3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
The Cherokee National Forest offers several primitive tent camping options near Farner, Tennessee, with Lost Creek Campground providing free dispersed camping along its namesake creek. Located approximately 7 miles down a gravel forest road, this secluded area appeals to tent campers seeking solitude and natural settings. Nearby, the Hiwassee River Area provides established tent sites with river views and access to water recreation, while Starr Mountain Area offers more remote backcountry tent camping experiences.
Tent sites throughout the region typically feature concrete picnic tables and fire rings, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Lost Creek provides primitive tent setups with vault toilets but no running water, requiring campers to bring their own supplies. Access to many backcountry tent camping areas requires driving on unpaved forest roads, with some creek crossings demanding high-clearance vehicles during wet seasons. Bear activity is common throughout the area, necessitating proper food storage—some campgrounds provide bear boxes while others require hanging food bags. A camper noted that at Lost Creek, "This campground is incredibly clean and quiet—and completely free. Sites can accommodate tents, complete with concrete picnic tables and a fire ring."
Tent campers in the Farner area frequently use these sites as bases for day hikes or multi-day backpacking trips on the Benton McKaye trail, which runs directly beside Lost Creek Campground. The dense forest canopy provides ample shade for summer camping, while creek-side sites offer both ambient sound and convenient water access (requiring purification). Most places to tent camp near Farner remain uncrowded except on holiday weekends, offering genuine forest immersion and wildlife viewing opportunities. During hunting seasons, backcountry tent campers should be prepared for increased activity and occasional disruption, as one visitor reported: "We apparently went during hunting season. Had to have been a dog sport. Too many dogs running around and barking throughout the night. Other than that we enjoyed our stay."
"The state park/campground adjoins the Cherokee National Forest and sits on the north bank of the Hiwassee River outside of Benton, TN."
"Very nice campground with large tent sites with fairly level ground capable of sitting 2 or 3 tents. Most have mature trees to hang hammocks. Very quiet during weekdays."
Available next weekend
"It's in the middle of nowhere (7 miles down a gravel forest road), surrounded by forest, with easy creek access (some sites are right beside the creek), and the Benton McKaye trail running directly beside"
"We chose a spot next to the creek. Was clear and flowing due to a lot of rain the few days before we arrived. Sites had concrete picnic tables and a pad. We had to clean ours when we arrived."
"Our first time here at the Hiwassee Outfitter camping area in Reliance, Tennessee. Most campsites have river view or stream view. One large circle, mostly tent camping. No electric hookup."
"This is a popular location for the regional university students so expect a bit of a hootenanny to surround and welcome you."
"I found this awesome campground close to the beginning of the Cherohala skyway in Tellico Plains."
from $20 / night
"The trail isn’t really a trail but it’s so worth it. if you enter through gee creek rd it’s only about half a mile to the top. It is an off beat path and there are no markings."
"Hammock camping is ideal here, unsure of tent camping possibilities. Come prepared to hike hard and to experience unexpected weather if it occurs"
"There are several places for primitive camping spots that I’ve seen along the bank. 10/10 would recommend for your next adventure spot if you haven’t been."
"It has hiking trails bycyclin trails it also has local horse back riding that takes you up near Chilhowee Lake once to the top you get a really beautiful overlook of Parksville lake at one of the centered"
"We had the place to ourselves, right next to the creek. Rough terrain getting there but we have a ford Econoline that had no trouble. Hate I didn’t snag enough pictures."
from $6 / night
from $52 / night
"Nice site along the creek that has plenty of space for multiple tents. It had some debris from previous campers when we were there."
"With 12 acres of woodland and the freedom to pitch a tent anywhere (provided you honor LNT principals about where to set up camp!)"
"Absolutely beautiful location! Directions were easy to follow. I followed my google maps until we got to hwy 60 and then used the given directions."
from $35 / night
ScoutI camped here with a friend last weekend and absolutely loved this place! It's a cute little site with a great host, clean bathrooms, free firewood, and super friendly dogs, goats, and people. I would for sure stay here again and recommend.
GuideParksville Lake RV Campground is an absolute gem! I had a fantastic stay here. The campground is beautifully maintained, and the sites are nice, spacious, and wonderfully shaded by the trees. We loved the layout of the RV loop, especially the outer section where a peaceful creek flows right past the sites—the sound of the water at night was perfect. The restrooms and showers were exceptionally clean and well-kept. I had Starlink connectivity at my site and my WeBoost cell signal booster gave me up to three bars on AT&T. The campground host was incredibly nice, welcoming, and helpful. It's a wonderful, relaxing spot, and I will definitely be back!
GuideA sign on the gate says that the area has been closed "due to vandalism and unauthorized activity".
GuideThis is one of several USFS campgrounds that are within a few miles of each other. The cost is only $8/night, first come first served. The sites are fairly large with about half of them on a wide, clear creek. There is no running water, but there are bear proof trash cans and vault toilets that were fairly clean, but didn't smell great.
