3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Louisville, Tennessee offers diverse tent camping options, with established sites at Cosby Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park located about 50 miles east. Poland Creek provides more primitive tent camping closer to Louisville, while sites like Camp Birdsong offer reservable tent-specific areas with basic amenities. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) manages free tent camping at Fork Bend, approximately 25 miles north of Louisville.
Most tent sites in the region feature natural dirt or gravel pads with minimal leveling. Cosby Campground provides flush toilets and drinking water but no showers, while more primitive areas like Poland Creek have no bathroom facilities or potable water. Campers should pack in all water and supplies for remote locations. Fire restrictions vary by location and season, with some areas permitting campfires in designated rings while others prohibit them entirely. Bear activity is common throughout the region, requiring proper food storage in all camping areas.
Tent camping near Louisville offers exceptional access to hiking trails and water features. Many sites provide proximity to creeks or rivers, making them ideal for fishing or cooling off during summer months. At Cosby Campground, tent sites are nestled among tulip poplars and offer multiple trail connections, including access to the Appalachian Trail. Campsites throughout the area typically provide good shade coverage and relative seclusion compared to RV-focused campgrounds. Several backcountry tent sites require hiking in but reward campers with greater solitude. According to one visitor, "Cosby Campground is a stunningly beautiful place to camp with clean bathrooms and very private sites. No electric, no cell service, and no showers – a good feeling to be totally disconnected."
"This is a medium size campground which offers both RV and tent camping. There is a recreational facility which can be used for day use as well. Overall everything is grassy green and beautiful."
"This spot is kid and tent friendly with a boat ramp and beautiful small lake with lots of fishing opportunities."
"Camp Birdsong is here to provide an excellent spot to setup your tent, with a platform for a level setup, and a mini kitchen so that you can prepare some great meals while listening to the morning birds"
"Luv the fact it tells you about the camping space"
from $40 - $49 / night
"After checking it out and realizing we were unprepared to set up a tent in a gravel mud puddle we checked out frozen head's campground and it was so nice."
"There is a primitive tent area along a creek branch and there are some primitive hike-in areas) Tennessee seems to have a thing for larger rock pieces in their gravel on tent platforms... otherwise no"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when available"Site 26 is good for rooftop tent camping. Shade in afternoon and plenty of room for additional vehicles. Fire ring has a movable grate that is good to cook on."
"I’m in a truck camper with a rooftop tent."
from $20 - $49 / night
"Cosby is a small town about a 45 minute easy drive from Gatlinburg. Heavily wooded, lends itself nicely to hammock camping."
"Most of the sites are better suited to tent campers, though a few of them are designated RV sites offering a back-in parking pad."
from $50 / night
"This spot is new, and the set up is awesome. Perched on top of a hill, the site has great sunrise views."
"This spot is new, and the set up is awesome. Perched on top of a hill, the site has great sunrise views."
from $75 - $175 / night
"Great campground with very friendly and helpful rangers. Was pretty empty the night we were there."
"The ranger was very friendly when we checked in. The site was a great site for winter camping, since the loop beside it was closed for the season (so there was only one neighbor)."
"Great site & fairly easy hike in from Laurel Creek rd. Camp site is about .5 miles downhill from the Bote Mountain and West Prong Trail Head."
"I chose this campsite as the location of my first backcountry overnight experience, and I was not disappointed. Loved every minute of it. Short hike from your vehicle on Laurel Gap Rd."
"I recently learned that TVA land is free to camp on, so I sought out some close to me and found Fork Bend. If you want to get away from people, this place is for you."
"Disclaimer: I pack heat whenever I am alone.)
The site was pretty much shaded by the forest canopy throughout the day, with full sun toward the edge of the water."
"I rounded a turn and the trail turned rocky. Then the brush disappeared and the view off the side of the mountain was breathtaking."
TravelerBeautiful spot in the smoky mountains. State park style amenities, no showers. No hookups. Very busy very open campground. Nice that some trails are walking distance from campground. I would not camp here again as I prefer more separation and privacy. No cell service. STARLINK is usable but obstructed with tree canopy
GuideDrove 5 hrs from our last campground to here for event Campground was very well maintained and liked the site. Wasn’t overly crazy about the event not a lot of vendors mainly jeeps went to a few local shops in town had a great lunch at the cookie dough monster.
TravelerFantastic National Park! Elkmont is really nice but lacking in hookups and there are no showers. Hard to stay too long without power, water, sewer and showers. Still, an amazing site along the river!
GuideThis is one of several USFS campgrounds that are within a few miles of each other. The cost is only $8/night, first come first served. The sites are fairly large with about half of them on a wide, clear creek. There is no running water, but there are bear proof trash cans and vault toilets that were fairly clean, but didn't smell great.
