Best Campgrounds near Laurel Bloomery, TN

Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee and the surrounding area feature a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed camping options throughout the Cherokee and Jefferson National Forests. Campgrounds like Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions offer tent and RV sites with amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Washington & Jefferson National Forest provides dispersed camping areas along Bear Creek for those seeking more primitive experiences. The region includes both full-service campgrounds with electric hookups and water as well as undeveloped sites in forested areas, offering a range of accommodation options from tent camping to cabins and yurts.

The mountainous terrain creates varying road conditions that can impact campground access, particularly for larger RVs and trailers. Most developed campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically from April through October, with limited winter availability. While some sites offer advance reservations, others operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Cell service can be limited or non-existent in more remote areas, particularly in the national forest dispersed camping zones. Higher elevation campgrounds provide cooler temperatures during summer months but may close earlier in the fall. A visitor commented that "the campground is in a nice secluded area that can be very silent and relaxing. The road up is good but extremely tight and windy at points so beware a wide trailer if you aren't used to this type of mountain driving."

Campers frequently mention the abundant recreational opportunities surrounding Laurel Bloomery area campgrounds, including access to hiking trails, fishing spots, and scenic mountain views. Sites along creeks and rivers receive particularly positive reviews, with many visitors appreciating the soothing sound of running water. Several campgrounds provide convenient access to popular trails like the Appalachian Trail and Virginia Creeper Trail, making them excellent basecamps for outdoor adventures. One camper shared that "At the intersection of the North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia state lines, sits this national forest which offers multiple dispersed camping areas along Bear Creek. Opportunities for hiking, cycling, fishing, and paddling are abundant." Visitors should note that some of the more primitive camping areas lack facilities like trash collection, requiring proper preparation and adherence to Leave No Trace principles.

Best Camping Sites Near Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee (233)

    1. Hickory Ridge Campground — Grayson Highlands State Park

    56 Reviews
    Troutdale, VA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (276) 579-2374

    $25 - $40 / night

    "With camping just a moderate day hike away from Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia, this campground is a hiker's paradise."

    "Campground Review: There are two campgrounds in Grayson Highland SP which is located by The Mouth Of Wilson, VA, near the North Carolina border."

    2. Grindstone

    21 Reviews
    Troutdale, VA
    15 miles
    Website

    $24 - $36 / night

    "Woodsy sites, access to hiking trails. Spacious camp sites with all the amenities."

    "We like to hike and there are TONS of trails in this area. One trail leaves directly from the campground and will bring you to the top of Mt. Rogers, also intersecting with the Appalachian Trail."

    3. Jefferson National Forest Beartree Campground

    12 Reviews
    Whitetop, VA
    10 miles
    Website

    $24 - $85 / night

    "Large secluded campsites surrounded by rhododendron bushes with a mountain spring creek meandering through the campgrounds."

    "We use the lake for paddle boarding or kayaking and we bike on the Va Creeper trail, the local mountain bike and hiking trails adjacent to the campground or just bike down to the lake and back."

    4. Little Oak Campground

    23 Reviews
    Shady Valley, TN
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 735-1500

    $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."

    5. Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions and Campground

    8 Reviews
    Damascus, VA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 735-1500

    $10 - $20 / night

    "Stayed in Campsite #1 Even though it is within view of the road, the running water sound of the creek behind us lulled us to sleep."

    "Beaver Dam Creek runs behind the campsite and is absolutely gorgeous with clear water, fish, and beautiful rhododendrons and trees that keep the area shaded."

    6. Blue Bear Mountain Camp

    27 Reviews
    Todd, NC
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 406-4226

    $25 - $136 / night

    "It offers RV, drive in and hike in tent sites and also teepee camping."

    "There is a place to wash dishes outside as well. Fantastic walking trails - some parts quite steep but we got a good workout through the woods on the property."

    7. Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites

    7 Reviews
    Damascus, VA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 265-5100

    "At the intersection of the North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia state lines, sits this national forest which offers multiple dispersed camping areas along Bear Creek."

    "Only downside was the spot I set up camp was very close to the road and headlights from passing cars would light up the spot. However the road was quiet most of the night."

    8. Laurel Creek RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Damascus, VA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 440-3042

    $55 / night

    "We were in Damascus for the Appalachian Trail Days Festival and needed an RV spot but didn’t think we could get one because we were so late in looking for one."

    "This was a good spot right on the Laurel Creek and the Creeper Trail.  Walk to town for restaurants and bike/outdoor shops and a convenience store.  Grocery store is a little further away."

