Best RV Parks & Resorts near Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

Easy to find, well marked. It’s has many (12) trails and many falls. Would definitely recommend shopping before camping, it’s several miles, and mountains, to get to stores. There are several lodging options…cottages, The Lodge, (which is beautiful) tent and RV camping. There are 2 small campgrounds ~ 1) Ridgeline which accommodates RVs up to 26”, water and 10/30/50 amp hook ups. Sites have a fire ring and picnic table. WiFi is available, and there is a dump station. A small playground, office/campstore, and a bathhouse and laundry next to it. 3 sites are walk-in. Big rigs would have to stay elsewhere. 2) Clifty Campground is tent camping only 7 sites offer electric and water. WiFi is also offered. There is a bathhouse and a playground, and these CG’s are pet friendly. (Falls Creek is a few miles up the road…they have pull through and back ins. For bigger Rvs. They also have tents, wagons, cabin rentals, and primitive sites) We had no T-Mobile service, or satellite service in our vehicle. The trails and Cumberland falls were awesome. The horse rides looked amazing, and the Pool was big, with a diving board, and a small fee for campers to use it.

If you’re looking for an idyllic spot to park your RV and unwind, The Farm RV Resort is an absolute gem. Nestled in a serene countryside setting, this resort offers the perfect blend of nature and comfort. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed by the friendly and helpful staff who made check-in a breeze. The resort itself is beautifully maintained, with spacious, level sites that provide plenty of room for both our RV and outdoor activities. We particularly loved the well-kept grass areas and the full hook-ups, making it super convenient for extended stays. The resort has a rustic charm that makes you feel like you’re getting away from it all, yet it still provides modern amenities. One of the highlights of our stay was the peaceful atmosphere. The surrounding farm landscape, with its rolling fields and calm breeze, is perfect for those who enjoy the quiet outdoors. We spent our evenings watching sunsets, enjoying the fresh air, and even taking walks around the grounds. For those looking for activities, the resort offers a variety of fun options. There’s a cozy clubhouse with games and a small store for essentials, plus a community fire pit where guests can gather and share stories under the stars. We also enjoyed the nearby trails, perfect for hiking or biking. Whether you're a family looking for a relaxing retreat, a couple seeking a quiet getaway, or an RV enthusiast wanting to experience the countryside, The Farm RV Resort checks all the boxes. We left feeling refreshed, relaxed, and already planning our next visit!

We stayed for a few days and as a backpacker, the local hikes are some of the best I have ever seen! I would say most of the hikes are moderate, although some say easy. Grandma couldn’t leisurely walk, or scale some of the trails, so you have been warned. But for able bodied persons, the hikes are all doable. There are quite the variety of hike lengths to choose from, from short and squatty, to full day hikes. I’ll submit some of my favorite shots below. For RVs - I was towing a 21 ft trailer and my site at the bottom of the hill, which was away from other campers, but the grade was ridiculous! I had 6” of block height to level side to side! I heard other complaints from other longer tongue pullers as well, regarding the difficulty getting into their sites. Most of the sites are small, too close to other campers, or too close to the smell of the privies. But if you are hiking the area, I think the stay could be worth some of the hassle. There is a pull through dump station on the loop. There is electric and water. Tent campers - probably have plenty of room to spread out, some with power hookups and the convenience of showers at a central bathhouse. Daytime picnics - a beautifully large area to choose from and see. Lots of selections, all of them very well social distanced, family friendly and shaded with trees. Soooo much to see.

