Best Campgrounds near Robbinsville, NC

The mountainous region surrounding Robbinsville, North Carolina features diverse camping options ranging from developed facilities to remote dispersed sites. Lake Santeetlah Dispersed and Long Hungry Road Dispersed Campsites provide free primitive options for self-sufficient campers, while established campgrounds like Horse Cove offer amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets. The area's proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and national forest land creates a mix of tent sites, RV accommodations, and even cabin rentals at several locations within a 30-mile radius.

Access to camping areas varies significantly by season, with most established campgrounds operating from April through October. Weather conditions in this mountainous terrain can change rapidly, particularly at higher elevations. "Beautiful campsites along the lake. Parking spots above near road and then some stairs down to a campfire ring, picnic table, and flat surface for a tent by the lake," noted one visitor about Lake Santeetlah. Many dispersed sites require high-clearance vehicles to navigate forest roads, particularly after rain. Cell service is limited throughout the region, and campers should prepare for potential isolation, especially at primitive sites where no facilities are available.

Several reviewers highlight the peaceful atmosphere and water access as primary attractions. Campsites near streams and lakes receive particularly positive feedback for their natural ambiance. "The sign at the road looks like it was either taken down or blew away. The pin drop doesn't take you to the turn in on Google or Apple Maps," cautioned one camper regarding Long Hungry Road sites, emphasizing the navigation challenges common in this rural area. The region experiences typical Appalachian seasonal patterns with summer humidity, colorful fall foliage, and occasional winter snow at higher elevations. Developed campgrounds in the area generally provide basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables, while some offer electric hookups suitable for RVs. National forest dispersed camping typically allows longer stays than established campgrounds but requires adherence to leave-no-trace principles.

Best Camping Sites Near Robbinsville, North Carolina (796)

    1. Cades Cove Campground

    98 Reviews
    Townsend, TN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 448-4103

    $30 / night

    "There’s a river that runs a long the outside of the campground. Good swimming holes. A store that sells food (the best ice cream), firewood & camping supplies."

    "The sites were pretty close to each other but the store was convenient and awesome proximity when we biked the loop. Far drive from all of the other hikes and adventures we did."

    2. Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    124 Reviews
    Gatlinburg, TN
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 430-5560

    $30 / night

    "Right outside of Gatlinburg so plenty to do and see if you feel like exploring outside of the park."

    "I had the most fantastic campsite right next to the river in Elkmont."

    3. Long Hungry Road Dispersed Campsites

    14 Reviews
    Robbinsville, NC
    4 miles

    "If you’re coming from Robbinsville it’s on your right after the pin about 1/4 mile. Then at the fork in the gravel road take a right. But all in all it’s a great place. I stayed at 7 in a van."

    "Each has a picnic table, fire pit/grill, and level area for 1-2 tents (a few can accommodate more if you’re ambitious), and lake views (most have lake access if you want to put in a kayak or canoe)."

    4. Lake Santeelah Dispersed

    10 Reviews
    Robbinsville, NC
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 257-4200

    "Beautiful campsites along the lake. Parking spots above near road and then some stairs down to a campfire ring, picnic table, and flat surface for a tent by the lake."

    "It's an absolutely beautiful lake in the forest. The trees are turning and the sky is blue. Only drawback is the Pine Ridge Rd dispersed camping is along the roadside. Not really private."

    5. Lake Santeetlah Dispersed

    10 Reviews
    Croatan National Forest, NC
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 479-6431

    "Our site has been very well-kept and is right next to the boat launch on Lake Santeetlah, at Avey Creek."

    "Nice lakeside side with good lake views. Park next to site. Toilet facility available, site next to marina on north side. Cellphone service with Verizon ok 1or 2 bars."

    6. Horse Cove

    10 Reviews
    Croatan National Forest, NC
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 479-6431

    "This cute little national forest roadside campground is situated in the Nantahala National Forest, just due south of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park."

