Best Campgrounds near Afton, TN

Afton, Tennessee and its surrounding areas provide multiple campground options ranging from developed facilities to riverside sites. Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park Campground offers full hookup sites for both tents and RVs along the Nolichucky River, with access to hiking trails, a swimming pool, and historical attractions. Other notable facilities include Horse Creek Recreation Area, which provides more primitive camping experiences, and Lazy Llama Campground, situated on a working llama farm with 42 sites. For those seeking cabin accommodations, Big Oak Family Farm and Nolichucky Gorge Campground provide options beyond traditional tent and RV camping.

Camping in this region is generally available year-round at facilities like Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park, though some sites like Horse Creek Recreation Area operate seasonally from May to October. Many campgrounds provide amenities including bathhouses, electric hookups, and water access, though availability varies by location. Road access to some areas requires careful navigation through the rolling East Tennessee countryside with hills and turns. As one visitor noted, "The drive to the site is off the main road with hills and turns but with the scenery along the way, you won't mind."

Riverside camping represents a significant draw for visitors to the Afton area. The Nolichucky River provides both scenic views and recreational opportunities, with multiple campgrounds situated along its banks. Campers frequently mention the peaceful atmosphere as a highlight of their experience. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "We had an excellent time at Davy Crockett Birthplace. Very clean facilities. Friendly staff and quick check-in." While some campgrounds like Lazy Llama are described as "small, cozy" with good Wi-Fi connections, others offer more natural settings with fewer amenities. For families, several reviewers note that Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park provides kid-friendly activities including playgrounds, historical demonstrations, and access to the river, though swimming is not recommended in the Nolichucky due to dangerous conditions.

Best Camping Sites Near Afton, Tennessee (349)

    1. Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Chuckey, TN
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 257-2167

    $14 - $32 / night

    "Large swimming pool, TONS of historical events around, hiking & river walks. Super clean and new bath houses as well. Honors Tennessee state discounts. If possible make reservations online."

    "The drive in follows the TN “Sunnyside Early Country Trail” through picturesque farmland with mountains in the near distance. Do your shopping before arrival, there’s nothing close to the park."

    2. Baileyton KOA Holiday

    15 Reviews
    Ducktown, TN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 234-4992

    "Conveniently located close to highway 81 and town!"

    "Even though it's very close to the interstate, it was very quiet. We had a full hook up site, relatively level. It had a picnic table and fire ring."

    3. Hot Springs Campground

    29 Reviews
    Hot Springs, NC
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 622-7676

    "With mountains in the distance and the constant rush of the French Broad River, the setting is awesome. Even the occasional train whistle gives me a feeling of nostalgia and of simple days."

    "The bathhouse (clean private showers and private bathrooms) was a 1/4 mile walk from our spot, but a Porta John was close by. Our particular spot had a lot of shade and easy access to the river."

    4. Horse Creek Recreation Area

    5 Reviews
    Afton, TN
    7 miles
    Website

    $10 / night

    "Having both RV and tent campgrounds, each with large fire pits and lantern stands, this peaceful creekside setting lies just beyond low mountain farms in the northern part of Greene County Tennessee."

    "Nice trails."

    5. Around Pond RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Greeneville, TN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 234-0229

    "Did a couple of days at Around the Pond Campground in Greenville Tennessee.( mtns.) It was a awesome trip with our friends Ronni Herold& Dean."

    "Close to highway."

    6. Katy Branch

    4 Reviews
    Erwin, TN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 638-4109

    $75 / night

    "Very close to many trails. Clean showers and bathrooms. Loved it."

    "Came to stay at this campground because we wanted to do some hiking nearby that we haven't done in FOREVER!"

    7. Lazy Llama Campground

    2 Reviews
    Chuckey, TN
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 330-5665

    $48 - $52 / night

    8. Nolichucky Gorge Campground

    12 Reviews
    Erwin, TN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 743-8876

    "Nolichucky Gorge is right next to USA Raft, same road, same entrance to the left. Veteran owned and well maintained. The staff is friendly and professional. River view sites, other sites and cabins."

