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Best Campgrounds near Del Rio, TN

2,494 Reviews

Camping in the Del Rio area of Tennessee includes both primitive and developed options, with sites set among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Round Mountain Campground, located in Del Rio, offers rustic tent and RV camping from April to November in a secluded forest setting. Other nearby options include Long Creek Haven with riverside sites and Fox Fire Riverside Campground along the Pigeon River in Hartford, about 15 minutes from Del Rio. The region encompasses both National Forest and National Park lands with varying levels of development.

The camping season typically runs from spring through fall, with most developed campgrounds closing for winter. Round Mountain Campground features basic amenities with vault toilets but no drinking water, making it suitable for self-sufficient campers. Many visitors note the rustic nature of camping in this area, particularly at the National Forest sites. Water levels on the Pigeon River can fluctuate significantly due to controlled releases from nearby dams, particularly affecting riverside campgrounds. A camper noted, "Very primitive campground but great for a night's stay while exploring the Pisgah National Forest."

Several visitors highlight the tranquility of camping in the Del Rio area, particularly at Round Mountain where the forested setting creates a secluded experience. One visitor described it as "very cool, rustic, and secluded" while noting its convenient location just a few miles from panoramic views at Max Patch. Riverside campsites receive consistently positive reviews, with campers appreciating the sound of flowing water. The area provides good access to hiking trails in both the Cherokee National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Though some campgrounds are relatively basic in terms of amenities, the natural setting compensates with scenic beauty, creek access, and forest surroundings. Road noise can be an issue at campgrounds near Interstate 40, though many find the sound of flowing water helps mask this disturbance.

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Best Camping Sites Near Del Rio, Tennessee (503)

    1. Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    70 Reviews
    Cosby, TN
    15 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."

    2. Hot Springs Campground

    29 Reviews
    Hot Springs, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 622-7676

    "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."

    3. Greenbrier Campground

    70 Reviews
    Gatlinburg, TN
    25 miles
    Website

    $35 - $258 / night

    "Had a blast at The Greenbrier Campground in Gatlinburg Tennessee. We had a view of the river which was right next to.our campsite."

    "The campground is surrounded by a little river so many sites have river views. Most are relatively spacious. There are also a few spots on the road side of the island. The amenities were spotless."

    4. Fox Fire Riverside Campground

    12 Reviews
    Hartford, TN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (502) 641-5369

    $30 - $40 / night

    "This is a great little campground in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee."

    "Plenty of area to walk the dog and a nice open field with a pavilion you could use for groups. The tent area was down by the river and was absolutely beautiful."

    5. Triple Creek Campground

    13 Reviews
    Cosby, TN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 465-3060

    "NIce campground with a gated entrance, very safe. Beautiful location. Excellent tent sites on creek. RV sites are ok, narrow and your fire ring is so close to next RV, we were uncomfortable using it."

    "Triple Creek Campground lives up to it’s name being surrounded by 3 Creeks. We stayed here over Labor Day weekend in 2020 and although it was completely full, it didn’t feel crowded."

    6. Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    14 Reviews
    Hartford, TN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 436-1261

    $30 / night

    "The camp is beautiful and you are surrounded by the magical sounds of rushing water. There are two creeks nearby, one big and one small. We spent one day simply enjoying the campground."

    "Many sites have direct access to the creek where you can cool off on a hot day. Plenty of trails near campground. Parking was not far from site."

    7. Cataloochee Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    31 Reviews
    Maggie Valley, NC
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 497-9270

    $30 / night

    "The Tennessee and NC sides each have great things to offer. Just feel that the NC side has more smaller campgrounds and is generally a little more quiet and laid back. Go NC!"

    "This: Access to Cataloochee is via a narrow, winding, mountain road. A 3-mile stretch of gravel road contains many narrow, blind curves."

