Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Fontana Dam, NC

I spent three days hiking from Fontana Dam to Newfound Gap. I spent two nights in shelters on the AT (Mollies Ridge and Silers Bald). Well worth the effort. My only complaint was that some of the younger guys packed beer in on the 1st night and the shelter felt a bit like a frat party. The second night was not so bad as it was further from the road. I would still recommend this to anyone who enjoys hiking. It may be on the east coast but the peaks are high and the trail is challenging.

Convenient location just off Interstate 75. Quiet wooded area with plenty of activities for the kids. Swimming pool, fishing pond, playground, jump pad. We don't have pets, but there is a small dog park area. Lots of planned weekend activities. Bathrooms are very clean and well-maintained. My husband is disabled and we are very appreciative of the separate handicap facilities. You don't have that in a lot of campgrounds. We like the sites best towards the front of the park close to the pool. The owners are very hands-on and involved and you can tell. We have camped all over the country but this is our favorite local getaway when we have a free weekend.

Raccoon Valley RV park is literally just an RV park. The park was very clean and well maintained, and would be a nice place to park for a night as part of a longer trip. The RV park is just right off 1-75, just north of Knoxville, so it would be easy to hop on and off the interstate. The property is just a large gravel parking lot, with a few trees scattered throughout. Not really my kind of camping, but nearly all the spots were full.

The park has a large laundry facility, and a dog park for people traveling/camping with pets. I did see some benches located in the perimeter of the property in shady spots for relaxing.

I assume some of the guests are long term residents, but the sites were all so neat and clean, without built on structures and such that I’ve seen at most places. This RV park will be perfect for some!

Fontana Village Resort Campground is a small campground right next to Fontana Dam. You can’t enter the water here, but there is water access nearby. The drive to the area is cool, if you drive on Hwy 129, you’ll drive through the 11 mile section known as “The Dragon”. The iconic drive is a popular route for bikes and sport cars, due to the number of curves and switchbacks, and you can pick up souvenirs at local shops around. The campground was basically deserted when we were there on a Sunday evening. There are water and electric hookups at most sites. There’s not much privacy between sites, it’s pretty much wide open, with only a few trees scattered throughout the campground. I expected to have more trees in the North Carolina Mountains. I went in the restrooms, they were awful. I can’t imagine showering in that place. I chose to just use nature’s facilities. I was overall disappointed in this campground, as the area is so pretty, I expected better.

Double Island Remote Campground Fontana Lake in the Smoky Mountain National Park is available by watercraft only. There are boat ramps in the surrounding area that provide access.

Campground use is via the Check-in Stations, there is one at Fontana Dam Boat ramp.

I have camped there on three occasions. More fun while boating when the water level is up prior to Labor Day. We did see more wildlife including bear when the level was down as they had to travel down to the low level shore.

There is plenty of downed driftwood firewood in the area you have to leave the Island though and forage the shore.

This is a pack it in, pack it out type location. The Rangers typically stop by in the Summer to check your papers. Make sure you have plenty of ice. It's a long way back to Fontana Dam or a local Marina...unless you are in a power boat.

Near Fontana Dam and along the Appalachian Trail, there is the most modern trail shelter that I have ever seen.  I have stayed at a few trail shelters, but this is the first one I have seen that has a solar charging station for electronic devices.  There is a reason it is called the “Fontana Hilton.”  I had been to this shelter before in years past, and it was much more rustic.  Now it is clean and modern.   Although mainly for through-hikers on the Appalachian Trail, the road to Fontana Dam runs beside it, and there is a parking lot close to the camping area.  You don’t have to worry about road noise at night, however, because the road ends at Fontana Dam less than half a mile down the road.  I use the term “camping area” because there are also tent pads close to the trail shelter, so you can choose to stay in the shelter or sleep in a tent.  I preferred to stay in a tent.  Also unlike the other trail shelters where I have stayed, this one has a bath house, complete with running water, flush toilets, and hot showers.  Next to the trail shelter, there is a gathering area with picnic tables, a place to hang your lantern, and a fire pit.  I got a chance to meet some other campers—most of them were thru-hikers.  It was interesting to see what gear they were using.  I was curious and asked, and as I suspected, a couple of them were using alcohol stoves because of their light weight.  Among other things about this camping area, you are beside Fontana Lake, so the view is pretty special, especially at night when the moon reflects over the water.  When you are not at the camping area, you can go to the dam and visitors center.  Being the highest dam east of the Mississippi River, seeing the dam with your own eyes is pretty awesome.