    9. R&D Campground

    7 Reviews
    Mountain City, TN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 534-4785

    "In the nearby area, there is a lot to do in natural beauty. There are a lot of trails here and many ways to enjoy them, including hiking and mountain biking."

    "Campground Review: R&D Campground in Mountain City, TN is located in the far north east corner of the state almost directly in between Boone, NC and Demascus, VA."

    10. Creeper Trail Campground

    5 Reviews
    Whitetop, VA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (276) 388-3426

    $45 - $55 / night

    "It is steps away from Creeper trail in Whitetop"

    "There is no cell phone reception anywhere around until you get to Damascus about 30 minutes away. The office/cafe does has WiFi."

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Recent Reviews near Laurel Bloomery, TN

1181 Reviews of 233 Laurel Bloomery Campgrounds


  • Yuriy-Sarah G.
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Growing Faith Farms & Retreat

    Best camping weekend!

    Our kids say,"leave them 10k stars on the review!" The best camping trip we've had in a long while. Location is private and secluded, yet within reasonable driving distance to stores and other attractions like hiking/biking/kayaking. The farm is beautiful, well-maintained, and the hosts super friendly and helpful. Love the water at the site(and electric is going to be even better soon!) and the convenience of the bathhouse. Plenty of great things to do locally, from hiking and waterfalls to apple picking. We had a wonderful weekend, and will certainly be back! Thanks!

  • William F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Creekside Campground — Hungry Mother State Park

    Great Spot!

    Sites are a little close and sharp turns coming in. Pads are level, bathrooms are clean. Everything is kinda spread out as far as bathrooms houses or playgrounds for the kids. Really nice and quiet tho.

  • 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.
    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.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Old NC 105 Dispersed

    Amazing views and Free camping

    This place is amazing, Free and clean campsites.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Upper Creek, Pisgah National Forest NC

    Good spot!

    Spent two nights here at a site right next to the creek, which was awesome listening to the running water as you fall asleep. Easy to get to, just a forest service road. A 4x4 makes it easy but there were minivans and junkyard beaters driving by. There are multiple sites along the service road and not too close to each other.


Guide to Laurel Bloomery

Campsites near Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee sit at elevations between 2,500-4,000 feet, creating microclimate camping conditions that average 10-15°F cooler than surrounding lowland areas. The region's location at the convergence of the Cherokee and Jefferson National Forests provides access to over 1.8 million acres of protected woodland. Fall campers experience vibrant autumn colors from mid-October through early November, with peak foliage typically occurring during the third week of October.

What to do

Hiking to waterfall destinations: Access the Cabin Trail near Grindstone Recreation Area for a moderately difficult 1.5-mile trail to a waterfall. "There is a .6 mile trail nearby (Whispering Waters Trail) which is good for beginners & small kids. There is another trail, Mt. Rogers which is longer (7 miles) from the campsite," notes Robert R.

Paddling on South Holston Lake: Launch from Little Oak Campground for kayaking and paddleboarding on calm morning waters. "Little oak offered a great place to stay for a week. With south Holston lake at your finger tips it offers a great area to fish, boat, kayak, paddle board and swim," shares Jayme G.

Mountain biking trails: Ride portions of the Virginia Creeper Trail starting from Damascus, about 20 minutes from Laurel Bloomery. "One of my favorite places to go!! Doesn't get much more relaxing, electric, water hook-ups and a short drive to downtown Damascus VA.. AT, Virginia Creeper, White Top Mountain and Mount Rogers all near by," writes Jeff D. about R&D Campground.

Creekside swimming: Find natural swimming holes behind Backbone Rock Recreation Area sites. "Backbone rock sits on a small creek that runs behind most of the sites. It's perfect for small children to swim and play in! The sites are all gracious in size, with plenty of trees in between," explains Sabrina M.

What campers like

Cooler summer temperatures: The higher elevation campgrounds provide natural air conditioning during hot months. "The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat," comments Kristen J. about Blue Bear Mountain Camp.

Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds feature natural barriers between camping spots. "The sites were built in a forest of rhododendron and there is so much privacy compared to most other campgrounds. As a result, it seems quieter," shares Deb R. about Jefferson National Forest Beartree Campground.

Fishing opportunities: Trout fishing is available in multiple streams and lakes throughout the region. "We caught a trout in the pond right away," reports Kristen J. from Blue Bear Mountain Camp, while Van M. from Little Oak Campground recommends you "swim at sunset when the boats go quiet."

