Camping near Tusquitee National Forest

Looking for the best campgrounds near Tusquitee National Forest, NC? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that North Carolina camping has to offer. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your North Carolina camping adventure.

Best Camping Sites Near Tusquitee National Forest (671)

    1. Murphy/Peace Valley KOA

    8 Reviews
    Murphy, NC
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 837-6223

    "They have worked hard to upgrade the campground which is surrounded by a river. There is a large dog run area, playground, pool in season and close proximity to the town of Murphy. Beautiful area."

    "This is a great family site and it is fairly quiet, so if you are like me and you camp to GET AWAY from noise and drama, then this is the place!!"

    2. Vogel State Park Campground

    67 Reviews
    Suches, GA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 745-2628

    $30 - $260 / night

    "Vogel State Park was perfectly situated along Hwy 19 in the north Georgia mountains for an easy spot for the night."

    "This was a great stop close to the water. Between Blood Mountain and Neels Gap, we camped for two nights at different sites. Both were primitive, non-shelter sites."

    3. Indian Boundary

    28 Reviews
    Tallassee, TN
    20 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."

    4. Peachtree Cove RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Marble, NC
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 557-2722

    $59 - $69 / night

    "Shopping is close yet still tucked away nicely in the NC mountains."

    "I informed the staff, Hana and she and her brother came to assess the situation."

    5. Persimmon Creek RV Park

    6 Reviews
    Culberson, NC
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 644-5800

    $55 - $900 / night

    "This is a beautiful secluded site just off of Highway 64/74 not too far from the Tennessee border. The campground is very well kept and has wonderful amenities for both RV and tent campers."

    "I don't have a huge point of reference, but I can give you details on everything that was smooth

    • Location - Just off a 4 lane highway.  Convenient with easy access to your site. "

    6. Morganton Point Campground

    17 Reviews
    Morganton, GA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 374-1645

    $26 - $50 / night

    "Camped on lot 14 which was quite spacious with easy access to the water. Tent was located away from the fire pit and picnic table and the restrooms were close by."

    "We were right next to the camp host, which was pretty nice – we didn’t have to go far to ask for wood or ice!  Plus, there were trails leading right to the lake. "

    7. Trackrock Campground & Cabins

    22 Reviews
    Blairsville, GA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 745-2420

    "Good sized campground tucked into the mountains. I brought my dog with me and had a great time. There is a lake that you can fish in, stables to ride horses, and hiking trails on the campground."

    "CAMPGROUND REVIEW

    As I was walking around the campground the word roughstic came to mInd. The road in was rough, the campsite was nice enough but somewhat minimal and the decor rustic."

    8. Jackrabbit Mountain

    14 Reviews
    Hayesville, NC
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 837-5152

    $20 - $40 / night

    "Located on Lake Chatuge in both North Carolina and Georgia, you can ride right to the biking trails or launch your paddleboard right from your lakeside site.  "

    "Parking is right above the steps that go down to the tent pad. This site has direct water access for swimming and fishing. This particular site has no shade between noon and 4."

    9. Panther Top Dispersed Site

    2 Reviews
    Tusquitee National Forest, NC
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 837-5152

    "We also hiked up to a nearby fire tower and it was a fun little hike. 10/10 will be returning.

    (I just got a new drone and I made a fun little video of the campsite and the hike we did.)"

    "Great spot right on the little lake. You can hear the gun range from the Camp Spot, but it is barely noticeable. There are two main spots right on the lake that are set up for tent camping."

    10. Rivers Edge Mountain RV Resort

    3 Reviews
    Culberson, NC
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 361-4517
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Recent Reviews near Tusquitee National Forest

2265 Reviews of 671 Tusquitee National Forest Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • Suzanne-Will C.
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Woodring Branch Primitive Campground — Carters Lake

    Great Tent Camping

    I love that this was a tent only camping site (no RVs). The sites were a bit smaller than I would have liked but as it was just the 10 sites on the road, the kids could safely play in the road. The water was by the toilets at the entrance but easily walkable from the sites.

  • 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.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Corbin Creek Tray Mountain

    Best off grid camping

    This is by far my favorite place we’ve been off grid camping. It’s more Jeep friendly than full size vehicles, to get a spot down by the creek. But it is possible to get a full size 4*4 truck down the switch back.

  • Doug S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Persimmon Creek RV Park

    Beautiful Little Camp Ground

    Persimmon Creek is a beautiful and peaceful place. The owner is very friendly and helpful. It is centrally located to some great attractions.

  • VThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Mountaineer Campground

    Pleasant Stay

    Lovely campground on the river and close to amenities. Biking, hiking, tubing, swimming. My favorite experience here has been the pavilion prayer and fellowship on Sunday mornings hosted by Charm ministry volunteers. Very casual with lots of singing and great conversation in a very positive and welcoming atmosphere. The bathrooms and showers were kept very clean as well as the laundry and pool area. The camp hosts were very helpful and work hard to keep the above clean. The campground offers a 50% discount on a 28-day stay which I took advantage of. They allowed me to stay an extra 28 days due to my dog passing away so I could wait for his remains. They were very understanding, thoughtful and gracious during this sad time for me and I am very grateful to the management and hosts for the time, space and respect they extended to me July & August.

  • A
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Chilhowee

    Clean areas

    Bathrooms always clean. It’s pretty family friendly with adult supervision. Great views and scenery. Swimming lake.

  • J
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Hickey Gap (Cohutta WMA)

    Beautiful and Quiet

    My girls group and I wanted to do a quick weekend glamping trip. One long rocky road and an active bear warning later we were rocking it by the creek. Bring a bathing suit and some good hiking shoes. There’s a giant waterfall down the trail if you can make the trek. There’s no cell service or security so make sure you’re making safe decisions :)


Guide to Tusquitee National Forest

Camping near Tusquitee National Forest, North Carolina, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the numerous trails in the area. Many campers rave about the hiking opportunities, with one reviewer noting, "The area is very beautiful and a hiker's paradise. Several trails and waterfalls, for example, the AT, are nearby."
  • Fishing: Enjoy fishing in the nearby lakes and rivers. Campers have mentioned, "The dock and the fishing were very nice and great areas to go boating close by."
  • Swimming: Some campgrounds have access to swimming areas. One visitor shared, "The beach area is great with a beautiful Mountain View."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and campsites. A reviewer said about Moccasin Creek State Park Campground, "The bathrooms are extremely clean. There are super nice camp hosts and volunteers that make sure everything is top-notch."
  • Friendly Staff: Many campgrounds have helpful staff. One camper at Indian Boundary mentioned, "The staff are super friendly at the camp store. They helped us stay up to date on the forecast since we were staying in a tent with two young children."
  • Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings. A visitor at Chilhowee Recreation Area noted, "The views are killer! You won't be disappointed!"

What you should know:

  • Narrow Roads: Some campgrounds have narrow access roads. A camper at Vogel State Park Campground mentioned, "Roads are smooth but narrow in some places."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full hookups or extensive facilities. One reviewer at Gee Creek Campground said, "The campground itself is kind of lame—there is plenty to do outside of it."
  • Crowded During Peak Times: Some campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. A visitor at Abrams Creek Campground noted, "The place was packed on the Sunday we stayed there."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds for kids. One family at Gee Creek Campground said, "The kids loved the playground, and the fairytale story walk."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Choose campgrounds that offer activities for all ages. A reviewer at Unicoi State Park & Lodge mentioned, "Nice hiking trails from the campground. Ruby Falls was so beautiful—highly recommend."
  • Safety: Keep an eye on the kids, especially in busy campgrounds. One camper at Thunder Rock Campground advised, "The loops where the tent sites are can be quite busy, so keep an eye on the kiddos."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the campground's site sizes. A reviewer at Indian Boundary noted, "If you’re around 40’, you’ll fit—but anything over probably would not."
  • Reservations: Make reservations ahead of time, especially on weekends. A camper at Chilhowee Recreation Area said, "Make reservations online as it fills up on the weekends."
  • Electric Hookups: Look for campgrounds with electric hookups if needed. One RV traveler at Thunder Rock Campground mentioned, "The shower house is always clean, and for $15, it is a great deal."

Camping near Tusquitee National Forest, North Carolina, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Tusquitee National Forest?

According to TheDyrt.com, Tusquitee National Forest offers a wide range of camping options, with 671 campgrounds and RV parks near Tusquitee National Forest and 62 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Tusquitee National Forest?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Tusquitee National Forest is Murphy/Peace Valley KOA with a 5-star rating from 8 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Tusquitee National Forest?

What parks are near Tusquitee National Forest?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 23 parks near Tusquitee National Forest that allow camping, notably Croatan National Forest and Nantahala National Forest.