Kingston, Tennessee camping sits along Watts Bar Lake in the ridge and valley landscape between the Cumberland Plateau and the Great Smoky Mountains. The area features numerous waterfront campsites at elevations between 800-1,000 feet with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F and winter lows around 30°F. Campers in this region can access both mountain terrain and lake recreation, with several campgrounds operating year-round.
What to do
Fishing access: Southlake RV Park offers prime lakefront tent spots for bank fishing. "If you are wanting to fish the bank or even put in kayaks this spot is money. The tent sights are located right on a great fishing cove on Fort Loudon reserve," notes Nate H. The park's waterfront sites function almost like a private island for evening fishing.
Boating and water recreation: Caney Creek RV Resort & Marina provides access to Watts Bar Lake with boat docks and a fishing pier. "Amenities are nice, there is a pool and pavilion, paved walking trails, shuffle board, basketball court, and boat docks and fishing pier," writes Tanner H., highlighting the diverse water-based activities available.
Off-road adventures: Windrock Gap Campground & RV Park serves as a gateway to Windrock Off-road Park. "Just a short distance from Windrock. RV sites have power and water... Parking for off-road vehicle trailers," explains Steve V., making this an ideal base camp for ATV enthusiasts.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Paradise on the Mountain RV Park receives consistent praise for its immaculate bathhouses. "The bathhouse is amazing!! I've stayed at many campgrounds and I think this is the cleanest bathhouse I've ever seen," reports Sara E. The park also features modern office facilities and a conference room.
Easy interstate access: Escapees Raccoon Valley RV Park provides convenient overnight stops. "Raccoon Valley RV park is literally just an RV park. The park was very clean and well maintained, and would be a nice place to park for a night as part of a longer trip. The RV park is just right off 1-75, just north of Knoxville, so it would be easy to hop on and off the interstate," explains Lori H.
Quiet waterfront settings: Spring Lake RV Resort offers a peaceful lakeside environment away from highway noise. "A couple of miles off the interstate so no road noise and very quiet at night. You can pick up fast food dinner on the way to the park," shares Sara M. The resort features sitting areas and gazebos around its small lake.
What you should know
Cell coverage challenges: Cell service can be spotty at lakeside campgrounds. At Southlake RV Park, one camper reported: "Cell Data signal isn't great here either. I have a dual LTE router that I was only getting ATT 3G signal with normal antennas but once I connected the exterior antenna I had been waiting to install I got 4 bars ATT LTE."
Site leveling needs: Overnite RV Park has gravel sites that may require leveling equipment. "I'd give this five stars if the sites were a little bigger. We had one hell of a time getting out in the morning," explains Janice M., highlighting the importance of planning your arrival and departure carefully when navigating tight spaces.
Long-term residents: Many parks in the Kingston area have permanent or seasonal residents. At Caney Creek RV Resort, one camper observed: "Very tightly packed and about 90% or more full timers. Only one small bathhouse and tiny laundry room for over 300 spaces." This can affect availability for short-term stays.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Paradise on the Mountain RV Park offers family-friendly water features. "There is an adorable playground for the kids. Rumor says there is possibly a splash pad coming soon," reports Jessica D., mentioning the additional family amenities being developed.
Playground access: Caney Creek RV Resort & Marina provides multiple recreational facilities for children. "Out door pool with a kids pool, Play ground, Basketball, Corn hole, Horse shoe, Bath house, Everything is well keep and very clean," shares Josh S., highlighting the variety of activities available for families.
Noise considerations: When camping near highways, morning traffic can disrupt sleep. At Southlake RV Park, a camper warned: "The peacefulness of that evening was far from the same in the morning. The tent spots towards the point are apparently very close to the hwy and morning commute traffic was pretty loud."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Spring Lake RV Resort, site numbers matter for equipment needs. "Sites were fairly level. I had to use 2 yellow flat blocks on site 1. Restrooms and showers were closed due to Covid-19 restrictions," explains Chris H., noting site #1 was smaller and only had 30-amp service.
Navigation challenges: Some parks have tight spacing that makes maneuvering difficult. At Overnite RV Park, a reviewer cautioned: "Wound up having to wake the guy next door up to move his car and had to back out of the spot because the smaller site across from ours had cars and trucks parked all along the drive."
Utility placement: RVers should prepare for unusual hookup positions at some parks. At Southlake RV Park, one camper noted: "Sites are not well developed with power and sewer in odd places." Having extra-length hoses and cables can help accommodate these variations in rv camping near Kingston, Tennessee.
