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 (344)

    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. Around Pond RV Park

    5 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."

    6. 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.  "

    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

1361 Reviews of 344 Bulls Gap Campgrounds


  • sThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Creekwood Farm RV Park

    Great RV Park

    This park is conveniently located between Maggie Valley and Waynesville with access to lots of western NC attractions. The staff is excellent and cares about the campers' experience here.

  • sThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Pride RV Resort

    Excellent RV Park. The staff is great and hospitable.

    The staff here care about the campground and put their best effort towards being hospitable to the guests.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Around Pond RV Park

    Nice stop

    nice stop off interstate, about 1 mile easy pull thru, during week stop, was quiet, peaceful, little traffic noise through nite. pond area, chickens, ducks, swans.

  • Gary D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Douglas Tailwater Campground — Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

    Great Location

    Nice campground near river and dam. Had three pup tents for overnight motorcycle stay. Bridge nearby is a bit noisy if that bothers you. Decent rest rooms. Camp host was very friendly! Half hour to Gatlinburg and Dolly Wood.

  • Gary D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA Campground

    Way overpriced for tent camping

    Three of us on motorcycles with pup tents were going to be charged for three tent sites at $141 each per night . We laughed and left. Hotels were charging less than that. Being a KOA member didn’t make a difference.

  • Shane N.
    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.


Guide to Bulls Gap

Camping sites near Bulls Gap, Tennessee provide easy access to the scenic Cherokee Lake and several state parks within the Appalachian foothills. The area sits at approximately 1,300 feet elevation with relatively cool summers compared to lower-lying regions. Most campgrounds in the region operate year-round due to the mild climate, though winter temperatures can occasionally drop below freezing between December and February.

What to Do

Fishing opportunities: Cherokee Lake Campground offers waterfront sites with direct lake access. "Several Lake front spots. Shower and bathroom buildings on site... Lots of walking trails. As well as a boat ramp."

Water recreation: Lakefront Glamping Resort provides paddleboard and kayak rentals. "We chose the SUP n Stay package (middle price option); included in our reservation was the rental of either a SUP or kayak. The Stay package includes accommodations plus a floating lake mat."

Historic exploration: Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park features a replica historic farm with educational programs. "There's also a sweet man who gives tours of the replica farm of David Crocket.. in character and costume. Clean bathrooms. Overall a great place to camp, particularly with kids."

What Campers Like

Smaller crowds: Cosby Campground attracts fewer visitors than other Smoky Mountain locations. "This location is a great choice for anyone who wants to visit GSMNP while avoiding some of the crowds. This campground rarely fills up, allowing for the opportunity to pick your site when you get there."

Clean facilities: Baileyton KOA Holiday maintains well-kept bathrooms and campsites. "The bathrooms and showers were so clean! As clean as any hotel. I would definitely recommend this campground." Another reviewer noted: "We were only here for one night in the rain but it was quiet and the bath hall was spotless!"

Private fishing: Share the Farm offers a personal fishing pond exclusive to campers. "Quiet campground with a private pond for fishing." The 22-site campground provides a more intimate setting than larger facilities in the region.

What You Should Know

Site levelness: Finding level ground can be challenging at some Bull Gap area campgrounds. "Beautiful clean park. We stayed here overnight just as a stopping point on our trip, but we were pleasantly surprised! Nice pool, very clean park, lots of things for the kids... We stayed in a pull through site and it was not very level."

Weather considerations: The region experiences four distinct seasons, with potential for inclement weather year-round. "The rain resulted in a very muddy area around the A-Frame and Tennessee mud is no joke. We accumulated about an inch of the thick gooey mud on our shoes."

Pet policies: Panther Creek State Park Campground allows pets in camping areas but restricts them on trails. "Note that dogs are welcome in the campground but not on the majority of the trails." Some facilities near Bulls Gap prohibit pets entirely, so check before booking.

Tips for Camping with Families

Playground access: Panther Creek State Park offers multiple play areas. "Very nice bathrooms. The sites aren't the most private we've ever stayed at, but the mountain biking was so much fun we didn't care! Hiking and biking was an A+. Great place for families because of the surrounding wooded activities."

Kid-friendly activities: Some campgrounds schedule special weekend events. "They have activities on the weekends. We stayed in a pull through site and it was not very level (we had planned to not even unhook from the truck but had too bc of this) looks like a lot of seasonal campers here but maintained very well."

Educational opportunities: Bring children to ranger programs when available. "The rangers have programs regularly. Lots of trails leave at the campground and also nearby. There's a touristy town nearby with more attractions...try the rafting trips from any of the companies in town."

Tips from RVers

Highway accessibility: Most campgrounds near Bulls Gap offer quick access from I-81. "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."

Hookup availability: Electric and water connections are common, but sewer hookups vary. "Overall was impressed with the grounds! Well kept, and huge park. Only reason for 4 stars, is no sewer hookup on site. Several Dump stations on grounds, though they are free for guests."

Site selection: Request specific sites when making reservations. "The sites in the upper curve are bigger then the ones on the hill. There are several that offer tent pads and small vehicle pads. Check your lengths and bring your leveling boards."

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 344 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.