There is free potable water and an RV dump station about a mile away at the North River Game Checking Station on River Road near the Spivey Cove campground..
The campsite was clean with picnic table, fire ring, and a lantern post. The fire ring was almost full of ashes and it appears that campers have to clean them out themselves.
The Green Cove Angler store is a couple miles away and has ice, firewood and other camper things.
Unfortunately, while we were there, it was bear hunting season and another camper had multiple barking and baying dogs that went on and on for hours.
TravelerThis worked well for us while we were visiting Dollywood in our trailer, but we wouldn't stay here if we had been in a different type of site. Cons: Unless you have a site up against the river or on patriot park, you are packed in VERY TIGHT with other people, sometimes with your sliders only a foot or two away from your neighbor's sliders. We were in a site that was "on patriot park", but the few first sites of that type are really just behind the trolley parking lot and pick up with a path behind you (including ours). People are on the other side of the fence walking about two feet behind you all day and pretty late in to the night. Pros: There are lot of trees and campground is very pretty. Super close to Dollywood and other Pigeon Forge points of interest.
ScoutBeautiful Campground, but Absolutely NOT Family-Friendly! I rarely leave negative reviews this strongly, but our experience at Turkey Creek Campground was so disappointing that I feel compelled to warn other families. First, I’ll give credit where it’s due. The campground is beautifully maintained, and the creekside sites are incredibly peaceful and serene. It’s a lovely setting, and during the day, the owner is friendly enough and seemingly hospitable. Unfortunately, the hospitality comes to a screeching halt the moment the clock strikes 10 PM.
We were two families camping together with six well-behaved kids who absolutely love the outdoors. We understand and respect campground quiet hours. We weren’t looking to throw parties, blast music, or disturb anyone. But apparently, at Turkey Creek,“quiet hours” doesn’t mean keeping noise to a respectful minimum. It means absolute silence, complete darkness, and seemingly no normal human activity whatsoever.
I’m not exaggerating.
* We were told to turn off ALL our lights at 10 PM.
* We were confronted for opening our vehicle’s trunk because it made a brief beeping sound.
* Our children were startled by a large spider near the bathhouse, and the owner actually yelled at them to be quiet.
* One evening around 11 PM, we were talking quietly INSIDE OUR OWN TENT, barely above a whisper, when the owner approached our tent door to reprimand us for talking.
* On another occasion, he approached us to complain that our children had left TWO STICKS on the ground near the bathrooms. Two sticks! At a campground surrounded by woods, where the kids had just walked down a wooded trail to reach the bathhouse!
And don’t even think about enjoying a little background music while sitting around your campsite. Music of any kind played through a speaker is prohibited, regardless of volume. Apparently, even a little John Denver played quietly while enjoying the mountains is too much to ask. I fully appreciate that some people camp specifically for peace and quiet. We respect that, too. But there is a massive difference between enforcing reasonable quiet hours and making paying guests feel like they’re constantly being watched, monitored, and reprimanded for simply existing. The owner’s enforcement of these rules felt excessive, confrontational, and completely out of proportion to what was actually happening.
Instead of relaxing and enjoying our family vacation, we found ourselves walking on eggshells, worried that the smallest sound, light, or ordinary childhood behavior would result in another confrontation. What makes this particularly frustrating is that our kids were doing exactly what we’d hope children would do on a camping trip: spending time outside, exploring nature, enjoying each other’s company, and making memories away from screens. Yet somehow, even that seemed unwelcome. If we hadn’t already paid for five nights, we would have packed up and left after the very first night. That’s how uncomfortable the experience became.
If you are someone who wants a meticulously maintained campground where everyone retires to complete silence and darkness by 10 PM, Turkey Creek might be perfect for you. But if you’re a family hoping to enjoy a campfire, share some laughs, quietly socialize in the evening, and let your children experience the simple joys of camping, I cannot recommend this place strongly enough AGAINST it.
There are so many beautiful campgrounds in this area, and I cannot imagine choosing to return somewhere that made our families feel so unwelcome. Beautiful property. Extremely disappointing hospitality. Absolutely terrible experience for families. We will never return.
ScoutCalled the day of to ask if we could camp and set up after hours for that day and the next the lady told me yes i could pay in the morning i got here set up that night woke up around 8 am to go pay and reserve my campsite for the day and she told me they were booked even though she had told me the day before she had plenty of campsites. Then tried to tell me the only one she had was a $75 site for 4 people which is absolutely insane. She made snarky remarks and was overall incompetent in making sure the guests receive the right information the first time. Absolutely zero care that we set up not even 12 hours before to make us take it down and leave.
ScoutThis was a very nice campground! The tent areas are partially gravel so it helped the area be less muddy after rain. Beautiful view of the river and would be a great place to fish! Bathrooms are very nice! Comes with a nice fire pit and didn’t have to use own grate! Pet friendly! Staff was very nice and helpful!
