Chilhowee Recreation Area
Steve G.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Aug. 17, 2023

Very quiet wooded campground on Chilhowee Mountain

Overall: Very quiet wooded campground on Chilhowee Mountain Getting there: Off TN SR 64 East of Cleveland& Ocoee. Very nice lakeside drive along Lake Ocoee. There can be a lot of traffic. Turn on marked road just past Ranger Station turnoff and take Oswald Road 7 miles up a winding mountain road, narrow in spots with multiple scenic overlook views of the Blue Ridge mountains and Lake Ocoee.  There is also a marked "Historic Site" that is worth a stop.  See pics. Advise not to take back road from/to Benton. There is a sign on the entry to the drive in that says“full up” on electric campsites, but not so. Mostly empty mid week. Most sites are reserved for weekends. If you do not have a reservation and are going up without one this can be totally misleading. 

Check in and staff: There is no check in gate. Campground Hosts are present and did make the rounds checking on us in the late afternoon. Very pleasant. Reservations for sites are made on-line, so you follow the signs to your reserved site. 

Amenities: Electric is available at some sites, but not others. There is no water available at any of the sites. Some of the loops have a water source nearby with instructions to bring water to your campsite, do your dishes there, strain out any food particles for the trash and dump the grey water at the campsite. Since bears are present and attracted to scents this seemed an odd instruction to us. There are no dishwashing sinks available in the restrooms, and this is discouraged. 

There is a very nice small lake with a beach, many hiking trails including one to Benton Falls.  The hiking trail around the lake is very nice, level and shaded most of the way.

Bathrooms: The bathroom in loop B was not very clean. See pics. The hot water was hot, but very difficult to use. The shower had a little button to push after turning it to the left for hot water. This stayed on for exactly 4 seconds per push. So in order to get a decent shower you have to hold it in. 

Site: Campsites are large, wooded and relatively private. Nice flat gravel covered parking/landing areas with excellent fire pits. See pics. Firewood is available with the Host. We were there mid week and it was very quiet. There was only one other camper in Loop B at the time.

SiteB: 20
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023
  • Review photo of Chilhowee Recreation Area by Steve G., August 17, 2023