31 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Hampton, Tennessee offers several established campgrounds in the Cherokee National Forest and around Watauga Lake. Cardens Bluff Campground, situated directly on Watauga Lake, provides tent and RV sites with lake access and proximity to the Appalachian Trail. Nearby Boots Off Hostel & Campground serves both hikers and road travelers with tent sites, cabins, and glamping options. Most campgrounds in the area accommodate tents, while some like Roan Mountain State Park also offer cabin rentals and full RV hookups.
Access to camping areas varies by season, with many campgrounds operating from April through October or early November. Cardens Bluff Campground typically opens from April 13 to November 7, while other facilities may have year-round availability. Most developed sites provide drinking water and toilet facilities, though amenities like showers and electric hookups are limited to certain campgrounds. Water access is a significant draw for campers at Watauga Lake. As one visitor noted, "Great place to camp and fish. Situated on a peninsula, Cardens Bluff has great views and access to the lake for the outer campsites."
Waterfront camping represents a primary attraction in the Hampton area, with several campgrounds offering direct lake access. Sites along the water tend to be the most sought-after, especially during summer months. The terrain features wooded campsites with varying degrees of privacy between sites. While some campgrounds like Boots Off provide amenities such as showers and breakfast, others maintain a more rustic atmosphere. A camper described Cardens Bluff as having "beautiful wooded campground with a few sites on the water. Perfect for canoeing." Proximity to hiking trails, particularly the Appalachian Trail, represents another significant draw for outdoor enthusiasts. Dennis Cove Campground provides easy access to nearby waterfalls and trail connections, with one visitor noting it is "in a nice secluded area that can be very silent and relaxing."
"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."
Available next weekend
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $12 / night
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $10 / night
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $10 - $20 / night
"There’s a river just behind our spot and only a handful of RVs and cabins. Our GPS wanted us to pass the turn to the campground, we had to make a U turn to get in…."
"Five shaded, landscaped RV sites offering water/electric are located about 20 yards from the river’s edge. An additional site offers a fully-outfitted rental RV."
from $49 - $79 / night
"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."
"There isn’t too much of any one activity in/near the campground but lots more in the greater area. Cons: just plan to drive to another area if you’re staying for a few days (not really a con though)."
"Convenient location in the Cherokee National Forest that is close to the Appalachian Trail and the Nolichucky River. Campground is popular with families and busy on weekends."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $50 / night
"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!"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
"The camp store seems small on the outside but every time you look around, you find more stuff. Great for a peaceful getaway."
"We stayed at one of the drive up spots that are near the bathhouse and a small babbling creek. Woke up to the awesome sounds of nature!"
from $24 - $55 / night
"Stopped for a night on a cross country road trip. 12$/person gets you a shower, breakfast, access to supplies and some quality time with awesome people coming on and off the Appalachian Trail."
"Right by the AT and Watauga Lake with Kayak, Canoe, and Stand-up Paddleboard rentals available."
from $10 - $50 / night
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.
Hampton, Tennessee camping areas sit at elevations between 1,900-2,800 feet in the Cherokee National Forest. Many campsites open April through October due to winter temperatures that typically dip below freezing December through February. Most campgrounds have potable water available seasonally with vault or flush toilets depending on location.
Hiking trails access: Rock Creek Recreation Area offers multiple hiking paths including a 4-mile trail to Rock Creek Falls. According to a visitor, "There are so many great hiking trails here, plus some rock climbing/bouldering."
Fishing opportunities: Roan Mountain State Park Campground provides river fishing access with specific species available. One camper notes, "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."
Water activities: Rent kayaks and paddleboards at lakeside locations for day use. A visitor to Julian Price Park Campground shares, "This park is right on a gorgeous lake. There is a spot within the park to rent kayaks which was great. There is a hiking trail that goes around the lake."
Appalachian Trail access: Several campgrounds provide direct or nearby connections to the AT. A camper at Boots Off Hostel notes it's "Right by the AT and Watauga Lake with Kayak, Canoe, and Stand-up Paddleboard rentals available."