This was a one night stop on our way to Ohio. The property is nice and the sites are spacious. Didn't really like the placement of the fire ring. Had we used it, we would have been listening to our neighbor's music most of the night. We had a W/E site. Our Verizon cell signal was terrible and the campground wifi was not much better. The sites were gravel but were level. We didn't use the showers but they looked clean. The laundry room had only 1 washer and 1 dryer. The playground is best suited for toddlers. The dump station would have been convenient if we were dumping on the way in, but not placed well for dumping upon departure. They did have a zip line and a gem mining station for an extra cost. It was secluded enough that there wasn't a lot of road noise at night. It seems like it would be a nice enough campground during the summer. For the price paid for the site, it would have been nice to have included some of the extra activities. No cell or wifi service would probably keep us from staying here again as it was impossible to get any work done. Be sure to check out the Birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken. We didn't get to go inside the cafe(COVID), but we did have some photo ops outside.

We needed a place right off the highway to stay on the way from Raleigh to Kentucky and this fit the bill. The sites were tight but had full hook ups. Staff is super friendly and guided us into our pull-through site. We really couldn't sit outside at the picnic table provided as it was right up against the next campsite and their tow vehicle. As it was mostly rainy anyway, we ended up just staying indoors. The facilities were very well maintained and clean. Good hot shower. There is also a great Mexican restaurant you can walk to right by the campground that the staff told us about.

Overall great campground. Family freindly, kept very clean, great hiking in Big South Fork w/some trails even starting at the campground.
Positives: Clean, friendly host, great campsites w/level pads, fire pits, lantern posts. Great location w/great and close access to lots of hiking and river activities. Negatives: discovered pool only open on Fri/Sat/Sun, no mention of this in advance. Same with Camp Store and it did not even open on Friday. No staff of hand to answer questions about site availability. Avoid pull-through sites 39 and 40; the share the same pull-through, and you will get blocked in if both end up being occupied. Do not arrive from the East (Oneida side) 13 degree inclines and declines with very sharp hairpin switchbacks. No problems arriving from West (through Jamestown), however you should avoid first entrance into the park, gravel road until you get to campground where it becomes paved, also steep at times with washboard curves that you will easily slide on. Second entrance, no issues. Lastly, many of the sites are short, so not all are big rig friendly. Pay attention to site details when booking a site

When passing through this area going to the Smoky Mountains I made a pit stop in Clinton, TN, just a few short miles away from one of the entrances to Smoky Mountain National Park. Though not in the mountain they have a world of charm and activities in the community.

This stop, a little less crowded than some of the other stops along the way, the KOA here offers both primitive and improved camping options for tent campers along the outer borders of the main site. Improved sites have electricity and are nearby the main restroom and shower house. Primitive sites are the furthest away from restrooms but are in a treed area close to the main entrance.

Amenities include a seasonally open pool, exercise room, outdoor activities such as playgrounds, volleyball and horseshoes.

One of the things which made this KOA a bit different than other was that it offered long term stay in a special area of the camp. This keeps the typical long term look away from those who are passing through, creating more peace for those staying a lengthy amount of time from the in and out daily traffic.

For me as a tent camper, I really debated which would be a better fit considering I typically like to stay a bit closer to the restrooms but I also didn't see the point in having electricity if I didn't need it. Primitive sites were under $20 while electrical sites were nearly $30 so the question would come down to price and comfort, both were established on a grass pad site.

I opted for primitive and it was pretty pleasant, not a lot of campers were in the region and overall it was a great stop off.

While in the Clinton area you can check out many things within a short drive, perhaps one of the most interesting the Museum of Appalachia, a working village which takes you back in time to depict the way of life of the earlier people of the region. Here they have a living history museum, restaurant, tours and hands on exhibits to tell the story of a life where things were a bit more simplistic and hard work was a way of life. Great for all ages. Other popular stops are the Green AcDoo Cultural Center and the Little Ponderosa Zoo.

TIPS:

• If you are stopping by this location know in advance what you are interested in having as amenities. If this includes electricity or water for a tent, make a registration in advance especially on the weekends. This campground ends up with a lot of overflow from the National Park.

• Take the drive to Oak Ridge and check out the Manhattan Project museum. This one is one of those "top secret" cities you only hear about on the history channel, now open to tell its secrets.