Tent campsites near Lookout Mountain, Tennessee provide access to some of the region's most challenging trails and scenic swimming spots. The area sits within the Cumberland Plateau, featuring elevations ranging from 1,700 to 2,400 feet with numerous creek gorges and dense hardwood forests. Summer temperatures often reach 85-95°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping typically requires layers for temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night.
What to do
Rock climbing at Foster Falls: Located in South Cumberland State Park, Foster Falls offers sport climbing routes ranging from 5.8 to 5.13 in difficulty. A Foster Falls Campground camper noted, "Beautiful scenery on somewhat strenuous hikes to waterfalls, some good sport climbing, and a few trails that will take you really high up so you can look down at the beautiful green canopy."
Cave exploration: Multiple cave systems are accessible near the camping areas on Pigeon Mountain. "This is a nice primitive camp site just a 2 min walk from Petty John Cave and a 5 min drive to Rock Town Trailhead. Come here to try your hand at rock climbing and spelunking. The permit was 15 dollars to access Rock Town and the Caves," according to a visitor at Sawmill Lake Campsite.
Historical sites: Camp near Civil War battlefields at Chickamauga Battlefield Group Campground, where visitors reported, "Very clean and quite and everyone was so quiet." The nearby military park preserves sites from the 1863 Battle of Chickamauga.
What campers like
Secluded swimming options: Campers appreciate the remote swimming holes throughout the region. One camper at Blue Hole Dispersed said, "It has a blue hole an caves no electricity or running water but the camp sites are pretty good. An the do have a handicap access area for rvs to do disperse camping also an parking for the bluehole."
Free primitive camping: Many camping areas near Lookout Mountain don't charge fees. A Hunter's Check Station Campground visitor mentioned, "Free camping" and noted it has "toilet facility," making it one of the few free sites with basic amenities.
Trail system connectivity: Campsites often connect to extensive trail networks. "The southernmost campsite on the Cumberland Trail, the Lockhart's Arch shelter is only 1.8 miles from the southern Terminus of the CT, at Signal Point. The hike in to this shelter is moderate, passing beautiful views at Julia Falls Overlook, and a cool suspension bridge as it crosses Middle Creek," reported a backpacker at Lockhart's Arch Shelter.
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Many campsites require traversing rough roads. A visitor to Davis Pond Campsite shared, "About 45 mins outside Chattanooga, it's a beautiful drive. Last 7 miles are on a windy gravel road. The last 1/2 mile gets a little dicey and needs a vehicle with some clearance."
Wildlife encounters are common: Prepare for sharing your campsite with various creatures. A Davis Pond camper noted, "After I set up my tent I noticed that some hornets were flying into a nearby dead tree. I quickly moved to another spot but luckily noticed it before it got dark."
Bathroom facilities are limited or non-existent: Even established campgrounds may have poor facilities. One Davis Pond visitor warned, "The bathroom looks like an actual third world country, covered in trash and bugs and who knows what else. I didn't stay long to look at it in detail. It was very rudimentary and disgusting."
Tips for camping with families
Select sites with swimming access: Children enjoy the natural water features. A Foster Falls camper mentioned, "Beautiful spot any time of year but we like to go when it's warm enough to swim in the waterfall."
Consider noise levels at certain locations: Some campgrounds experience significant noise. A camper at Hunter's Check Station noted, "Not a quiet camping area lots of road noise and traffic," which may affect light sleepers or napping children.
Pack extra water for primitive sites: Many tent camping areas near Lookout Mountain lack water sources. At Blue Hole Dispersed, a camper advised, "Land pass required. No alcohol is permitted. This is a wildlife management area. The camp sites are first come, first serve."
Tips from RVers
High-clearance vehicles recommended: Access roads to many campsites require appropriate vehicles. A Sawmill Lake visitor warned, "The road leading up to the campsite is extremely rough and washed out. We were in a Subaru Outback, and it was a very slow-going, bumpy ride — we bottomed out several times."
Consider directional approach: Some roads are better suited for trailers than others. "If you have a trailer or rv I recommend coming in from the west direction, if you can tell from maps. The east way had 180 degree sharp turns up the mountain, so may be difficult," advised a camper at Sawmill Lake.
Plan for self-sufficiency: Most tent camping areas near Lookout Mountain lack RV hookups. A Blue Hole camper noted, "We stayed 3 days 2 nights here in our 21' pop up camper with our generator. Road is pretty well maintained, spots are good size, some only large enough for tent/car camping."