Only complaint was some of their quiet hours were confusing. The quiet hours on the email said 10pm to 7am but then sign posted at bathroom was 11pm-7am for quiet hours.
GuideThis is a beautiful campground but is unfortunately permanently closed. It's sad.
Tent camping near Louisville, Tennessee offers access to diverse water features with Norris Lake at TVA Public Land-Fork Bend and clear creek camping at Double Camp/Citico Creek. The region's elevation varies from approximately 830 feet in Louisville to over 4,000 feet at nearby mountain campsites, creating distinct microclimates. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall bring cooler temperatures and moderate rainfall.
Trout fishing in clear waters: Double Camp/Citico Creek provides excellent fishing opportunities with stocked trout from February through early September. "TWRA stocks plenty of trout Feb-early Sept. I have met some of the nicest folks here too. Leave your phone at home, you won't have a signal, broadcast radio barely makes it in," notes camper Todd R.
Hiking to historic fire towers: From Cosby Campground, access trails leading to Mount Cammerer. "The hike to Hen Wallows is nice with some rugged patches, but worth it in the end. On Fridays they have special Ranger programs. We were lucky enough to learn about moon-shining from guys on the moonshiner TV show," reports Janine B.
Swimming in clean lakes: Norris Lake at TVA Public Land-Fork Bend offers swimming access with small beach areas. "There was a tiny beach about 100 yards east of my site for wading — manageable rock ledges and muddy banks everywhere else," shares Sarah N. "My site could easily have fit 3 vehicles, and there were 3 fire rings."
Off-the-beaten-path solitude: TVA Public Land-Fork Bend provides free primitive camping away from crowds. "If you want to get away from people, this place is for you. Fork Bend is a heavily wooded forest surrounded by Norris Lake, which is known for being the best lake around the area," writes Lori H.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Bote Mountain Campsite offers creek-side camping with local wildlife. "I chose this campsite as the location of my first backcountry overnight experience, and I was not disappointed. West Prong of the Little River runs right through both separated sites, so plenty of water is an understatement," says Christina Z.
Backcountry camping experience: Bote Mountain Campsite 18 provides a wilderness feel with minimal hiking effort. "Great site & fairly easy hike in from Laurel Creek rd. Camp site is about .5 miles downhill from the Bote Mountain and West Prong Trail Head. There are 2 sites that can be used and they are separated from one another," notes Kristin M.
Limited services and amenities: Most primitive sites around Louisville require self-sufficiency. At Young Branch Horse Camp, "Located in between campsites 7&8, Young Branch is the more 'civilized' part of Citico Creek. There is a toilet, but no hookups. About 6 different sites within the campground," explains Zane P.
Road conditions vary significantly: Windrock Ridge Campground requires careful navigation. "First time at Windrock Campground. Very nice property and has spots for all types of outfits and campers. The wooded tent sites were perfect not all are level so ask to drive through and preview avails before booking," advises Stoked C.
Cell service limitations: Most remote camping areas have minimal connectivity. At TVA Public Land-Fork Bend, "There were generally 2 bars of Verizon 4G, which sometimes increased to 3 bars or dropped down to 1X. I was able to text fine but sending/receiving pictures was hit or miss," reports Sarah N.
Choose less crowded alternatives: Poland Creek offers family-friendly lake camping. "This campsite is perfect for anyone looking to get away from it all for a bit. With gorgeous lake views and a selection of sites that is impressive you will love it here!" shares Nia M.
Look for educational opportunities: Ranger programs enhance family camping experiences. At Cosby Campground, they "have programs regularly. Lots of trails leave at the campground and also nearby. There's a touristy town nearby with more attractions...try the rafting trips from any of the companies in town," suggests a camper.
Consider recreation amenities: Poland Creek provides family activities beyond camping. "Poland creek is a quaint little spot with a tremendous friendly staff and laid back campers. This spot is kid and tent friendly with a boat ramp and beautiful small lake with lots of fishing opportunities," notes Corey T.
Check site leveling before setup: Windrock Campground requires site selection care. "Not all are level so ask to drive through and preview avails before booking. Fire ring, table provided. The only down side is that there is heavy SxS traffic on camp roads until late evening," warns Stoked C.
Consider solar needs: Some shaded sites limit power options. "There are open sky spots around the bathhouse if you need solar or satellite. Those are all flat," adds the same Windrock Campground visitor, highlighting the importance of choosing sites based on power needs.
Water access planning: Most sites near Louisville require bringing your own water. At Young Branch Horse Camp, there are toilet facilities but no hookups, making water planning essential for RV campers who need to arrive with full tanks or bring alternative water storage solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Louisville, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Louisville, TN is Poland Creek with a 4.2-star rating from 5 reviews.
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