296 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Butler, Tennessee sits near the northeastern edge of Tennessee, adjacent to the Cherokee National Forest and Watauga Lake. Camping options range from developed campgrounds like Roan Mountain State Park and Dennis Cove Campground to dispersed sites along Little Stony Creek Road. The area features a mix of tent-only primitive sites, RV-accessible facilities with hookups, and cabin rentals. Several campgrounds offer direct lake or creek access, particularly around Watauga Lake, providing opportunities for fishing, paddling, and shoreline camping.
Access to camping areas varies significantly by season, with many sites closing from November through April. Roan Mountain State Park remains open year-round, while others like Cardens Bluff Campground operate from April to November. Most developed campgrounds provide potable water and restroom facilities, though amenities vary widely. Primitive camping areas often lack facilities entirely, requiring visitors to pack in water and supplies. Cell service is limited throughout the region, particularly in mountainous and forested areas. A camper noted, "There is no drinking water, picnic tables, or even pit toilet, so come prepared. The only major problem is that folks tend to leave a ton of trash around."
Waterfront camping sites receive particularly high ratings from visitors, with Watauga Lake providing multiple access points for shoreline camping. Proximity to hiking trails represents another significant draw, with the Appalachian Trail passing through nearby areas including Dennis Cove. The region's elevation creates varied experiences, from sheltered forest sites to exposed lakefront camping. Many campsites feature fire rings and basic amenities, though several reviewers mention issues with cleanliness at some locations. According to one review, "Just on the edge of Watauga Lake sits this free dispersed camping area that is perfect for tent camping only. This is a park outside the gate and walk your gear in type of place." Most developed campgrounds in the area require reservations, especially during summer weekends and fall foliage season.
"It is located in Roan Mountain Tennessee. The campground has clean bathhouses with hot showers."
"Fire pits you had to walk up to but were away from tents, which I liked. Bathhouse was clean, well lit, pretty warm showers. Campground was very clean and has a lot of amenities."
"Situated on a peninsula, Cardens Bluff has great views and access to the lake for the outer campsites."
"Booked site 13 online for the last weekend before the season ended in October 2021, but the hosts caught us at check-in and moved us to site 32, which was right next to the water."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"This campground is located about an hour or so from our home but it feels like a million miles away — in a good way!"
"**Holston Lake is absolutely beautiful. The campground is deep in the national forest, out on a series of peninsulas, making all the campsites quite close to the water."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"This campground is on a beautiful lake. There is no swimming on the lake(its pretty shallow) but awesome for kayaking and paddleboarding."
"The campground is in an excellent location, just 5-10 minutes away from downtown Blowing Rock and of course it’s right on the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway!"
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Water fill up spots are well positioned and each site has a fire ring. We stayed in spot #2 which is very close to the road, but it felt secluded and traffic is light."
"Really nice, small campground situated near several trails."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability"The positives: Location: very close to Grandfather Mountain entrance and BRP. There are plenty of stores, restaurants, antiques nearby too."
"We were next to the stream near the entrance. The facilities were very nice and you can hike right around the campground.
The campground is very close to Grandfather Mountain entrance."
from $35 - $42 / night
Check Availability"It offers RV, drive in and hike in tent sites and also teepee camping."
"There is a place to wash dishes outside as well. Fantastic walking trails - some parts quite steep but we got a good workout through the woods on the property."
from $25 - $136 / night
Check Availability"Very close to the falls to swim at and hike to (wear hiking shoes to get to the falls) over all great quiet little campground!"
from $20 - $45 / night
Check Availability"In the nearby area, there is a lot to do in natural beauty. There are a lot of trails here and many ways to enjoy them, including hiking and mountain biking."
"Campground Review: R&D Campground in Mountain City, TN is located in the far north east corner of the state almost directly in between Boone, NC and Demascus, VA."
"The campsites are set up on a very scenic mountain overlooking Watauga Lake. Every site has a personal campfire and the internet access is top notch (if you need it)."
from $65 - $80 / night
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ScoutNobody was here on Sat. Had gard time finding site. Site reserved did not have 30 amp and could not reach staff. Moved to other site hoping it would not be a problem. We were able to finally reach staff on Mon. Also no pcknick tables or fire rings.
ScoutNice camp and staff friendly. We drive the Blue Ridge Pkwy which was a bit of drive but the ride up to Mt Mitchell was beautiful. Only negative was the laundry rooms were small for a large camp like this but I made it work. Probably a bit more challenging during busy season but all that said this is a nice campground
ScoutGreat camping spot! Road isn’t horrible going up but there are some rougher areas toward the end of the road. Gorgeous sunset and sunrise spot! Fire rings seemed fairly abundant at the pull offs.
TravelerAbsolutely one of the most beautiful campgrounds that we have visited, and super clean. Such a great location for hiking and viewing the Blue Ridge Pkwy!
ScoutLet me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time. With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price
Traveler3 stars only because it says water hookups but they are far and few between communal. No spigot at individual sites. Need long hose(s)to reach the connection. Good T-Mobile 5G but too wooded for StarLink. Quiet, shady, somewhat level sites were available. $20/night.
TravelerThe road was very bumpy but I got up on my 2WD Honda Odyssey. A couple people came during the day to take photos, but the night was peaceful. A couple campsites on the drive up, less secluded though. View was gorgeous and the sunset was amazing. Amazing spot for stargazing.
