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Best Campgrounds near Alcoa, TN

2,193 Reviews

Alcoa, Tennessee serves as a gateway to several established campgrounds in the eastern Tennessee region. Within a 30-mile radius, campers find options ranging from National Park Service facilities like Cades Cove and Elkmont Campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to private operations such as Southlake RV Park and Little Arrow Outdoor Resort. The accommodation types span traditional tent camping, RV sites with various hookup configurations, cabin rentals, and glamping experiences including yurts. Most developed campgrounds concentrate along the northern boundary of the Smokies and near water features like Melton Hill Reservoir and Fort Loudon Lake, providing different price points and amenity levels for travelers.

Campground operating seasons vary significantly throughout the region, with many National Park facilities open only from March through October. "Many sites are not well developed with power and sewer in odd places," noted one camper about a nearby RV park, highlighting infrastructure limitations at some locations. Weather conditions can affect camping experiences, particularly in shoulder seasons when rainfall increases and temperatures fluctuate. The higher elevation campgrounds in the national park offer cooler summer temperatures but close during winter months. Reservations are strongly recommended for weekend stays during peak season (May-September), as campgrounds report consistently high occupancy rates. Cell service remains limited in the mountainous areas but improves near Knoxville and Alcoa.

Waterfront access represents a sought-after feature among campgrounds in the region. Sites overlooking lakes and rivers typically command premium prices but provide enhanced recreation opportunities. One camper described their lakefront site as having "beautiful views" despite some infrastructure challenges. Campgrounds like Southlake RV Park offer direct lake access for fishing and kayaking from tent sites, though some visitors mention road noise as a drawback during weekday mornings. The quiet western side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Townsend provides a less congested alternative to the busier Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas. Most mixed-use campgrounds in the region accommodate both weekend visitors and longer-term stays, creating varied camping atmospheres depending on location and management style.

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Best Camping Sites Near Alcoa, Tennessee (448)

    1. Cades Cove Campground

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

    $30 / night

    "You can easily bike through the loop, or drive. Nice spot to see wildlife as well. Cades Cove is well known for spotting bears, deer and turkey."

    "We camped in the middle of a hot sticky Tennessee summer and felt just fine in all of the shade."

    2. Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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

    $30 / night

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

    "We stayed 3 nights so we could hike the surrounding trails! Loved learning about the history of the area while checking out the old cabins."

    3. Southlake RV Park

    14 Reviews
    Rockford, TN
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 573-1837

    $28 - $38 / night

    "The tent sights are located right on a great fishing cove on Fort Loudon reserve. We booked tent site 7 but when we got there someone was fishing off the point where our campsite was supposed to be."

    "Our site us overlooking the lake and the view is beautiful. Close to downtown and the mountains. Only downfall is very spotty wifi in some areas."

    4. Abrams Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    24 Reviews
    Tallassee, TN
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 448-4103

    $30 / night

    "We were in site 11, nice but next to a group site so a little louder than I like. There are trails near by but I was unable to experience. Bear boxes and trash bins. Centrally located water."

    "Sites are close to one another, but arranged great. My family of 5 had plenty of room for two tents, chairs, picnic tables, etc."

    5. Townsend-Great Smokies KOA

    28 Reviews
    Townsend, TN
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 448-2241

    "The Lizard Lounge has a separate WiFi but you have to be inside or just outside to use it. Amazing river views and very close to the entrance of the National park."

    "Right next to the entrance to the Great Smokey mountains. Townsend is a lovely town for eating and lots of walking trails. It is a short drive into pigeon forge if you want more activities to do."

    6. Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA Campground

    55 Reviews
    Pigeon Forge, TN
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 453-7903

    "Had we been in a site away from the river, we’d have been packed in like sardines."

    "Close to everything, right in the heart of pigeon forge. Best bath houses we’ve ever been too, all other reviews were spot on!"

    7. 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."

    8. Melton Hill Dam Campground — Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

    29 Reviews
    Lenoir City, TN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 361-0436

    $18 - $31 / night

    "We really enjoyed Milton Hill dam, very friendly people , well stocked store, easy access to swimming and fishing and full hook up sites if you want them."

    "We made a last minute trip to Melton Hill that was very conveniently located just outside of Knoxville. The campsite offers several options for camping along the water or in the woods."

    9. Little Arrow Outdoor Resort

    22 Reviews
    Townsend, TN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 448-6363

    $60 - $185 / night

    "It’s right outside one of the entrances to the Great Smoky Mountains and about 20 minutes from Cades Cove."

    "Close to Cades Cove and right at the entrance to Smokey Mountains National Park. Just cant say enough good things about it."

