3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Tent campgrounds near Farragut, Tennessee offer rustic camping experiences with varying amenities and natural settings. Poland Creek provides lakeside tent sites with boat access, while Windrock Ridge Campground features wooded tent sites across 35 designated camping areas. Rock Creek Campground in the Obed Wild and Scenic River area offers tent-only sites with access to hiking trails and water activities.
Most tent sites in the region have basic amenities with fire rings and picnic tables at established campgrounds like Young Branch Horse Camp, though primitive backcountry sites at locations like Burnt Mill Bridge Loop lack facilities. Several campgrounds including Camp Birdsong provide drinking water and toilet access, while others like TVA Public Land at Fork Bend are completely primitive. Walk-in tent sites are available at multiple locations, requiring short hikes from parking areas to reach camping spots. During summer months, shade becomes particularly important, with sites at Windrock Ridge offering good tree cover for heat protection.
The tent camping experience varies significantly across the region, with backcountry sites offering more seclusion than established campgrounds. Areas near water bodies like Poland Creek provide opportunities for fishing and water recreation directly from tent sites. Trail access is abundant, with campgrounds like Rock Creek connecting to networks of hiking paths through the surrounding forests and along waterways. Many locations are within reasonable driving distance of both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Knoxville urban amenities. A camper wrote about Burnt Mill Bridge Loop: "The trail goes mostly along the water. You will see stunning rock formations and some smaller waterfalls. There are several campsites along the way."
"This spot is kid and tent friendly with a boat ramp and beautiful small lake with lots of fishing opportunities."
"This is a medium size campground which offers both RV and tent camping. There is a recreational facility which can be used for day use as well. Overall everything is grassy green and beautiful."
"After checking it out and realizing we were unprepared to set up a tent in a gravel mud puddle we checked out frozen head's campground and it was so nice."
"There is a primitive tent area along a creek branch and there are some primitive hike-in areas) Tennessee seems to have a thing for larger rock pieces in their gravel on tent platforms... otherwise no"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when available"Site 26 is good for rooftop tent camping. Shade in afternoon and plenty of room for additional vehicles. Fire ring has a movable grate that is good to cook on."
"I’m in a truck camper with a rooftop tent."
from $20 - $49 / night
"Great campground with very friendly and helpful rangers. Was pretty empty the night we were there."
"The ranger was very friendly when we checked in. The site was a great site for winter camping, since the loop beside it was closed for the season (so there was only one neighbor)."
"Camp Birdsong is here to provide an excellent spot to setup your tent, with a platform for a level setup, and a mini kitchen so that you can prepare some great meals while listening to the morning birds"
"Luv the fact it tells you about the camping space"
from $40 - $49 / night
"The campsites have a fire ring, picnic bench, and lantern pole. Each campsite has their little parking space except site 9, 10, and 11."
"It's a primitive campground with 11 sites for tents only. RVs are not allowed. There is a restroom for campers with pit style toilets."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 / night
"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."
"Disclaimer: I pack heat whenever I am alone.)
The site was pretty much shaded by the forest canopy throughout the day, with full sun toward the edge of the water."
"This spot is new, and the set up is awesome. Perched on top of a hill, the site has great sunrise views."
"This spot is new, and the set up is awesome. Perched on top of a hill, the site has great sunrise views."
from $75 - $175 / night
"I went backpacking with a friend and our dogs. We decided to camp out at Burnt Mill Loop. The trail goes mostly along the water. You will see stunning Rock formations and some smaller waterfalls."
"But there’s several campsites around the area, and you can choose one that’s easier to access if you’d like. We went down near the river, and camped and did some fishing."
"The state park/campground adjoins the Cherokee National Forest and sits on the north bank of the Hiwassee River outside of Benton, TN."
"Very nice campground with large tent sites with fairly level ground capable of sitting 2 or 3 tents. Most have mature trees to hang hammocks. Very quiet during weekdays."
Available this weekend
TravelerBeautiful spot in the smoky mountains. State park style amenities, no showers. No hookups. Very busy very open campground. Nice that some trails are walking distance from campground. I would not camp here again as I prefer more separation and privacy. No cell service. STARLINK is usable but obstructed with tree canopy
GuideDrove 5 hrs from our last campground to here for event Campground was very well maintained and liked the site. Wasn’t overly crazy about the event not a lot of vendors mainly jeeps went to a few local shops in town had a great lunch at the cookie dough monster.
TravelerFantastic National Park! Elkmont is really nice but lacking in hookups and there are no showers. Hard to stay too long without power, water, sewer and showers. Still, an amazing site along the river!
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.
TravelerThis worked well for us while we were visiting Dollywood in our trailer, but we wouldn't stay here if we had been in a different type of site. Cons: Unless you have a site up against the river or on patriot park, you are packed in VERY TIGHT with other people, sometimes with your sliders only a foot or two away from your neighbor's sliders. We were in a site that was "on patriot park", but the few first sites of that type are really just behind the trolley parking lot and pick up with a path behind you (including ours). People are on the other side of the fence walking about two feet behind you all day and pretty late in to the night. Pros: There are lot of trees and campground is very pretty. Super close to Dollywood and other Pigeon Forge points of interest.