There is free potable water and an RV dump station about a mile away at the North River Game Checking Station on River Road near the Spivey Cove campground..
The campsite was clean with picnic table, fire ring, and a lantern post. The fire ring was almost full of ashes and it appears that campers have to clean them out themselves.
The Green Cove Angler store is a couple miles away and has ice, firewood and other camper things.
Unfortunately, while we were there, it was bear hunting season and another camper had multiple barking and baying dogs that went on and on for hours.
ScoutBeautiful Campground, but Absolutely NOT Family-Friendly! I rarely leave negative reviews this strongly, but our experience at Turkey Creek Campground was so disappointing that I feel compelled to warn other families. First, I’ll give credit where it’s due. The campground is beautifully maintained, and the creekside sites are incredibly peaceful and serene. It’s a lovely setting, and during the day, the owner is friendly enough and seemingly hospitable. Unfortunately, the hospitality comes to a screeching halt the moment the clock strikes 10 PM.
We were two families camping together with six well-behaved kids who absolutely love the outdoors. We understand and respect campground quiet hours. We weren’t looking to throw parties, blast music, or disturb anyone. But apparently, at Turkey Creek,“quiet hours” doesn’t mean keeping noise to a respectful minimum. It means absolute silence, complete darkness, and seemingly no normal human activity whatsoever.
I’m not exaggerating.
* We were told to turn off ALL our lights at 10 PM.
* We were confronted for opening our vehicle’s trunk because it made a brief beeping sound.
* Our children were startled by a large spider near the bathhouse, and the owner actually yelled at them to be quiet.
* One evening around 11 PM, we were talking quietly INSIDE OUR OWN TENT, barely above a whisper, when the owner approached our tent door to reprimand us for talking.
* On another occasion, he approached us to complain that our children had left TWO STICKS on the ground near the bathrooms. Two sticks! At a campground surrounded by woods, where the kids had just walked down a wooded trail to reach the bathhouse!
And don’t even think about enjoying a little background music while sitting around your campsite. Music of any kind played through a speaker is prohibited, regardless of volume. Apparently, even a little John Denver played quietly while enjoying the mountains is too much to ask. I fully appreciate that some people camp specifically for peace and quiet. We respect that, too. But there is a massive difference between enforcing reasonable quiet hours and making paying guests feel like they’re constantly being watched, monitored, and reprimanded for simply existing. The owner’s enforcement of these rules felt excessive, confrontational, and completely out of proportion to what was actually happening.
Instead of relaxing and enjoying our family vacation, we found ourselves walking on eggshells, worried that the smallest sound, light, or ordinary childhood behavior would result in another confrontation. What makes this particularly frustrating is that our kids were doing exactly what we’d hope children would do on a camping trip: spending time outside, exploring nature, enjoying each other’s company, and making memories away from screens. Yet somehow, even that seemed unwelcome. If we hadn’t already paid for five nights, we would have packed up and left after the very first night. That’s how uncomfortable the experience became.
If you are someone who wants a meticulously maintained campground where everyone retires to complete silence and darkness by 10 PM, Turkey Creek might be perfect for you. But if you’re a family hoping to enjoy a campfire, share some laughs, quietly socialize in the evening, and let your children experience the simple joys of camping, I cannot recommend this place strongly enough AGAINST it.
There are so many beautiful campgrounds in this area, and I cannot imagine choosing to return somewhere that made our families feel so unwelcome. Beautiful property. Extremely disappointing hospitality. Absolutely terrible experience for families. We will never return.
ScoutCalled the day of to ask if we could camp and set up after hours for that day and the next the lady told me yes i could pay in the morning i got here set up that night woke up around 8 am to go pay and reserve my campsite for the day and she told me they were booked even though she had told me the day before she had plenty of campsites. Then tried to tell me the only one she had was a $75 site for 4 people which is absolutely insane. She made snarky remarks and was overall incompetent in making sure the guests receive the right information the first time. Absolutely zero care that we set up not even 12 hours before to make us take it down and leave.
ScoutFort Mountain SP offers some great adventures for the outdoorsman. Hiking and Biking are the mainstays. The overlooks are absolutely astounding from the Cool Springs Overlook, which is easily accessible to anyone even the disabled. The overlook on the trail to the wall and tower is equally amazing. The campground is electric and water only, no fhu. All spots are gravel and fairly level. The bathhouses are older and could use updating . We have zero T-Mobile service at the campground, but it works well in other areas of the park. We have Starlink for our 5th Wheel but the heavy tree canopy in our site made it sketchy. The staff is very friendly.
ScoutVery pretty site but its right on the road
ScoutThis was a very nice campground! The tent areas are partially gravel so it helped the area be less muddy after rain. Beautiful view of the river and would be a great place to fish! Bathrooms are very nice! Comes with a nice fire pit and didn’t have to use own grate! Pet friendly! Staff was very nice and helpful!
