RV campgrounds near Clinton, Tennessee range from rustic, pet-friendly parks to resorts with full amenities. Located where the Cumberland Mountains meet the Tennessee Valley at approximately 1,000 feet elevation, these camping areas typically offer year-round access with only occasional seasonal closures due to winter weather. Most campgrounds maintain gravel sites, though some premium locations feature concrete pads with dedicated outdoor living spaces.
What to do
Creek exploration: 10-15 miles from Clinton. Campers staying at Southlake RV Park appreciate the water access. "If you are wanting to fish the bank or even put in kayaks this spot is money. The tent sights are located right on a great fishing cove on Fort Loudon reserve," notes Nate H.
Off-road adventures: 30 miles from downtown Clinton. Windrock Gap Campground & RV Park provides direct access to Windrock Off-road Park. "Just a short distance from Windrock. RV sites have power and water, but are very close together, in my opinion. There are also a few tent sites and cabins. Parking for off-road vehicle trailers," says Steve V.
Historic sites: 20-30 minute drive. Visit nearby Museum of Appalachia, historic gristmills, and coal mining heritage sites. Campers from Escapees Raccoon Valley RV Park mention the convenient location. "Raccoon Valley RV park is literally just an RV park. The park was very clean and well maintained, and would be a nice place to park for a night as part of a longer trip," reports Lori H.
What campers like
Level concrete sites: Premium sites at several parks. Campers consistently mention site quality and space at Anchor Down RV Resort. "Beautiful views from all campsites, level concrete pads for easy set up. Each site has plenty of room on both sides. The staff is friendly," explains Sarah R.
Peaceful settings away from highways: 10-20 minutes from main roads. Finding quiet camping options remains important to many visitors. "This a an RV park, not a resort. It has everything you need: full hook ups, dog park, laundry. Clean, well kept and friendly. Sites are small and close, but work even for the larger rigs," notes Larry about Escapees Raccoon Valley RV Park.
Clean facilities: Multiple parks with high cleanliness ratings. Bathhouse and common area cleanliness consistently earns praise. "By far the best campground we've ever stayed at. Friendly staff and most beautiful view of Douglas lake. Bath houses and amenities are the cleanest we've ever witnessed by far," Brandon T. comments about Anchor Down RV Resort.
What you should know
Cell reception challenges: Varies by carrier and location. AT&T and Verizon typically have the strongest signals, but reception strength varies by campground. "Cell Data signal isn't great here either. I have a dual LTE router that I was only getting ATT 3G signal with normal antennas but once I connected the exterior antenna I had been waiting to install I got 4 bars ATT LTE," reports Josh J. about Southlake RV Park.
Reservation requirements: 2-6 months advance booking recommended. Popular parks often fill completely, especially during summer and fall. "It is so hard to get a reservation here, so we decided to take what we could get so we could try it out! A tip to get reservations! Call and put your name on a waiting list for the dates you need," advises Beth H. about Anchor Down RV Resort.
Road access considerations: Some parks have challenging approaches. Mountain campgrounds may have steep approach roads. One camper at Dumplin Valley Farm RV Park noted, "Made reservations on phone, she was nice and gave directions very busy intersection of traffic to get in here."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for parks with playgrounds. River Plantation RV Resort offers numerous family activities. "Had a blast here! They have so much for the kids to do, full court basketball, tennis courts, battle ball, arcade room, and pool. Also next door to a ropes corse and close to pigeon forge," explains Nick C.
Noise considerations: Some parks enforce quiet hours strictly. Family campers should consider proximity to highways when choosing sites. "The tent spots towards the point are apparently very close to the hwy and morning commute traffic was pretty loud. It is probably not near as loud on the weekends," notes Nate H. about Southlake RV Park.
Tent camping limitations: Not all parks accept tents. Check specific park policies before booking. "Was put in a parking lot in the middle of the park with no privacy or anything. Campground felt more like a trailer park, because it was overcrowded and had many people actually living there full time," explains an anonymous reviewer about tent camping at Southlake RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategies: Request sites away from traffic. Up the Creek RV Camp earns praise for site spacing. "This is a small, quiet campground just outside the craziness of Pigeon Forge. There are no real amenities, so you need a self contained camper. It is dog friendly, clean and has many creek side sites," Anne M. reports.
Extended stay considerations: Monthly rates available at some parks. Certain parks cater to longer stays with weekly and monthly discounts. "Sites are close together, but that just makes it more neighborly. Nice laundry room with a lending library (one of my favorite features!) Easy access to the highway," Kathy mentions about Escapees Raccoon Valley RV Park.
Big rig accessibility: Limited in certain parks. RVers with larger vehicles should call ahead. "We visited Racoon Mountain camp ground for the Memorial weekend. With limited campsites open due to COVID-19 we were lucky to get a spot. We had a pull through site with minimal shade and a little closer than what we are normally use to," notes Bryan R.
