25 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Lost Creek Campground in Cherokee National Forest allows pets at all 14 primitive campsites along a clear, flowing creek. Located 7 miles down a gravel forest road outside Reliance, this free camping area provides concrete picnic tables, fire rings, and tent platforms with some sites offering direct creek access. Each campsite accommodates tents and small RVs with relatively private spacing between sites. The campground features a pit toilet facility that campers report is generally well-maintained, though bringing hand sanitizer is recommended as there is no running water. First-come, first-served sites fill quickly on weekends despite the remote location. The quiet environment creates an ideal setting for camping with dogs, though some visitors note occasional barking from hunting dogs during certain seasons.
The Benton McKaye hiking trail runs directly beside Lost Creek, offering excellent pet exercise options. Top of the World RV near Tellico Plains provides another pet-friendly option with spacious sites featuring full hookups including 50-amp electric, water, and sewer connections. This mountaintop campground delivers panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains with enough space between sites to provide privacy while walking pets. The campground is easily accessible from Highway 68, though the road features some steep grades and curves that may challenge longer rigs. No Verizon cell service is available at either campground, with Top of the World offering limited WiFi. The Cherokee National Forest surrounding these campgrounds provides numerous dog-friendly hiking trails and fishing spots, making the area ideal for outdoor recreation with pets.
"Campsites are close to one another. If you camp at a site near the water, it is really nice, but everyone will walk by your campsite so they can go down the path to the river."
"Easy access off Hwy 64, so close to stores for food and firewood. Well maintained campsite with clean bathrooms and very clean, nice showers. Alcohol prohibited as think county is dry."
Available this weekend
from $12 - $20 / night
"Bath house is relatively nice for a state park campground. 1 mile walking path surrounding the grounds is nice. Safe area for bicycle riding. Great proximity to many outdoor activities."
"This sweet state park campground is tucked into a spot along Gee Creek, which is great for boating, fishing, and swimming in the summertime heat of Tennessee. "
Available this weekend
"Best thing to us was the hiking trail that we walked with fresh blueberry bushes on our side. Fairly easy trail to see beautiful waterfall. Pet friendly"
"Well-maintained, pet-friendly, and close access to lots of great trails. There is a nearby lake, perfect for swimming."
Available this weekend
from $12 - $30 / night
"It's in the middle of nowhere (7 miles down a gravel forest road), surrounded by forest, with easy creek access (some sites are right beside the creek), and the Benton McKaye trail running directly beside"
"This little site was a great get away, except for the dogs. We chose a spot next to the creek. Was clear and flowing due to a lot of rain the few days before we arrived."
"While I was walking my dogs, a truck drove the wrong way in the loop to get to his spot. A camp host quickly reminded him to drive the right way."
"Each site is a good distance away from the other and there is the constant sound of the creek flowing right next to it. The bathrooms are clean and right in the middle a perfect spot for a getaway"
Available this weekend
from $20 - $40 / night
"The 3.5 mile trail around the lake is a good little walk for the dogs. Highly recommend this campground."
"The lake is great for kayaking and swimming, with an easy trail around the perimeter. The gorgeous Cherohala Skyway is very close by (highly recommend!)."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 / night
"New construction but very nice and the makings of a well maintained location. Not much area for pets or stuff for kiddos yet."
"Great spot to wander a little with a pet & great WiFi. Bring your computer so you can stream whatever TV or movies you want. Close to grocery stores & TONS of mountain goodness."
Available this weekend
from $50 - $60 / night
"This is a beautiful secluded site just off of Highway 64/74 not too far from the Tennessee border. The campground is very well kept and has wonderful amenities for both RV and tent campers."
"I don't have a huge point of reference, but I can give you details on everything that was smooth
- Location - Just off a 4 lane highway. Convenient with easy access to your site. "
from $55 - $900 / night
"Camped on lot 14 which was quite spacious with easy access to the water. Tent was located away from the fire pit and picnic table and the restrooms were close by."
"We were right next to the camp host, which was pretty nice – we didn’t have to go far to ask for wood or ice! Plus, there were trails leading right to the lake. "
Available this weekend
from $30 - $50 / night
"Scenic views the whole drive up, followed by a safe, cozy campground with clean facilities and a great grouping of trails."
"The campsite was clean, and our site was a good distance from other campers. The campground has a nice hike to Benton Falls which is beautiful."
from $12 - $20 / night
GuideLeft Pigeon Forge Tn. GPS took us on an adventure, route 129 The Tail of the Dragon 318 curves switchback and hairpins I was nervous but slayed it. Lol. Peachtree Cove RV Park is perfect for quiet camping. Dog run area stream or river at most sites. I had a reservation at Andrew’s Valley Railway Tour highly recommend both of these
ScoutI camped here with a friend last weekend and absolutely loved this place! It's a cute little site with a great host, clean bathrooms, free firewood, and super friendly dogs, goats, and people. I would for sure stay here again and recommend.
