23 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Campgrounds near Cleveland, Tennessee include a range of options from full-service RV parks to primitive tent camping sites. The Chattanooga North-Cleveland KOA offers well-maintained sites with water, power, and sewer hookups approximately 4 miles from downtown Cleveland. Tent campers and RV enthusiasts have access to multiple developed campgrounds including Harrison Bay State Park, Chester Frost Park, and several sites along Parksville Lake. Most established campgrounds in the area feature picnic tables, fire rings, and basic amenities, though amenity levels vary significantly between primitive and developed sites.
Seasonal considerations play a key role when planning camping trips in the Cleveland area. While some campgrounds like the Chattanooga North-Cleveland KOA and Harrison Bay State Park remain open year-round, others such as Chester Frost Park operate seasonally from April through October. The region experiences hot, humid summers and mild winters, making spring and fall particularly popular camping seasons. Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays when occupancy rates peak. Several campgrounds provide both tent and RV sites with varying levels of hookups, though primitive sites with limited amenities are also available. According to one visitor, "It's very clean and there are fun things to do for the kids."
The camping experience around Cleveland benefits from proximity to water features, with several campgrounds situated near lakes and rivers that provide recreational opportunities. Harrison Bay State Park Campground and Chester Frost Park both offer boat-in access in addition to standard drive-in sites. For those seeking more rustic experiences, Chilhowee Recreation Area provides a more natural setting with fewer amenities but greater privacy. Campers frequently mention the family-friendly atmosphere at local campgrounds. As noted in feedback on The Dyrt, the Chattanooga North-Cleveland KOA features "a nice campground right off the highway, but remote enough to feel like you're out in the sticks. Tons of trees and lots were large with plenty of parking." Many developed campgrounds in the region offer showers and flush toilets, while more primitive sites typically provide only basic facilities.
"Harrison Bay is a huge park, with four camping loops (3 for RVs, 1 for tents), and a large marina, located on the Chickamauga Reservoir of the Tennessee River."
"This is a great family campground and Tennessee State Park located on Chickamauga Lake of the Tennessee River. Good playground for the Grandkids and bicycle paths."
Available next weekend
"Tons of room to walk and play. Great swimming and fishing. Boating is huge here Bc there are docks all around the campground to pull up to. Playgrounds everywhere."
"They have a frisbee golf course, playgrounds, walking trails, beach, easy access to the water and fields to start up any activity you desire. We read about uneven campsite but ours was pretty flat."
from $21 - $30 / night
"I should have gotten one of their little cabins...they look cozy and they are right next to the primitive camping."
"The long gravel pad easily accommodated our 40-foot fifth wheel and F-450, with well-positioned utilities. Since we were only overnighting, we did not disconnect."
from $55 / night
"My partner and I headed to nearby Chilhowie Campground in the Cherokee National Forest last year to try out our new teardrop camper. We chose site 1 in the A Loop as it had shore power."
"It has clean bathrooms with showers, fire rings with grill grates, lots of hiking, hike to a beautiful waterfall, huge lake to swim or float on a raft, and the lightning bugs were breath taking!!"
Available next weekend
from $12 - $30 / night
"This campground is in a great location. It sits on the same grounds as a rafting company and an outdoor bar/pub called The Bus."
"Adventures Unlimited is located in Ocoee, TN, just outside of Chattanooga, and is one of the coolest river towns I’ve been to. The Ocoee River was the site for the 1996 Olympics whitewater events."
from $10 - $45 / night
"Bath house is relatively nice for a state park campground. 1 mile walking path surrounding the grounds is nice. Safe area for bicycle riding. Great proximity to many outdoor activities."
"This sweet state park campground is tucked into a spot along Gee Creek, which is great for boating, fishing, and swimming in the summertime heat of Tennessee. "
Available next weekend
"You cant beat waterfront and being able to step outside your tent and see water. What also loved was that I didn't feel crammed by other people."
"Seemed to be a lot of locals, which were good to talk with about what to do in the other nearby parks. Shady campsites but open and not too private."
from $39 - $47 / night
"Scenic views the whole drive up, followed by a safe, cozy campground with clean facilities and a great grouping of trails."
"The campsite was clean, and our site was a good distance from other campers. The campground has a nice hike to Benton Falls which is beautiful."
from $12 - $20 / night
"Each site is a good distance away from the other and there is the constant sound of the creek flowing right next to it. The bathrooms are clean and right in the middle a perfect spot for a getaway"
"Easy to navigate around sites. Lots of shade. Close by Occoee White Water center where the Atlanta olympics took place. Plan your visit around the water release. There schedule is online. "
Available next weekend
from $20 - $40 / night
"Campground Review:East Rim Campground Pro’s: 1-Handicap Accessible, there is a cabin which is also HDA. 2- If your visiting for a get together your right next to the day use area and there is a picnic"
"We stopped in for a few hours on our drive home from Tennessee. We drove through the campgrounds to scout out our site."
Available next weekend
from $10 - $290 / night
ScoutI camped here with a friend last weekend and absolutely loved this place! It's a cute little site with a great host, clean bathrooms, free firewood, and super friendly dogs, goats, and people. I would for sure stay here again and recommend.
ScoutA great find to hang your hat for the evening. New owners look like they are doing amazing up grades. Our site 57 didn’t have a picnic table or fire ring but I’m sure they are working on it. Fairly quite and we would for sure come back and give it a 5 star when their done on the remodel.
