CampgroundsDB

Camping in Tennessee

Tennessee has 93 public campgrounds on record, 79 reservable and 13 first-come. The U.S. Forest Service runs the most, 43 of 93. Each row below says who runs it, how to get a site, and what it costs.

93
Total
79
Reservable
13
First-come
Anderson Road CampgroundAppalachian ClubhouseBackbone Rock CampgroundBackbone Rock Recreation Area PavilionsBandy Creek
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Abram's Creek Campground Blount · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
16
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Anderson Road Campground Davidson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
36
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Anthony Creek Horse Camp Blount · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
3
Season
05-26 to 09-04
Fee
Standard nonelectric: $30 per night
 Appalachian Clubhouse Sevier · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
04-01 to 10-31
Fee
Standard nonelectric: $300 per night
 Avondale Sumner · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
01-01 to 12-31
Fee
Site: $50 per night
 Backbone Rock Campground Damascus · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
11
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions Johnson · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
03-16 to 11-01
Fee
Site: $50 per night
 Bandy Creek Scott · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
144
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Big Oak Cove Campground Tellico Plains · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
11
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Birch Branch Campground Tellico Plains · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
1
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Boswell Landing Campground Dover · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Brandon Spring Group Camp Dover · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Overnight Use:
 Bumpus Mills Stewart · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
15
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Cades Cove Campground Blount · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
161
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Cades Cove Group Blount · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
4
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Cages Bend Sumner · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
42
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Cardens Bluff Campground Elizabethton · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
42
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $12 per night
 Cedar Creek Wilson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
58
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas DeKalb · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
21
Season
01-01 to 12-31
Fee
Site: $8 per night
 Chilhowee Group Camp Polk · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
1
Season
04-21 to 10-20
Fee
Standard nonelectric: $50 per night
 Chilhowee Recreation Area Benton · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
59
Season
Year-round
Fee
Single Site: $12 per night
 Conasauga River Campground Polk · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Cosby Campground Cocke · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
157
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Cosby Group Camp Cocke · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
3
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Dale Hollow Damsite Clay · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
76
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Dale Hollow Lake - Primitive Camping Clay · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
76
Season
01-01 to 12-31
Fee
Site: $5 per night
 Davis Branch Campground Tellico Plains · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
6
Season
Year-round
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Defeated Creek Park Smith · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
148
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Dennis Cove Recreation Area Elizabethton · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
14
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Donley Cabin Monroe · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
1
Season
Not on record
Fee
Standard nonelectric: $35 per night
 Dover Stewart · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
04-01 to 10-31
Fee
Standard nonelectric: $35 per night
 Dyers Creek Stewart · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
04-01 to 10-31
Fee
Site: $35–$45 per night
 Elkmont Campground Sevier · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
211
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Elkmont Group Camp Sevier · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
4
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Floating Mill Park DeKalb · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
98
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Gatlin Point Campground Dover · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Harpeth River Bridge Campground Cheatham · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
14
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Holder Cove Campground Tellico Plains · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
7
Season
Year-round
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Holly Flats Campground Tellico Plains · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
15
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $6 per night
 Horse Creek Recreation Area Greeneville · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
14
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Houston Valley Campground Cocke · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Hurricane Bridge DeKalb · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
05-01 to 09-30
Fee
Site: $50 per night
 Indian Boundary Recreation Area Tellico Plains · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
86
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site with electric hook-up: $20 per night
 Jacobs Creek Campground Bristol · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
27
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $12 per night
 Jake Best Campground Tellico Plains · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
1
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $6 per night
 Jefferson Springs Rutherford · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
04-10 to 10-13
Fee
Site: $45 per night
 Katy Branch Washington · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
05-02 to 10-24
Fee
Site: $75 per night
 Laguardo Wilson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
05-01 to 09-30
Fee
Standard nonelectric: $50 per night
 Little Oak Campground Bristol · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
66
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $12 per night
 Lock a Cheatham · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
44
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Lone Branch Wilson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
01-01 to 12-31
Fee
Site: $50 per night
 Long Branch DeKalb · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
55
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Look Rock Campground Blount · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
68
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Lost Corral Horse Camp Polk · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
1
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Lost Creek Campground Polk · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Low Gap Camp Sullivan · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Mcnabb Group Camp Tellico Plains · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Overnight Use:
 Meriwether Lewis Campground, Milepost 385.9 Lewis · National Park Service · Not on record
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Nat Caldwell Park Sumner · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
01-01 to 12-31
Fee
Site: $50 per night
 North River Campground Tellico Plains · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
11
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $8 per night
 Obey River Park Pickett · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
122
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Old Forge Campground Greeneville · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
1
Season
10-26 to 10-26
Fee
Single Site: $7 per night
 Old Hickory Beach Davidson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
05-01 to 09-30
Fee
Site: $75 per night
 Paint Creek Campground Greeneville · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
20
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Parksville Campground Benton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $12 per night
 Piney Campground Dover · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $16 per night
 Pleasant Grove Recreation Area Clay · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
04-17 to 09-14
Fee
Standard nonelectric: $30 per night
 Poole Knobs Rutherford · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
78
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Quinn Springs Campground Polk · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Ragland Bottom DeKalb · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
54
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Right Bank Recreation Area Cheatham · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
04-01 to 10-31
Fee
Site: $25–$50 per night
 Roaring River Park Jackson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
04-01 to 10-30
Fee
Site: $50 per night
 Rock Creek Campground Morgan · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
11
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Rock Creek Recreation Area Erwin · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
32
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $12 per night
 Rockland Recreation Area Sumner · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
01-01 to 12-31
Fee
Site: $35–$200 per night
 Rough Ridge Campground Tellico Plains · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
1
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Round Mountain Campground Del Rio · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
1
Season
06-02 to 10-26
Fee
Single Site: $7 per night
 Salt Lick Creek Jackson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
145
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Seven Points Davidson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
58
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Shutes Branch Wilson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
01-01 to 12-31
Fee
Site: $50 per night
 Smith Springs Davidson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
04-10 to 10-13
Fee
Site: $45 per night
 Sourwood Campground Monroe · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Spence Cabin Sevier · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
04-01 to 10-31
Fee
Site: $200 per night
 Spivey Cove Campground Tellico Plains · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
16
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $6 per night
 State Line Campground Tellico Plains · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
1
Season
Year-round
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Station Camp Campground Scott · National Park Service · Reservable
Sites
24
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Sylco Campground Polk · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Tailwater Rec Area Smith · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
04-01 to 10-30
Fee
Site: $50 per night
 Thunder Rock Campground Polk · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
38
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $12 per night
 Tumbling Creek Campground Polk · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Wartrace Ck Rec Area Jackson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
04-01 to 10-30
Fee
Standard nonelectric: $50 per night
 Watauga Point Recreation Area Carter · National Forest · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
01-01 to 12-31
Fee
Site: $30 per night
 Willow Grove Campground Clay · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
81
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record

