5 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Etowah's surrounding area features cabin camping options ranging from rustic shelters to furnished cabins, all within a short drive. Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground offers basic cabins that provide shelter from the elements while maintaining a rustic camping experience. Olde English Farm provides more furnished cabin accommodations with queen beds and memory foam mattresses. "The cabins are always clean and tidy. Camping area is always spotless. Bathrooms are clean and the showers are hot," noted one visitor about Cherohala Mountain Trails. Smitty's Lodge Motorcycle Campground (formerly Hunt's Lodge) caters primarily to motorcyclists with simple cabin rentals. Most properties provide access to shared bathhouse facilities with hot showers and flush toilets.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. KOA-style accommodations can be found at Sweetwater KOA, approximately 15 miles north of Etowah, offering more amenities than primitive cabins. Tennessee Country Campground & RV Park includes cabin rentals with picnic tables and fire rings at each site. A recent review described the campground as having "clean environment, clean club house and showers and bathrooms." Pets are allowed at several properties including Cherohala Mountain Trails and Sweetwater KOA, though Smitty's Lodge prohibits pets. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer months and weekends.
Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen facilities vary widely between properties - some cabins feature basic cooking equipment while others have no food preparation areas. Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground provides access to coffee and pastries in the morning according to visitor feedback. Camp stores at Sweetwater KOA and Hiwassee River Area stock essential supplies, though selection is limited. The town of Etowah has several grocery stores for more extensive provisioning needs. Cabins without air conditioning can become quite warm during summer months, so portable fans may be necessary additional equipment during hot weather.
"Our family used a mix of a cabin and a tent, which worked out perfectly—it gave us a great option to get some AC while still letting the kids get the real tent-camping experience."
"There are cabins, a couple RV sites, and the rest of the grounds are available to pitch a tent wherever you want to. Bathrooms are clean. Firewood is free."
"There are two sites that are very long with amazing decks. The park offers full hook up RV Sites, Cabins, Tent sites."
"Ask about the deck, fire pit camp sites, as they have a small table with chairs and glider swing. We will stop there again."
"The campground offers cabins and the cabin was pretty nice. It slept ten people. However, there is only one bathroom in the cabin. The toilet wasn’t working well."
"Great spot for tent campers, boondockers, or even rv’s that need water and power. You’re probably gonna see some weirdness here but that charm is what keeps the vibe alive."
from $10 - $45 / night
"I found this awesome campground close to the beginning of the Cherohala skyway in Tellico Plains."
"We stayed in one of there cabins. We were on motorcycles. Could t have ask for better!!"
from $20 / night
"Family friendly Glamping campsites with solar shower, queen bed, memory foam mattress, night stands, all the essential cookware, campfire and grill, bathroom facilities, extra 4 person tent."
from $89 - $120 / night
"And clean club house and showers and bathrooms. Has laundry room and fire rings at camp sites"
from $45 / night
"Our first time here at the Hiwassee Outfitter camping area in Reliance, Tennessee. Most campsites have river view or stream view. One large circle, mostly tent camping. No electric hookup."
"Excellent sites, small outfitter store with food, drink, sundries. Breakfast & Lunch Diner. Multiple Float Rental types including sit in, sit on and inflatable kayaks."
"They all come equipped with a coffee maker and retro fridge. In fact the whole cabin is done in a retro theme. Brass rotary telephones adorn homemade wooden furniture. This place is it!"
"We were impressed with the paved parking space, picnic table, fire pit and level tent pad. It looks like these are very new. Proximity to cades cove loop was great."
"Picnic table, fire ring and grill, sand tent area, level driveway- all make for a good choice for any type of equipment. No cell service for Verizon and none for many miles on the drive to the site."
Available this weekend
from $30 / night
"We used the camping cabins. The campground is nice. It has many things to do like a pool, cornhole, horseshoes. The cabins are ok. They have three beds. One double and a set of bunk beds."
"Friendly Staff, Clean Bathrooms, Convenient Location. No honeywagon for water and electric only sites, but dump station in campground."
from $55 / 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.
GuideThis is our number one favorite place to camp. We are from Knoxville, TN and if we are wanting to camp for the weekend but avoid the drive, this is where we come! Area 1 site 25 is our favorite and we are super excited to stay at 108 and 109 in the future. The campground is beautiful. Area 1 is shaded with plenty of trees around making it feel like you're in a little forest, and of course fall is wonderful. Some sites have sewer. I have T-mobile cell phone and I have 3 bars at 5g and my husband has xfinity and has 2 bars at 4G.
Love this campground!
GuideLevel paved spot, partial shade (site 140), quiet, sites not too close together, cooler evenings than LA (lower AL). Nice staff. Not crowded.
GuideGreat campsites, little closer together than what I like but still nice and shaded all paved. Have three dump stations that are very nice. Will definitely come back. Better have reservations, cause it does stay full.
GuideBeautiful views from the trails. I went during the summer in July so it was on the busier side. There is a lake with a beach with boat and paddle board rentals. Seemed like a great spot to fish. Prepare for possibilities of bears as they were around. One night I must have not fully secured my bear box and a bear found my cooler. I tent camped on a pad where I can find some service (T-Mobile) but most spots are spotty. Next time I come, I want to try the back country locations. Trails are awesome with a cool story about the place around the tower and fortification. Attendants at the camp store were really nice. If groceries are needed there is grocery stores in the nearest town of Chatsworth down the mountain
TravelerI was a visitor to this park. Doris has zero interest in being friendly or welcoming. The only signage that reads, you must visit their dirty little office and register, is what you see in the photos posted, partially hidden by tree branches as you approach. It was my third visit before I actually saw it and that’s only because it was pointed out by the person I was visiting. And they don’t care if you give them your info, doesn’t even ask, just demands your $5. After the owner Doris read a Google review left by another person that was treated poorly by her, she assumed it was left by me for spite and kicked my friend that stayed there out. Had she bothered to actually take my info instead of my money she would have realized I wasn’t the one that left her a bad review, but another visitor leaving an unsatisfactory review perpetuated by her rudeness.. if you value your peace and want your visitors to feel welcome, please choose another place to give your hard earned money to.
TravelerWe had an awesome stay! Our family used a mix of a cabin and a tent, which worked out perfectly—it gave us a great option to get some AC while still letting the kids get the real tent-camping experience. We absolutely loved the French toast, and the bathroom and shower facilities were convenient. We really enjoyed our time and all the amenities. Thanks for a great stay!
LegendWe followed the confirmation email directions, which took us right to the campground. Check-in was quick, efficient, and exceptionally friendly. We were escorted to back-in Site 55, which was an easy back-in and one of the more spacious sites in the campground. We were glad we chose this site over one of the pull-throughs, which appeared much closer together. 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. We received two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile. The campground Wi-Fi was adequate for checking email and general browsing but not streaming. There are plenty of mature trees throughout the campground, so Starlink availability will vary by site. We chose not to deploy ours but believe Site 55 would have provided a usable view of the sky. The campground also features a fenced dog park that is large enough to actually throw a ball and let your dog run. Overall, this is a clean, well-maintained KOA with friendly staff, spacious back-in sites, and a convenient location, and it will definitely remain on our list of campgrounds for future visits to the Chattanooga area.
GuideVisiting family in Chattanooga who love this campground for their lakeside spots which we were sure to reserve early. Fun to swim directly at your campsite at the Smokemont loop. We like to run and bike, but there wasn’t much for options other than a VERY hilly loop of Gold Circle which still required a short time on the busy Hixon Pike. Beach area looked nice but didn’t use it as we swam at the campground and also from family’s boat. Bathrooms are as expected for a campground, I think the Windy Hills loop has a nicer bathroom and also would be closer to the playground.
Camping cabins near Etowah, Tennessee sit in the foothills of the Cherokee National Forest at elevations ranging from 700-1,500 feet. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F during day with cooler 65-70°F nights, making cabins a comfortable option between May and September. Winter cabin camping is also popular with daytime highs around 50°F and overnight lows near freezing.
Whitewater adventures: 30 minutes from Etowah at Adventures Unlimited Campground, where cabins provide a base for Ocoee River activities. "We did the Classic Middle Ocoee Rafting Adventure, with Leon as our guide. He was awesome! He wore a Viking helmet and had vast knowledge of the river and area," notes one visitor. The Ocoee River was the site for the 1996 Olympics whitewater events.
Motorcycle touring: Cherohala Skyway access from Smitty's Lodge Motorcycle Campground (formerly Hunt's Lodge). "I found this awesome campground close to the beginning of the Cherohala skyway in Tellico Plains. Includes picnic table, fire pit and some chairs, clean restrooms and showers, use of refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker," reports a recent guest. Campsites are level and spacious.
Fishing: 3-acre stocked pond at Olde English Farm provides catch-and-release fishing for cabin guests. Multiple hiking trails on the property offer additional recreation. Fishing licenses required for adults 13+ for Tennessee waters.
Clean facilities with hot showers: Sweetwater KOA gets high marks for maintenance. "The bathrooms were nice, kept clean, and the showers were great," writes one camper. Another notes, "Bathrooms are very clean and well-maintained. My husband is disabled and we are very appreciative of the separate handicap facilities. You don't have that in a lot of campgrounds."
Quiet locations away from highways: Many cabin sites sit on quiet secondary roads. As one visitor to Tennessee Country Campground states, "Great place great people and great management. Clean environment. And clean club house and showers and bathrooms. Has laundry room and fire rings at camp sites."
Variety of cabin styles: From rustic to deluxe accommodations. At Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground, "This campground was quite open and in addition to RV sites there are some little cabins for sleeping very nice people and inexpensive I will stay there again." Some cabins include kitchen facilities while others are basic sleeping quarters.
Limited cell service: Many cabin sites have spotty reception. Bring printed directions and download maps before arrival. At Cades Cove Campground, "No cell service for Verizon and none for many miles on the drive to the site."
Seasonal operation: Several campgrounds close during winter months. Cades Cove operates from "March 11 to October 31" according to their information, though other properties remain open year-round with reduced services.
Reservation requirements: Summer weekends require advance booking, often 2-3 months ahead. Holiday weekends can fill 6+ months in advance. A camper at Cherohala Mountain Trails noted, "This was a great find! The staff is friendly and grounds are kept very clean. There are cabins, a couple RV sites, and the rest of the grounds are available to pitch a tent wherever you want to."
Bedding policies vary: Most cabins provide beds without linens. Pack sleeping bags or sheets/blankets plus pillows. Bring towels for showers and swimming.
Kid-friendly amenities: Hiwassee River Area offers water activities for various ages. One visitor shared, "Excellent sites, small outfitter store with food, drink, sundries. Breakfast & Lunch Diner. Multiple Float Rental types including sit in, sit on and inflatable kayaks. Shuttle to top for put in and take out at camp ground on the river."
Educational experiences: Historic sites near cabin rentals provide learning opportunities. The Cades Cove area features preserved structures and wildlife viewing. A visitor recommends, "Go on the car tour loop and make sure to stop and look at the cabins and church. History at its finest."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated children's play areas. At Sweetwater KOA, "Plenty for the kids to do-- arcade room, jump pad, and playgrounds."
Site selection for RVs with cabins: When bringing an RV plus renting a cabin for extra family, request adjacent sites. At Sweetwater KOA, "The sites, cramped and close together," while at Adventures Unlimited "the rv sites have water and electric hookups in the rv sites, and a dump station."
Hookup availability: Cabins at Tennessee Country Campground & RV Park include water and electric access with nearby dump station. "Clean environment and clean club house and showers and bathrooms. Has laundry room and fire rings at camp sites."
Weather considerations: Cabins offer shelter during frequent summer thunderstorms. The Ocoee region receives 50+ inches of rainfall annually. "Great sites, nice staff. Mike kept up on everything and didn't forget to tell us about anything. Got down into the 20s and the staff made sure we knew what to do in the cold," reported a winter visitor to Sweetwater KOA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Etowah, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Etowah, TN is Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground with a 5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Etowah, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 75 cabin camping locations near Etowah, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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