    "This is a great spot located right next to USA Raft. There are a handful of tent only riverside camping spots with RV sites set back from the river."

    9. Big Oak Family Farm

    1 Review
    Limestone, TN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (904) 894-9406

    $95 - $129 / night

    10. Old Forge Recreation Area

    2 Reviews
    Afton, TN
    8 miles
    Website

    $7 / night

    "Good trails along the rolling hills and creeks. Very simple rustic site with very little facilities. Pros: very wooded and private large campsites, babbling creek, outhouses."

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Recent Reviews near Afton, TN

1555 Reviews of 349 Afton Campgrounds


  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Around Pond RV Park

    Nice stop

    nice stop off interstate, about 1 mile easy pull thru, during week stop, was quiet, peaceful, little traffic noise through nite. pond area, chickens, ducks, swans.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Wilson's Riverfront RV Park

    September stay

    Grass on lots high, nice concrete spots, full hookup in good shape.

  • 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.

  • Bailey R.
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Cardens Bluff Campground

    Lake side camping

    This relaxing little camp site has such pretty spacious camp site. We went day of in September and found a spot on the lake no problem. Do bring cash as it’s cash only if you pay the day you show up. Camp host were super nice and the price was wonderful. There weren’t as many bathrooms as I would have liked due to most being worked on. There is really good cell service on the camp site.

  • Mary D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Roan Mountain State Park Campground

    New Favorite Campground

    This is my new favorite campground! There are trees everywhere and there really isn't a bad spot! Some sites were right on the creek (sites 40 and 41 were great). The tent camping area is beautiful and one of the best I've seen. We were at site 9, one of the only pull-through sites. We had water and electric and some sites have FHU. There are a lot of beautiful hikes in the area. No cell service, but there is (slow) wifi throughout the campground. There is a Verizon hotspot to make calls, but I couldn't connect with US Cellular. We will definitely be back!

  • Theresa S.
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Lake Haven Family Campground

    Stayed for the location, Left because of the owners

    As a retired Air Force couple with over five years of experience as full-time RVers, we have stayed at countless campgrounds across the country. We selected Lake Haven for an extended stay this past July while searching for a permanent home in the Lake Watauga area, drawn by its advertisement for year-round availability. The location is excellent, and our site was level with full hookups, a nice picnic table, and a fire pit. Maneuvering into the spot was also straightforward, despite some large boulders. Two concerns: no owners or host(s) onsite and the entrance/exits can be quite dangerous- each located on a curve. We really wanted to love this campground, but the positive aspects were completely overshadowed by the unprofessional behavior of the owners. The tone was set when we received a campground-wide text message asking“Please, for our sake, when away from your camper, set your AC temp to something reasonable(75 is what I use at my house when not home), to help us save on electricity”. While we understand the concern for costs, the request felt invasive. Then it got personal. In the first week of August, our daughter and her family were renting the on-site(3 bed/3 bath) Airbnb, and after she inquired about more toilet paper, one of the owners came to our RV site to confront us about it. We were shocked that a necessity for a rental guest was treated as a major issue, and the confrontational approach was completely uncalled for and made us feel extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, we later learned from other campers that the owners had been gossiping about our family and our stay. This was a major violation of our privacy and fostered a deeply unwelcoming atmosphere. While the physical campground has potential, we cannot recommend it. Feeling safe and respected is essential when you are camping, and due to the owners’ intrusive and unprofessional behavior, we decided to seek out another campground.

