Best Campgrounds near Ocoee, TN
Campgrounds near Ocoee, Tennessee cluster along the Ocoee and Hiwassee Rivers, offering primarily developed camping options with varying amenities. The Cherokee National Forest contains several established campgrounds including Thunder Rock Campground and Chilhowee Recreation Area, which provide tent and RV sites with different levels of facilities. Adventures Unlimited Campground offers tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with approximately 60 sites. Most campgrounds in the region maintain proximity to whitewater rafting and kayaking opportunities, with several sites positioned directly along river corridors for water access.
Camping in the Ocoee area follows a seasonal pattern with many campgrounds operating from April through November. The Thunder Rock Campground and Parksville Lake RV Campground close during winter months, while others like Harrison Bay State Park remain open year-round. Summer brings higher occupancy rates, especially on weekends when rafting activity peaks. Road access to certain campgrounds requires navigating mountain terrain, particularly for Chilhowee Recreation Area. "Getting here was like Mr Toads wild ride. Extreme inclines full of switch backs for a long 5 miles. Very scary," noted one camper about accessing Chilhowee Recreation Area.
Riverside camping represents a defining feature throughout the Ocoee region, with multiple reviews highlighting the sound of flowing water as a key attraction. Campsites along the Ocoee River tend to be situated near popular whitewater sections, making them convenient for paddlers but sometimes subject to road noise from Highway 64. "The campground is right on the river, and you can actually hear the river flowing nearby. The sites are fairly wooded, spacious, and all we saw were very level," according to one visitor's experience at Gee Creek Campground. Tent and RV sites throughout the area typically include fire rings and picnic tables, with varying levels of privacy between sites. Campgrounds like Thunder Rock provide direct river access suitable for kayakers putting in directly from their campsites, while others feature hiking trail connections to the surrounding Cherokee National Forest trail system.