    10. Yarberry Campground

    15 Reviews
    Lenoir City, TN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 986-3993

    "Yarberry Campground is a gated lakefront campground and day use area located on Tellico Lake, not far from the Fort Loudon Dam."

    "We rented a pontoon boat for four hours and had a great time exploring the lake. Highly recommend this campground if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the larger campgrounds."

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Recent Camping Photos near Alcoa, TN

830 Photos of 448 Alcoa Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Alcoa, TN

2193 Reviews of 448 Alcoa Campgrounds

  • SunnyLake
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Lakeside RV Resort & Marina

    Great Place with Great People

    Under new ownership, this little campground is wonderful.  Easy access and close to the activities on Douglas Lake or a quick drive into Sevierville, Pigeon Forge - Dollywood, and the Great Smoky Mountains.  The views from the lake are amazing and the campground hosts are so helpful and available.  Clean and fun!  Love it here!

  • Laur H.
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Clabough's Campground

    Good for families

    Our stay was good. It was our first time camping in Pigeon Forge, we usually stay closer to Nashville in state parks. The campsites are extremely close together - everyone is packed in like sardines. We knew it would be tight from when we looked at the map when booking but whew - if you don’t know your neighbors, you will! This seems par for the course in the area. The location here compared to attractions in PF was so convenient it made it worth it.

    We really appreciated the amenities - the bath house was super clean and the laundry room was nice. We loved that the campground picks up trash daily. There was an issue with the sewer in the area where we were and the campground was quick to resolve it. We also appreciated having campground staff escort us to our site so we did not have to wander with a map.

    The playground is big and nice, and my nephew loved the bouncy pillow. The pool and lazy river looked really neat but we didn’t have swim gear with us since it’s fall, although we saw some people swimming so maybe it is heated?

    On the other hand - The staff does not answer any email inquiries, apparently. The cancellation policy is really awfully strict. We didn’t necessarily feel super welcomed at check in.

    There seem to be a LOT of long-term/permanent residents here. That always makes me uncomfortable since I feel like I’m in other peoples space, but no one was unfriendly. It did seem like the rules (which I read carefully prior to arrival) are selectively applied.

    Overall it was a good trip and we wouldn’t be opposed to staying here again, but this definitely isn’t our preferred type of campground.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Grumpy Bear Campground

    Nice but small

    The attraction here is the river. It is absolutely gorgeous. Riverside are small and close together.

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Lake Santeetlah Dispersed

    Lake view but live in campers

    So there’s another site on Dyrt with the same name however it’s on the other side of the lake. Both sites are full of mainly people who live here it appears. Tents and tarps all along the river. Not a lot of drive in spots mainly tent walk ins. We showed up pretty late so not a spot but like I said. The campers looked like they lived in the majority of the spots. Zero signal at both areas for Verizon and T-Mobile. The road like most around here was beautiful driving in. The next nearby free dispersed spot is long hungry dog camp(I left a review on there for anyone needing it!)

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Lake Santeelah Dispersed

    Two seperate areas

    So there’s another site on Dyrt with the same name however it’s on the other side of the lake. Both sites are full of mainly people who live here it appears. Tents and tarps all along the river. Not a lot of drive in spots mainly tent walk ins. We showed up pretty late so not a spot but like I said. The campers looked like they lived in the majority of the spots. Zero signal at both areas for Verizon and T-Mobile. The road like most around here was beautiful driving in. The next nearby free dispersed spot is long hungry dog camp(I left a review on there for anyone needing it!)

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Long Hungry Road Dispersed Campsites

    Trash..

    This area was easy to find with Apple Maps and T-Mobile and Verizon had signal. When we drove in it was around 9pm in a Saturday night and all sites was taken with what looked like people living there. And the road dead ends. All along the water. Tents and tarps everywhere. We found one spot not on the water and set up. Fire rings and picnic tables are at every spot. But when I woke up and it wasn't pitch black my heart broke. There was bags of trash and litter everywhere around us and tossed in the forest around us. The forest had a lot of thorns but I was able to get three large kitchen bags of trash out. From propane tanks to over twenty cans of food. Just tossed into the woods. We camp all over the United States, and this is our first place close to home and it broke my heart to see how our state treats these beautiful places. Please don't come if you don't appreciate nature enough to not use it as your trash can.

    So on Dyrt there's two sites with this name and same gps but you can follow around the lake and find the other one. Both areas are a lot alike. But definitely more fit for tent camping on the water. Park by the road and walk down sites so none fit for us since we camp in the truck. The sites all looked like the other areas around here where people very much lived there and never left, so not one site at either camping area was open.

