20 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Camping near Athens, Tennessee ranges from full-hookup RV parks to primitive tent sites along waterways including the Tennessee River and Chickamauga Lake. Gee Creek Campground in the Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park offers tent and RV sites with amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings. Nearby, Sweetwater KOA provides year-round camping options including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. The area features a mix of state park facilities, private campgrounds, and recreation areas along waterways such as the Tennessee River and Chickamauga Lake, creating diverse opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Road conditions and campground accessibility vary throughout the region, with most established sites offering good access for standard vehicles. Weather patterns in eastern Tennessee include humid summers and mild winters, though higher elevations can experience cooler temperatures and occasional snow. "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," noted one visitor about a nearby campground. Many campgrounds in the area require reservations, particularly during peak summer months and fall color season. Cell service can be limited in more remote areas, especially in the valleys between ridges.
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews from visitors to the region. Several campgrounds provide access to lakes and rivers, with opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating. The Tennessee River system, including Chickamauga Lake, offers numerous camping options with water access. As one camper described a nearby TVA campground: "Rhea Springs is a wonderful free campsite in central Tennessee which permits stay up to 14 days. As a part of the TVA the property as a whole is well maintained despite some obvious wear and tear on the restroom facilities." Campers frequently mention wildlife sightings, including deer and various bird species. Mixed-use campgrounds that accommodate both tent and RV camping are common throughout the region, with varying levels of amenities from primitive sites to full-service facilities with electric hookups, water, and sewer connections.
"Bath house is relatively nice for a state park campground. 1 mile walking path surrounding the grounds is nice. Safe area for bicycle riding. Great proximity to many outdoor activities."
"This sweet state park campground is tucked into a spot along Gee Creek, which is great for boating, fishing, and swimming in the summertime heat of Tennessee. "
Available this weekend
"Very nice area, close to a historic area and site seeing underground lake."
"For amenities there is a bouncy blob (dry), small pond with fountain and memorial bench, large playground for the kids, volleyball, basketball, I’m not sure what the game is next to the blob."
"This park is very conveniently located North of Chattanooga and South of Knoxville. They have easy proximity to the interstate and a park that is easy to get into and back out of."
"There are small grass spots in between the sites for pets, but also a larger grassy area "pet walk" at the end. Nice and clean bathhouse. Will stay here again if passing through."
"My partner and I headed to nearby Chilhowie Campground in the Cherokee National Forest last year to try out our new teardrop camper. We chose site 1 in the A Loop as it had shore power."
"It has clean bathrooms with showers, fire rings with grill grates, lots of hiking, hike to a beautiful waterfall, huge lake to swim or float on a raft, and the lightning bugs were breath taking!!"
Available this weekend
from $12 - $30 / night
"My husband and I really enjoyed this CG on the lake and was fortunate to stay in the front, quiet and uncrowded section of the park where sites are long, widely spaced, grassy and shaded."
"Good swimming, boating or fishing right from your lake side site. Will definitely be back"
from $45 / night
"Plenty of camp spots as well as the ability to park/camp right next to the water. (There’s no Water or Electric hookups) Also, not a lot of places selling firewood nearby."
"It's cash only $10 TN residents $22 outside TN"
from $10 - $22 / night
"Great Lakeside campground. I grew up camping here. It’s close to home and our favorite place to go locally. A lot of the sites are shaded. Sites are spaced out nicely and not on top of each other."
"Some of the lakefront spots had their own access to the lake and plenty of trees. The camp host was amazing!"
"Great base camp for close to adventures in the national forest. Go do the hike by bald river falls 30 min away."
"Great location and great food! This is my go to spot when out riding."
GuideLeft Pigeon Forge Tn. GPS took us on an adventure, route 129 The Tail of the Dragon 318 curves switchback and hairpins I was nervous but slayed it. Lol. Peachtree Cove RV Park is perfect for quiet camping. Dog run area stream or river at most sites. I had a reservation at Andrew’s Valley Railway Tour highly recommend both of these
ScoutI camped here with a friend last weekend and absolutely loved this place! It's a cute little site with a great host, clean bathrooms, free firewood, and super friendly dogs, goats, and people. I would for sure stay here again and recommend.