This area of NC was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. The campground was rustic, but absolutely gorgeous, right beside Fontana Dam. Trout fishing here is top notch. We camped in the overlander tent here. Bath house was rustic but clean and fit our needs. There are a ton of wild turkeys here and they roost in the trees around the campground at night, FYI.

We loved the host jerry he brought us wood and picked our trash up and was a pleasure . The campground itself is taken great Care of with nice bathhouses . It also has a cool little dog park my dogs loved !

Campground was well maintained and easy to find. The owner was around all weekend working on the place and being generally friendly. Facilities were clean and in good shape. Massive dog park.

Sites are full hook up. Level. Fire rings. Picnic tables. Offers supreme patio sites as well. Swimming pool was warm and clean. Large play ground area. Dog park. Management was very polite and helpful.

Very very nice campground. Good signage and off 441 N. Not any places to eat without going into Clayton. Beautiful park with large sites, some paved. Laundry to was clean. Reasonable size dog park, dog walk and outside dog bath. Lots of trees, very clean and trash pickup at your site. Office lady was very nice and check in was efficient, even though we made the reservations at the last minute. It’s not cheap by any means but you get a lot of bang for your buck.

The new owners took over last year and immediately started making upgrades. Clean, renovated bathhouse and swimming pool are a big plus!

A new enclosed dog park and weekly entertainment provides extra perks. For those that want something truly unique, there are 2 new covered wagons that sleep 4!

Its definitely one of favorite places to stay!

This a an RV park, not a resort. It has everything you need: full hook ups, dog park, laundry. Clean, well kept and friendly. Sites are small and close, but work even for the larger rigs.

A safe and reasonably priced place to spend a night while traveling, or a couple while exploring the area.

Up the Creek RV Camp is a great little RV camp just down the way from bustling Pigeon Forge. The sites are decently sized, with picnic tables, fire rings and cement pads for basic sites, and tables and chairs with larger fire pits at premium sites. There are no tent pads or bath houses, it is truly and RV campground. There is a small dog park, two creeks (wadable) and lots of peace and quiet. We stayed for a week and were impressed by both the staff and the guests friendliness and helpfulness.

We camped here this past weekend. Checkin online was great. Site #7 was a pull through full hook up site. Sites were quite close, but quite big as well. Public bathhouse was only a few yards away if needed. Very nice pool, dog park and gem mine on site. Peaceful quiet. Lots of trees. Campground was clean. Road coming is dirt and could use some grading. No on-site office, but Jerry, the campground host, was great and stopped by regularly to make we had everything we needed.

Campground did not follow advertised online information. No escort to spot, no dog park, no food delivery, just to name a few. It also appears that with the volume of rules you are required to comply with, your camp sites of individuals staying annually should also have to follow. Sites 64, 99 and 102 were a real disappointment to see each day when leaving. The camp spots were so small to be able to park our single vehicle. We were overall disappointed and our bi annual stay in the area, will  not include Jellystone.

I rounded a turn and the trail turned rocky. Then the brush disappeared and the view off the side of the mountain was breathtaking. A little bit further and I took the side trail to the Shuckstack fire tower. The tower is rickety (only one rail for part of the way) but the view is the best so far. You can see the Nantahala River, the Fontana Dam and the entire countryside. It's easy to realize how small you are when the only thing surrounding you is forested wilderness.

The shelter has two levels where hikers tightly fit in together. Don’t mind the mice crawling over you as you sleep – they’re just looking for some food. This is a good reason to hang your food bag from the bear hangers. I left the pockets in my backpack unzipped so the mice wouldn’t chew through them in search of food.

Mollies Ridge was a great shelter in a beautiful part of the trail.