Map showing campground location near Benton, Tennessee

Chilhowee

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Hiking to Benton Falls, swimming in a mountaintop lake, and riding trails through Cherokee National Forest are the main draws at Chilhowee, a US Forest Service campground set atop a mountain ridge near Benton in southeastern Tennessee. Getting there requires a 7.5-mile climb up a winding mountain road, and reviewers consistently flag it as a tough pull for travel trailers. Once at the top, though, campers find shaded sites, a small swimming lake, and trail access within walking distance of several loops.

The campground has a well-maintained feel. Bathrooms draw repeated praise for cleanliness, and the bathhouse includes warm showers. Sites in Loop C start at $12 per night, and reviewers note the sites are generally level and well-spaced. The campground is not gated, which is worth noting: one reviewer had a mountain bike stolen during their stay and recommends securing gear carefully. Verizon service reportedly works well here, which is a useful detail for campers who need connectivity.

Benton Falls is the standout hike, a waterfall trail that draws visitors across seasons, with wildflowers reported in spring. A swimming area with a small lake sits a short drive from the campsites and gets steady use in summer. The Ocoee River, known for whitewater rafting, is accessible within a reasonable drive, as is the Hiwassee for tubing. "The frogs just lulled us to sleep," notes Emerald M., describing a July stay. Mountain biking trails are accessible directly from camp.

RV campers should note a practical detail flagged by multiple reviewers: water hookups are not available at individual RV sites. Nathan G. clarifies, "the RV sites do not have water hook-ups at each site," but a fill station is available at the campground entrance. Electric hookups are available at select sites. The Chilhowee Recreation Area sits just to the north and offers additional camping options in the same mountain complex.

Reservations are available and worth booking ahead for summer weekends, when the swimming area and waterfall trail see the most traffic.

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Map & DirectionsChilhowee is located in Tennessee near Benton

Public Campground

Coordinates

35.15142775 N
84.60816174 W

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Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More

T-Mobile
No Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 4/23/26
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 8/21/26

Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More

T-Mobile
No Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 4/23/26
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 8/21/26

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Dispersed
Group
Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Phone Service
Reservable
Showers
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Make reservation

Drive Time

24 min from Cleveland, TN
47 min from Chattanooga, TN
1 hr 20 min from Knoxville, TN
1 hr 37 min from Rome, GA

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Reviews12 Camper Reviews - Chilhowee

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.5

out of 5

12 Reviews

Visitors repeatedly highlighted the shaded, well-maintained sites and friendly long-term hosts. Clean facilities and peaceful atmosphere were common positives, though the challenging 7.5-mile uphill drive requires preparation for RVs.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Amber C.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 27, 2025

Clean areas

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

Sitemultiple D loop sites

Month of VisitAugust

(4) View All

Emerald M.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 15, 2025

Lovely campgrounds

We had a great stay at a $12 campsite in Loop C! The bath house was very nice and the showers were warm! We even took a dip at the swimming area just a short drive from the campsite and loved that too! The best part was how quiet it all got after dark and the frogs just lulled us to sleep.

Sitec 34

Month of VisitJuly

(5) View All

Shanna S.

Traveler

Reviewed Nov. 27, 2022

Beautiful Waterfall

The campsite was clean, and our site was a good distance from other campers. The campground has a nice hike to Benton Falls which is beautiful.

Site50

Month of VisitOctober

Sean7

Traveler

Reviewed Nov. 11, 2021

Great place for summer camping!

The nearby pond/lake is perfect for summertime swimming. This area is well maintained and absolutely beautiful! A good choice for anyone.

Month of VisitJune

Tyler J.

Ranger

Reviewed Mar. 19, 2020

Beautiful view of TN/NC hills

Wonderful camping spot. Definitely would recommend to a friend. One of my top "go-to" spots. There is wonderful mountain biking easily accessible from the camp and world class white water rapids within only a few miles drive

Grant B.

Traveler

Reviewed Sep. 15, 2019

Great Time

Had a pleasant stay. Lots of good hiking and fresh air. Bring your own firewood!