GuideParksville Lake RV Campground is an absolute gem! I had a fantastic stay here. The campground is beautifully maintained, and the sites are nice, spacious, and wonderfully shaded by the trees. We loved the layout of the RV loop, especially the outer section where a peaceful creek flows right past the sites—the sound of the water at night was perfect. The restrooms and showers were exceptionally clean and well-kept. I had Starlink connectivity at my site and my WeBoost cell signal booster gave me up to three bars on AT&T. The campground host was incredibly nice, welcoming, and helpful. It's a wonderful, relaxing spot, and I will definitely be back!
GuideA sign on the gate says that the area has been closed "due to vandalism and unauthorized activity".
GuideThis is one of several USFS campgrounds that are within a few miles of each other. The cost is only $8/night, first come first served. The sites are fairly large with about half of them on a wide, clear creek. There is no running water, but there are bear proof trash cans and vault toilets that were fairly clean, but didn't smell great.
There is free potable water and an RV dump station about a mile away at the North River Game Checking Station on River Road near the Spivey Cove campground..
The campsite was clean with picnic table, fire ring, and a lantern post. The fire ring was almost full of ashes and it appears that campers have to clean them out themselves.
The Green Cove Angler store is a couple miles away and has ice, firewood and other camper things.
Unfortunately, while we were there, it was bear hunting season and another camper had multiple barking and baying dogs that went on and on for hours.
ScoutBeautiful view on the water. Not very full, which was nice. I came for some quiet and privacy and while it worked, there were just some that were very social. Haha
TravelerWater was very low and poor quality. Host was friendly but don’t buy his wood - it doesn’t burn well. County water tasted funny, probably minimal treatment. We had quite a hike to the restroom, which wasn’t regularly cleaned.
ScoutBeautiful Campground, but Absolutely NOT Family-Friendly! I rarely leave negative reviews this strongly, but our experience at Turkey Creek Campground was so disappointing that I feel compelled to warn other families. First, I’ll give credit where it’s due. The campground is beautifully maintained, and the creekside sites are incredibly peaceful and serene. It’s a lovely setting, and during the day, the owner is friendly enough and seemingly hospitable. Unfortunately, the hospitality comes to a screeching halt the moment the clock strikes 10 PM.
We were two families camping together with six well-behaved kids who absolutely love the outdoors. We understand and respect campground quiet hours. We weren’t looking to throw parties, blast music, or disturb anyone. But apparently, at Turkey Creek,“quiet hours” doesn’t mean keeping noise to a respectful minimum. It means absolute silence, complete darkness, and seemingly no normal human activity whatsoever.
I’m not exaggerating.
* We were told to turn off ALL our lights at 10 PM.
* We were confronted for opening our vehicle’s trunk because it made a brief beeping sound.
* Our children were startled by a large spider near the bathhouse, and the owner actually yelled at them to be quiet.
* One evening around 11 PM, we were talking quietly INSIDE OUR OWN TENT, barely above a whisper, when the owner approached our tent door to reprimand us for talking.
* On another occasion, he approached us to complain that our children had left TWO STICKS on the ground near the bathrooms. Two sticks! At a campground surrounded by woods, where the kids had just walked down a wooded trail to reach the bathhouse!
And don’t even think about enjoying a little background music while sitting around your campsite. Music of any kind played through a speaker is prohibited, regardless of volume. Apparently, even a little John Denver played quietly while enjoying the mountains is too much to ask. I fully appreciate that some people camp specifically for peace and quiet. We respect that, too. But there is a massive difference between enforcing reasonable quiet hours and making paying guests feel like they’re constantly being watched, monitored, and reprimanded for simply existing. The owner’s enforcement of these rules felt excessive, confrontational, and completely out of proportion to what was actually happening.
Instead of relaxing and enjoying our family vacation, we found ourselves walking on eggshells, worried that the smallest sound, light, or ordinary childhood behavior would result in another confrontation. What makes this particularly frustrating is that our kids were doing exactly what we’d hope children would do on a camping trip: spending time outside, exploring nature, enjoying each other’s company, and making memories away from screens. Yet somehow, even that seemed unwelcome. If we hadn’t already paid for five nights, we would have packed up and left after the very first night. That’s how uncomfortable the experience became.
If you are someone who wants a meticulously maintained campground where everyone retires to complete silence and darkness by 10 PM, Turkey Creek might be perfect for you. But if you’re a family hoping to enjoy a campfire, share some laughs, quietly socialize in the evening, and let your children experience the simple joys of camping, I cannot recommend this place strongly enough AGAINST it.
