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Camping near Del Rio, TN ranges from primitive tent sites to developed RV camping, with options set among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Round Mountain Campground, located in Del Rio, offers rustic tent and RV camping from April to November in a secluded forest setting. Other nearby options include Long Creek Haven with riverside sites and Fox Fire Riverside Campground along the Pigeon River in Hartford, about 15 minutes from Del Rio. The region encompasses both National Forest and National Park lands with varying levels of development.
The camping season typically runs from spring through fall, with most developed campgrounds closing for winter. Round Mountain Campground features basic amenities with vault toilets but no drinking water, making it suitable for self-sufficient campers. Many visitors note the rustic nature of camping in this area, particularly at the National Forest sites. Water levels on the Pigeon River can fluctuate significantly due to controlled releases from nearby dams, particularly affecting riverside campgrounds. A camper noted, "Very primitive campground but great for a night's stay while exploring the Pisgah National Forest."
Several visitors highlight the tranquility of camping in the Del Rio area, particularly at Round Mountain where the forested setting creates a secluded experience. One visitor described it as "very cool, rustic, and secluded" while noting its convenient location just a few miles from panoramic views at Max Patch. Riverside campsites receive consistently positive reviews, with campers appreciating the sound of flowing water. The area provides good access to hiking trails in both the Cherokee National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Though some campgrounds are relatively basic in terms of amenities, the natural setting compensates with scenic beauty, creek access, and forest surroundings. Road noise can be an issue at campgrounds near Interstate 40, though many find the sound of flowing water helps mask this disturbance.
"Drive in is a nice paved road, got our information on where our sites where from the Camp Host, Who was super informative."
"Cosby is about half an hour outside of Gatlinburg and worth every minute. A16 was big and shady. There were a few steps down to it. Plenty of trees and distance to the nearest neighbors."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Had a blast at The Greenbrier Campground in Gatlinburg Tennessee. We had a view of the river which was right next to.our campsite."
"The campground is surrounded by a little river so many sites have river views. Most are relatively spacious. There are also a few spots on the road side of the island. The amenities were spotless."
from $35 - $258 / night
Check Availability"You are greeted as soon as you come down the easy to spot and welcoming entrance."
"Perfect spot near the national forest and not too far from the great Smokey mountains national park. The property has flat spots to park your rig right next to the creek and it’s very peaceful."
from $35 - $55 / night
Check Availability"This is a great little campground in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee."
"Plenty of area to walk the dog and a nice open field with a pavilion you could use for groups. The tent area was down by the river and was absolutely beautiful."
from $30 - $40 / night
Check Availability"NIce campground with a gated entrance, very safe. Beautiful location. Excellent tent sites on creek. RV sites are ok, narrow and your fire ring is so close to next RV, we were uncomfortable using it."
"Triple Creek Campground lives up to it’s name being surrounded by 3 Creeks. We stayed here over Labor Day weekend in 2020 and although it was completely full, it didn’t feel crowded."
"The camp is beautiful and you are surrounded by the magical sounds of rushing water. There are two creeks nearby, one big and one small. We spent one day simply enjoying the campground."
"Many sites have direct access to the creek where you can cool off on a hot day. Plenty of trails near campground. Parking was not far from site."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"The Tennessee and NC sides each have great things to offer. Just feel that the NC side has more smaller campgrounds and is generally a little more quiet and laid back. Go NC!"
"This: Access to Cataloochee is via a narrow, winding, mountain road. A 3-mile stretch of gravel road contains many narrow, blind curves."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"picnic table, rocky terrain, a legit fire ring with two grill options, and a nice packed tent pad didn’t get lucky tonight as far as neighbors go, super loud and annoying groups at two of the sites nearby"
from $7 / night
Check Availability"Location is excellent, borders the national park.