Nathan G.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 13, 2019

Awesome CampGround - Worth the Drive

There is definitely a long drive (7 Mile) uphill to the campground, but it is definitely worth the drive. The camp hosts (which have been there for 16+ years) were awesome and very friendly.

NOTE: the RV sites do not have water hook-ups at each site. There is a water hook up to fill your tank as you enter the campsite area. Fill your tank and you are good to go.

Unfortunately, we did not make the hike to the Benton falls but we will certainly be back and plan to hike it.

SiteE48

Month of VisitAugust

(7) View All

Grant B.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 8, 2019

Very laid back

Great hiking trails. A handful of great views. The waterfall is breathtaking and a great photo opportunity. Nobody works here basically so this is a great place to have some privacy out in the woods with a bathroom nearby. We stayed at F-58 and had a great time with a couple trail heads nearby!

Joel R.

Legend

Reviewed Apr. 12, 2019

Camping on top of a mountain

There is a long road up the side of the mountain to get to the campground, which is a tough pull for campers. But, on top is a nice camping area with lots of views. The spot we got was level and had water and electric. We just missed an even nicer site because we got lost on the drive there. Waterfall hike was beautiful with wildflowers. Whitewater rafting not too far away on the Ocoee River.

(5) View All

Melinda C.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 16, 2018

3.5: pros and cons

Pros: beautiful scenery, waterfall, small beach/lake area, wonderfully shaded lots, amazing camp hosts and friendly neighbors, many returning/local campers with great advice, hiking, biking. Hiwassee rafting/tubing about 30-40 min away. Great Verizon service.

Cons: it is not gated and one of our mountain bikes was stolen. if we go back we will definitely secure our things better. it is also 7.5 miles up a mountain, not fun to pull up or down with a travel trailer. 30 min drive to anything. more camping options closer to rafting. No water or sewer hookups, but had several community water faucets.

(4) View All

Heather S.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 15, 2018

Views, Falls and Hikes, oh my!

Scenic views the whole drive up, followed by a safe, cozy campground with clean facilities and a great grouping of trails. Bonus: a lake on top of the mountain, where you can float surrounded by sky.

Hike down to Rainbow Falls and follow the unmarked trail beside it up and around to ANOTHER secret set of falls! (Be careful, as this way is treacherous. And older gentlemen had a bad fall up here & I wound up bandaging his broken finger.)

Month of VisitJune

John L.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 14, 2018

Great get away also is home of Benton falls trail

Camp ground hoist are awesome.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do reviews say about Chilhowee Campground?

Chilhowee Campground receives high marks for its beautiful scenery, clean facilities, and friendly camp hosts. Visitors appreciate the wonderfully shaded campsites, hiking trails with breathtaking views, and the small lake/beach area perfect for swimming. The waterfall (Benton Falls) is highlighted as a must-see attraction. Many note the campground's peaceful atmosphere, especially after dark. There's good Verizon cell service available. Some mention the challenging 7-mile uphill drive to reach the campground, though most feel it's worth the effort. The sites offer good spacing and privacy from other campers, creating a cozy, natural camping experience.

Are there RV rentals available at or near Chilhowee Campground in Tennessee?

There are no RV rentals available directly at Chilhowee Campground. The campground does accommodate RVs with electric hookups, though water hookups are not available at individual sites (there is a water filling station). For RV rentals, you'll need to check with rental companies in nearby towns. Be aware that accessing the campground requires a 7-mile uphill drive that can be challenging for larger vehicles. Contact the campground directly or check with RV rental services in the broader Tennessee region for specific options and delivery possibilities.

What facilities and amenities are available at Chilhowee Campground?

Chilhowee Campground offers clean bathrooms with warm showers, water hookups (though not at individual RV sites), and electric hookups. The campground features multiple camping loops including Loop C, with sites priced around $12 per night. Additional amenities include a small beach/lake area perfect for swimming, numerous hiking and biking trails, and stunning scenic views. There's also a beautiful waterfall (Benton Falls) accessible via a nice hiking trail from the campground. The sites are well-shaded, and the campground is maintained by friendly camp hosts who have been there for many years.

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