GuideParksville Lake RV Campground is an absolute gem! I had a fantastic stay here. The campground is beautifully maintained, and the sites are nice, spacious, and wonderfully shaded by the trees. We loved the layout of the RV loop, especially the outer section where a peaceful creek flows right past the sites—the sound of the water at night was perfect. The restrooms and showers were exceptionally clean and well-kept. I had Starlink connectivity at my site and my WeBoost cell signal booster gave me up to three bars on AT&T. The campground host was incredibly nice, welcoming, and helpful. It's a wonderful, relaxing spot, and I will definitely be back!
GuideThis is one of several USFS campgrounds that are within a few miles of each other. The cost is only $8/night, first come first served. The sites are fairly large with about half of them on a wide, clear creek. There is no running water, but there are bear proof trash cans and vault toilets that were fairly clean, but didn't smell great.
There is free potable water and an RV dump station about a mile away at the North River Game Checking Station on River Road near the Spivey Cove campground..
The campsite was clean with picnic table, fire ring, and a lantern post. The fire ring was almost full of ashes and it appears that campers have to clean them out themselves.
The Green Cove Angler store is a couple miles away and has ice, firewood and other camper things.
Unfortunately, while we were there, it was bear hunting season and another camper had multiple barking and baying dogs that went on and on for hours.
TravelerThis was a last minute stay, the camp was full but accommodations were made for us by the host to park in his front yard and connect to house power. We were invited to join the host and other guests at the massive fire pit that was warming the cool mountain evening. Very pretty here…was a long and winding road up the mountain from our travel direction. Excited to see what it looks like in daylight. I have 3 bars on my T-Mobile but also have StarLink.
ScoutBeautiful view on the water. Not very full, which was nice. I came for some quiet and privacy and while it worked, there were just some that were very social. Haha
TravelerWater was very low and poor quality. Host was friendly but don’t buy his wood - it doesn’t burn well. County water tasted funny, probably minimal treatment. We had quite a hike to the restroom, which wasn’t regularly cleaned.
ScoutCalled the day of to ask if we could camp and set up after hours for that day and the next the lady told me yes i could pay in the morning i got here set up that night woke up around 8 am to go pay and reserve my campsite for the day and she told me they were booked even though she had told me the day before she had plenty of campsites. Then tried to tell me the only one she had was a $75 site for 4 people which is absolutely insane. She made snarky remarks and was overall incompetent in making sure the guests receive the right information the first time. Absolutely zero care that we set up not even 12 hours before to make us take it down and leave.
ScoutFort Mountain SP offers some great adventures for the outdoorsman. Hiking and Biking are the mainstays. The overlooks are absolutely astounding from the Cool Springs Overlook, which is easily accessible to anyone even the disabled. The overlook on the trail to the wall and tower is equally amazing. The campground is electric and water only, no fhu. All spots are gravel and fairly level. The bathhouses are older and could use updating . We have zero T-Mobile service at the campground, but it works well in other areas of the park. We have Starlink for our 5th Wheel but the heavy tree canopy in our site made it sketchy. The staff is very friendly.
Camping near Athens, Tennessee offers diverse terrain options ranging from lakeside settings to mountain views. Elevation varies from 780 feet in the valleys to over 2,000 feet in nearby mountain areas. Nighttime temperatures can drop 15-20 degrees lower than daytime highs even in summer months, with frequent morning fog in valley campgrounds.
Kayaking on Watts Bar Lake: At Fooshee Pass Campground, water recreation is easily accessible. "The lake is shallow with a slow grade which was perfect for our young children. Everyone was friendly and respectful," reports Valerie M. The campground offers boat access and fishing opportunities directly from waterfront sites.
Hiking to waterfalls: Fall Creek Falls State Park provides multiple waterfall trails within an hour's drive of Athens. "Make sure you do three things while you're there: hike to the bottom of the big waterfall (Fall Creek Falls), swim in the cascades next to the nature center, and stand on the edge of the bluff at Buzzard's Roost," suggests Myke C. The park features trails for various skill levels, with the cable trail being especially popular.
Nature trails at Gee Creek: Trails connect directly to campsites at Gee Creek Campground. "The park has a nice nature trail that loops around the park. The park also offers a boat launch for river access," notes Gregg G. The trail system provides moderate hiking options through woodland areas along the Hiwassee River.
