Cherokee National Forest is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Cherokee National Forest, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
$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."
"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."
"Nolichucky Gorge is right next to USA Raft, same road, same entrance to the left. Veteran owned and well maintained. The staff is friendly and professional. River view sites, other sites and cabins."
"This is a great spot located right next to USA Raft. There are a handful of tent only riverside camping spots with RV sites set back from the river."
$10 / night
"Having both RV and tent campgrounds, each with large fire pits and lantern stands, this peaceful creekside setting lies just beyond low mountain farms in the northern part of Greene County Tennessee."
"Nice trails."
"Good trails along the rolling hills and creeks. Very simple rustic site with very little facilities. Pros: very wooded and private large campsites, babbling creek, outhouses."
"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."
$75 / night
"Very close to many trails. Clean showers and bathrooms. Loved it."
"Came to stay at this campground because we wanted to do some hiking nearby that we haven't done in FOREVER!"
"The road intersects with the Appalachian trail so you might meet up with some thru hikers. I recommend walking all the way up to rich mountain fire tower."
"Good access and hand full of spots scattered around on NFR 31. Please pack in what you pack out."
ScoutWhat a great experience for the whole family and kids and enjoyed the privacy water was a little cold this time of year but I had a great fire next to the river Under the Stars roasting s'mores
ScoutWe stayed at Site 1 and it was lovely. The rushing water (mini waterfall?) is the highlight of the site and our stay. There is much privacy between sites and the hosts visited and made us feel welcome. The obvious tent site is quite sloped and if we stay again, we will set up closer to the road to find a more level spot. The tree canopy by the water allowed us to enjoy a bonfire even in a light rain. The composting toilet is a bit of a walk so we mostly took care of business at our site in our luggable loo. There did not seem to be a trash receptacle on site so we took our garbage home for disposal. Apparently this site is also listed on Hip Camp and there seems to be a reservation integration challenge. They were double booked for the site on the second night but the second party was accommodated by a space in the pasture.
GuideHands down the best KOA we’ve camped.
GuideIf you need a decent place to tent camp in the city for brief period, this is a quaint tucked away place. The host managers are extremely nice. The tent campground itself is quite small and sites are very close to each other. Fire pits, tent pads, shady, WiFi, water, power, hot showers, firewood available, relatively quiet from road noise, secure. Buffering the campground from the main busy road is an RV section. $30 night for tent camping.
ScoutSpent 10 days here and was amazing. You will never find a nicer camp host and the spot was immaculate. Easy access with ducks(with babies). geese.turkeys and a large assortment of birds. Had a really nice time here and is very close to Asheville and Black Mountain. Highly recommend
Ed
TravelerCampsite was great for our two day stay. Dog friendly, they delivered firewood to my site after I paid, and the staff was very friendly and helpful.
GuideWe often camp in and around the Linville Gorge area, mostly in the primitive campsites down in the Gorge on Linville River.
We stayed before Hurricane Helene but haven't been back since then.
There are primitive sites along the foot trail (Linville Gorge Trail) but you still need to call to let the park ranger/main office know when you're planning to camp and provide how many people will be camping.
There are not great tent sites along the trail since it's at the bottom of the Gorge (not much flat ground and rocky). But there are some nice spots further south from Linville Falls. We usually hammock camp and trees hanging has more options.
Hiking out is moderate to hard as it's straight up through switchbacks and good elevation gain.
Pack everything out and practice LNT in this area. You may also be able to trout fish in Linville River if it's trout season and you're licensed. Speckled and Rainbow trout are beautiful in this area. Most fall within the 8-12 inch range. Check bait restrictions. It's almost always no live bait allowed when we've camped there.
ScoutFYI - this is not showing as closed on NFS site - right after the North Mills River Campground Yellow Gap road is gated and closed due to damage from Helene in Sep 2024. A call to Pisgah Forest Service office confirmed it may be quite a bit before it is opened up as there are other priority areas they are currently working on.
TravelerThis place is awesome! Great location on a river, quiet, well maintained… even has a Gatlinburg trolley stop on the grounds so makes day trips into the town easy!
Camping near Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, or just relax in nature, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. With a variety of campgrounds and activities, there's something for everyone!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Cherokee National Forest offers a wide range of camping options, with 379 campgrounds and RV parks near Cherokee National Forest and 27 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cherokee National Forest is Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 20 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 free dispersed camping spots near Cherokee National Forest.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 31 parks near Cherokee National Forest that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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