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Tent Camping near Afton, TN

5 campgrounds with availability this weekend

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    Tent camping options near Afton, Tennessee range from established campgrounds to primitive sites in nearby forests and along scenic waterways. Paint Creek Corridor offers tent sites along a creek within Cherokee National Forest, with both established and primitive options. The Round Knob Campground provides basic tent sites along the Appalachian Trail, while Bald Mountains area offers more remote tent camping with impressive views.

    Many tent sites in the region feature basic facilities with varying levels of accessibility. Paint Creek Corridor includes some sites with picnic tables and vault toilets, though amenities are limited. Several campers note that signage can be confusing, with one visitor stating, "There are several spots along the road that may have been for dispersed camping at some point but are now clearly marked with no camping signs." Most tent areas allow pets and campfires where permitted, though firewood gathering policies vary by location. The nearby Rocky Fork State Park offers hike-in tent camping options with primitive conditions and limited facilities, ideal for those seeking a more backcountry experience.

    The tent camping experience in the Afton area provides access to natural attractions and outdoor recreation. Sites near waterways like the French Broad River and Paint Creek offer opportunities for fishing, wading, and paddling directly from camp. Higher elevation tent sites in the Bald Mountains area deliver panoramic views, though they require more effort to access. A visitor commented that the Bald Mountains area has "best views on the east coast" but advises preparation for potentially crowded conditions during peak times. Tent campers should be prepared for variable weather conditions year-round, with summer offering warmer temperatures while spring and fall provide more moderate conditions with fewer crowds at most primitive tent camping areas.

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Afton (74)

      1. Hot Springs Campground

      4.4(29)21mi from AftonRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Situated along the beautiful French Broad River."

      "Beautiful campground with great campstore right at the entrance that sells everything. Large campsites with great privacy foliage, picnic tables, & fire rings."

      2. Bald Mountains

      5.0(1)12mi from AftonTents

      3. Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

      4.5(71)40mi from Afton160 sitesTents

      "Cosby is a small town about a 45 minute easy drive from Gatlinburg. Heavily wooded, lends itself nicely to hammock camping."

      "Most of the sites are better suited to tent campers, though a few of them are designated RV sites offering a back-in parking pad."

      from $50 / night

      Check Availability

      4. Round Knob Campground

      2.0(1)9mi from AftonTents

      5. USA Raft Adventure Resort

      4.0(3)18mi from AftonTents, Cabins, Glamping

      6. Creek Ridge Camping

      4.8(4)22mi from AftonTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "This campsite is in the mountains so be prepared for amazing views and a steep drive up to the office to check in. We stayed in the Pavilion and loved it!"

      "Lovely spot near the hot springs but it's for sale now"

      from $15 - $40 / night

      Check Availability

      7. Rocky Fork State Park Campground

      2.0(1)14mi from Afton4 sitesTents

      Available this weekend

      4 Sites Available

      8. Paint Creek Corridor

      4.0(1)18mi from AftonTents

      "There is a paid campground in the area which is $10 and offers vault toilets and nice sites. If you drive past that there are parking and picnic areas along the road that have “no camping” signs."

      9. Sunny Hills Farm & Camp

      Be the first to review5mi from Afton2 sitesTents

      from $10 - $20 / night

      Check Availability

      10. Gnome Hollow at Dixon Hill Farms, LLC

      Be the first to review5mi from Afton1 siteTents

      Available this weekend

      from $40 - $70 / night

      1 Site Available

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    Tent Camping Reviews near Afton, TN

    1441 Reviews of 74 Afton Campgrounds

    • Windy W.
      Oct. 23, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Beautiful Place, Ugly host, Oct 2026

      Let me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time.   With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price

    • a
      Oct. 23, 2026

      Lake Powhatan Glamping — National Forests In North Carolina

      This place is a nice campground, quiet and the guests (during our stay) respect others by keeping the noise down. The spaces are set up to maximize privacy between sites. There is no cell phone service (to do this report we are in a picnic area by a small lake and I can get cell as well as internet on my travelfi device) sos is the only access. I normally listen to audio books but not while here. On my computer I could see three others with low signals; they might have had a better device/provider. The spots tend to the small back in typically found in campsites built before RVs got really big, type. There is another camping area I haven’t been to yet and I did see a large over lander (looks indestructible and tall/long) towable head that way and the campground attendant didn’t predict any problems so perhaps there are larger spots elsewhere. This place has single person shower rooms and nice flush toilets. The whole place is set in woodland so it isn’t like a commercial RV place that was more concerned with volume over aesthetics. This is a lovely spot with ample amenities (my space had no hookups) for our type of camping (toilets, trash, quiet neighbors, semi private spaces) just zero phone or internet.