Well-spaced waterfront sites: Campers consistently praise the lakefront spots at Hornsby Hollow Campground. "Great Lakeside campground. Sites are spaced out nicely and not on top of each other. They have a small playground, two swimming areas and a boat ramp. Sites are gravel and have a fire ring and concrete picnic tables," Tyler explains. Many waterfront sites include private lake access.
Winter camping options: Off-season camping near Athens provides quieter experiences. "During winter campground is very quiet, no power at sites, it does have hot showers," reports Byron R. about Gee Creek. Keith R. confirms this assessment: "Very quiet in winter." Fewer crowds make wildlife viewing more likely during cooler months.
Free or budget-friendly options: Several campgrounds offer economical camping. "Rhea Springs is a wonderful free campsite in central Tennessee which permits stay up to 14 days. As a part of the TVA the property as a whole is well maintained despite some obvious wear and tear on the restroom facilities," Crystal C. mentions. These sites typically provide basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables but may have limited facilities.
Access road challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult approach roads. "To get to this campground you have to go up a steep narrow windy mountain road," Carissa D. warns about Chilhowee Recreation Area. Similarly, Laura H. notes about Overnite RV Park: "They have easy proximity to the interstate and a park that is easy to get into and back out of," highlighting that access considerations vary by location.
Seasonal closures: Operating seasons vary significantly. "Showed up on Easter weekend and this place was closed. So after 11/2 hr drive, we ended up camping up on the hill above the boat ramp," reports Ky N. about one area campground. Always verify current operating status before traveling, especially for county or TVA facilities.
Bathroom facilities vary: Facility conditions differ widely between campgrounds. "The bathrooms could use some TLC," notes Carissa D. about one location, while another camper mentions: "Bathroom stalls are only about 4' high, so while your taking a dump, anyone can walk in and look you right in the eye." Bringing shower shoes and expecting varied conditions is advisable.
Kid-friendly swimming areas: Sweetwater KOA offers multiple activities for children. "This is a very lively, well traveled RV Park and Campground. The park offers full hook up RV Sites, Cabins, Tent sites. For amenities there is a bouncy blob (dry), small pond with fountain and memorial bench, large playground for the kids, volleyball, basketball," Laura H. describes. The campground regularly schedules organized children's activities.
Playgrounds and recreational facilities: Family-oriented campgrounds typically include play areas. "Nice bathhouse that is cleaned multiple times a day. The Rangers check in daily and are very friendly. A trail runs the perimeter of the camp and the Hiwasee River runs next to the campground. The campground also has a playground to keep kids entertained," Anna M. notes about one location.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Morning and evening wildlife sightings enhance family camping experiences. "Whippoorwill called through the evening which was cool," Mickey L. reports. Early morning wildlife viewing is best, with deer frequently spotted at dawn in wooded campground areas.
Hookup locations: Several campgrounds have unusual utility placement. "The biggest reason [we wouldn't stay again], the very poor design of the water spigot and electrical receptacle. The water spigot is in the ground right next to the mud, very hard to get to," Scott G. explains about one location. "Take a 50 ft water hose and a 30 amp extension - ours was 50 ft but I think a 30 ft would work," recommends Kc K. about Fooshee Pass hookups.
Site leveling requirements: Many sites require leveling equipment. "Spaces too close together...Several amenities but well used," notes Dave W. about site spacing at Sweetwater KOA. Bringing extra leveling blocks is recommended for most campgrounds in the region.
Dump station access: Dump stations may be challenging to navigate. "The electrical, there is NO way to shut it off. The receptacle is about 12" off of the ground which means when you connect your surge protector, your connections are laying on the ground," Scott G. explains about utility challenges at one campground. Many locations offer dump stations with limited maneuvering room.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Athens, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Athens, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 447 campgrounds and RV parks near Athens, TN and 34 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Athens, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Athens, TN is Gee Creek Campground — Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 30 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Athens, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 34 free dispersed camping spots near Athens, TN.
What parks are near Athens, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 parks near Athens, TN that allow camping, notably Croatan National Forest and Tusquitee National Forest.
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