How booking works in Tennessee

There is no single system: each campground books through its managing agency. 79 campgrounds book through Recreation.gov. 13 campgrounds take no reservations at all, first-come, first-served.

For a park's own hours, entrance fee, and boundary, see Tennessee state parks on publiclandsdb.com.

Narrower lists

By agency

13 first-come campgrounds need no reservation; 4 stay open year-round ; and 0 sit on a named lake . By agency: 35 Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds , 43 National Forest campgrounds , and 15 National Park Service campgrounds .

Common questions

How do I reserve a campground in Tennessee?

It depends on who runs it. Of the 93 public campgrounds on record here, 79 book through Recreation.gov and 13 are first-come, first-served with no reservations.

Where can I camp for free in Tennessee?

6 public campgrounds in Tennessee charge no fee: Conasauga River Campground, Houston Valley Campground, Low Gap Camp, Sourwood Campground, and 2 more. Free camping away from campgrounds (dispersed camping) is a land-management rule, not a campground; see the managing agency.

Is boondocking legal in Tennessee?

On BLM land, dispersed camping (boondocking) is generally allowed under the agency's rules. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26).

What are the best campgrounds in Tennessee?

This site doesn't rate campgrounds. The most fully documented here are Cardens Bluff Campground (17 sourced facts), Chilhowee Group Camp (17 sourced facts), and Chilhowee Recreation Area (17 sourced facts); the table lets you sort every campground by agency, booking, season, and fee.