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.
ScoutThis was a very nice campground! The tent areas are partially gravel so it helped the area be less muddy after rain. Beautiful view of the river and would be a great place to fish! Bathrooms are very nice! Comes with a nice fire pit and didn’t have to use own grate! Pet friendly! Staff was very nice and helpful!
Only complaint was some of their quiet hours were confusing. The quiet hours on the email said 10pm to 7am but then sign posted at bathroom was 11pm-7am for quiet hours.
GuideThis is a beautiful campground but is unfortunately permanently closed. It's sad.
Tent campsites near Farragut, Tennessee range from primitive lakeside spots to established campgrounds with basic amenities. The region features elevations between 800-1,200 feet with moderately humid summers reaching 85-90°F. Fall camping season extends through October with nighttime temperatures dropping to 40-50°F, requiring appropriate gear for overnight stays.
Fishing at lakeside sites: At TVA Public Land- Fork Bend, campers have direct access to Norris Lake for fishing. "Poland creek is a quaint little spot with a tremendous friendly staff and laid back campers. This spot is kid and tent friendly with a boat ramp and beautiful small lake with lots of fishing opportunities," notes Corey T.
Rock climbing access: Rock Creek Campground provides tent campers with proximity to climbing areas in the Obed Wild and Scenic River area. "The Obed area is very inviting for fishing, hiking, and rock climbing. There are trails that start right from the campground," explains Katrin M.
Night sky viewing: Dark sky opportunities exist at several campgrounds. Larry notes about Rock Creek, "This is a dark sky park, a neat thing to experience." Primitive sites without electric hookups offer better star visibility during clear nights.
Site spacing and privacy: Windrock Ridge Campground offers wooded tent sites across its 35 designated areas. "The wooded tent sites where perfect not all are level so ask to drive through and preview avails before booking. Fire ring, table provided," advises Stoked C.
Water access from campsites: Many campers appreciate sites with direct water access. "We put our tents near the water. It was very peaceful and perfect for the dogs to swim," shares Katrin M. about Burnt Mill Bridge Loop.
Trail connectivity: Several tent campgrounds connect directly to hiking trails. Kate K. notes about Rock Creek, "The best part about this campground is the convenient location. Close to the recreation area. Just a short drive is the Obed boulder field and the Obed river."
Road access challenges: Some primitive sites require careful driving. About TVA Public Land Fork Bend, Lori H. explains, "The road through the land is gravel, but it's fairly rutted out in spots, so I don't think I'd take a car through there, you'd be safe to take a truck or Jeep or something similar."
Limited facilities: Most tent sites have minimal amenities. "There is no electricity or water at the campground. The vault toilet had no flushing water but was clean and didn't have a smell," reports Katrin M. about Rock Creek Campground.
Trash issues at some sites: At Double Camp/Citico Creek, Todd R. points out, "Clear, clean water abounds here. TWRA stocks plenty of trout Feb-early Sept." However, other areas have trash concerns. AJ notes about TVA Public Land Fork Bend, "Really loved this location but was absolutely filled with trash, I picked up everything I could around my site and packed it out."
Platform tent options: Camp Birdsong provides a more comfortable tent experience. Jake C. notes, "Camp Birdsong is here to provide an excellent spot to setup your tent, with a platform for a level setup, and a mini kitchen so that you can prepare some great meals while listening to the morning birds sing."
Cell service considerations: Family campers should note connectivity varies. About Fork Bend, Andy K. reports, "Cell service with Verizon very poor only 1 bar ok to make phone call but unable to send pics or text." This affects emergency communications and navigation.
Tent size limitations: Some established campgrounds have size restrictions for tent pads. At Rock Creek, Davina B. explains, "Each site has a picnic table, lantern hook, bearproof food locker, fire ring with grill, and a tent pad. Bearproof trashcans are located throughout the campground."
Tent-only restrictions: Many prime tent camping areas near Farragut prohibit RVs. Davina B. notes about Rock Creek, "It's a primitive campground with 11 sites for tents only. RVs are not allowed." This creates quieter environments for tent campers.
Horse-friendly alternatives: Young Branch Horse Camp provides tent camping with equestrian access. Zane P. describes it as "the more 'civilized' part of Citico Creek. There is a toilet, but no hookups. About 6 different sites within the campground. Medium sized sites, but we'll taken care of."
Weekend congestion: Popular tent sites fill quickly on weekends. Davina B. warns, "The sites are very close together and it gets quite crowded during the summer months and on weekends." Arriving midweek improves tent site selection chances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Farragut, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Farragut, TN is Poland Creek with a 4.2-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Farragut, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 63 tent camping locations near Farragut, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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