  • Shane N.
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Camp Stonefly

    Great small peacefully time

    Me and wife passing through. Stayed over weekend loved it

  • Gary S.
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Lake Haven Family Campground

    Stayed for the Location, Left because of the Owners

    As a retired Air Force couple with over five years of experience as full-time RVers, we have stayed at countless campgrounds across the country. We selected Lake Haven for an extended stay this past July while searching for a permanent home in the Lake Watauga area, drawn by its advertisement for year-round availability. The location is excellent, and our site was level with full hookups, a nice picnic table, and a fire pit. Maneuvering into the spot was also straightforward, despite some large boulders. Two concerns: no owners or host(s) onsite and the entrance/exits can be quite dangerous- each located on a curve. We really wanted to love this campground, but the positive aspects were completely overshadowed by the unprofessional behavior of the owners. The tone was set when we received a campground-wide text message asking“Please, for our sake, when away from your camper, set your AC temp to something reasonable(75 is what I use at my house when not home), to help us save on electricity”. While we understand the concern for costs, the request felt invasive. Then it got personal. In the first week of August, our daughter and her family were renting the on-site(3 bed/3 bath) Airbnb, and after she inquired about more toilet paper, one of the owners came to our RV site to confront us about it. We were shocked that a necessity for a rental guest was treated as a major issue, and the confrontational approach was completely uncalled for and made us feel extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, we later learned from other campers that the owners had been gossiping about our family and our stay. This was a major violation of our privacy and fostered a deeply unwelcoming atmosphere. While the physical campground has potential, we cannot recommend it. Feeling safe and respected is essential when you are camping, and due to the owners’ intrusive and unprofessional behavior, we decided to seek out another campground.

  • Robert N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Campfire Lodgings

    Tent camping

    Tent camping sites are walk in, down hill, obviously thar means hauling your stuff out uphill when you leave. RVers have a great view from the ridge top. But a difficult day camping is far better than any day at work.


Guide to Afton

Camping near Afton, Tennessee, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Roan Mountain State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "The hiking is awesome. We hiked a trail that weaves through NC and TN."
  • Fishing: Enjoy fishing opportunities at Warriors' Path State Park Main Campground. A visitor shared, "Park rangers provided good local knowledge for anglers."
  • River Activities: Check out Hot Springs Campground for river rafting and tubing. One reviewer noted, "The campground sits right on the French Broad River, which is beautiful and wide."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park Campground. A visitor said, "Very clean facilities. Friendly staff and quick check-in."
  • Friendly Staff: Many enjoy the helpfulness of the staff at Baileyton KOA Holiday. One camper mentioned, "The camp hosts were very kind and friendly."
  • Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings at Big Creek Campground. A review stated, "You are surrounded by the magical sounds of rushing water."

What you should know:

  • Reservations Needed: Make sure to book ahead at Natural Tunnel State Park Campground. A camper noted, "Reservations are essential, and this caught us off guard."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Cardens Bluff Campground, have fewer amenities. A visitor mentioned, "Bathrooms were nothing to write home about, but functional."
  • Crowded on Weekends: Expect busier conditions at Hot Springs Campground during weekends. One reviewer said, "It started to get crowded during the weekend."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds, like Warriors' Path State Park Main Campground. A camper shared, "They have a full docket of activities, ranger-led hikes, games, crafts, and wildlife lectures."
  • Spacious Sites: Choose campgrounds with larger sites, such as Panther Creek State Park Campground. One visitor noted, "Paved level campsites of varying lengths, so check before reserving."
  • Safety First: Ensure the campground is well-patrolled, like Baileyton KOA Holiday. A camper mentioned, "The park is quiet and well patrolled by rangers and sheriff, so very safe."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Be mindful of site sizes at Warriors' Path State Park Main Campground. A reviewer advised, "Pay attention to the site size as some RVs had issues getting their larger RVs in their sites."
  • Leveling Gear: Bring leveling boards, especially at campgrounds like Panther Creek State Park Campground. One camper noted, "The sites are not 100% level."
  • Laundry Facilities: Look for campgrounds with laundry options, such as Baileyton KOA Holiday. A visitor mentioned, "Shower rooms, laundry room, and store, as well as snack shop!"

Camping near Afton, Tennessee, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Enjoy the great outdoors and make some lasting memories!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Afton, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Afton, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 349 campgrounds and RV parks near Afton, TN and 15 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Afton, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Afton, TN is Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 20 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Afton, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 free dispersed camping spots near Afton, TN.

What parks are near Afton, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 33 parks near Afton, TN that allow camping, notably Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest.