Cleveland, Tennessee sits at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains at approximately 860 feet elevation, creating a diverse camping landscape with both mountain and river access points. The area experiences moderate rainfall throughout the year, with summer temperatures averaging in the 80s and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Fall camping is particularly popular for viewing changing foliage in the surrounding Cherokee National Forest.
What to Do
Waterfall hiking trails: At Chilhowee Recreation Area, several hiking paths lead to stunning waterfalls. "We did the Benton Falls hike and it was lovely! 3 miles RT. Fall color was just peaking 🍂," reports a visitor. For more seclusion, "head to the Rainbow falls. For a more secluded waterfall experience."
Mountain biking terrain: Fort Mountain State Park offers technical trails for experienced riders. "Most of the trails except the Gahuti are multi use and there is a strong community of mountain biking here," explains one camper who adds, "We didn't bike the trails here with our hybrid specialized bikes because we felt the trails (other than the lake trail and the park roads) to be too technical for us due to the major elevation changes, loose gravel and rocks."
Swimming holes and beaches: Fall Creek Falls State Park provides multiple water recreation spots. "The park itself has a scenic loop drive of the gorge, multiple waterfalls to visit, miles on end of hiking trails in which some cross rope bridges, awesome swimming holes, and even an olympic pool with diving boards and a snack shack for the kiddos," writes one reviewer.
What Campers Like
Platform camping experience: At Fort Mountain State Park, unique elevated sites offer something different from traditional glamping in Cleveland, Tennessee. "I looked up information on the platforms (also called Squirrel's Nest) on the state park website... The site itself was in a beautiful location, had a hand pump on site, and also had a shared bear proof storage box."
Secluded camping loops: Cloudland Canyon State Park provides camping options with varying privacy levels. "The West Rim camping loop has a total of 48 tent/RV sites with 30 or 50A hookups, water, gravel tent pads, picnic tables, and fire rings. This loop is far more wooded and offers a greater variety of site size and privacy, and has an extremely quiet and peaceful vibe to it."
Lakefront sites: Chester Frost Park offers waterfront camping with direct lake access. "Love staying on the lake front and watching the sun set," says one camper, while another notes, "Sites near the lake have easy access to the water." These sites combine the accessibility of established campgrounds with views typically associated with luxury glamping near Cleveland, Tennessee.
What You Should Know
Bear activity: Certain campgrounds require extra precautions with food. "There is definitely active wildlife here!! Two other couples at two separate platform sites had encounters with a bear the same weekend I was here," warns a Fort Mountain State Park camper.
Campsite leveling challenges: Fort Mountain State Park Campground requires preparation for uneven terrain. "The park is fairly nice, I'd avoid site 24. The site had about a 5 inch difference shopping towards the road. I used rocker blocks maxed out (about 4 inches in height) and still was not level."
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."
Tips for Camping with Families
Kid-friendly swimming options: Chester Frost Park features a designated swimming area with play equipment. "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!"
Multi-generational camping traditions: Many local families return to Skull Island year after year. "Been going here since I was very young with my parents now I'm taking my kids and it helps I now live 5 min from the grounds," shares a reviewer who gave the campground five stars.
Quiet campsite selection: Families seeking peaceful settings should be selective with campground areas. "Campground A & B are great for families with kids. C & D are more quiet. Pay attention to grades of sites when booking, you might need extra supports to level out," advises a Fall Creek Falls visitor.
Tips from RVers
Leveling preparation: Bluewater Resort & RV Campground offers concrete pads, but other campgrounds require equipment. "The pads are nice concrete and attention is paid to the landscaping," notes one camper, though they mention that boat traffic creates noise issues.
Tank fill procedures: Chilhowee Recreation Area requires planning for water needs. "No water hookup but you can fill your tank at the spigots. Electric was available at our site," explains one RVer. Another adds: "There is only one dump station and it's on the other side of the campground. From the B loop, you have to traverse about a 120 degree switchback to get to it."
Road access considerations: Steep mountain roads challenge larger rigs at some locations. "To get to this campground you have to go up a steep narrow windy mountain road," warns a Chilhowee visitor, while another notes: "It is also 7.5 miles up a mountain, not fun to pull up or down with a travel trailer."
