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Best Campgrounds near Norris, TN

1,604 Reviews

Norris, Tennessee serves as a gateway to multiple camping destinations centered around Norris Lake, a clean reservoir known for recreational opportunities. Loyston Point Campground offers lakefront sites for tents, RVs, and cabins with direct water access, while West Campground at Norris Dam State Park provides full hookup sites in a quieter setting. TVA Public Land at Fork Bend offers free primitive camping along the shoreline for those seeking a more rustic experience. The region includes both developed state park facilities and undeveloped public lands managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Access to most campgrounds remains open year-round, though some facilities like Loyston Point operate seasonally from March through October. Norris Lake campgrounds feature varying degrees of amenities, from primitive sites with no facilities to full-service campgrounds with showers, electric hookups, and dump stations. Many lakefront sites require advance reservations, particularly during summer months when water recreation is most popular. Campers should be prepared for potentially challenging leveling at some sites, especially those with lake views. According to one visitor at Loyston Point, "Leveling can be a challenge. Super friendly and helpful staff."

Waterfront camping represents the primary draw for visitors to the Norris area, with multiple campgrounds offering direct lake access. Norris Lake's clean water receives consistent praise in camper reviews, with many highlighting swimming and boating opportunities. Several visitors mentioned the spaciousness of sites at Loyston Point and the cleanliness of bathhouses throughout the area. For those seeking more seclusion, the wooded sites at TVA Public Land provide a more primitive experience. A camper noted that Fork Bend is ideal "if you want to get away from people" and described it as "a heavily wooded forest surrounded by Norris Lake, which is known for being the best lake around the area." Mountain biking trails near Loyston Point offer additional recreational opportunities, with trailhead parking areas frequently filled with enthusiasts regardless of season.

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Best Camping Sites Near Norris, Tennessee (283)

    1. West Campground — Norris Dam State Park

    29 Reviews
    Lake City, TN
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 425-4500

    "Norris Dam has two campgrounds in different sections. We stayed in the west campground which is a loop with playground and showerhouse in the middle. Nice showerhouse."

    "Norris Dam State Park is my absolute favorite place to go camping! It is so beautiful and the views on the water are breathtaking! They do interactive classes and have a museum on site."

    2. Cove Lake State Park Campground

    25 Reviews
    La Follette, TN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 566-9701

    $25 - $55 / night

    "Only downside is not being able to swim in Cove lake. I mean you can, but I certainly wouldn't. If you want to swim just drive 15mins to Norris lake. I would camp here again happily."

    "Great location just off I75, close to easy shopping (Walmart), Urgent Care facility just minutes away, nice BBQ place right in the park, local eatery’s just up the way (less than 2 miles)."

    3. Big Ridge State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Maynardville, TN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 992-5523

    $8 - $100 / night

    "Several campsites here are conveniently located along Norris Lake. If not on the lake a short 5 minute walk from other sites."

    "I’ve stayed at this site a couple times now and I love the location. The site is a short and easy hike (under 2 miles) from the parking lot via the Lake Trail to the Dark Hollow Trail."

    4. Loyston Point Campground

    18 Reviews
    Andersonville, TN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 494-9369

    "Stayed at a premium lakeshore site on Norris Lake. Advertised as a pull through, but that must be for travel trailers, as I have an RV."

    "Located on the beautiful Norris Lake. Our tents were right on the water and a short swim/walk to paddle boats and kayaks! Only thing I don’t like is how close each site is. Their cabins are adorable!!"

    5. Volunteer Park Family Campground

    13 Reviews
    Heiskell, TN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 938-6600

    $30 - $65 / night

    "Bathrooms and Showers with hot water. 20 minutes outside Knoxville and extremely quiet."

    "The campsite is nestled in trees and conveniently located to the Knoxville area. They have a small store for small forgotten items as well as a place to fill propane."

    6. TVA Public Land- Fork Bend

    11 Reviews
    La Follette, TN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 632-2101

    "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."

    "Norris lake is so beautiful. We drove a car and took our time going down the dirt road. There were no problems going in or out. There were some deep ruts but it was easy to avoid them."

