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Best Dispersed Camping near Middlesboro, KY

12 Reviews

Dispersed camping near Middlesboro, Kentucky is primarily located on public lands, with several primitive sites available in the surrounding Cumberland Mountains and Daniel Boone National Forest areas. Jellico Creek Road Dispersed #1 offers free camping with drive-in access for both tent and RV campers. Trace Branch Dispersed on Rock Creek Road also permits free camping in a riverside setting with space for tents and smaller RVs. Additional options include Redbird Boat Ramp, which allows alcohol and campfires but lacks amenities, and Swain Ridge, which has restrictions on camping locations.

Access roads to these dispersed sites typically consist of gravel or dirt surfaces that may become difficult to navigate during wet weather. Most sites require no permits but provide no amenities such as toilets, drinking water, or trash collection. Campers must pack out all waste and bring their own water supply. At Swain Ridge, camping is restricted to trailheads or roadsides, with a $1000 fine for setting up in open fields. Fire restrictions vary by location, with fires prohibited at some sites like Asher Hunting Access Area while permitted at others including Jellico Creek and Trace Branch.

These primitive camping areas offer varying levels of seclusion and natural settings. Jellico Creek Dispersed #1 features three sites along the road, with the first site being largest and including a small swimming hole with a rope swing. "There are three dispersed camp sites along this road. We stayed at the first and largest of the three," one camper noted. Trace Branch Dispersed provides a peaceful creekside setting. A recent visitor described it as "a small campsite on the shores of Rock Creek" where they "took our portable firepit and sat by the creek for a beautiful evening." Swain Ridge campers should be aware of potential ticks and poison ivy, though the area offers excellent star-gazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Middlesboro, Kentucky (5)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Middlesboro, KY

8 Photos of 5 Middlesboro Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Middlesboro, KY

12 Reviews of 5 Middlesboro Campgrounds

  • Amin A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2023

    Palmers Junction Dispersed Camping - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

    Better than I expected

    So we weren't sure what we would end up finding here. I will say that there are a lot of places to camp, many many many options away from the porta potties. If you get within about 20-30 feet of those they are a bit stinky. The one camp site we chose was a great place, tons of space and well manicured. A lot of options for pull up to your campsite or park and walk to campsite spots.

    My only complaints are about the campers that stay there. The litter isn't horrible, but it's not great. It is a leave no trace place. Apparently some people have difficulty with throwing away their trash.

    When we stayed last night there was a person that kept peeling out up and down the gravel road (3/4 times) in a diesel truck at 10:00 at night. Not very courteous to all of us at the campground.

    And I was awakened at 2:00 a.m. by our camping neighbors when they were playing loud music. Also not cool, thankfully they stopped shortly after

    Overall we were very pleased with this campground, beautiful views, it was hard choosing one spot. We will be coming back, and hopefully we won't have loud campers next time.

  • Karli P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 23, 2023

    Palmers Junction Dispersed Camping - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

    So Much Potential!

    We arrived at this dispersed campground at around 7:30 on a Saturday evening in July. It was pretty packed but since we were planning on leaving early the next morning, we took a family’s offer of taking over their spot as they left.

    We use a roof top tent so unfortunately we weren’t able to camp at the actual site, instead we set up on an almost level gravel parking area that had a private trail to the actual camp site. There were garbage cans and a port-a-potty set up right there, which is why this site lost some stars. Even though these facilities were provided, people didn’t use the garbages and there was a lot of garbage on the ground, including broken glass that made us worry about our pup’s paws. Also, the port-a-potty was pretty yucky..neither my husband nor I were willing to use it.

    Now, I want to reiterate that this is a geographically beautiful spot! Humans just need to take better care of it 💚

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2023

    Swain Ridge

    Gravel only

    Not able to camp in open field. 1000$ fine for doing so. Camping at trailhead or on road side is fine.

  • Tripp A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2024

    Palmers Junction Dispersed Camping - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

    Closed to Public

    I drove over an hour to get here to find that it is “closed to public for vandalism”. I was very upset by this but obviously nothing I could do. Just wish I knew how to check before driving all the way. But the drive! Woah! So beautiful, I wish there was a way I could find out when it opens back up because I was very much looking forward to camping here.