There are so many beautiful campgrounds in this area, and I cannot imagine choosing to return somewhere that made our families feel so unwelcome. Beautiful property. Extremely disappointing hospitality. Absolutely terrible experience for families. We will never return.
ScoutCalled the day of to ask if we could camp and set up after hours for that day and the next the lady told me yes i could pay in the morning i got here set up that night woke up around 8 am to go pay and reserve my campsite for the day and she told me they were booked even though she had told me the day before she had plenty of campsites. Then tried to tell me the only one she had was a $75 site for 4 people which is absolutely insane. She made snarky remarks and was overall incompetent in making sure the guests receive the right information the first time. Absolutely zero care that we set up not even 12 hours before to make us take it down and leave.
The Cherokee National Forest region surrounding Farner, Tennessee averages 59 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forest conditions and numerous waterways ideal for dog owners. Most campgrounds sit at elevations between 1,300-1,600 feet, with mountain peaks reaching 5,000 feet in the area. Camping season typically runs April through November, though several dog friendly campgrounds near Farner remain open year-round.
Hiking with dogs: The Thunder Rock Campground trails connect directly to multiple hiking paths. "The campground backs up to the river and a really great hiking trail. There's no ranger station or check in, it's self filled envelopes or registering online," notes Brittney W.
Fishing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer direct access to stocked fishing waters. At Persimmon Creek Campground, "Nice private campground with a creek and a fully stocked trout pond. You pay for what you catch but totally worth it," according to Jason A.
Lake activities: For families with pets seeking water recreation, consider shoreline areas. "There's a lake for paddling, swimming, or fishing. For those who like to hike, there is a trail around the lake. One can also use this trail for bike ridding," shares Jason J. about Indian Boundary recreation area.
Creek-side camping: Waterfront sites remain extremely popular with pet owners. "We chose a spot next to the creek. Was clear and flowing due to a lot of rain the few days before we arrived. Sites had concrete picnic tables and a pad," explains Scott E. from his stay at Lost Creek Campground.
Mountain isolation: Many campers appreciate the remote setting. "This little site was a great get away... We apparently went during hunting season. Had to have been a dog sport. Too many dogs running around and barking throughout the night. Other than that we enjoyed our stay," notes Scott E. about Lost Creek.
Panoramic views: The Top of the World RV offers exceptional mountain vistas. "Great Mountain top, RV getaway, water and electric hookup, quiet and pet friendly. Amazing views of the morning sunrise over the mountain tops," says Roy S. about this dog-friendly camping option.
Seasonal considerations: Winter camping requires preparation. "During winter campground is very quiet, no power at sites, it does have hot showers," reports Byron R. about Gee Creek Campground.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies greatly between locations. "No WiFi or AT&T cellular signal in this park. However, if you drive to any of the scenic overlooks just outside the park, you will get AT&T LTE signal," explains Manie D. from Chilhowee Campground.
Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires navigating challenging forest roads. "The lost cove campground can be found deep in the wilderness of the Cherokee National Forest outside of Benton, TN... traversing a well maintained gravel road for 7 miles," reports Gregg G. about Chilhowee Campground.
Bathroom facilities: Clean restrooms make family camping easier. "The bathhouse was very nice and the showers were warm! We even took a dip at the swimming area just a short drive from the campsite and loved that too!" shares Emerald M. about Chilhowee.
Playground access: Family-focused amenities help keep children entertained. "Very friendly staff. Clean facilities and nice playground. Whippoorwill called through the evening which was cool," reports Mickey L. from Gee Creek.
Fishing for kids: Several campgrounds offer beginner-friendly fishing. At Morganton Point, "The lake was pretty low at winter level. A friend of mine who fished still caught some both days. She said the area near the boat dock was rocky and not the muddy mess the rest of the low level lake was," according to Shelly S.
Site spacing: RV sites vary considerably in size and privacy. "HUGE spots, and that's even the 'small' ones. Great views. Great spot to wander a little with a pet & great WiFi," Mary D. shares about Top of the World RV.
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult approaches for larger rigs. "To get to this campground you have to go up a steep narrow windy mountain road. The camp sites are distanced well and the entire campground is in the shade," warns Carissa D. about Chilhowee.
Hookup limitations: Water access varies between campgrounds. "The RV sites do not have water hook-ups at each site. There is a water hook up to fill your tank as you enter the campsite area. Fill your tank and you are good to go," advises Nathan G. based on his Chilhowee experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Farner, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Farner, TN is Thunder Rock Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Farner, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 332 dog-friendly camping locations near Farner, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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