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Best Campgrounds near Clinton, TN

1,683 Reviews

The Clinton, Tennessee area contains multiple campground options within a 30-mile radius, ranging from state parks to privately-owned RV resorts. Campers can find established sites at West Campground in Norris Dam State Park, Loyston Point Campground, and Clinton-Knoxville North KOA. Most camping areas offer a mix of tent and RV accommodations, with some locations like Big Ridge State Park providing cabin options as well. The surrounding landscape features lakes, rivers, and forested terrain that creates diverse camping environments. Several campgrounds feature waterfront sites along area lakes and reservoirs, including Melton Hill Dam, operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Seasonal considerations impact campground accessibility, with many sites operating from March through October. Frozen Head State Park Campground, located about 40 miles west of Clinton, maintains a shorter season from March 15 to November 1. Full hookup sites for RVs are available at multiple locations, while tent-only areas typically provide more primitive amenities. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holiday periods. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with several campgrounds having limited or no coverage. One camper noted, "The only issue that we had with this site was the fact that there was no cell service at all. You have to drive outside of the park into Gatlinburg to find service."

Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews from visitors to the Clinton area. Melton Hill Dam Campground offers swimming access that appeals to families, while Loyston Point Campground provides boat-in sites for those arriving by water. Several campers mention the convenience of Clinton's camping options for exploring nearby attractions. According to one visitor, "When passing through this area going to the Smoky Mountains I made a pit stop in Clinton, TN, just a few short miles away from one of the entrances to Smoky Mountain National Park." The region's mixed-use campgrounds accommodate various camping styles, with some locations like TVA Public Land-Fork Bend offering free primitive camping. Visitors particularly appreciate campgrounds that provide a combination of natural settings with reasonable proximity to area attractions.

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Best Camping Sites Near Clinton, Tennessee (306)

    1. West Campground — Norris Dam State Park

    29 Reviews
    Lake City, TN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 425-4500

    "We stayed at the main area but not much space or privacy so we put up a tent out side our door, but then moved to the tent camping site area the second night which was more secluded and private, but still"

    "There is a lake, so naturally that means there is boating, jet skiing, canoeing and of course fishing."

    2. Cove Lake State Park Campground

    25 Reviews
    La Follette, TN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 566-9701

    $25 - $55 / night

    "Great location just off I75, close to easy shopping (Walmart), Urgent Care facility just minutes away, nice BBQ place right in the park, local eatery’s just up the way (less than 2 miles)."

    "Our site is nice and right on the lake but it’s a little odd the way the sites are. Our neighbors site is next to us but there table and fire pit are behind our rig."

    3. Volunteer Park Family Campground

    13 Reviews
    Heiskell, TN
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 938-6600

    $30 - $65 / night

    "Bathrooms and Showers with hot water. 20 minutes outside Knoxville and extremely quiet."

    "The campsite is nestled in trees and conveniently located to the Knoxville area. They have a small store for small forgotten items as well as a place to fill propane."

    4. Big Ridge State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Maynardville, TN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 992-5523

    $8 - $100 / night

    "I’ve stayed at this site a couple times now and I love the location. The site is a short and easy hike (under 2 miles) from the parking lot via the Lake Trail to the Dark Hollow Trail."

    "Close to the bathhouse and a quick walk to the entrance to get to the store, swim area, etc."

    5. Loyston Point Campground

    18 Reviews
    Andersonville, TN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 494-9369

    "The staff is warm and helpful, it’s incredibly clean, and the surroundings really allow you to feel the love of East Tennessee’s beauty."

    "Stayed at a premium lakeshore site on Norris Lake. Advertised as a pull through, but that must be for travel trailers, as I have an RV."

    6. Melton Hill Dam Campground — Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

    29 Reviews
    Lenoir City, TN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 361-0436

    $18 - $31 / night

    "We really enjoyed Milton Hill dam, very friendly people , well stocked store, easy access to swimming and fishing and full hook up sites if you want them."

    "We made a last minute trip to Melton Hill that was very conveniently located just outside of Knoxville. The campsite offers several options for camping along the water or in the woods."

    7. Clinton-Knoxville North KOA

    6 Reviews
    Norris, TN
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 494-9386

    "When passing through this area going to the Smoky Mountains I made a pit stop in Clinton, TN, just a few short miles away from one of the entrances to Smoky Mountain National Park."

    "A great stop right off the highway. Super nice staff, easy in and out (make sure you pay attention to the left turn in past the gas station). Not the roomiest of sites, but fine for what we needed."

    8. Escapees Raccoon Valley RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Heiskell, TN
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 947-9776

    $23 - $30 / night

    "Easy access to the highway."

    9. Frozen Head State Park Campground

    32 Reviews
    Petros, TN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 346-3318

    "The campground is in close proximity to many of the trailheads. There is a nice bathhouse, but all the sites are rustic (non electric)."

    "It may be the loveliest campground in Tennessee. There’s only 20 spots, and they all seem to be shady and have trees between neighbors."

    10. TVA Public Land- Fork Bend

    11 Reviews
    La Follette, TN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 632-2101

    "I recently learned that TVA land is free to camp on, so I sought out some close to me and found Fork Bend. If you want to get away from people, this place is for you."

    "Locals do roll through on their ATVs/off roading vehicles, but no one ever fired any weapon systems while I was there."

