Cabins near White Oak, Georgia sit on the western edge of Lookout Mountain with elevations ranging from 600 to 1,200 feet. Autumn temperatures typically range from 48°F to 72°F, creating ideal conditions for exploring the heavily forested terrain. During peak camping seasons, especially weekends from April through October, advance reservations for cabins are essential.
What to do
Explore underground caves: At Raccoon Mountain Caverns and Campground, visitors can tour Crystal Cave on site. "The caverns and tour are awesome! Campground is meh, nothing spectacular but not terrible, kind of average. The pool is decent, playgrounds are old but still fun," notes one camper.
Hike to multiple waterfalls: The West Rim Trail at Cloudland Canyon State Park connects to waterfall trails. "We went right at the next intersection and continued down to Hemlock Falls. A very picturesque and cool area. A lot of scrambling over rocks and high water debris, a lot of picture taking opportunities," a visitor explains.
Fish from lakeside sites: Chester Frost Park offers waterfront camping with fishing access. "There are almost too many areas to choose from to cast your line, it's hard to pick but we always catch a good amount of fish. The waters are pretty calm and there are several docks located around the camp sites," a regular camper reports.
What campers like
Private backcountry sites: The tent sites at Tennessee Wall Camp offer seclusion. "We really enjoyed our night tent camping here. There is a parking lot right off the road after a fun ~30 minute drive through residential roads right on the water, then sites with fire pits are scattered throughout a small clearing. Plenty of firewood to collect on site," mentions a camper.
Family-friendly pools: KOA Chattanooga North features several recreational activities. "They have a lot of things for the kids to do and the grounds were nice... They have tons of things to do like a pool, cornhole, horseshoes," according to visitors.
Dog-friendly facilities: Many White Oak area campgrounds accommodate pets. "We enjoyed our stay at Raccoon Mountain. Sites were a good size. Not right on top of each other. The caverns were pretty cool. Having the dog park close by was a bonus," states a reviewer.
What you should know
Waterfront site availability: Waterfront sites at Marion County Park fill quickly. "Our site was on the water and the view was awesome. I worried that there would be a lot of noise because it's so close to I-24 but there wasn't. The sites are well spaced. Ours was extra long," shares one camper.
Reservation timing: Many cabin rentals require booking well in advance. "We arrived here at 2:30 pm on a Tuesday in November to find only four available campsites still available, so I would recommend making reservations," notes one Cloudland Canyon visitor.
Highway noise: Some campgrounds experience road noise. "Battlefield Campground is an extremely convenient RV park located right of I-75 about 20 minutes south of Chattanooga. It is very easy to get to, but part of that convenience comes with an absence of quiet; the interstate runs directly beside the campground."
Tips for camping with families
Rent cabins with more space: Holiday Travel Park offers different cabin sizes based on group needs. "There are three camping cabins that rent to groups of 2 people, and two camping cottages; a loft for groups of 4, or a one bedroom for groups of 6."
Choose campgrounds with dedicated play areas: Campgrounds near White Oak often include recreational facilities. "Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground has three separate sections... The campground here is smaller, and less private than the west rim loop, offering 24 tent/RV sites that have 30A electrical hookup, gravel tent pads, picnic tables, and fire rings, along with a bathhouse and playground."
Book family activities early: Cave tours and other guided activities require planning. "We all loved that Crystal Cave was right on site and enjoyed the guided tour. (Advanced reservations are required.) We also loved the guided tour just down the road at Ruby Falls!"
Tips from RVers
Level sites are limited: Check site specifications before booking. "Site 212 sold to us as a deluxe site, at $62/night, which we found no evidence of anything deluxe at our site or in the campground. Site 212 pull-thru was not long enough to keep our tow vehicle connected to our 27ft trailer."
Drainage issues: Some campgrounds experience standing water after rain. "Nice campground right off the highway, but remote enough to feel like you're out in the sticks. Tons of trees and lots were large with plenty of parking... Only thing I'd suggest is requesting a site not under water. Many had standing water."
Internet connectivity varies: Campgrounds offer different levels of connectivity. "Cellular service for AT&T and TMobile were both excellent... Great functioning WIFI (This was the best part of this campground!)"