    • M
      Oct. 22, 2026

      Winngray Family Campground

      Great family run campground

      This campground has a great location in maggie valley, close to Waynesville with plenty to do in close proximity. While it is a traditional campground, they have very competitive rates for weekly and monthly stays. For us its the perfect getaway destination for the summers and fall. The staff is super welcomming and friendly. You find a cute creek on the backside of of the campground with trout as some fisherman told me. The staff takes pride in all the flowers, landscaping and seasonal decorations. Also nice to know is you are not being looked down to with an older camper. As long as your rig is decent and functional you are admitted.

    • Bonnie H.
      Oct. 21, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Kylie T & Andrew W. Review not accurate

      My husband and I arrived at Doe River Landing for 3 nights and enjoyed everything the resort offered. While there we read the 2 reviews posted by Kylie T, and by Andrew W, who gave the resort a 1 star rating. Not knowing the facts that caused the rating by them, and occurred prior to us, we approach the owner and asked.

      The owner showed us videos from their security cameras. These adults has stated in Kylie T review and confirm by Andrew W review that they were a group of 20 adults and "every single one of us is over 21 and family". So why are these adults playing "hide and seek" under the pavilion as they stated? Andrew W stated, "It was not blocked off", yet they had to crawl on the ground and around bushes to get under the pavilion. When the owner yelled at them approximately 10 adults that were under the pavilion crawled out which was captured on the security cameras. Andrew W stated in his review the owner called them hooligans, which is rowdy, destructive persons and from the security cameras, that description is correct. There was no mention of damages in their reviews such as the Adirondack chair they broke or possible damage to the water pipes and electric wires under the pavilion, which the owner was currently checking.

      Once we read these two reviews by Kylie T and Andrew W and saw the owners security videos, we felt future customers deserved to know another opinion based on our findings.

      These entitled adults justified their review of a 1 star by stating they paid money to use the campground.

      I would ask these adults "why do you think it is OK to treat someone else's property in this destructive way?"

    • SThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 21, 2026

      Spacious Skies Bear Den

      Seems to be a well established campground in an off the beaten path location. Roads alternately paved and gravel. The campsite is gravel in a wooded setting. Fair amount of space between sites. The bathhouse is clean but dated.

    • Kyle T.
      Oct. 20, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Unprofessional hosts that ruins a place with good potential

      We brought our whole family out and rented almost every cabin on the property, plus the event center, for the weekend— we gave this place a lot of business. And honestly, the stay itself was great— nice place, no complaints about the cabins. The owner is the problem. He came flying in in his blue F-150 doing 20–30 mph where the posted speed limit is 5, and started screaming at us over something that could've been handled with a simple conversation. His exact words:"Where are your parents? This is a family establishment. I will not have hooligans running around here." Every single one of us is over 21 and family. All we were doing was playing hide and seek— which isn't against any of the property's rules— and there were no other guests to disturb, since we had the entire area rented. He still threatened to call the police, even though it wasn't even quiet hours. Before anyone could get a word in, he peeled out so fast the gravel sprayed up at us and our cars. Then on his way out he drove the wrong way down the property's one-way road, so apparently the rules only apply to guests. It's sad, because the property itself is great, and we were never anything but nice to the owners the whole weekend. To be treated in such an unprofessional manner— screamed at, threatened, and never given so much as an apology afterward— put a real dent in the weekend. We won't be back

    • A
      Oct. 20, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Beautiful place ruined by unprofessional ownership

      Our group of about 20 rented nearly every cabin at Doe River Landing for my friend's wedding weekend, with the reception held on site. The cabins were nice and well-equipped, and the only other guests were in a cabin half a mile away through the woods. Unfortunately, the hosts ruined the stay. One night, some of us were playing hide and seek in an area that wasn't blocked off or against any rule. The host's husband came speeding in at roughly 30 mph(the posted limit is 5), jumped out of his truck screaming that he"will not have child hooligans running around the campground," told us to"go back to the motel we crawled out of," and demanded to see our parents— despite all of us being adults in our twenties. He then peeled out so aggressively he sprayed gravel at us and our cars. It wasn't even quiet hours, and we weren't disturbing anyone. Afterward, the host called us again, passive-aggressive, and questioned our ages— even though you have to be 21 just to rent a cabin there. The property is lovely, but the hosts' behavior put a real damper on what should have been a joyful wedding celebration. It's a shame they treat people paying good money this way. We won't be back.

