Looking for the best options for tent camping near Middlesboro? Find the best tent camping sites near Middlesboro. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Middlesboro's most popular destinations.
We have 2 primitive campsites at the entrance of the state forest as the forest itself is for DAY USE ONLY. We have 6 picnic areas, 4 of which have lake views and one having a spring and the other one having a 100 foot firetower adjacent to it.
Our Rabbit Road Campground hosts ten primitive hike-in campsites along the Airplane Pond Trail. These sites are the perfect place for tent camping and peaceful relaxation. Each site hosts a tent pad, a fire pit, and is partially or fully shaded. These sites do not offer electric or water hook-up points. A bathhouse for campers is located in the parking area, which offers hot showers and restrooms.
Please note that the Rabbit Road Primitive Campground is only open March - October.
Located 15 minutes NW of Williamsburg Kentucky, Tranquillity Creek Campground offers 8 acres of beautiful woods with a creek for a peaceful get away to relax and be one with nature. Close to stores and area attractions in SW Kentucky.
$60 - $100 / night
Find your balance at the height of adventure in the Equilibrium Escape! This unique site offers you the best of both worlds with the conveniences all campers appreciate but the rugged, super private experience only the great outdoors can give you! The site sits ontop of a ridge that has an elevation just over 1100ft and as you can imagine the views & serenity are outstanding! Besides being the ulitmate & absolute private site the abundance of wildlife will keep you amazed and thrilled, from Owls to Bobcat, Deer, Coyote, Fox and Hawks not to mention the variety of musical birds, your senses will take its own adventure just on all you hear. This site has multiple trails that level up and down throughout which will have markers to guide you through your hiking experience. A generous private firepit that offers the ability to enjoy primitive cooking and Forest Bartop that allows you to have a drink, eat your meal while overlooking treetops and the edge of the ridge. Although in the distance some road noise will be heard here and there or the Farmers dog give a bark, the seclusion of this forest jungle and cool breeze that gently passes through the trees will drown out all the background noise. If you are looking for the next level up in a camping experience that allows for you to TRULY unplug, unwind and recenter, The Equilibrium Escape is your next booking. This is an exclusive site that books only 15 nights a month and when you are here, you are the ONLY campers. You have a private span of nearly 8 acres.
Please also note that your camp is actually on our Farm, therefore why we affectionately refer to it as 'The Farmers Forest'. We are true Farm to Table Cultivators that offer more than a point of sale or just production. We enjoy educating those who really want to learn how to manage livestock, compost, Forage for edibles and also have proper infrastructure. Private tours include a hike through the farm, meet and greets with our Animals with being informed of the care & husbandry of each stock and feel free to bring your camera, the Farmer here happens to be pretty good with photography. The memories from the Full experience of the Farmpsite you will not only enjoy, but also gain more practical knowledge to carry with you into the future. Please note, you're in the country. So cell service can be very spotty. US Cellular works great, AT&T and T Mobile sometimes can be 50/50.....Verizon will just plain not impress you.
$90 - $100 / night
Norris Dam State Park has three backcountry campsites.
There are two new backcountry sites on one of the trails at Norris Dam State Park. Backcountry Site 1 is overlooking Norris Lake and is big enough for two small tents. Capacity is four people.
Backcountry Site 2 is along Lakeview Trail, and is big enough for one tent and capacity is four people also. Both sites have fire rings with a grill attachment and a level area. No water or electric is available. The trail to get to these two sites begins at the TVA / Camp Kinchen parking area. Round trip to either site is roughly 11.5 miles.
Backcountry Site 3 is located on top of Andrews Ridge with beautiful views of Norris Lake during the winter. There is a stone fire ring. No water or electric is available. The site will accommodate up to three tents and six people.
Please practice Leave No Trace and pack everything in and everything out. Reservations may be made online, but please check in at the park office prior to setting out.
Traveler
Review from the perspective of a motorcycle traveler tent camping. Tent sites are along two sides of a river. Clean and well maintained. Nice hidden gem. Honor system payment of $15 at envelope boxes.
Legend
Cherokee Dam campground is literally one of the most beautiful campgrounds in the area! The grounds are so well-kept, and the lake is just breathtaking. The campground is near town, so you can grab some bbq or hit the local hardware store for anything you need. The campground also had a camp store for essentials. They even delivered firewood to our site.