    7. Clinton-Knoxville North KOA

    6 Reviews
    Norris, TN
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 494-9386

    "When passing through this area going to the Smoky Mountains I made a pit stop in Clinton, TN, just a few short miles away from one of the entrances to Smoky Mountain National Park."

    "A great stop right off the highway. Super nice staff, easy in and out (make sure you pay attention to the left turn in past the gas station). Not the roomiest of sites, but fine for what we needed."

    8. Escapees Raccoon Valley RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Heiskell, TN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 947-9776

    $23 - $30 / night

    "Easy access to the highway."

    9. Knoxville Campground

    2 Reviews
    Norris, TN
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 342-1111

    $55 - $115 / night

    10. Frozen Head State Park Campground

    31 Reviews
    Petros, TN
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 346-3318

    "The campground is in close proximity to many of the trailheads. There is a nice bathhouse, but all the sites are rustic (non electric)."

    "It may be the loveliest campground in Tennessee.

    There’s only 20 spots, and they all seem to be shady and have trees between neighbors."

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Recent Camping Photos near Norris, TN

554 Photos of 283 Norris Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Norris, TN

1604 Reviews of 283 Norris Campgrounds

  • Kody Bear A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Redbird Boat Ramp

    It's nice and private

    Nothing special there is a boat ramp. Plenty of space for a couple RVs. No amenities. The sky was beautiful. Would go again. About ten miles off 75. We were there in Sept 2025

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge

    Beautiful grounds if you feel like splurging

    It is an absolutely beautiful campground with an awesome club house and a ton to do. The pool and lazy river are heated. Honestly though you really need to want to splurge to justify staying here because you are still camping if that makes sense.

    Also the trolley “system” is super confusing and the front desk knows nothing about it lol

    Our site is great. It is right across the road from the playground without having to pay for a family site.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    East Campground - Norris Dam State Park

    Nice park but road is not that friendly

    Google maps and the website will tell you to take the 441 to get here but I recommend going down to the 61 and coming up that way as the road is quite a bit wider and not so steep and windy. The last mile or so into the campground is a pretty narrow road that when we were here was in bad shape with potholes. Note that some of the campsites have only 30 amp and some of the campsites have only 50 amp so when making a reservation don’t assume that a 50 amp campsite will also have 30 amp. They all did appear to 20 amp. There is a dump station available and a fairly nice bathroom and showers. Most of the spaces are fairly level and fairly easy to get into. 1-3 were quite short. Recommend popping down to the Clinch River Brewery for a beverage and possibly dinner. Also the Appalachian museum in Norris was pretty fascinating.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Cades Cove Campground

    Quite, beautiful, weekend traffic

    This is one of the quietest campgrounds I’ve stayed at. Sites are nestled in the woods in a cove in the Smokies. No cell service. No internet. No cable tv. Just peace and quiet! This is a national park campgrounds, so no water, electric or hookups. There is a dump station and modern bathrooms. Cold water showers. There is a camp store with basics. There is a lot of traffic especially on weekends with visitors driving the scenic Cades Cove Loop Road.

  • e
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Wilderness Road Campground

    Nice National Park Campground

    Pretty park. Sites are wooded and not too close together. Most sites need leveling blocks. The bath house is small. 2 stalls and sinks in the bathroom . 2 individual shower rooms. There appeared to be only 2 bathrooms/bath houses for the entire campground. Water pump at bathroom area. No dish washing station. Some sites had electricity, but not all of them. There are lots of hiking trails and a great visitor center. I hope to go back when I can spend more time in the park. Three star rating mainly due to the inadequate number of showers/bathrooms.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Little River Campground & RV Resort

    Labor Day weekend

    Overall a positive experience. We stayed in the tent camping area. Absolutely beautiful site with a wonderful river view, but be aware that the direct river bank is considered common area including day use so it had a lot of traffic while we were there. The staff was very helpful and friendly. Being a holiday weekend it was very crowded and very noisy, including a few neighbors without regards to quiet hours. Overall the facilities including bath house are were very nice though I believe the large crowds caused issues with the crew being able to keep up with keeping them clean. The location is very convenient to Townsend and we rode bikes out to explore and get food in the evening. We would definitely go back just probably not on a holiday weekend.

  • VThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Mountaineer Campground

    Pleasant Stay

    Lovely campground on the river and close to amenities. Biking, hiking, tubing, swimming. My favorite experience here has been the pavilion prayer and fellowship on Sunday mornings hosted by Charm ministry volunteers. Very casual with lots of singing and great conversation in a very positive and welcoming atmosphere. The bathrooms and showers were kept very clean as well as the laundry and pool area. The camp hosts were very helpful and work hard to keep the above clean. The campground offers a 50% discount on a 28-day stay which I took advantage of. They allowed me to stay an extra 28 days due to my dog passing away so I could wait for his remains. They were very understanding, thoughtful and gracious during this sad time for me and I am very grateful to the management and hosts for the time, space and respect they extended to me July & August.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Panther Creek State Park Campground

    Panther creek camping

    I had a very cute camp spot up in the woods away from the road it was number 50 it was so cute and quieter than the rest of the spots. It also had two fire pits one up by the tent area and one down by the picnic table

Guide to Norris

Camping near Norris, Tennessee, offers a fantastic mix of nature, adventure, and relaxation. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy the great outdoors.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the beautiful trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Many campers rave about the scenic hikes, like the Little River Trail, which offers stunning views and a chance to see wildlife. One camper mentioned, "We did one of our hikes from our site—the Little River Trail to Cucumber Gap, and it was beautiful."
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for bears, elk, and other wildlife. A visitor at Cades Cove Campground noted, "Had numerous sightings of wildlife even in the campground."
  • Fishing and Swimming: Enjoy the nearby rivers and streams for fishing or swimming. Campers at Greenbrier Campground loved the river access, saying, "The river ran close enough to our site that we didn't feel like we needed a premium spot."

What campers like

  • Scenic Views: Campers appreciate the beautiful surroundings. One reviewer at Elkmont Campground said, "The campground is beautiful, and the park rangers were awesome."
  • Clean Facilities: Many campgrounds are noted for their cleanliness. A visitor at Anchor Down RV Resort mentioned, "Bathrooms/showers are super clean, and plenty of room for your dog to have an equally good time."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Campgrounds like Greenbrier Campground offer activities for kids, making it a great spot for families. One family shared, "There were bounce houses, multiple playgrounds, and a lazy river with a swimming hole!"

What you should know

  • Site Privacy: Many campgrounds have sites that are close together. A camper at Cades Cove Campground noted, "Most sites are close together, and there is no brush to divide them."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Cosby Campground, do not have drinking water or electric hookups. A visitor mentioned, "It was a clean and decent campground, but there was no drinking water."
  • Wildlife Precautions: Be cautious of wildlife, especially bears. A camper at Bandy Creek Campground shared, "There are several bear/critter safe trash collection sites."

Tips for camping with families

  • Plan for Activities: Choose campgrounds with family-friendly amenities. One camper at Greenbrier Campground said, "The sites are well spaced, and the tent pad is nice and even."
  • Pack Entertainment: Bring games or books for downtime. A visitor at Cades Cove Campground noted, "No cell service with T-Mobile, so have a good book or downloaded shows."
  • Safety First: Keep an eye on kids near water. A camper at Smokemont Campground mentioned, "The sites are a little close together, although there are some that are farther away from each other."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park said, "The campsites are exactly the length as indicated. Not an inch more!"
  • Use Amenities: Take advantage of the facilities available. A visitor at Anchor Down RV Resort shared, "We rented a golf cart and pontoon boat, which made our stay even better."
  • Be Prepared for Noise: Some campgrounds can be busy. A camper at Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA Campground noted, "It was completely sold out, and the spaces were close together, but it was absolutely silent at night."

Camping near Norris, Tennessee, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for adventure, relaxation, or family fun.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Norris, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Norris, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 283 campgrounds and RV parks near Norris, TN and 4 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Norris, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Norris, TN is West Campground — Norris Dam State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 29 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Norris, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Norris, TN.

What parks are near Norris, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 33 parks near Norris, TN that allow camping, notably Cumberland Gap National Historic Park and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

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