Best Campgrounds near Bulls Gap, TN

The rural landscape around Bulls Gap, Tennessee features several established campgrounds suitable for various camping styles. Within a 25-mile radius, campers can find options ranging from full-service RV resorts to lakefront camping areas. Baileyton KOA Holiday provides year-round camping with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals, while Share the Farm offers a more intimate setting with 22 sites and a private pond for fishing. Lakefront camping is available at Cherokee Lake Campground and Lakefront Glamping Resort, where accommodation options include tent camping, RV sites, and glamping tents or yurts.

Camping facilities in the Bulls Gap area vary widely in terms of amenities and accessibility. Most developed campgrounds offer electric hookups, water access, and shower facilities, though sewer hookups are less common at public parks like Cherokee Lake Campground. Many sites require reservations, particularly during the peak summer season from May through September. The region experiences four distinct seasons, with hot, humid summers and mild to cold winters. Several campgrounds remain open year-round, including Baileyton KOA, Around Pond RV Park, and Panther Creek State Park. One visitor noted, "Cherokee Lake is beautiful. As for the sites there are some good ones and some not so good. Be prepared to level your rig because East Tennessee has very little level ground."

Waterfront access ranks high in camper preferences throughout the region. Cherokee Lake provides popular shoreline camping at several locations, though sites vary in quality and levelness. Travelers seeking more amenities gravitate toward privately-owned campgrounds like Baileyton KOA, which one camper described as having "immaculate facilities, easy access off I-81" and being "family friendly, well maintained and can handle big rigs." For those wanting a quieter experience, Share the Farm received praise as "a very friendly and quiet campground" with a private fishing pond. Lakefront Glamping Resort offers a unique experience with glamping tents and a micro A-frame accommodation that can be opened for an open-air experience. The bathhouse facilities at many campgrounds receive positive reviews, with visitors frequently commenting on cleanliness and accessibility.

Best Camping Sites Near Bulls Gap, Tennessee (340)

    1. Baileyton KOA Holiday

    15 Reviews
    Ducktown, TN
    15 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."

    2. Panther Creek State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Talbott, TN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 587-7046

    $26 - $42 / night

    "Panther Creek SP

    Panther Creek State Park was an unexpected find outside of Knoxville, TN , in Morristown. I’ve driven by the sign but no need to camp so close to home."

    "The hiking trails ranged from difficult to short and easy. The ’Trout’ hiking trail was very nice. One of the longer hikes was the Knob trail and it was very nice as well."

    3. Lakefront Glamping Resort Cherokee Lake Tennessee

    3 Reviews
    Bean Station, TN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 254-7727

    $149 - $299 / night

    "Open May-September, this property is located on Cherokee Lake. There are four glamping tents (two with king beds and two with queen beds) and the newest addition is a Micro A-Frame with a king bed."

    "Open May-September, this property is located on Cherokee Lake. There are four glamping tents (two with king beds and two with queen beds) and the newest addition is a Micro A-Frame with a king bed."

    4. Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Chuckey, TN
    24 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."

    5. Anchor Down RV Resort

    48 Reviews
    Sevierville, TN
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 784-4446

    $49 - $139 / night

    "Anchors Down is just outside Severville Tennessee and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Located on Douglas Lake with the Smokie Mountains in the back ground."

    "This campground is one of the best you will find in Tennessee.  "

    6. Around Pond RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Greeneville, TN
    14 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."

    7. Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    70 Reviews
    Cosby, TN
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 487-2683

    $50 / night

    "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."

    8. Cherokee Lake Campground

    1 Review
    Bean Station, TN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 586-5232

    "Several Lake front spots. Shower and bathroom buildings on site. Several pavilions. Dumpsters, Lots of walking trails. As well as a boat ramp."

    9. Share the farm

    2 Reviews
    Greeneville, TN
    13 miles
    +1 (423) 273-6021

    $55 / night

    10. Banks Farms Campground

    1 Review
    Bulls Gap, TN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 422-7778

    "Very nice camping spot next to the river. Out in the middle of no where/secluded, loved it! River was nice to float on"

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Recent Reviews near Bulls Gap, TN

1356 Reviews of 340 Bulls Gap Campgrounds


  • Shane N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Camp Stonefly

    Great small peacefully time

    Me and wife passing through. Stayed over weekend loved it

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge

    Beautiful grounds if you feel like splurging

    It is an absolutely beautiful campground with an awesome club house and a ton to do. The pool and lazy river are heated. Honestly though you really need to want to splurge to justify staying here because you are still camping if that makes sense.

    Also the trolley “system” is super confusing and the front desk knows nothing about it lol

    Our site is great. It is right across the road from the playground without having to pay for a family site.

  • 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.