The people running the campground were just amazing. So nice and helpful. Most of the sites have lake views. We were in site #36, and we were in our camper. Lots of space, no shade at all in this one. Most of the sites had some shade though. Picnic tables and fire rings at all.
I’ve noticed the TVA campgrounds don’t have many showers, so I was glad to have that in our camper, just be aware, you might have to wait for one if you are tent camping. The tent sites were awesome, right on the water, and a short walk from the parking lot. If you have a rooftop tent, you won’t be able to park at your site, so you’ll be sleeping in the parking lot, but you could make it work.
There’s a swimming area, boat launch, and walking trails. This is a great spot to have a great time on the lake!
Guide
This was my first time to the Niagara of the South. My husband and I left our dog back in Louisville for this trip which was originally an attempt to see the moon bow at Cumberland Falls.
We looked at the tent site map on the state resort park map and nothing looked GREAT except for Clifty Campground spots 050, 048, and 049 they all look isolated from any of the other sites with 050 being a site that you have to traverse a grassy/rocky area from your car to set up.
We opted for spot 047 because, on the map, it looked set back from the campground road… and it was… sorta. Nothing at this campsite is going to be private. The majority of the sites do not have so much as a weed between them although the sites themselves are very roomy for car camping. Your vehicle will be a presence at the site, which have electric hookups so if, like me, you have an electric car… it's nice to be able to simply plug the car in. This site did not get a lot of shade except for where we had the tent set up, and still… that would've received sun had it not been raining.
Our site had a good picnic bench, a sturdy wooden post for hanging trash etc and the fire pit seemed pretty new. The grill wasn't bent at all, which was a 1st in my years of camping. The view from this site was pretty cool… we set out tent up at the furthest out spot on the small cliff as we could before it turned to mostly rock and faced the door out over the trails. We hung our rain tarp because, instead of a moon bow, we endured a nearly 24 hour torrential downpour. The tarp, which is small, and having the tent faced appropriately gave us a semblance of privacy although we had a camper van family next to us. Site has a lot of gravel so it was reasonably muddy but not dried out quick.
There are a lot of raccoons that visit the dumpster area so expect it to be a little messy if your fellow campers aren't shutting the dumpster lids. Shower facilities reminded me of middle school camp… kind of mildewed… and well… rustic. Everything functioned and it wasn't "gross" just old. Water was hot. Toilet stalls (ladies) were small. I weight 130 and at 5 foot 2 it was a tight squeeze for me.
We hiked the WIldflower Loop Trail (1.5 miles) in a drizzle and although wet it was safe. When the rain stopped we hiked Eagle Falls Trail and it was very muddy but the views were worth it.
Would love to go back but if camping in a tent it's a must to get one of the two more private spots, or at the very least
GuideWe stayed at site RV33. We have a 25ft travel trailer and it was perfect. There were two tent sites very close to us, but we had more than enough room. If we were to go again, we would pull straight into the site (this would have put our slide towards the road). The tent sites looked to be the best tent sites I’ve seen. The bath house was very clean. The staff was very helpful. There were trails from the campground to Cumberland Falls. We hiked to see Cumberland Falls (from the lodge) and Eagle Falls. After a short drive, we hiked Natural Arch and Yahoo Falls.
Legend
Halfmoon Campground is located near Windrock Off-Road Park and has RV sites, tent sites, and cabins. RV sites have power (up to 50amp) and water, and have decent separation between sites. The RV sites are in a grassy field so minimal shade. The majority of the Tent sites are dry camping (no power or water), however, there are 3 tent sites near the bathhouse that do have power and water. The tents site are in the woods so plenty of shade. The cabins have parking that can accommodate multiple vehicles. Clean and functional bathhouse. Dump station near the bathhouse. Fire wood and ice is available near the bathhouse and has a self pay setup. The campground also includes a vehicle wash station and trailer parking area if you trailered in your off-road vehicles. The nearest grocery store is about 15 minutes away. Beautiful views of the mountains from the RV area.
Link to my YouTube review: Campground Review: https://youtu.be/ZOEj0QoXqfM
Traveler
Went on a stag tent camping trip. Decent facility for state park. Sites are small wouldn’t recommend large rigs.
