Fontana Dam camping areas sit at approximately 1,700 feet elevation within the Nantahala National Forest, where the climate brings mild springs, warm summers, and colorful fall foliage. The campgrounds near this 480-foot-tall dam—the tallest in the Eastern United States—offer campers proximity to both the Appalachian Trail crossing and numerous waterways. Most sites in this area maintain consistent temperatures 5-10 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands during summer months.
What to do
Biking the Cades Cove loop: Access the 11-mile paved loop road at Cades Cove Campground where bike rentals are available for reasonable rates. "On certain days they close off the loop of Cades Cove for bicycles to be able to ride. At the store near the campground they rent bikes for a reasonable rate. We took the entire family on the loop bike ride. This was so much fun," shares Jeremy H.
Kayaking Lake Santeetlah: Launch from the boat ramp at Lake Santeetlah Dispersed for paddling on crystal clear waters. "The lake itself is absolutely gorgeous and crystal clear! We had lots of birds and butterflies around camp. Keep your eyes out for the Tufted Titmouse a cute little grey bird resembling a Cardinal," notes Andy S.
Hiking ghost towns: Explore abandoned vacation homes at Elkmont, just a short walk from your campsite. "One of the more intriguing areas to explore at Elkmont is the Daisy Town ghost town. Once you've set up camp, walk or drive down the road toward the Little River and Jakes Creek trails. Follow the signs for additional parking and you'll find yourself at the end of a road lined with assorted cottages and cabins that used to be vacation homes."
What campers like
Direct water access: Many campers appreciate lakefront sites at Long Hungry Road Dispersed Campsites. "8 or so beautiful sites, many with direct lake views/access. We showed up late and got the furthest site on the road. Important to note that many of the sites do not allow drive in," reports Sawyer B.
Comfortable bathroom facilities: Indian Boundary provides well-maintained facilities that campers consistently praise. "There are plenty of clean bathrooms within a short walk from any site. These bathrooms also house the showers which are very nice and always clean," shares Jason J.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The Cades Cove area offers excellent animal watching from safe distances. "I have never seen more black bear. It was a very safe distance we watched them about a football field away across a field pretty amazing experience," notes Ashley Y. about her stay at Cades Cove.
What you should know
Reservation requirements vary: Elkmont Campground requires advance booking while dispersed sites operate first-come, first-served. "Elkmont is open early March – October and reservations are required. If you arrive without a reservation, there is a phone line there that you can call to make them, or you can return to town where you have cell service and make reservations online."
Limited cell coverage: Most areas around Fontana Dam have spotty or no service. "Zero signal at both areas for Verizon and T-Mobile. The road like most around here was beautiful driving in," reports Aly E. about Lake Santeetlah.
Campsite availability: Weekends fill quickly, especially in summer. "We arrived around 8am and got the first campsite we saw. This is the most established dispersed campsite that I've stayed at as it has a fire circle, a grill and a picnic table," mentions amanda R. about her experience at Long Hungry Road.
Tips for camping with families
Beach access for kids: Abrams Creek Campground offers quieter water access than the main lake areas. "Very quiet area to camp by the water," notes Jennifer L., making it ideal for families with small children.
Playground amenities: Several campgrounds include play areas for children. "The campground is beautiful with a sandy area, and a beautiful mountain range to enjoy. It's my favorite camping spot!" shares Alison B. about Indian Boundary.
Kid-friendly trails: Look for shorter hikes with interesting features. "We saw some hikers and some people on horseback. The site was very clean minus a few pieces of trash that we later picked up. The dogs loved it because our site was right on the lake," reports amanda R. about the trails near Long Hungry Road.
Tips for RVers
Access challenges: Many roads in the area are winding with tight turns. "The road to get to Lake Santeetlah has endless sharp turns & drop-offs, would not recommend driving this in the dark," advises Alexandra about driving to dog friendly campgrounds near Fontana Dam.
Limited hookup options: Fontana Village Resort and Campground is one of the few locations with reliable electric hookups. "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," notes Lori H.
Pet-friendly policies: Most campgrounds near Fontana Dam welcome dogs but have specific requirements. "The dogs loved it because our site was right on the lake," shares amanda R. about Long Hungry Road, one of several dog friendly campgrounds near Fontana Lake that offer good pet accommodations.