Creek-side camping: Several campsites in the Hampton area feature tent sites with water features. At Camp Stonefly, campers appreciate the "bubbling creek" with one noting they "parked with van doors opened to the bubbling creek and had the natural white noise as a backdrop all night."
Mountain views: From select campgrounds, visitors can see panoramic mountain vistas. At Blackberry Blossom Farm & Campground, a reviewer mentioned "From the fields there is a framed view of the gorgeous local mountain range, perfect for photo opportunities."
Swimming holes: Beyond lake swimming, some areas offer river swimming spots. Near Julian Price Campground, "There's also a trail that you can access from the park that leads to Hebron Rock Colony which is an incredible hiking trail. The trail follows a river with lots of great swimming holes."
Campsite privacy: Many campsites feature good separation between sites. At Rock Creek Recreation Area, a visitor noted, "Sites are heavily wooded, fairly well spaced, and most sites have a level area," while another mentioned "the upper numbered sites on the hillside are very private compared to most campgrounds."
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. A Julian Price Campground visitor shared, "Many of the sites in the A loop are reservable, and they have been reserved for several weeks (maybe months) in advance."
Tent pad conditions: Some campsites have specific tent placement areas with varying conditions. One camper noted their site "had a picnic table, a fire ring, a lantern pole, and a tent pad. The tent pad needed some maintenance since the dirt had washed onto it and made it slightly sloped."
Payment methods: Be prepared with cash at self-registration areas. At Cardens Bluff Campground, a visitor advises, "Do bring cash as it's cash only if you pay the day you show up."
Bathroom facilities: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. One visitor to Rock Creek noted, "The bathrooms/showers were fairly clean and well maintained, but showing their age," while another mentioned "the first bathroom was super gross - tons of bugs, sink didn't work, wasn't clean. The bathroom near B loop was significantly nicer."
Playground proximity: Some campsites offer direct playground access. At Spacious Skies Bear Den, a visitor shared, "We camped at C13 which was right across from the large playground in November. No noise issues, but it was dark by 6:30pm. May be different in the Summer. My daughter had a blast and we could keep an eye on her while we worked/played at the site."
Kid-friendly hiking: Shorter trails suitable for children exist near several campgrounds. At Roan Mountain, a visitor mentioned they "drove a bit further up the mountain to Carver's Gap and then went on a short little hike to Round Bald, right along the AT. As the pictures indicate, it was stunning."
Family-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds include additional activities beyond camping. Bear Den provides "a small lake on property to fish or swim. Has a pretty good market for the things you might have forgot. They have firewood and ice to purchase."
Security features: Ranger patrols provide additional safety at state park campgrounds. A Roan Mountain visitor felt "super safe thanks to the park ranger driving around on patrol, he drove by a few times making sure everything was all set. Much appreciated by two females camping in the off season!"
Leveling considerations: Some sites require specific positioning to achieve level setup. A Rock Creek camper advised that "sites are heavily wooded, fairly well spaced, and most sites have a level area, but you have to back all the way in to get level on some."
Generator rules: Check each campground's policies on generator usage. One Cardens Bluff visitor noted "Our neighbors had a generator going (which is posted that it's prohibited) which was on for the 1st day before someone finally told them to turn it off."
Electric hookup details: When electricity is available, check for specific amperage options. Rock Creek has varying electrical setups with one visitor noting "B Loop sites are 30A only. The website says there is shared water, which there is, but in B Loop, you can't hook a hose to it to fill your tank, as the spigot is not threaded."
RV size limitations: Mountain roads can restrict larger vehicles. At Bear Den, a visitor advises "hint here if pulling a camper, don't follow the Bearden sign, go to Linville to get on the parkway and go left. This way you will avoid the steep curvy road going up a mountain."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Hampton, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Hampton, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 309 campgrounds and RV parks near Hampton, TN and 25 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Hampton, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hampton, TN is Roan Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 50 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hampton, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 25 free dispersed camping spots near Hampton, TN.
What parks are near Hampton, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 31 parks near Hampton, TN that allow camping, notably Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest.
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