Guide
I was passing through on my way north and this was midway. I picked this site because it met my criteria for quick tent camping and has the awesomely easy instant book feature. More of that please!
The hosts were really great and what they’ve done with the campsite and what they are working on is amazing. The views of the lake were amazing. There is a sitting area and a dock with paddle sport launches. There is a wash house with toilet and sink but no showers yet.
I was tent camping. There were tents/yurts for rent. A few other tent campers, a full size RV motorhome and a camper van. There was plenty of room and it was peaceful and quiet.
Guide
Good tent camping sites. Lots of trees; level sites; fire pit; picnic table. Very clean & well supplied restrooms. Great individual private room showers with plenty of good hot water.
Traveler
The tent sites can be decent or real bad. T9 and T14 were horrible sites at the bottom of a hill where all rainwater runs through. T7 and T8 are ok sites. They are fairly flat.
Traveler
We had a wonderful time camping! Its mostly for RVs, but they accommodated us for tent camping. The site is beautiful and well kept, everyone was so very friendly. Kayaking the Powell River was a joy. Read the rules before you go, they are there to keep the campground a family place
Ranger
A couple of the tent sites are waterfront and ideal for a tenter like me. The rest seem a little packed together, though some offer a little bit of seclusion. Decent facilities and easy access to Devil’s Backbone section of Cumberland trail.
GuideWe stayed at the main area but not much space or privacy so we put up a tent out side our door, but then moved to the tent camping site area the second night which was more secluded and private, but still close to the showers/bath house. So much hiking and a cool view of the dam is all within walking distance. Nice bath rooms and showers too.
Ranger
Take an awesome little ferry across the river (or drive around). Tent sites vary in privacy. Great simple site, clean. No trails on site but we did a pretty one nearby (forget the name). Babbling river and nice wildlife. Good place to bring a boat.
Guide
I have tent camped here a couple of times in the past few years. The campground is clean and neat, and some sites offer great views of the lake and surrounding cliffs. It's a beautiful place to hang out at during sunset or sunrise. The shower and restrooms are clean, and the general store is nice and convenient. The laundry facilities are a nice place to get things cleaned up while you're on the road. The biggest problem I see with this area is the noise. A lot of the Wahweap workers live in an area of mobile homes above the campground, and they definitely like to party at night. A group of motorcyclists also thought it was a good idea to rev their Harleys up at 6 am one day. I am sure camping in and RV would isolate you from the noise, or maybe camping during a weekday would be better. Either way, I would stay here again. As for tent camping, some of the sites have zero shade, so be prepared with your own shelters. Just make sure you anchor them down; afternoons can bring some strong winds to the area.
ScoutCampsites are nice but electric hookups only at certain sites. Its a national campground so its beautiful with nice bathouses but not much activities other than hiking. There are a limited amount of sites that would accommodate a large RV, mostly tent sites. It is first come first serve with no reservations. There is no rv parks close if the campground is full.
GuideThis place is not for you if you are looking for solitude or silence. It might be your scene if you’re into parties. Tent sites were not all accessible by drive up - some you had to park at the top of the hill and walk down. Bathrooms were clean though, and the staff was friendly. Can’t beat the proximity to the falls either.
Scout
Overall this is a nice campground, clean bathrooms and good views of the dam and river. However, if you plan on staying in one of the three tent sites I suggest 59 as it appeared to be the only one with good spot for a tent. I stayed at 58 which wasn't level and had a lot of rocks and roots. Site 60 appeared to have a soft grassy area, but it still looked a little slanted.
Scout
We usually camp here at least 3 times every year. They have dedicated tent sites with electric and also a primitive tent area. It's open year around but in the summer season you can take a trail off of loop I that leads to the community pool to cool off. The campground organizes fun activities for the summer holidays like tie dying, camper's only pool party, bingo, best decorated campsite, etc. It always seems to pack out everytime we are there.
Guide
Kingdom Come State Park is a little jewel in southeastern Kentucky! There are 6 tent sites (7 if they allow you to reserve the one next to the duck pond), each with a gravel drive, mulch tent pad big enough for two smallish tents, fire ring, and picnic table. The nearby shelter house provides restrooms and trash cans. The local ranger was most helpful in providing firewood (free!) and offering to bring us water to wash up with or for drinking (there is a water fountain across from the CG, but it wasn't turned on and there is running water in the restrooms). The area is known for bear activity, but we saw none. The surrounding mountains provide many short hikes that can be easily strung together to make for a longer trek if desired. We look forward to camping there again!