  • Sarah and Philip H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Knoxville Campground

    Great Pass through Campground not for staying long term

    Location was great to get to lots of things but campsites are very tight and no room for an actual camping feel.

  • S
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Yarberry Campground

    Beautiful views

    Even the non-lake site spots have lake views. Lots of nice amenities, but still rustic. My site was a little tough to back into, but worth it.

  • B
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Fooshee Pass Campground

    beautiful and peaceful

    It was perfect weekend getaway, the camp ground wasn’t full, bathrooms clean, the camp ground was clean. The sites along the water were amazing, and the sites were level.

Guide to Alcoa

Camping near Alcoa, Tennessee, offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying various outdoor activities. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot for your next adventure.

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 the nearby rivers and streams. A reviewer at Smokemont Campground noted, "I saw some elk that reluctantly budged from the trail," highlighting the area's rich wildlife.

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the stunning landscapes. One happy camper at Greenbrier Campground said, "Absolutely stunning campground! My young family of six were instantly impressed."
  • Clean Facilities: Many appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Bandy Creek Campground remarked, "Clean bathrooms were a short walk away and had ample hot water for showers."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Campgrounds like Anchor Down RV Resort offer plenty of activities for kids. One reviewer mentioned, "There is so much to do with the water activities and on-site that you could get away without a car."

What you should know:

  • Privacy Concerns: Some campgrounds have sites that are close together. A camper at Elkmont Campground noted, "All of the campsites are extremely close together, and there is no brush to divide them."
  • Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for spotty cell service in many areas. A visitor at Cades Cove Campground mentioned, "No cell service with T-Mobile, so have a good book."
  • Bear Awareness: Campers should be cautious about wildlife, especially bears. A reviewer at Frozen Head State Park Campground warned, "Watch for copperheads!!! There are lots at this park."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with amenities for kids. A family at Greenbrier Campground enjoyed, "The sites are clean and spacious enough for our 31' TT and truck."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities to keep everyone entertained. One camper at Cades Cove Campground said, "The store was convenient and awesome proximity when we biked the loop."
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for hikes and outdoor activities. A visitor at Cosby Campground mentioned, "It was a clean and decent campground," making it a great spot to refuel.

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Anchor Down RV Resort noted, "The sites are tight for our 45 ft bus."
  • Use Amenities: Take advantage of the campground facilities. A camper at Bandy Creek Campground said, "Great amenities, Great sites, Great Park!! No complaints!!"
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Know where the nearest dump stations are located. A visitor at Cades Cove Campground mentioned, "Dump Station: Yes," which can be helpful for RVers.

Camping near Alcoa, Tennessee, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. With beautiful campgrounds and plenty of activities, you're sure to have a memorable experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

What tent camping facilities are available near Alcoa?

Tent campers near Alcoa can enjoy several excellent options within the Great Smoky Mountains region. Deep Creek Campground offers peaceful tent sites along the creek with nearby hiking trails and waterfall access. It's located just minutes from Bryson City's amenities while still providing a natural camping experience. Citico Creek Area provides more primitive tent camping with sites adjacent to the creek, perfect for those seeking a more rustic experience. Many tent sites in the region offer fire rings, picnic tables, and nearby restroom facilities. For dispersed camping options, Starr Mountain Area provides a more adventurous experience. Most tent campgrounds in the Alcoa vicinity maintain a good balance of accessibility and natural immersion, making them ideal for weekend getaways.

Are there RV-friendly camping options in Alcoa?

RV campers near Alcoa have several excellent options. Anchor Down RV Resort offers premium RV camping on Douglas Lake with stunning Smoky Mountain views and is just a 30-minute drive from Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Pigeon Forge attractions. Little River Campground & RV Resort is another gem for RV camping, featuring river access across a small bridge. Most RV parks in the area provide full hookups, spacious sites, and convenient access to popular tourist destinations. Many resorts also offer amenities like WiFi, laundry facilities, and camp stores. For those seeking a balance between natural surroundings and modern conveniences, these RV-friendly campgrounds make an excellent base for exploring eastern Tennessee.

What are the best campgrounds near Alcoa, Tennessee?

Alcoa is ideally situated near several excellent campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains region. Cades Cove Campground offers a convenient base for exploring the historic Cades Cove area with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Elkmont Campground provides beautiful riverside sites perfect for relaxation and is conveniently located near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge attractions. Other notable options include Tuckaleechee Campground with its charming river setting and Little Arrow Outdoor Resort near Townsend. The area boasts a mix of national park campgrounds with basic amenities and private resorts with more luxurious facilities, making it easy to find accommodations that match your preferred camping style within a short drive of Alcoa.

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