Best Campgrounds near Gray, TN

Campgrounds near Gray, Tennessee primarily concentrate around Warriors' Path State Park, offering varied camping experiences within 30 minutes of the city. The park features three distinct camping areas: Main Campground, Moody Bluff Campground, and Cedar Ridge Hammock Campground, with accommodations for both tent and RV camping. Several KOA locations, including Bristol-Kingsport KOA and Baileyton KOA Holiday, provide additional developed camping options with full hookup sites. Most established campgrounds in the region support RVs with electric and water hookups, while tent camping areas are available throughout the state parks.

Reservations are essential for most developed campgrounds in the area, particularly during summer months and weekends. Warriors' Path State Park campgrounds provide water and electric hookups at most sites, though sewer connections are limited to certain areas. The region experiences four distinct seasons, with optimal camping weather from April through October. Many campgrounds remain open year-round, including the KOA locations which offer winter camping options. Road access to most sites is well-maintained and suitable for passenger vehicles. A camper noted, "When you make reservations you'll receive a welcome email with driving instructions indicating to NOT follow Google or Apple Maps as you'll be taken through a resident area that isn't RV friendly."

Family-friendly amenities represent a common highlight in visitor feedback for Warriors' Path State Park. The campground features a playground that receives consistent praise, with one review describing it as "one of the coolest playgrounds that is huge and has a little creek running beside it." Many sites are positioned on ridges surrounding Fort Patrick Henry Lake, providing water access and scenic views. Site selection requires attention to size limitations, as several reviews mention challenges with larger RVs and trailers. As one camper advised, "Be sure to read site descriptions and check the suggested trailer size—they seriously mean the max size!!" Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with visitors reporting sightings of deer and turkeys in the surrounding areas. Proximity to Kingsport provides convenient access to stores and restaurants while maintaining a natural camping experience.

Best Camping Sites Near Gray, Tennessee (235)

    1. Warriors' Path State Park Main Campground — Warriors' Path State Park

    26 Reviews
    Kingsport, TN
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 867-2757

    "It houses an acclaimed mountain bike trail area. Nearby you can golf and ride horses. Cell coverage varies from LTE to 5G all over the park."

    "We had a change of plans and made reservations at Warrior Path State Park on a whim - and are VERY glad we did."

    2. Moody Bluff Campground — Warriors' Path State Park

    6 Reviews
    Kingsport, TN
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 867-2757

    "All around wonderful place to camp"

    "updated bathhouses lots of shady sites sits on Patrick Henry Lake - no boat that’s ok rent paddle boats and kayaks at the Marina or just have lunch and watch the ducks on the water!"

    3. Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Chuckey, TN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 257-2167

    $14 - $32 / night

    "Large swimming pool, TONS of historical events around, hiking & river walks. Super clean and new bath houses as well. Honors Tennessee state discounts. If possible make reservations online."

    "The drive in follows the TN “Sunnyside Early Country Trail” through picturesque farmland with mountains in the near distance. Do your shopping before arrival, there’s nothing close to the park."

    4. Bristol-Kingsport KOA

    4 Reviews
    Kingsport, TN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 323-7790

    "I’d never used a KOA before but was tremendously impressed with the serene beauty of this place situated well away from traffic in a bucolic setting."

    "The park is also near Warriors Path State Park, which is fun to go hike and see. They have several large pull through sites, as well as back in smaller sites."

    5. Crossville KOA

    3 Reviews
    Kingsport, TN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 323-7790

    "It does sit right next to Highway 70 into Crossville and can be noisy but it didn’t bother us. Each bathroom is a private toilet and shower, very clean, nicely tiled and plenty of hot water."

    6. Roan Mountain State Park Campground

    48 Reviews
    Roan Mountain, TN
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 547-3906

    $14 - $54 / night

    "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."

    7. Camp Stonefly

    5 Reviews
    Elizabethton, TN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 301-4080

    "Me and my wife were looking to get away from theater apartment for a couple of days during a remodel. Well we didn't Wana travel to mountains to camp."

    "Perfect distance to Johnson City. We had a beer at Yee Haw and even brought back tasty Mediterranean dinner from Red Meze to the camp site. Do yourself a favor and book a night here."

    8. Baileyton KOA Holiday

    15 Reviews
    Ducktown, TN
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 234-4992

    "Conveniently located close to highway 81 and town!"

    "Even though it's very close to the interstate, it was very quiet. We had a full hook up site, relatively level. It had a picnic table and fire ring."

    9. Cardens Bluff Campground

    18 Reviews
    Hampton, TN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 735-1500

    $12 / night

    "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."

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Recent Reviews near Gray, TN

974 Reviews of 235 Gray Campgrounds


  • Ethan H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    Great Primitive Campsite

    Most campsites have good privacy and is quiet most hours. All have easy access, but bathrooms are small for number of campers. Some campsites are a little confusing about site areas as it seems they overlap into each other some. The view of the lake is one of the best parts. More campgrounds should separate rv and primitive like they do.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Observation Knob Park

    On the water

    Beautiful, popular park. Not all sites are level. Sites are fairly close together. Excellent scenery.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Around Pond RV Park

    Nice stop

    nice stop off interstate, about 1 mile easy pull thru, during week stop, was quiet, peaceful, little traffic noise through nite. pond area, chickens, ducks, swans.

  • Bailey R.
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Cardens Bluff Campground

    Lake side camping

    This relaxing little camp site has such pretty spacious camp site. We went day of in September and found a spot on the lake no problem. Do bring cash as it’s cash only if you pay the day you show up. Camp host were super nice and the price was wonderful. There weren’t as many bathrooms as I would have liked due to most being worked on. There is really good cell service on the camp site.