Night sky viewing: The area's limited light pollution creates exceptional stargazing conditions. "I was very much hoping to take photos of the night sky, but there was a storm with wild winds and cold, so that didn't happen! I did catch a glimpse of them, though, shortly before dawn," explains Jean C. from Hickory Ridge Campground.

What you should know

Limited cell service: Prepare for minimal connectivity in most camping areas. "You are truly away at Beartree. Do not expect to be 'plugged in' unless you have satellite connection," advises Deb R. about Jefferson National Forest Beartree Campground.

Weather variability: Mountain weather can change rapidly, especially at higher elevations. "Grayson Highlands is a must-do for all campers, hikers, and adventurers. Hit the trails to see some wild ponies and scenic balds. Weather is unpredictable, so pack a raincoat and warm clothes just in case," suggests danielle H. from Hickory Ridge Campground.

Campground reservation timing: Many popular sites fill quickly during peak season. "I was there the first day the campground opened and it filled quickly. You'll definitely want reservations for a weekend stay," notes Jean C. from Hickory Ridge Campground.

Primitive facilities: Some dispersed sites lack basic amenities. "There is no drinking water, picnic tables, or even pit toilet, so come prepared. The only major problem is that folks tend to leave a ton of trash around, so we often spend about 20-30 minutes cleaning these sites upon arrival," explains Shari G. about Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites.

Tips for camping with families

Select sites with water features: Children enjoy playing in safe, shallow creek areas. "Backbone rock sits on a small creek that runs behind most of the sites. It's perfect for small children to swim and play in! The sites are all gracious in size, with plenty of trees in between," suggests Sabrina M. from Backbone Rock Recreation Area.

Visit the wild ponies: Plan a day trip to Grayson Highlands to see the famous wild ponies. "Great hikes close by with sweet wild ponies that let you get close for pictures. Bathrooms were clean and there was a nice area for a picnic with swings and other things for kids," shares Julianne S. from Hickory Ridge Campground.

Consider less-crowded campgrounds: Smaller campgrounds often provide a more family-friendly atmosphere. "We love this campground because it is a hybrid between the remote camping we are use to and the ease of effort we now need because of small children! With just 11 sites, the campground chaos is kept to a minimal," notes Sabrina M. about Backbone Rock Recreation Area.

Tips from RVers

Elevation and road access: Mountain roads can challenge larger rigs. "The campground is in a nice secluded area that can be very silent and relaxing. The road up is good but extremely tight and windy at points so beware a wide trailer if you aren't used to this type of mountain driving," notes a visitor to the area.

Water access planning: Many campgrounds have limited water hookups. "They do not have water hookups- you fill your camper tank with water at the office area. They have spots with electric hookups. They have a dump station where you can empty your tanks on your way out," explains Mandy R. from Blue Bear Mountain Camp.

Generator restrictions: Check campground policies before arrival. "Would not recommend for any vehicle larger than 20 feet as the potholed road and the tight turns to get up to the camp from the road would be tough. 4WD highly recommended, especially in mud season or winter," advises Shari G. about Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping activities are available in Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee?

Laurel Bloomery offers diverse outdoor recreation opportunities. At Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites, you can enjoy hiking, cycling, fishing, and paddling along Bear Creek. The area provides access to the Appalachian Trail and Virginia Creeper Trail. For water enthusiasts, Roan Creek Campground offers creek-side camping with easy access to off-road adventures in the Smoky Mountains. The region also features historical towns to explore, mountain summits with panoramic views, and abundant fishing opportunities in the local waterways.

How do I get to Laurel Bloomery from nearby cities?

From Johnson City, take I-26 E toward Erwin, then follow US-19E and TN-91 N to Laurel Bloomery (approximately 1 hour). From Boone, NC, head northwest on US-421 N, then take NC-194 N to Laurel Bloomery (about 45 minutes). Elk Knob State Park Campground is just north of Boone near the Tennessee state line, making it a good reference point. The drive to Little Oak Campground involves a scenic 7-mile trek off the main road, typical of the winding mountain routes in this region.

What are the best seasons to visit Laurel Bloomery for camping?

Late spring through early fall offers the most pleasant camping conditions in Laurel Bloomery. May through September provides warm days and cool nights ideal for outdoor activities. Fall is particularly spectacular with vibrant foliage, especially at Grandfather Campground, which serves as an excellent base for autumn exploration. While Warriors' Path State Park is accessible year-round, early May offers a chance to enjoy the area with fewer crowds. Winter camping is possible but prepare for cold temperatures, as the mountain elevation brings chilly conditions from December through March.