    "It is right off a lake for access to water, (must purify yourself) because we werent close to the purified water. We loved swimming in the lake daily."

    7. Indian Boundary

    28 Reviews
    Tallassee, TN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 253-8400

    $20 / night

    "The lake is great for kayaking and swimming, with an easy trail around the perimeter. The gorgeous Cherohala Skyway is very close by (highly recommend!)."

    "The surrounding mountains and water were breathtaking. This camp ground is close to the water if you stay in loop A. Just a short walk the water and beach."

    8. Turkey Creek Campground

    14 Reviews
    Almond, NC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 307-3077

    $36 - $100 / night

    "The owner’s at Turkey Creek are very kind and inviting... water and electric at nearly every campsite, very clean bath facilities... small creek runs through the campground offering sweet sounds to fall"

    "Such a beautiful location with access to many nearby attractions. Ramelle is so so sweet and took great care of us, as first time trailer campers and gave us the “best” location, right on the creek."

    9. Fontana Village Resort and Campground

    11 Reviews
    Fontana Dam, NC
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 498-2211

    "But driving a stake more than 4 inches is almost impossible. There are very few trees actually on sites for hammock campers."

    "The best way to experience Fontana Lake is to kayak to the north side which is the border for the great Smoky Mountain National Park. You can park and put in at the marina and pack in food and water."

    10. Cades Cove Group Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    27 Reviews
    Townsend, TN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 448-4103

    $50 - $94 / night

    "There is a camp store with firewood (you are required to buy it from an authorized location!). Nice roomy campsites, but not as much plant cover as at Elkmont in my experience."

    "I wanted to see if there was a difference in the camping experience at the two locations."

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Recent Reviews near Robbinsville, NC

3082 Reviews of 796 Robbinsville Campgrounds


  • austin C.
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Corbin Creek Tray Mountain

    Great camping as of September 2025

    Very nice area to camp saw multiple sites throughout the road. Weather got a little cooler at night but the stars were a beauty to see. managed to fit 3 tents and 2 hammocks at the campsite near 34°50'26.3"N 83°40'44.6"W Wood was a little wet as it had rained 2 days prior so might be worth bringing your own.

    Also worth it if you're into astrophotography as all of tray mountain sits within the few dark areas within north Georgia.

    Did not see any signs of large predators but did see lots of spent 12GA shells and other casings.

  • Allissa F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    One night stay

    Right on Little River. The view and sound was so enjoyable. The restroom is a couple minute walk away, very convenient. Zero signal for Att (for signal, take a right out of the campground heading toward Gatlinburg. There’ll be a Pulloff with a view on the left, pull in and use your phone if needed).

  • Isabelle C.
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Indian Creek Campground

    Excellent Campground

    Indian Creek Campground in Cherokee, NC is a hidden gem. Nice hosts, clean facilities in the woods. We have a 25 ft pull behind camper and sites are big enough for slide-outs. Picknick table and campfire ring was on site. We had a 30 amp full hook-up site. Campground has tent sites, RV sites, cabins, clean bathhouse and is dog friendly.

  • Gary D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Douglas Tailwater Campground — Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

    Great Location

    Nice campground near river and dam. Had three pup tents for overnight motorcycle stay. Bridge nearby is a bit noisy if that bothers you. Decent rest rooms. Camp host was very friendly! Half hour to Gatlinburg and Dolly Wood.

  • Gary D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA Campground

    Way overpriced for tent camping

    Three of us on motorcycles with pup tents were going to be charged for three tent sites at $141 each per night . We laughed and left. Hotels were charging less than that. Being a KOA member didn’t make a difference.

  • Zoey W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Mountain Rest Mountain Top

    Great campsite, you guys are pansies though

    great spot, can see the stars super clearly and its pretty much just open woodland once youre there.

    you dont need 4 wheel drive or a truck like some of these people are saying, i did it fine in my honda civic, just dont have anything with worse clearance than that, and be ready to get some branch scratches which is kinda expected for wood roads

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge

    Beautiful grounds if you feel like splurging

    It is an absolutely beautiful campground with an awesome club house and a ton to do. The pool and lazy river are heated. Honestly though you really need to want to splurge to justify staying here because you are still camping if that makes sense.