    8. Round Mountain

    6 Reviews
    Del Rio, TN
    7 miles
    Website

    $7 / night

    "picnic table, rocky terrain, a legit fire ring with two grill options, and a nice packed tent pad didn’t get lucky tonight as far as neighbors go, super loud and annoying groups at two of the sites nearby"

    9. Long Creek Haven

    4 Reviews
    Del Rio, TN
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (407) 416-2744

    $35 - $55 / night

    "Perfect spot near the national forest and not too far from the great Smokey mountains national park. The property has flat spots to park your rig right next to the creek and it’s very peaceful."

    "Close to lots of attractions and easy to find. Oh…and they’re right about the showers."

    10. Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    124 Reviews
    Gatlinburg, TN
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 430-5560

    $30 / night

    "I had the most fantastic campsite right next to the river in Elkmont."

    "We stayed 3 nights so we could hike the surrounding trails! Loved learning about the history of the area while checking out the old cabins."

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Recent Camping Photos near Del Rio, TN

1053 Photos of 503 Del Rio Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Del Rio, TN

2494 Reviews of 503 Del Rio Campgrounds

  • Kc K.
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Cherokee Dam Campground — Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

    Peaceful and beautiful

    Small quiet campground. Site is on the water, but with the hill and trees it isn't easily accessible. Quick walk over to the boat ramp and swim area. This site as a little snug I snug to back into with a tree on my each side and a downhill drive. But overall it is great.

  • Ryan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Beauty Spot Gap on Unaka Mountain

    Not a rv spot

    Place pretty busy. Its more of a trail head parking lot. Good tent camping if you hike down the trail

  • Zach L.
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Appalachian Springs Outdoor Resort

    October in the Smokey Mountains

    This is an amazing campsite spot. Minutes outside Pigeon Forge you're close to sites, shops, and anything you need. A short drive to the park and Blue Ridge Parkway. The spaces are easily accessible with options for any setup. Incredibly affordable so great value. The best campsite bathrooms I've ever seen, seriously immaculate bathrooms. Digital processes for registration and check in made it very easy to book. Staff was super helpful and very responsive to texts if you need anything.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2025

    Mount Pisgah Campground

    October camping experience

    Well I checked when peak leaf season was supposed to occur and what to expect from temperatures. I also appreciate information from those that camped here. We were in site B26 interior of the loop. Unfortunately we weren’t able to get outside loop from the showers to the end. Interior from the showers to site 21 were okay. Ours on the other hand was one of the worst we’ve had. You had a steep 7 step down to picknick table and firepit. It was also in a low sumac shrub area that had a distinct smell. Campground was clean and facilities were well maintained. NPS staff were present despite the current shutdown in Washington! Limited cell service at the site. Best just up the parkway to the Mt. Pisgah picnic area parking lot.

    While we did hit peak color, I didn’t think that the cold front would be as intense. Temperature dropped below freezing and during the night it felt like gale force winds buffeting the GO. Definitely will pick a lower elevation for camping if it’s in October!

  • Katie B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2025

    Upper Cove Creek - UCC2 Dispersed

    Okay spot

    Avery Road was closed so we ended up here. Not a whole lot of sites in the forest here. This site was fine, nothing special, but nothing bad. There’s a shallow creek that runs next to this spot.

  • SunnyLake
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Lakeside RV Resort & Marina

    Great Place with Great People

    Under new ownership, this little campground is wonderful.  Easy access and close to the activities on Douglas Lake or a quick drive into Sevierville, Pigeon Forge - Dollywood, and the Great Smoky Mountains.  The views from the lake are amazing and the campground hosts are so helpful and available.  Clean and fun!  Love it here!

  • Laur H.
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Clabough's Campground

    Good for families

    Our stay was good. It was our first time camping in Pigeon Forge, we usually stay closer to Nashville in state parks. The campsites are extremely close together - everyone is packed in like sardines. We knew it would be tight from when we looked at the map when booking but whew - if you don’t know your neighbors, you will! This seems par for the course in the area. The location here compared to attractions in PF was so convenient it made it worth it.

    We really appreciated the amenities - the bath house was super clean and the laundry room was nice. We loved that the campground picks up trash daily. There was an issue with the sewer in the area where we were and the campground was quick to resolve it. We also appreciated having campground staff escort us to our site so we did not have to wander with a map.

