23 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Cherokee Trails Campground and Stables in Bluff City offers camping facilities with direct access to horse stables. This campground provides tent sites, RV spots with 30-amp electrical hookups, and cabin accommodations. The campground features a central fire ring with surrounding benches and tables. Back-in campsites encircle this communal area, creating a layout conducive to group gatherings. The bathhouse provides clean shower facilities, and campers have access to free firewood. While reviews indicate the campground lacks pools and playgrounds, the quiet, peaceful atmosphere compensates for these absences. The property sits at higher elevation, offering cooler temperatures during summer months.
Located on Morrell Creek Lane, Cherokee Trails requires navigation via narrow country roads to reach its secluded setting. The campground operates seasonally from March through November. Horses can be kept in paddocks on the property, allowing riders convenient access to their animals throughout their stay. The surrounding woodlands offer ample exploration opportunities for trail riders. The Bristol-Kingsport KOA, another option in the region, maintains proximity to horses that visitors can pet nearby. This KOA provides more developed amenities including a pool, outdoor activities, and playground areas, though it may not offer dedicated equestrian facilities. The campground's location provides good access to Warriors Path State Park, which contains additional recreational trails.
"Good trails along the rolling hills and creeks. Very simple rustic site with very little facilities. Pros: very wooded and private large campsites, babbling creek, outhouses."
from $7 / night
Check Availability"Absolutely love camping here at warriors path State Park it's beyond one of my favorite places to camp"
"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."
"They have cabins, a nice pool, a blob, lots of outdoor activities, playground area, horse shoes, even with it being a smaller KOA Campground there is a lot to do."
"It’s a beautiful, peaceful little campground tucked into the mountains and you can tell a lot of care goes into it."
from $65 - $79 / night
Check Availability"This is a wonderful spot to be to explore the surrounding areas:
- The famous Mount Mitchell trail, starts a short walking distance from the campground."
"River sites are first come first serve Has group camping {must reserve online} Large tent pads Rv sites Fishing Can purchase: Ice Soda/water Ice cream Kindling Fire starter Wood
Hiking: Access to"
from $28 - $56 / night
Check Availability"A few friends and I visited this campground in June of 2018 so we could visit the Natural Tunnel and the Devil's Fork Loop Trail."
"What a great experience for the whole family and kids and enjoyed the privacy water was a little cold this time of year but I had a great fire next to the river Under the Stars roasting s'mores"
"The Tennessee and NC sides each have great things to offer. Just feel that the NC side has more smaller campgrounds and is generally a little more quiet and laid back. Go NC!"
"This: Access to Cataloochee is via a narrow, winding, mountain road. A 3-mile stretch of gravel road contains many narrow, blind curves."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Panther Creek SP Panther Creek State Park was an unexpected find outside of Knoxville, TN , in Morristown. I’ve driven by the sign but no need to camp so close to home."
"Nuzzled into the East Tennessee hills. Very pretty. Nice State Park. Would stay here again."
"Nearby is group camping and horse camping. You cannot park your car right on the campsite. There is a parking lot and you need to carry your gear in. It's about 100 feet to the sites."
"The camp is beautiful and you are surrounded by the magical sounds of rushing water. There are two creeks nearby, one big and one small. We spent one day simply enjoying the campground."
from $30 / night
Check Availability
RangerIt says no overnight camping but there were 3 cars camping so I decided to camp. Drove straight across the entrance where a sign said parking but no camping. Was actually a really good camp spot plenty of room.
ScoutI stayed long term while working in the area, including through the winter months, and loved the propane delivery. Coming home to a full tank already dropped at my site was such a nice perk.
It’s a beautiful, peaceful little campground tucked into the mountains and you can tell a lot of care goes into it. It’s not a parking lot like other places I’ve stayed the sites are tiered on the mountainside but level and large. Staff is friendly, they have a game room and laundry room and the store sells cold beer! It was a nice home away from home while working in town
ScoutLovely camping site employees are courteous and helpful the area is super neat and clean. Very pretty and borders a lake
ScoutClean and well-kept campground. Nuzzled into the East Tennessee hills. Very pretty. Nice State Park. Would stay here again.
ScoutAbsolutely love camping here at warriors path State Park it's beyond one of my favorite places to camp
TravelerThe campground itself was good. Bathhouse was clean-ish. The one shower stall smelled quite moldy/mildewy. Not a lot of amenities. We stayed a week and all days during the week - Monday through Friday, there was construction literally right beside our RV. Constant leaf blowing. I understand that they are doing improvements, that is great. A head's up about it, possible option to stay at another site, a noise discount, or at least letting us know, so we could make a choice, would have been nice. Would never stay here again.
TravelerI had a very cute camp spot up in the woods away from the road it was number 50 it was so cute and quieter than the rest of the spots. It also had two fire pits one up by the tent area and one down by the picnic table
ScoutFR 472 is closed at the Golf Course and there are hefty fines if you are caught walking beyond the gate. Black Mountain Campground was destroyed by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The bridge across the S. Toe River was broken and washed out. The water system is also destroyed as well as the road network in the campground. There have been no announcements by the Forest Service about plans to repair the facility and, after a year, my guess is that there never will be.