GuideParksville Lake RV Campground is an absolute gem! I had a fantastic stay here. The campground is beautifully maintained, and the sites are nice, spacious, and wonderfully shaded by the trees. We loved the layout of the RV loop, especially the outer section where a peaceful creek flows right past the sites—the sound of the water at night was perfect. The restrooms and showers were exceptionally clean and well-kept. I had Starlink connectivity at my site and my WeBoost cell signal booster gave me up to three bars on AT&T. The campground host was incredibly nice, welcoming, and helpful. It's a wonderful, relaxing spot, and I will definitely be back!
ScoutI was worried that I would arrive and find all the campsites occupied. This was not the case. When I got there around 5:30 there was only one other site taken. I didn’t see them until the next morning. By morning, there were two other sites occupied.
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 was a last minute stay, the camp was full but accommodations were made for us by the host to park in his front yard and connect to house power. We were invited to join the host and other guests at the massive fire pit that was warming the cool mountain evening. Very pretty here…was a long and winding road up the mountain from our travel direction. Excited to see what it looks like in daylight. I have 3 bars on my T-Mobile but also have StarLink.
ScoutBeautiful view on the water. Not very full, which was nice. I came for some quiet and privacy and while it worked, there were just some that were very social. Haha
TravelerHard to find, really busy but most of them were hikers let left at nightfall.
TravelerWater was very low and poor quality. Host was friendly but don’t buy his wood - it doesn’t burn well. County water tasted funny, probably minimal treatment. We had quite a hike to the restroom, which wasn’t regularly cleaned.
Camping near Cleveland, Tennessee offers options across Cherokee National Forest and around Chickamauga Reservoir. Sites typically sit at elevations between 700-1,500 feet with moderate to high humidity throughout summer months. Local campgrounds experience temperature swings of up to 20 degrees between day and night during spring and fall camping seasons.
Hiking to waterfalls: Chilhowee Recreation Area features multiple hiking trails leading to impressive waterfalls. "There's a small hike to Cumberland Falls, which is gorgeous!! We had a great time!" shares Alison B. The Benton Falls trail offers "a 3 miles RT" hike with "fall color just peaking" during autumn months.
Water recreation: Harrison Bay State Park Campground provides extensive lake access with diverse water activities. "I saw some campers in fishing kayaks come right up to the shore and hop out at their campsite," notes Tom B. The park includes a marina, fishing spots, and swimming areas throughout its multiple camping loops.
Live music venues: Outdoor entertainment opportunities exist minutes from camping areas. At Adventures Unlimited Campground, "The Bus Bar- this place is a must! They have literally converted two yellow school busses into a bar!" explains Lori H. Weekend performances run typically from May through September with music ending around midnight.
Private camping areas: Chilhowee Campground features well-spaced sites with natural buffers. "Lots of shade and one bath house with four separate shower/rest room combos, air conditioned as well," notes Lance H. Sites include established tent pads and fire rings throughout the camping areas.
Accessibility to water features: Campers appreciate waterfront options across multiple parks. At Skull Island, "Nothing like waking up to see the beautiful water all around you," shares Edna. Waterfront sites allow for direct lake access without needing to pack and transport gear.
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness remains consistent across most locations. The Gee Creek Campground offers "a nice size bath house that is heated during the winter," according to Gregg G. Most shower facilities provide hot water, though push-button controls at some locations require periodic reactivation during use.
Seasonal water levels: Water features vary dramatically between seasons. When visiting Cloudland Canyon, Michelle D. noted "Waterfalls were dry, which was disappointing but the hike to them from the West Rim Trail was quite pretty." Spring months typically offer fullest flows for waterfall viewing.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely between campgrounds. At Chilhowee, "There is NO AT&T in spite of what this site says. You may get a weak signal on the other side, but it's spotty at best. There appeared to be a Verizon tower on the mountain, so that will probably work," explains Mike N.
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds require difficult approaches. The road to Chilhowee Recreation Area includes "a steep narrow windy mountain road" according to Carissa D. RVers should research access routes carefully, especially for sites in higher elevations.
Kid-friendly water areas: Dedicated swimming zones provide safe water access. At Chester Frost Park, "This place is definitely somewhere you wanna bring your kids they would love it! There is a man made beach with a playground and loads of camping lots next to the river!" says Haley H.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many sites offer chance encounters with local animals. At Harrison Bay, "Kids loved camping here deer will come up to your camp just keep and eye on your food coolers raccoons will get the," warns Constance. Food storage containers with secure latches are recommended.
Campground playground facilities: Several sites include dedicated play areas. Chester Frost Park offers "a man made beach with a playground" while Gee Creek Campground includes "a playground to keep kids entertained," according to Anna M.
Leveling requirements: Many sites require significant adjustment for comfortable parking. At Parksville Lake RV Campground, "Only issue with Parksville lake is that it is a tight drive into the sites," notes Gary C. RVers should carry leveling blocks, especially for older campgrounds with less developed pads.
Water hookup variations: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups at each site. At Chilhowee, "The RV sites do not have water hook-ups at each site. There is a water hook up to fill your tank as you enter the campsite area. Fill your tank and you are good to go," advises Nathan G.
Site selection strategy: RV site quality varies significantly within single campgrounds. For Cloudland Canyon, "The West Rim campground is VASTLY superior with tons of privacy, tree cover, great terraces at most sites, with the ones outside ones being the best," recommends G F., while warning "The East Rim campground is the thing of nightmares - sites on top of each other, no vegetation, no trees, right next to road, zero privacy."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Cleveland, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Cleveland, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 465 campgrounds and RV parks near Cleveland, TN and 30 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Cleveland, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cleveland, TN is Harrison Bay State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 60 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Cleveland, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 30 free dispersed camping spots near Cleveland, TN.
What parks are near Cleveland, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 parks near Cleveland, TN that allow camping, notably Carters Lake and Tusquitee National Forest.
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