  • Mary D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Roan Mountain State Park Campground

    New Favorite Campground

    This is my new favorite campground! There are trees everywhere and there really isn't a bad spot! Some sites were right on the creek (sites 40 and 41 were great). The tent camping area is beautiful and one of the best I've seen. We were at site 9, one of the only pull-through sites. We had water and electric and some sites have FHU. There are a lot of beautiful hikes in the area. No cell service, but there is (slow) wifi throughout the campground. There is a Verizon hotspot to make calls, but I couldn't connect with US Cellular. We will definitely be back!

  • Theresa S.
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Lake Haven Family Campground

    Stayed for the location, Left because of the owners

    As a retired Air Force couple with over five years of experience as full-time RVers, we have stayed at countless campgrounds across the country. We selected Lake Haven for an extended stay this past July while searching for a permanent home in the Lake Watauga area, drawn by its advertisement for year-round availability. The location is excellent, and our site was level with full hookups, a nice picnic table, and a fire pit. Maneuvering into the spot was also straightforward, despite some large boulders. Two concerns: no owners or host(s) onsite and the entrance/exits can be quite dangerous- each located on a curve. We really wanted to love this campground, but the positive aspects were completely overshadowed by the unprofessional behavior of the owners. The tone was set when we received a campground-wide text message asking“Please, for our sake, when away from your camper, set your AC temp to something reasonable(75 is what I use at my house when not home), to help us save on electricity”. While we understand the concern for costs, the request felt invasive. Then it got personal. In the first week of August, our daughter and her family were renting the on-site(3 bed/3 bath) Airbnb, and after she inquired about more toilet paper, one of the owners came to our RV site to confront us about it. We were shocked that a necessity for a rental guest was treated as a major issue, and the confrontational approach was completely uncalled for and made us feel extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, we later learned from other campers that the owners had been gossiping about our family and our stay. This was a major violation of our privacy and fostered a deeply unwelcoming atmosphere. While the physical campground has potential, we cannot recommend it. Feeling safe and respected is essential when you are camping, and due to the owners’ intrusive and unprofessional behavior, we decided to seek out another campground.

  • Shane N.
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Camp Stonefly

    Great small peacefully time

    Me and wife passing through. Stayed over weekend loved it

  • Gary S.
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Lake Haven Family Campground

    Stayed for the Location, Left because of the Owners

    As a retired Air Force couple with over five years of experience as full-time RVers, we have stayed at countless campgrounds across the country. We selected Lake Haven for an extended stay this past July while searching for a permanent home in the Lake Watauga area, drawn by its advertisement for year-round availability. The location is excellent, and our site was level with full hookups, a nice picnic table, and a fire pit. Maneuvering into the spot was also straightforward, despite some large boulders. Two concerns: no owners or host(s) onsite and the entrance/exits can be quite dangerous- each located on a curve. We really wanted to love this campground, but the positive aspects were completely overshadowed by the unprofessional behavior of the owners. The tone was set when we received a campground-wide text message asking“Please, for our sake, when away from your camper, set your AC temp to something reasonable(75 is what I use at my house when not home), to help us save on electricity”. While we understand the concern for costs, the request felt invasive. Then it got personal. In the first week of August, our daughter and her family were renting the on-site(3 bed/3 bath) Airbnb, and after she inquired about more toilet paper, one of the owners came to our RV site to confront us about it. We were shocked that a necessity for a rental guest was treated as a major issue, and the confrontational approach was completely uncalled for and made us feel extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, we later learned from other campers that the owners had been gossiping about our family and our stay. This was a major violation of our privacy and fostered a deeply unwelcoming atmosphere. While the physical campground has potential, we cannot recommend it. Feeling safe and respected is essential when you are camping, and due to the owners’ intrusive and unprofessional behavior, we decided to seek out another campground.


Guide to Gray

Camping near Gray, Tennessee, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

What campers like:

What you should know:

  • Limited Privacy: Some campgrounds, like Asheville East KOA, have close quarters. A reviewer pointed out, "The main issue with this campground is how close the sites are... literally no privacy."
  • No Showers at Some Sites: Campers at Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway should be aware that there are no showers. One camper noted, "There are spots right on the lake but we didn’t book far enough in advance."
  • Traffic Noise: If you stay at Warriors' Path State Park Main Campground, be prepared for some noise. A visitor mentioned, "The only negative about our site would be traffic noise from the nearby bridge."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with family-friendly activities, like Hickory Ridge Campground. One parent said, "There are a lot of other kids to make friends with."
  • Choose a Site Near Amenities: At Hot Springs Campground, being close to the river and town makes it easy to explore. A camper shared, "You can walk to the river as well as the town."
  • Plan for Crowds: Weekends can get busy, especially at popular spots like Asheville East KOA. One visitor noted, "It started to get crowded during the weekend."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: RVers should pay attention to site sizes at Warriors' Path State Park Main Campground. A reviewer advised, "Be sure to read site descriptions and check the suggested trailer size."
  • Look for Pull-Through Sites: At Bear Den Family Campground and Cabins, pull-through sites can make parking easier. One camper mentioned, "The newly updated section... has FHU and a number of pull-through sites."
  • Be Prepared for Noise: Campers at Asheville East KOA should expect train noise. A visitor noted, "Trains come through near the park at all hours of the day and night."

Camping near Gray, Tennessee, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Gray, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Gray, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 235 campgrounds and RV parks near Gray, TN and 18 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Gray, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Gray, TN is Warriors' Path State Park Main Campground — Warriors' Path State Park with a 3.9-star rating from 26 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Gray, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 free dispersed camping spots near Gray, TN.