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Recent Camping Photos near Clinton, TN

563 Photos of 306 Clinton Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Clinton, TN

1683 Reviews of 306 Clinton Campgrounds

  • Sarah and Philip H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Knoxville Campground

    Great Pass through Campground not for staying long term

    Location was great to get to lots of things but campsites are very tight and no room for an actual camping feel.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Yarberry Campground

    Beautiful views

    Even the non-lake site spots have lake views. Lots of nice amenities, but still rustic. My site was a little tough to back into, but worth it.

  • B
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Fooshee Pass Campground

    beautiful and peaceful

    It was perfect weekend getaway, the camp ground wasn’t full, bathrooms clean, the camp ground was clean. The sites along the water were amazing, and the sites were level.

  • Mary D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Frozen Head State Park Campground

    Forever a Special Place

    I have been camping at Frozen Head since I was a child. In fact, I went to my first day of Kindergarten from the campsite. The campground is wooded and perfect for that woodsy camp feel. There are so many hiking trails around I absolutely loved the little library they had. This last trip, we stayed in the primitive site and loved being next to a little creek. There is no wifi and no cell phone reception.

  • Mary D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Anderson County Park

    Amazing Site!

    This is one of my new absolute favorite sites yet! While a majority of the campground is long-term, the sites along water are not. This specific spot was huge and next to a wooded area and nature walk and, in my opinion, the best site in the whole campground! The bathhouse was small, but functional and clean. The campground host was exceptionally friendly. No wifi. I have US Cellular and had limited service. Enough to maybe look something up and receive texts.

  • Jessi B.
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Soaring Eagle Campground

    Huge disappointment

    !Infested with termites! They price gouge. The lots are basically right on top of each other(some spots are not big enough for slide outs). The check-in lady is very condescending and will rob you blind while wearing the biggest smile. There's cornhole, a basketball hoop, and a volleyball net, but they are all falling apart or are inaccessible. No fire rings at your site. There's a huge hive of ground nesting bees by the picnic tables that are set up next to the pool. The pool area is also the only area in which you can access a fire ring. The lake is beautiful and is accessible to boats. Low riding cars beware of double speed bump and sinking concrete. There is no bathroom for the pool area. The maintenance man seems a bit unfriendly. They do not honor their online rates. 😒 We also had to move from a spot that we were already paying for bc she reserved it out from under us. I-40 echoes through the campsite. We were constantly woken up by j braking semis and emergency service vehicles. We will definitely not be visiting again.

  • Allissa F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    One night stay

    Right on Little River. The view and sound was so enjoyable. The restroom is a couple minute walk away, very convenient. Zero signal for Att (for signal, take a right out of the campground heading toward Gatlinburg. There’ll be a Pulloff with a view on the left, pull in and use your phone if needed).

  • 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.

Guide to Clinton

Camping options near Clinton, Tennessee span several state parks and privately-owned facilities within a 30-minute drive radius. The region sits at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains with elevations ranging from 800 to 1,200 feet. Most campgrounds in this area are open year-round, though winter camping requires preparation for overnight temperatures that can drop below freezing from December through February.

What to do

Hiking trails and mountain biking: Frozen Head State Park offers challenging hiking with multiple trail options. "There is excellent and serious hiking and backpacking here. The campground is rustic but taken care of and I'm told it was renovated recently. Like most of this area it's very wooded, green, and lovely with streams, waterfalls, etc. Park rangers were particularly helpful choosing hikes," notes Dan N. from Frozen Head State Park Campground.

Water activities on Norris Lake: Fork Bend provides direct water access for swimming and paddling. "Norris lake is so beautiful. We drove a car and took our time going down the dirt road. There were no problems going in or out. There were some deep ruts but it was easy to avoid them. We're going back out again next weekend and this time we're bringing the fishing rods," reports Pinky S. from TVA Public Land- Fork Bend.

Historical sites and museums: Big Ridge State Park offers cultural sites beyond camping. "The park is beautiful! Views of the lake and dam are breathtaking! Just don't plan to swim, as there is no lake access point for swimming. You can rent kayaks, boats, paddleboards, etc at the marina, but if you were planning to bring a float and get in the lake, you'll be disappointed. There's lots of hiking trails," writes Lori H.

What campers like

Lakefront camping experiences: Loyston Point provides direct water access. "Loyston Point is remarkable in its beauty and simplicity. The staff is warm and helpful, it's incredibly clean, and the surroundings really allow you to feel the love of East Tennessee's beauty. It is a bit sandy on some water front sites, so be mindful of that for your gear," explains Michael M. from Loyston Point Campground.

Clean facilities and amenities: Cove Lake State Park maintains well-kept restrooms and camping areas. "Nice State Park Campground. Easy access, one mile off I-75. Sites were fairly close but still a nice experience. Along the lake. Clean bathrooms, showers, elec hook ups, water hook ups and dump station available and all working well. We enjoyed it as a quick stop," shares Michael S. from Cove Lake State Park Campground.

Free camping options: Some TVA lands offer no-cost camping. "Completely free primitive camping. Me and my boyfriend had a difficult time finding the place at first. The coordinates took us to a Bible school. To get to the right place, start on Demory Road take a right onto Jim Lee Road then take the second left to get back into the public land area, follow the dirt road all the way down to the water front where you'll find numerous campsites all spread out perfectly," advises Tamara.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Clinton, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Clinton, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 306 campgrounds and RV parks near Clinton, TN and 9 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Clinton, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Clinton, TN is West Campground — Norris Dam State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 29 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Clinton, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Clinton, TN.

What parks are near Clinton, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 32 parks near Clinton, TN that allow camping, notably Cumberland Gap National Historic Park and Croatan National Forest.

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