Only complaint was some of their quiet hours were confusing. The quiet hours on the email said 10pm to 7am but then sign posted at bathroom was 11pm-7am for quiet hours.
Primitive camping sites dot the Cherokee National Forest surrounding Farner, Tennessee, at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 feet. The area experiences moderate rainfall throughout the year, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during day and cooling to mid-60s at night. Most backcountry camping spots remain accessible from April through October, with forest roads often becoming difficult to navigate during winter months.
Creek swimming and wading: Several camping areas near Farner offer direct creek access for cooling off during hot summer months. At Lost Creek - Cherokee NF, campers can enjoy shallow creek swimming. "There are spots that you can swim around in," notes Scott E., who camped creekside.
Explore forest service roads: The remote backcountry around Farner contains extensive gravel road networks ideal for hiking and mountain biking. Chris D. mentioned about Lost Creek, "Many places to explore on bike or hiking. Super remote area, ride were in decent shape, I could see them being bad after a heavy storm."
Day hikes on Benton McKaye trail: While camping at Starr Mountain Area, hikers can access challenging day hikes with significant elevation gain. "Very intense hike up the mountain but the views are worth it," reports Sean7, who recommends "hammock camping is ideal here, unsure of tent camping possibilities."
River activities: The Hiwassee River Area offers multiple water recreation options. "Multiple Float Rental types including sit in, sit on and inflatable kayaks. Shuttle to top for put in and take out at camp ground on the river," says Jay A., highlighting the convenient rental services available.
Natural spring water: Tent campers appreciate access to natural water sources near campsites. The Your Toccoa River Cove campground features "a spring you can drink straight out of, and streams criss-crossing the entire area if you want the rugged feeling of purifying your own water," according to Stephanie J.
Privacy and solitude: Campers consistently mention the quiet atmosphere at primitive sites near Farner. At Lost Creek, Tyler J. describes it as "Your classic primitive campground. No generators, water, or porta potties. How camping in the forest should be!"
Concrete amenities: Despite being primitive, many tent sites include basic infrastructure. Rayley P. notes about Lost Creek, "Each campsite has a concrete table, fire pit, and tent platform. Some have direct access to the creek."
Digital disconnection: The remote nature of tent camping near Farner means limited connectivity. Melissa R. mentions at Toccoa River Cove, "If you have AT&T cell service you're out of luck (or a blessing) because it will not work here... but it does work once you go back out into the road some."
Access challenges: Many camping areas require navigating unpaved roads. At Goforth Creek Campground E, Asher K. notes the site is "slightly off of the trail" with access that can be challenging to locate without directions.
Hunting season disruptions: Seasonal hunting affects the camping experience. During certain times, Scott E. observed at Lost Creek, "We apparently went during hunting season. Had to have been a dog sport. Too many dogs running around and barking throughout the night."
Weekend crowds: While generally quiet on weekdays, some sites become busy during peak times. A recent visitor to Lost Creek noted, "Nice but super crowded on the weekend."
Water availability varies: Most primitive camping near Farner lacks running water. Gregg G. reports about Lost Creek, "There is no potable water available from a spicket and no Verizon cell reception."
Creek exploration: Children enjoy shallow water play at several Farner area campgrounds. The Unique shelter in the NC foothills offers nearby amenities that families appreciate, including "a community firepit and some amenities you share with the treehouse next door (slackline, swing, and slide)," according to Erin S.
Site selection for tent platforms: Families benefit from established tent areas with level ground. At Lost Creek, Charles H. notes, "This is a great spot in the river. Picnic tables, fire ring, pit toilet and all you hear is the river at night."
Weather preparedness: The area experiences rapid weather changes, particularly in higher elevations. Sean7 advises about Starr Mountain to "Come prepared to hike hard and to experience unexpected weather if it occurs."
Accessibility considerations: Some family-friendly campsites require minimal hiking while others demand more effort. Gabriela M. explains about Starr Mountain, "The trail isn't really a trail but it's so worth it. if you enter through gee creek rd it's only about half a mile to the top."
Length restrictions: Most dispersed camping areas near Farner have limited space for vehicles. The Smitty's Lodge Motorcycle Campground warns that large RVs won't fit on their property. Bob P. confirms, "I found this awesome campground close to the beginning of the Cherohala skyway in Tellico Plains...I stayed in a tent, but they do have cabins for rent also. Campsites are level and spacious."
Driveway challenges: Many camping areas have steep access roads. At Toccoa River Cove, Stephanie J. cautions, "The driveway down to the shelter is very steep, and does not allow much space to turn around. RVs or larger trucks will not fit."
Alternative lodging options: When RV camping isn't suitable, many sites offer cabins or shelters. At Hiwassee River Area, Katrin S. mentions, "No electric hookup. Water spigots throughout the campground but not directly at each site."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Farner, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Farner, TN is Gee Creek Campground — Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Farner, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 109 tent camping locations near Farner, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