    The playground is big and nice, and my nephew loved the bouncy pillow. The pool and lazy river looked really neat but we didn’t have swim gear with us since it’s fall, although we saw some people swimming so maybe it is heated?

    On the other hand - The staff does not answer any email inquiries, apparently. The cancellation policy is really awfully strict. We didn’t necessarily feel super welcomed at check in.

    There seem to be a LOT of long-term/permanent residents here. That always makes me uncomfortable since I feel like I’m in other peoples space, but no one was unfriendly. It did seem like the rules (which I read carefully prior to arrival) are selectively applied.

    Overall it was a good trip and we wouldn’t be opposed to staying here again, but this definitely isn’t our preferred type of campground.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Grumpy Bear Campground

    Nice but small

    The attraction here is the river. It is absolutely gorgeous. Riverside are small and close together.

Guide to Del Rio

Camping near Del Rio, Tennessee, offers a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With beautiful landscapes and a variety of campgrounds, there's something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RV enthusiast seeking adventure.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Many campers rave about the breathtaking views and well-maintained paths. One visitor at Elkmont Campground shared, "We did one of our hikes from our site—the Little River Trail to Cucumber Gap—and it was beautiful."
  • Fishing: The rivers around Del Rio are perfect for fishing. A camper at Greenbrier Campground mentioned, "The river ran close enough to our site that we didn't feel like we needed a premium spot. Plenty of spots for swimming or tubing if you drop in upstream."
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. A camper at Cosby Campground noted, "There is something like 150 sites, but there was only 12 sites filled when we got there. We were in A20 and had that whole side of A loop to ourselves."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-kept restrooms and showers. One visitor at Anchor Down RV Resort said, "This is an exceptional campground with great flat, concrete pads, fireplaces, super clean bathrooms/showers."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Many campgrounds cater to families. A reviewer at Greenbrier Campground mentioned, "Spent Labor Day weekend there. Awesome trip! Super clean campground and showers. Lots for the kids to do."
  • Beautiful Scenery: The natural beauty of the area is a big draw. A camper at Cataloochee Campground remarked, "It is really secluded and separated from the majority of the park."

What you should know:

  • Limited Privacy: Some campgrounds have sites that are close together. A visitor at Balsam Mountain Campground noted, "When we arrived, we loved the remote location, however, when you say close together, they are very, very close together."
  • No Showers at Some Sites: Not all campgrounds offer shower facilities. A camper at Cosby Campground mentioned, "The bathrooms were adequate—sinks and toilets and cleaned daily (no showers)."
  • Wildlife Encounters: Be prepared for wildlife, especially bears. A camper at Cataloochee Campground shared, "We saw a mama bear and two cubs, a few elk, and a lot of turkey."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and organized activities. A family at Greenbrier Campground enjoyed, "There were bounce houses, multiple playgrounds, a gagaball court, volleyball court, basketball court, game room."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or check if the campground has a store. A camper at Hot Springs Campground said, "The campground has many amenities including an indoor pool and hot tub."
  • Safety First: Teach kids about wildlife safety. A camper at Smokemont Campground noted, "We had a stream that runs through the back of the site that our kids loved."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A visitor at Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA mentioned, "The campground is very close to everything, and it has all the amenities you'd need."
  • Book Early: Popular campgrounds can fill up fast, especially in peak season. A camper at Anchor Down RV Resort said, "Three visits, and this is a destination for our family."
  • Be Prepared for Crowds: Some campgrounds can be busy, especially on weekends. A visitor at Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA noted, "It was completely sold out. It's a very busy campground with close together spaces."

Camping around Del Rio, TN, offers a mix of adventure and relaxation. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, there's a spot waiting for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Del Rio, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Del Rio, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 503 campgrounds and RV parks near Del Rio, TN and 26 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Del Rio, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Del Rio, TN is Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 70 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Del Rio, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 free dispersed camping spots near Del Rio, TN.

What parks are near Del Rio, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 30 parks near Del Rio, TN that allow camping, notably Cherokee National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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