  • e
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Wilderness Road Campground

    Nice National Park Campground

    Pretty park. Sites are wooded and not too close together. Most sites need leveling blocks. The bath house is small. 2 stalls and sinks in the bathroom . 2 individual shower rooms. There appeared to be only 2 bathrooms/bath houses for the entire campground. Water pump at bathroom area. No dish washing station. Some sites had electricity, but not all of them. There are lots of hiking trails and a great visitor center. I hope to go back when I can spend more time in the park. Three star rating mainly due to the inadequate number of showers/bathrooms.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Panther Creek State Park Campground

    Panther creek camping

    I had a very cute camp spot up in the woods away from the road it was number 50 it was so cute and quieter than the rest of the spots. It also had two fire pits one up by the tent area and one down by the picnic table

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Baileyton KOA Holiday

    Nice overnight stop

    We are headed from Atlanta to Fredericksburg VA for a wedding. This is a very nice place for an overnight stop, probably one of the nicest for a KOA. Very clean and tidy campground. Mostly level, gravel sites. But some grass between sites! Some shade. Full hookups. Clean bathroom & shower. Pool, playground, driving range, big water slide. The internet is VERY slow. Also lots of road noise from I-81. Gift shop & convenient store in office. We’ve taken our travel trailer to 48 states, and have found KOAs generally convenient, but not much more. This place is definitely above average

  • Kc K.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Big Ridge State Park Campground

    Big level site

    Site 43. Big site. fairly flat. Just have levelers on one side. Close to the bathhouse and a quick walk to the entrance to get to the store, swim area, etc. Roads are a little narrow in the campground, made it a little hard to back trailer in- the front of the truck was the issue hitting rocks on the side of the road.

  • A
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Triple Creek Campground

    Would recommend!

    It got only for stars because I can hear traffic from my campsite.
    I was next to a brook, under a paw paw tree. It was safe, very friendly. The bath and shower house were clean and very nice for tent camping! Laundry room, firewood delivery.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Around Pond RV Park

    Very nice stop over campground

    Stayed for one night as a stop over on our trip home. Easiest check in we have ever had. Pulled up to the staging area near the office and didn’t even have to get out of the truck. Guy came up on a golf cart and confirmed my name. Took us right to our spot which was a full hook up pull through. Site was gravel and completely level. A lot of full time campers here but that doesn’t bother us at all. Nice little pond to walk the dogs around or just sit and relax. There is no store or pool but we never use those anyway. There is a laundry on site and a good size area with grills and picnic tables to use if you want. Sure it’s not a KOA with all the amenities but for a stop over or even a few day stay it’s fine. And ONLY $39 a night ! Btw KOA right down the road wouldn’t accept our reservation because they require a 2 night minimum.


Guide to Bulls Gap

Camping near Bulls Gap, Tennessee, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the 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 nearby streams. A camper at Smokemont Campground noted, “There was a lot of people fishing the nearby Bradley Fork and lots of reports of trout caught.”

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the stunning landscapes. One reviewer at Greenbrier Campground said, “Absolutely stunning campground! My young family of six were instantly impressed.”
  • Clean Facilities: Many appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A visitor at Anchor Down RV Resort remarked, “This is an exceptional campground with great flat, concrete pads, and super clean bathrooms/showers.”
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Campgrounds often have activities for kids. A reviewer at Asheville East KOA mentioned, “There is a pool, playground, gaga ball pit, and fishing.”

What you should know:

  • Site Privacy: Some campgrounds have close sites. A camper at Elkmont Campground noted, “All of the campsites are extremely close together, and there is no brush to divide them.”
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A visitor at Cosby Campground pointed out, “NO drinking water, NO electric hookups, and NO showers.”
  • Wildlife Caution: Bears are common in the area. A camper at Cades Cove Campground advised, “Do not forget to remove the drip pan on the Blackstone! Doing so just irritates the bears.”

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. A reviewer at Greenbrier Campground said, “Great campground, wonderful individual bathroom/shower, activities, a store, and free trolley rides into Gatlinburg.”
  • Plan for Quiet Time: Some campgrounds can get noisy. A visitor at Roan Mountain State Park Campground mentioned, “The host are on the rude side... they wouldn't say anything about the people yelling and screaming after 11pm.”
  • Pack for Outdoor Fun: Bring games and outdoor gear. A camper at Lake Powhatan noted, “The best thing about Lake Powhatan is the nice hike around the lake and the fun little lake beach.”

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Asheville East KOA warned, “Section A was extremely tight for navigating, parking, and camping, especially with our 43' big rig.”
  • Be Prepared for Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds have poor reception. A visitor at Cades Cove Campground mentioned, “There is no cell service with T-Mobile, so have a good book or downloaded shows.”
  • Utilize Dump Stations: Make use of dump stations for convenience. A camper at Smokemont Campground appreciated, “2 bay dump station which was nice and clean with water for the RV.”

Camping near Bulls Gap, Tennessee, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Bulls Gap, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Bulls Gap, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 340 campgrounds and RV parks near Bulls Gap, TN and 7 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Bulls Gap, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bulls Gap, TN is Baileyton KOA Holiday with a 4.5-star rating from 15 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bulls Gap, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Bulls Gap, TN.

What parks are near Bulls Gap, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 33 parks near Bulls Gap, TN that allow camping, notably Cherokee National Forest and Cumberland Gap National Historic Park.