LegendWe chose this campground because it was close to Natural Tunnel and Devils Fork trail (30-45 min). Both of these are worth doing if you are in the area. We chose to only hike to Devils bathtub (about 2 miles one way). It was exceptional but difficult.
Most of the final road to campground is paved with exception of last mile, its wide enough but slow going. You will lose cellular pretty quickly when you turn on that road.
Campground is well maintained, lots of playground equipment for kids and a launch for tubes/kayaks. At main road there is a public launch if you want to put in there and then float to campground.
No laundry. Bathhouse is just ok, dated but functional.
Owners are nice, and communicate quickly by email or phone. We had issue with the site we reserved and just moved over one site when setting up late and in the rain…told owner next day and it was no problem.
Cherokee National Forest surrounds the Limestone area, with elevations varying between 1,300-1,600 feet, providing cooler summer temperatures than lower-lying regions. The forest's mixed hardwood and pine stands create ideal trail riding conditions, with spring temperatures averaging 60-75°F during peak camping season. This eastern Tennessee region contains several equestrian-friendly campgrounds with varying levels of amenities.
Trail riding: The wooded areas surrounding Cherokee Trails Campground and Stables provide extensive riding opportunities. "Lots of exploration in the woods potential," notes Mimi in a November review, describing the paddocks available for horses and the well-maintained trails throughout the property.
Swimming holes: At Big Creek Campground, visitors access multiple water features. "A very nice feature is how close the campsites are to the creek. It was great for the dogs to cool off. There are also swimming holes nearby," explains Katrin M., who appreciated the water access with her pets.
Hiking: Warriors Path State Park offers extensive trail networks. The Cedar Ridge Hammock Campground within the park provides access to these trails, though Justin C. cautions, "The shrubbery/trees aren't trimmed well so you're going to fight through branches in some cases to hang your stuff."
Secluded camping areas: The rural location of equestrian facilities provides quieter camping experiences. At Cherokee Trails Campground and Stables, Holli C. notes: "This is a small quite camp ground with horse stables. Campground consist of a fire ring in the middle with benches and tables surrounded by back-in camp sites."
Animal encounters: Beyond horses, the region offers wildlife viewing opportunities. At Bristol-Kingsport KOA, Susan E. shares: "You can even pet the horses nearby," mentioning how this added to her experience despite not being specifically at a horse-focused facility.
Cool mountain temperatures: The higher elevation locations provide temperature relief during warmer months. "We stayed at a site right on the river and could hear the water flowing the whole time we were there," mentions Charles H. about his experience at nearby mountain campgrounds, highlighting the cooling effect of water features.
Road conditions: Access to many horse campgrounds near Limestone requires navigating narrow roads. For Cherokee Trails specifically, Mimi observes it's a "nice place once you get here on the narrow country road," confirming the access challenges mentioned by others.
Booking requirements: Most equestrian facilities require advance reservations, particularly during peak seasons (April-October). At Panther Creek State Park Campground, which sits approximately 30 minutes from Limestone, Jim L. explains, "The campground has 50 full-hookup sites," making it important to book early.
Limited amenities: Unlike resort-style campgrounds, many horse-focused facilities prioritize equestrian needs over recreational amenities. Holli C. notes about Cherokee Trails: "No pool or playground, but still a nice peaceful campground," emphasizing that the quiet atmosphere compensates for fewer recreational facilities.
Playgrounds available: For families seeking more structured activities, several nearby campgrounds offer playgrounds. Larry M. reports that Panther Creek State Park offers "great trails, and other activities" beyond the equestrian options, making it suitable for families with varied interests.
Hiking with children: The surrounding national forest contains trails appropriate for different skill levels. At Rocky Top Campground, Jim D. found the campground "clean with affordable pricing," providing a good base for family exploration of nearby trails.
Water activities: Multiple campgrounds feature creeks for wading and supervised play. Alison W. describes Big Creek Campground: "The camp is beautiful and you are surrounded by the magical sounds of rushing water. There are two creeks nearby, one big and one small."
Leveling requirements: Most equestrian campgrounds in the region have uneven sites requiring preparation. Debbie O. warns about Rocky Top Campground: "The camp on the west side is dangerous to drive up in a motorhome. I personally drove my 36' up the most curvy incline I wouldn't recommend anyone to give this a second thought if your not a seasoned driver."
Electric options: Electric hookups vary significantly between facilities, with most horse-focused campgrounds offering limited options. The Bristol-Kingsport KOA offers more developed facilities, with Laura H. noting they have "50amp service and full hookup sites" available for larger rigs.
Site selection: RVers should research specific sites when booking at horse campgrounds. At Panther Creek State Park, Shelly S. advises, "Check your lengths and bring your leveling boards," explaining that "The sites in the upper curve are bigger than the ones on the hill."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Limestone, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Limestone, TN is Old Forge Recreation Area with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Limestone, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 equestrian camping locations near Limestone, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