    • April V.
      Oct. 11, 2026

      Lakeview RV Resort

      Nice little campground

      Clean nice little campground for the weekend.

    Guide to Afton

    Tent camping opportunities around Afton, Tennessee extend through multiple mountain ranges with elevations between 1,200 and 4,800 feet. The region sits within a temperate rainforest ecosystem receiving up to 75 inches of annual rainfall. Most primitive sites lack cell service and require sturdy tents capable of withstanding sudden mountain storms that can develop with little warning.

    What to do

    Mineral soaking access: Hot Springs Campground provides convenient access to natural hot springs across the street. "Walk to spa for soak in hot tub!!" notes Roxanne R., while Karen P. adds that "Spa with hot spring hot tubs [is] across the street."

    Trail access: Cosby Campground connects directly to multiple hiking routes. "There is a Mount Cammerer Trailhead right there, which is a fabulous hike," says Jessica L. Molly K. confirms, "Several wonderful hikes right out of the campground."

    River activities: Hot Springs Campground sits directly on the French Broad River, facilitating water recreation. Grant D. states, "Can play on the French broad river and then take a soak in the hot mineral tubs!" Tra C. notes, "The tents sites along the river were great."

    What campers like

    Solitude and space: USA Raft Adventure Resort offers riverside camping with certain drawbacks. Jay J. notes, "The only downside is that the campsites are on top of each other. If your looking for privacy, this isn't the place."

    Water proximity: Creek Ridge Camping places campers near moving water. Mickey L. appreciated "Stayed 20 feet from the water on a holiday weekend!" while Jennifer Z. describes the experience: "You could here the rush of the water At night while sleeping. So dreamy."

    Uncrowded camping: Cosby Campground remains less busy than other park campgrounds. Janine B. explains it "rareIy fills up, allowing for the opportunity to pick your site when you get there." Tricia L. confirms, "Arrived close to dark and had our pick of gorgeous, wooded sites- even on a weekend in July."

    What you should know

    Limited amenities: Rocky Fork State Park offers primitive camping conditions. Meridith M. explains, "Backpacking only, gorgeous scenery, primitive... Portable toilet is maintained at the parking lot."

    Dispersed camping restrictions: Paint Creek Corridor has confusing signage for dispersed camping. Rachel D. warns, "If you drive past that there are parking and picnic areas along the road that have 'no camping' signs."

    Weather preparation: Tent campers in Afton need all-season gear. Temperature swings of 30°F between day and night occur regularly in spring and fall, with afternoon thunderstorms common June through August.

    Tips for camping with families

    Educational opportunities: Creek Ridge Camping offers child-friendly exploration. Jennifer Z. shares, "The campground was but bigger than it appears on their map and just so fun. I spent one morning just hiking around the campgrounds. I felt like a kid again!"

    Accessible water play: Several sites offer safe water access for supervised children. Round Knob Campground provides basic amenities with creek access, though Sheree N. cautions, "Shelter and picnic tables. Oh and a bathroom."

    Varied accommodation options: Some campgrounds offer alternatives to tent camping. USA Raft Adventure Resort provides multiple options as Shelly S. describes: "I van camped, a Bell Tent, Avion camper, Geodome, and mini house was rented."

    Tips from RVers

    Site selection caution: Hot Springs Campground has limited higher-amp sites. Sonya A. advises, "Only 3 fifty amp full hook up sites. Lots of 30 amp and tent camping."

    Access considerations: Many tent camping areas near Afton have steep, narrow roads unsuitable for larger vehicles. Most tent-focused campgrounds lack pull-through sites and have tight turning radiuses under 25 feet.

    Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds operate seasonally. Cosby Campground runs "mid April - mid October" according to park information, while Creek Ridge Camping operates "April 1st - November 1st."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Afton, TN?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Afton, TN is Hot Springs Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Afton, TN?

    TheDyrt.com has all 74 tent camping locations near Afton, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.