    Also the trolley “system” is super confusing and the front desk knows nothing about it lol

    Our site is great. It is right across the road from the playground without having to pay for a family site.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Cades Cove Campground

    Quite, beautiful, weekend traffic

    This is one of the quietest campgrounds I’ve stayed at. Sites are nestled in the woods in a cove in the Smokies. No cell service. No internet. No cable tv. Just peace and quiet! This is a national park campgrounds, so no water, electric or hookups. There is a dump station and modern bathrooms. Cold water showers. There is a camp store with basics. There is a lot of traffic especially on weekends with visitors driving the scenic Cades Cove Loop Road.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Little River Campground & RV Resort

    Labor Day weekend

    Overall a positive experience. We stayed in the tent camping area. Absolutely beautiful site with a wonderful river view, but be aware that the direct river bank is considered common area including day use so it had a lot of traffic while we were there. The staff was very helpful and friendly. Being a holiday weekend it was very crowded and very noisy, including a few neighbors without regards to quiet hours. Overall the facilities including bath house are were very nice though I believe the large crowds caused issues with the crew being able to keep up with keeping them clean. The location is very convenient to Townsend and we rode bikes out to explore and get food in the evening. We would definitely go back just probably not on a holiday weekend.


Guide to Robbinsville

Camping near Robbinsville, North Carolina, offers a fantastic escape into nature with stunning views and plenty of outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for everyone.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the beautiful trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One camper mentioned, "We did one of our hikes from our site—the Little River Trail to Cucumber Gap, and it was beautiful."
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. A visitor at Cades Cove Campground shared, "Had numerous sightings of wildlife even in the campground."
  • Fishing: Enjoy fishing in nearby rivers and streams. A reviewer at Davidson River Campground noted, "Great place to just relax and have base camp to many hikes in the area."

What campers like

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the beautiful surroundings. One camper at Elkmont Campground said, "The campground is beautiful and the park rangers were awesome."
  • Clean Facilities: Many appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Greenbrier Campground mentioned, "The bathrooms were amazing."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Campgrounds like Greenbrier offer activities for kids, with one family noting, "There were bounce houses, multiple playgrounds, and a lazy river with a swimming hole!"

What you should know

  • Site Privacy: Many campgrounds have sites that are close together. A camper at Cades Cove Campground pointed out, "Most sites are close together, and there is no brush to divide them."
  • Bear Awareness: Be cautious of bears in the area. A visitor at Cosby Campground shared, "An assertive mother bear and her three cubs showed up at dinner time."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Cosby, do not have drinking water or electric hookups, so plan accordingly.

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. A family at Greenbrier Campground enjoyed the "great individual bathroom/shower, activities, a store, and free Trolley rides into Gatlinburg."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can make things easier. One camper at Davidson River Campground mentioned, "We forgot to bring coffee, so it was great to have the coffee truck 5 mins away."
  • Plan for Outdoor Fun: Bring games and outdoor toys. A camper at Tallulah Gorge State Park Campground noted, "The campground is more small RV friendly due to narrow roads, but there are lots of hiking trails."

Tips from RVers

Camping near Robbinsville, North Carolina, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, with plenty of campgrounds offering unique experiences. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or just relaxing, there's something for everyone in this beautiful area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Robbinsville, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, Robbinsville, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 796 campgrounds and RV parks near Robbinsville, NC and 63 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Robbinsville, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Robbinsville, NC is Cades Cove Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 98 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Robbinsville, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 63 free dispersed camping spots near Robbinsville, NC.

What parks are near Robbinsville, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 parks near Robbinsville, NC that allow camping, notably Croatan National Forest and Nantahala National Forest.