ScoutMy husband and I arrived at Doe River Landing for 3 nights and enjoyed everything the resort offered. While there we read the 2 reviews posted by Kylie T, and by Andrew W, who gave the resort a 1 star rating. Not knowing the facts that caused the rating by them, and occurred prior to us, we approach the owner and asked.
The owner showed us videos from their security cameras. These adults has stated in Kylie T review and confirm by Andrew W review that they were a group of 20 adults and "every single one of us is over 21 and family". So why are these adults playing "hide and seek" under the pavilion as they stated? Andrew W stated, "It was not blocked off", yet they had to crawl on the ground and around bushes to get under the pavilion. When the owner yelled at them approximately 10 adults that were under the pavilion crawled out which was captured on the security cameras. Andrew W stated in his review the owner called them hooligans, which is rowdy, destructive persons and from the security cameras, that description is correct. There was no mention of damages in their reviews such as the Adirondack chair they broke or possible damage to the water pipes and electric wires under the pavilion, which the owner was currently checking.
Once we read these two reviews by Kylie T and Andrew W and saw the owners security videos, we felt future customers deserved to know another opinion based on our findings.
These entitled adults justified their review of a 1 star by stating they paid money to use the campground.
I would ask these adults "why do you think it is OK to treat someone else's property in this destructive way?"
GuideSeems to be a well established campground in an off the beaten path location. Roads alternately paved and gravel. The campsite is gravel in a wooded setting. Fair amount of space between sites. The bathhouse is clean but dated.
Camping near Butler, Tennessee provides access to several waterways beyond Watauga Lake, including creeks and rivers suitable for trout fishing. The region sits at elevations between 1,800 and 3,500 feet, creating cooler summer temperatures than surrounding lowland areas. Many camping areas require advanced planning as primitive sites can fill quickly during fall color season from late September through October.
Hiking to waterfalls: Dennis Cove Campground offers direct access to several waterfall trails. A camper noted, "There is also a stop-n-go near the road coming into the site," making it convenient to stock up on supplies before hitting the trails.
Fishing opportunities: Roan Mountain State Park Campground provides access to trout streams. "Lovely camp, Doe River runs through so fly fishing is available. Husband did catch a rainbow trout near group tent sites. Several small brookies near the history center," reports one visitor.
Water sports: At Little Oak Campground, visitors enjoy lake activities when weather permits. "The camp ground is well organized with many amenities including super easy access to the water on all sides and surprisingly clean bathrooms. After the boat noise dies down the lake is extremely peaceful and placid," explains a camper.
Tent sites by water: Campers at Cardens Bluff Campground appreciate waterfront access. "Situated on a peninsula, Cardens Bluff has great views and access to the lake for the outer campsites. The interior campsites are nice as well, with vegetation giving enough privacy between campsites," according to one review.
Mountain temperatures: Blue Bear Mountain Camp offers relief from summer heat. One camper explains, "The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat. Bathhouse was nice and clean."
Privacy between sites: Many visitors to Dennis Cove value the secluded nature of the campground. A review states, "Some sites are a little close together but still provide you with privacy. The bathroom (I think there is just one) is clean. The sites are clean! Lots of exploring around and the short hike is great for kids."
Limited facilities: Primitive campsites in the area often have minimal amenities. A Dennis Cove visitor explains, "It's small, remote, close to some amazing trails, and it's just quaint and beautiful. It's really for tent camping only. There is a small bathroom but no showers."
Campground hosts vary: Experiences with staff can differ significantly. A camper at R&D Campground reported, "The owners, Rita and Dennis, are very personable and engaging. We loved gathering at the pavilion. The bathrooms were the cleanest ever seen in a campground."
Reservation windows: Many campgrounds in the Butler area book up quickly during peak seasons. At Julian Price Park Campground, campers note that "Many of the sites in the A loop are reservable, and they have been reserved for several weeks (maybe months) in advance."
Beginner-friendly options: Grandfather Campground offers amenities that work well for families new to camping. "For my first time camping, we got a great location. The tent site we got, we could hear the running water from the stream. Bathroom and shower are clean and has heated water," notes a first-time camper.
Playground access: Some campgrounds include dedicated children's areas. At Roan Mountain State Park, a visitor mentioned, "It's great if you have children camping with you as well. There's a pool, playgrounds, and plenty of room to ride a bike."
Creek exploration: Children particularly enjoy sites with water features. According to a Roan Mountain visitor, "Our site was quite large and had a picnic table and a natural rock fire pit that was free of debris and trash. There was plenty of space for the hounds to roam on their long leads. A water spigot was just a short walk away."
Road access challenges: Several campgrounds have limited RV access. A Blue Bear Mountain Camp visitor warned, "The state maintained gravel road used to access campground was narrow and would be difficult to get a large camper up there, although there were lots of large ones there."
Leveling requirements: Site terrain varies significantly throughout the region. At Lake Haven Family Campground, an RVer appreciated the "Brand New, Clean, LEVEL sites with all the hookups. Great view of the mountains. Owner has done everything he can to make it a comfortable relaxing place to stay."
Limited hookup availability: Hookups are inconsistent across area campgrounds. At Little Oak Campground, an RVer mentioned, "Very kid-friendly super spacious campsites every site is right on the lake with amazing sunsets every night. Only wish they had electricity."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Butler, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Butler, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 296 campgrounds and RV parks near Butler, TN and 25 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Butler, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Butler, TN is Roan Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 50 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Butler, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 25 free dispersed camping spots near Butler, TN.
What parks are near Butler, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 30 parks near Butler, TN that allow camping, notably Cherokee National Forest and Blue Ridge Parkway.
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