On the con side, though dogs are allowed, no cleanup bags provided, and no trash bins for dog waste at all, not even at dog run.""Tucked away in the Smokey Mountains with a friendly and helpful staff. Restrooms are clean with good water pressure. Camp ground well kept with easy to access connections."
ScoutLong Creek Haven is such a peaceful place to stay! I really enjoyed listening to the creek flow and the birds sing. There’s a great little trail along the creek to walk among nature which our dog and cats really love! Highly recommend!
GuideNice quiet campground. Big rig friendly. Long pull through sites. Very nice camp host. River along one side. Mostly open. A few shady spots. Great location for being just outside the National Park away from the busy cities.
RangerWe stayed here because it was right between Brevard and Hendersonville. It’s a small park with full hook ups, a picnic table, and a fire ring. A new bath house on site with laundry. The bath house was clean but I went in on arrival and no TP was available at 3PM, so not sure how often they service the bathrooms. We later found out the office is only open a couple days a week, and I’m not even sure which days. I did not see a host sign either so that leaves me to wonder how often also. The majority of the people seem to live there which gives the park a different vibe. No friendly hellos and no one out grilling or around a campfire. The sites were pretty level, and a decent size. No shade to speak of, and there is not much area to actually walk a dog. They have 2 fenced areas that are dog parks that were nice but not terribly large. One day, one tenant put his dog inside the dog area and left him there for a bit to just bark. I’m sure the owner was close by but was not inside the fence area. They advertise that the Ecrusta Trailbis directly behind the park. It is… but it hasn’t been updated yet in the project of making it extremely useable. It has large rocks currently covering the trail and my Labrador was very uncomfortable walking on it. There is an Ingles across the street which was very convenient. And the location is good. If you are looking for a clean convenient stop with full hook ups this will be a great find. But I don’t think we will visit again as we are outdoorsy people
ScoutI actually stayed here last year!! Went through hip camp!! We stayed in a tent and it was so beautiful!! Got to see Asheville, some waterfalls and we went to the renaissance fair!! Wow the host were amazing at getting us anything we needed! Plenty of fire wood! I actually want to come back in the next month now that I’m seeing this again!
ScoutThis is a nice wooded campground with nice shelters next to most campsites. Bathrooms were clean. Check in was easy. Owner did not require a deposit, made reservations by phone. I did have to change the check in time and communicated with owners easily. Gates close around dark so late check in is not possible. Only negative feedback I have is that owner requested not to use the campground bathrooms if fully hooked up and bathrooms are for tent camping purposes. This was not explained or advertised prior to reservations. Im paying for the convenience of not using my black tanks. Overall would stay here again.
GuideGreat stop for the night. No shade but, had a full hook up pull thru. Dog friendly. And very nice people, And there's a pizza place that Delivers 😀
TravelerThe team here really maintains the property nicely and the shower rooms a kept clean.
ScoutWe’ve been coming at this campground for 13 years and it is always an enjoyable experience. The past owners, Barry and Chong, have turned over the day to day management to their son and daughter-in-law. They are so pleasant and accommodating. It is a small campground but drive thru spaces are big enough for big rigs. They keep the campground in immaculate condition…. Would give it 6 stars out of 5!
ScoutI was looking for a campground to stay between nights when I work in Knoxville and have a 2 hour travel back home. This place was great. The bathhouse was clean and campsite was clean as well. I was right next to the bathroom so there was no odor and hardly any foot traffic going back and forth. The views of the lake at night were pretty. The only downfall I found was the campsite was a little hard to find in the dark but other than that, no complaints at all.
Camping opportunities near Del Rio, Tennessee are situated in the lush Cherokee National Forest with elevations ranging from 1,500 to 4,000 feet, creating distinct seasonal experiences. Summer daytime temperatures typically reach 80-85°F with cooler evenings, while spring and fall bring significant temperature swings. Most campgrounds in this area don't offer cell service, and campers should be prepared for unpredictable mountain weather patterns even during peak season.