GuideGreat campground with very friendly and helpful rangers. Was pretty empty the night we were there. Very cool tent camping spots right on the small lake and RV spots all pretty much have a lake view. Full hookups and dump when you exit the campground. They do not have water at the sites in the winter. Bathrooms were clean enough and the showers were hot. Would definitely come back. Many trailheads near the campsite but the weather was bad when we were there. Drone photos courtesy of SweetDroneChicago on Instagram
Scout
A few friends and I visited this campground in June of 2018 so we could visit the Natural Tunnel and the Devil's Fork Loop Trail. It's a little off the beaten path, down a dirt/gravel road, nestled next to the river (sadly it was right after Tropical Storm Alberto so the river was flooded and we didn't get a chance to swim). We had a wonderful time tent camping and hiking, the staff was always around if we needed anything and we had a peaceful, memorable vacation.
ScoutI was a little underwhelmed compared to what I was expecting from camping at a national park. The positives are the cheap rates and there are bathroom and shower facilities. If you want old fashion tent camping the park does have some backcountry campsites.
The cons are the lack of actual campsites. They are more like parking spaces. Probably to appeal to the people who use campers. The noise of the highway was constant and annoying.
Overall I enjoyed my time staying here. Wish I could have done more backcountry camping but the weather didn't permit it.
Legend
My wife and I decided to do an overnight float trip on the Holston River with one of our good friends. The river was absolutely rolling with 2 generators running for the entire week so the islands we normally try to stay on were few and far between so we had to camp on the bank in our hammocks. This is an absolute blast of a trip and if you want world class small mouth fishing, look no further! Try to hit it when they are rolling 0 or 1 generators only and the fishing will blow your mind; you’re welcome!!!!! This trip can be done with tents just as easy if not easier than hammocks if you prefer to pack in your tent camping gear. We chose hammocks for space saving reasons only.
GuideWe stayed in tent site 19. I think it is definitely the best site in the campground. Sites 19 and 20 are a couple of the only sites with any privacy. Site 19 is a walk in (down) but the site itself is huge and the tent platform is built out on a rock outcrop. Overall the campground is nice but the other sites are very close together. The rangers/camp hosts came by while we were gone to warn us about bear activity in the campground, you do need to be careful with food. We went to see the moonbow so it was fairly busy while we were there. We also took a hike to Eagles Falls where it seems to be clothing optional swimming...lol It didn’t bother us but just an FYI. We had a very relaxing 3 days at Cumberland Falls, would definitely recommend it.
Traveler
Nice campground surrounded by forest. They have a pond for fishing and another pond for swimming with nice Sandy beach. They also put out bouncy houses for the kids at no extra cost. You can rent golf carts which is helpful since the campground is fairly large, the front and back sites are separated by a manmade dam that forms the swimming pond. Tent site tucked away in the woods give you the secluded experience with amenities nearby. Bathrooms and showers are what you'd expect and kept clean and we'll stocked. Family run campground and they work hard to give a family feeling. Movies on the lawn, dance parties, bands on Holiday weekend while we were there. Very close to Daniel Boone forest and Laurel Lake and Marina's. This was our 2nd time and we will definitely come back
Ranger
We visited Racoon Mountain camp ground for the Memorial weekend. With limited campsites open due to COVID-19 we were lucky to get a spot. The staff was great as they greeted us at the entrance and even guided us to our campsite. We had a pull through site with minimal shade and a little closer than what we are normally use to. There are several tent sites along the creek, but no camper sites on the creek😞. For those who don't camp, there are also cabins available to rent! The campsite is conveniently within walking distance of the caves. We went on a guided tour and had a great time! Our guide was very knowledgeable and made it very enjoyable for my family. We will not come back to this site because we like to be more in the mountains, but this campsite would be great for those who like to be near attractions (cave and downtown Chattanooga).
LegendEasy 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.
Tent camping near Middlesboro, Kentucky offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a variety of outdoor activities. With several well-reviewed campgrounds in the area, you'll find the perfect spot to set up your tent and unwind.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Middlesboro, KY is TVA Public Land- Fork Bend with a 4.5-star rating from 11 reviews.
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