  • Matthew H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 2, 2025

    Trace Branch Dispersed - Rock Creek Road

    Great Spot

    Visited here in the middle of January with all the snow and I was hot tent camping. You can only set up your tent on the designated tent pad, luckily we had heavy duty stakes that could get through the ground. The entire river was frozen over and ponds were frozen too. There were a few cars that drove through the middle of the night but no issues. We left our site unattended for hours to check out the streams and rivers and nothing was missing. Lots of beer bottles left over and shattered so I have to pick up the trash before letting my dog out. There are more sites down the gravel road but we went with the first one we came to.

  • Pam B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2024

    Trace Branch Dispersed - Rock Creek Road

    Small Campsite on the shores of Rock Creek.

    One picnic table and fire pit.  Dispersed camping.   We took our portable firepit and sat by the creek for a beautiful evening.

  • Pam B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2024

    Jellico Creek Rd Dispersed #1

    Jellico Creek 1

    There are three dispersed camp sites along this road.  We stayed at the first and largest of the three.  This first site has room for two groups.  It also has a small swimming hole with a rope swing.

  • Sierra E.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 23, 2023

    Swain Ridge

    Quiet Pasture But Ticks

    It was wonderfully secluded, we used the car to “mow” the grass down, and set up fine. But we did have ticks EVERYWHERE and poison ivy along the edges of the pasture. We had a ball we were playing with roll in there. Outside for normal outside life inconvenience; it was a beautiful, quiet pasture. We were even blessed with see several bats fly around at night. There was no light pollution so we had a great time star gazing!

Guide to Middlesboro

Dispersed camping near Middlesboro, Kentucky offers primitive accommodations in the Cumberland Mountains region. These backcountry sites sit at elevations between 1,000-3,000 feet with distinctly seasonal weather patterns that impact access and camping conditions. Winter temperatures typically range from 20-40°F, while summer averages 75-90°F with moderate humidity compared to lower-elevation Kentucky locations.

What to do

Water activities: At Jellico Creek Rd Dispersed #1, campers can enjoy swimming holes during warmer months. According to visitor Matthew H., "Visited here in the middle of January with all the snow and I was hot tent camping. You can only set up your tent on the designated tent pad." When water levels permit at Trace Branch Dispersed - Rock Creek Road, fishing for smallmouth bass and other native species is possible.

Wildlife observation: The Cumberland Mountains area hosts diverse wildlife including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, numerous bird species, and occasional black bears. Sierra E. reports from Swain Ridge that "we were even blessed with see several bats fly around at night. There was no light pollution so we had a great time star gazing!"

Seasonal activities: Winter camping requires advanced preparation but offers solitude. At Redbird Boat Ramp, the primary purpose is water access, with Aaron R. noting simply, "It's a boat ramp." During spring and fall, moderate temperatures make hiking and exploration more comfortable with fewer insects.

What campers like

Riverside settings: Multiple rustic camping options near Middlesboro provide direct water access. Matthew H. at Trace Branch notes: "The entire river was frozen over and ponds were frozen too. There were a few cars that drove through the middle of the night but no issues."

Privacy: Many dispersed sites offer separation from other campers. At Jellico Creek Rd Dispersed #1, Pam B. describes: "There are three dispersed camp sites along this road. We stayed at the first and largest of the three. This first site has room for two groups."

Dark skies: The rural Cumberland Mountains location minimizes light pollution. Sierra E. at Swain Ridge experienced excellent night sky viewing: "It was wonderfully secluded, we used the car to 'mow' the grass down, and set up fine... There was no light pollution so we had a great time star gazing!"

What you should know

Regulations: Camping rules vary significantly between sites. Jacob M. warns about Swain Ridge: "Not able to camp in open field. 1000$ fine for doing so. Camping at trailhead or on road side is fine."

Trash management: Pack-in, pack-out principles apply at all sites. Matthew H. observed at Trace Branch: "Lots of beer bottles left over and shattered so I had to pick up the trash before letting my dog out."

Road access: Access routes to primitive camping near Middlesboro vary in quality and maintenance. Many become impassable after heavy rain or snow. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for most sites, particularly during wet seasons.

Wildlife concerns: Ticks and poison ivy present health risks at several sites. Sierra E. reports from Swain Ridge: "We did have ticks EVERYWHERE and poison ivy along the edges of the pasture. We had a ball we were playing with roll in there."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Middlesboro, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Middlesboro, KY is Redbird Boat Ramp with a 3.5-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Middlesboro, KY?

TheDyrt.com has all 5 dispersed camping locations near Middlesboro, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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