Explore hiking trails: The area around Del Rio offers access to multiple trail systems including connections to the Appalachian Trail. Big Creek Campground features "great hiking trails and creek access" with one camper noting that "there are several hiking trails for a variety of hiking abilities."
Wildlife viewing: The region is known for its diverse wildlife including elk viewing opportunities. At Cataloochee Campground, a visitor shared: "If you want to see the elk, you're going to have to be up early. I use to be in the park at 5 AM with night vision gear, I saw some very nice elk."
Water activities: Many campgrounds offer creek and river access for recreation. At Triple Creek Campground, "lots of places for the kids to float down on intertubes" and another camper mentioned "Kids are welcome get wet and stroll down one of the creeks in tubes and there's plenty of shade."
Secluded forest settings: Campers appreciate the remote feel of many sites in the Del Rio area. Round Mountain Campground gets praise for being "very cool, rustic, and secluded site only a few miles from a great panoramic view ontop or max patch."
Creek sounds: The sound of moving water is consistently mentioned as a positive feature. At Triple Creek Campground, one visitor noted "the most amazing thing here is the water... Since it is a rolling creek it makes such beautifully tranquil noise. I slept so good when it wasnt too hot to sleep with the windows open."
Historical structures: The region offers access to preserved buildings and sites. At Cataloochee, campers can explore "historical homesteads, a school, churches and cemetery to take you back in time." Another visitor mentioned "There are historical structures in the area--a school, a church, barns, old houses, etc."
Road conditions: Many of the best places to camp near Del Rio, Tennessee have challenging access roads. For Cataloochee, "It's a long 13 miles into the valley down a very narrow, curvy gravel road," and another camper reported "the twist interns grew narrow the bumps grew frequent and then encountering a motorist was a hairy experience."
Limited amenities: Most campgrounds in the area provide basic facilities only. Round Mountain is described as a "very primitive campground but great for a night's stay while exploring the Pisgah National forest," offering just "a space to park, put your tent and have a fire. Only 'amenities' are vault toilet."
Seasonal water levels: Water features can change dramatically throughout the season. At Fox Fire Riverside Campground, campers should note that "the dam does release the water around 2pm so be aware that the water will rise."
Look for water play areas: Creek and river access provides natural entertainment. At Fox Fire Riverside, "the tent sites are on the bank of the river. The kids were able to get into the water and swim."
Consider noise factors: Some campgrounds are quieter than others. At Greenbrier Campground, a visitor noted the campground "offers activities for kids, wonderful hot shower rooms, a laundry room. and gas grills for anyone to use!" Another mentioned "My kids enjoyed the swimming hole as well although the water was freezing."
Check for organized activities: Some campgrounds offer structured recreation. Triple Creek has "a big field where kids could play, with a play set and many other things to keep them busy" and "the staff was always present and even brought rocks to paint with all of the supplies right to the campsite!"
Site sizing: Many campgrounds in the Del Rio area have limitations for large rigs. At Hot Springs Campground, a camper noted "nice clean gated park. Nice big spots. Only 3 fifty amp full hook up sites. Lots of 30 amp and tent camping."
Road access considerations: The mountain roads can be challenging for larger vehicles. One camper at Cataloochee mentioned, "large RVs we're not permitted however I saw one precariously going down the mountain side."
Full hookup options: For RVers wanting amenities, Fox Fire Riverside offers "full hookups or primitive sites with picnic tables and fire rings" and a visitor in a 33-foot travel trailer reported "plenty of room in the pull thru site 2. Not a lot of privacy between sites but I didn't think it was bad at all. Full hookups were a plus."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Del Rio, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Del Rio, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 539 campgrounds and RV parks near Del Rio, TN and 29 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Del Rio, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Del Rio, TN is Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 71 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Del Rio, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 free dispersed camping spots near Del Rio, TN.
What parks are near Del Rio, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 30 parks near Del Rio, TN that allow camping, notably Cherokee National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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