to move in. This will trigger scattered rainfall overnight, with more numerous showers on Friday.

Widely scattered showers will begin to pop up ahead of an approaching trough tonight. Rain totals will be light, but some may come with a rumble of thunder. Friday morning lows will be about 55 degrees in Fayetteville.

Friday will start gloomy and stay there across the region. As a front approaches, a lee-side low should develop east of the mountains, enhancing rainfall chances in the Cape Fear region. The low's effects, added to the frontal approach, should bring locally heavy rainfall through the afternoon into early evening. There's a chance isolated storms could produce gusty winds and small hail.

Things will settle down after nightfall. Look for highs of about 70, dropping to 50 overnight.

The weekend

As the system slides offshore, look for residual moisture to produce spotty showers, mainly in the eastern region. Otherwise, we'll see clearing and cooler conditions, with a brisk northerly wind. Highs in Fayetteville will hold in the low 60s, cooling to the mid-40s overnight.

Sunday will be pleasant and sunny, with highs in the upper 60s across the region. After the recent rain, pollen counts should be considerably lower as well. Lows of about 50 are likely.

Next week

The Cape Fear region will enjoy near-perfect spring conditions, with highs nudging back into the 70s to near 80 by mid-week. Lows will stay near 60, cooling into the 50s Tuesday night as another front arrives. We may see some scattered showers with this front, but there's no indication of anything severe.

After that, highs slip back into the mid-60s for a couple of days, warming again by the weekend.

Got a weather question? Chick Jacobs can be reached at [email protected] or NCWeatherhound on Twitter/X and BlueSky.