5 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Adventures Unlimited Campground in Ocoee offers upscale glamping accommodations alongside traditional camping options. The property features glamping-style cabins with comfortable amenities while maintaining a connection to the natural surroundings. Located near the Ocoee River, these accommodations provide the perfect basecamp for whitewater adventures while offering more comfort than standard tent camping. Each glamping unit includes amenities like proper beds, electricity, and private outdoor spaces. The campground maintains 60 sites total across its property, with glamping options designed for those seeking comfort without sacrificing outdoor experiences. One visitor noted, "The campground offers cabins and the cabin was pretty nice. It slept ten people. It had a front porch with rocking chairs and a swing."
The Ocoee River area surrounding these glamping sites offers world-class outdoor recreation. Guests at Adventures Unlimited can enjoy direct access to whitewater rafting on the river that hosted the 1996 Olympic whitewater events. Beyond water activities, nearby Chilhowee Recreation Area provides scenic hiking trails leading to Benton Falls and McKemy Lake, where visitors can swim and fish. On-site at Adventures Unlimited, the distinctive Bus Bar serves craft beer, food, and features live music on weekends. A recent visitor mentioned, "This place has two restaurants, The Cafe was closed, I'm assuming due to covid, I believe they serve breakfast and lunch there. And The Bus Bar- this place is a must!" The glamping sites offer convenient access to these amenities while providing a more luxurious alternative to traditional camping.
"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!!"
"Overall: Very quiet wooded campground on Chilhowee Mountain Getting there: Off TN SR 64 East of Cleveland& Ocoee. Very nice lakeside drive along Lake Ocoee. There can be a lot of traffic."
Available next weekend
from $12 - $30 / night
"Adventures Unlimited is located near the Ocoee River, which was the whitewater location for the‘96 Olympics, so yeah, world class whitewater."
"Great people run the outfit and extended quiet hours should be noted. The bar/restaurant has great pub food and a wide selection of drinks."
from $10 - $45 / night
"Scenic views the whole drive up, followed by a safe, cozy campground with clean facilities and a great grouping of trails."
"The spot we got was level and had water and electric. We just missed an even nicer site because we got lost on the drive there. Waterfall hike was beautiful with wildflowers."
from $12 - $20 / night
"Very easy to back into with a 28 ft trailer , perk is that we had no one on one side of us - but it does bump up close to the road , so you do get quite a bit of traffic noise ."
"Friendly Staff, Clean Bathrooms, Convenient Location. No honeywagon for water and electric only sites, but dump station in campground."
from $55 / night
"The sites in campground 1 are spaced apart, large, shaded and close to bath house."
"This park starts with an amazing road up the mountain, we arrived at night and the sky was inundated with stars, a spacious overlook with some people capturing some nighttime sky photography and motorcycles"
Available next weekend
from $14 - $55 / night
"We stayed on site 172. We could not be happier with our choice. The campsite was very spacious, quiet and one of the best views! The sites that are waterfront are spread out really well."
"Anything water-adjacent is a great spot. There’s a fairly new 9-hole disc golf course, several boat docks, and a couple of pavilions available."
from $21 - $30 / night
"Lovely little spot next to a very swimmable and warm crystal clear river - very popular with locals, and I imagine would be packed on weekends."
"The East Rim is located on the main park road and about 5 minutes walk from the Trail Heads. Your camper is on display for all the day trippers but TOTALLY WORTH IT for the majestic views!"
"Our backcountry campground had a fire pit and even a picnic table, and was nestled beside a babbling brook. We set up our tents, hung our hammocks and got cooking as soon as we arrived."
Available next weekend
from $10 - $290 / night
"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."
"We tent camped and did have to turn out beds so that we were not leaning but it was a great time overall."
from $39 - $47 / 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."
"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."
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.
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.
TravelerHard to find, really busy but most of them were hikers let left at nightfall.
ScoutExcellent campground! We were on the west rim. Bathrooms nearby and very clean! Sites were spaced enough you don’t feel like you’re on top of your neighbors. Lots of trees. Playground for kids was great and there’s tons of trails of varying difficulties. There’s a grill at each site so bring charcoal! Really enjoyed our weekend stay and would definitely go back!
Guide6 back in campsites, right off a paved road, sites are 20 yards from river, fishing, peaceful, cooler than in town. Outhouse is clean and has TP. Not much traffic on the road, not many campers. There are several campgrounds in the same general area on the river. All are nice, we had our pick and chose Davis. No power, water, or dump but there's a store just down the road that has fishing gear, ice, firewood, drinks, and vices. Good spot in a cool location.
GuideWe stayed at Site 18, which has a reputation for being one of the hardest sites to back into. There’s definitely a trick to it! Pull your truck forward along the site, then pull out toward the site across from you, making an S-turn. From there, line it up and back in. It's tricky, but doable!
We loved this area and packed a lot into our stay. We visited BJ’s Apple Orchard, stopped at Burt’s Pumpkin Farm (where I somehow ended up with a 150-pound pumpkin 😂), had dinner at Cascades Restaurant, and took the easy way to see the falls.
The fenced-in sites were a huge plus, especially with our pups. It gave them more room to roam. The bathrooms and showers are individual rooms, which was nice, and the welcome center is one of the nicest we’ve come across.
And then there’s THE HILL. I was born and raised in the Smokies, so I’m no stranger to mountain roads, but the incline is no joke! The reviews are absolutely not exaggerating when they say it’s steep. Come prepared!
I have T-mobile and husband has Xfinity and we both have great service. Wifi in the campground gets the job done for Netflix at night.
Overall, we really enjoyed our stay. Beautiful area, plenty to explore, dog-friendly sites, and a campground we’d visit again. 🏕️🥾
GuideHopefully they open it up soon but we drove about an hour to get here just for it to be closed. The whole road seems to be closed for the time being for road work. I hope this helps someone!.
The 5-8 miles up to this area do seem a little sketchy but we were hoping the actually site would be nice and hopefully it will be after the work they are doing right now.
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
GuideWe had a hard time finding our campsite in the West Rim Campground due to the construction at the entrance, but we made it to the temporary visitors center and they got us checked in and how to get to our campsite. It backs up to woods, nice space between sites. Ours is gravel and has water and electric, but there are full hookup sites available as well. We did the waterfall hike one day and the west rim loop the next. The waterfalls were beautiful, but a LOT of steps (600+ metal steps) !! I would definitely stay here again
Camping near Ocoee, Tennessee sits within the Cherokee National Forest at elevations ranging from 700 to 1,500 feet, creating distinct microclimates throughout the region. The area receives about 50 inches of rainfall annually, making May through October the prime camping season when temperatures average 75-85°F during daytime hours. Most campgrounds in this area follow a seasonal schedule, with limited facilities available during winter months when temperatures can drop below freezing.
Whitewater adventures: 8 miles from downtown Ocoee. The Ocoee River hosted the 1996 Olympic whitewater events, offering Class III-V rapids for experienced paddlers. At Adventures Unlimited Campground, you can "raft, SUP board, or just hang out at the BUS bar and listen to live music. Whatever you do here, it will be a good time" according to Elizabeth A.
Waterfall hikes: 3-mile round trip. The Benton Falls trail at Chilhowee Recreation Area offers moderate hiking through wooded terrain. Anne Marie P. notes it's an "Easy trail to see beautiful waterfall. Pet friendly." Another visitor described, "The Benton falls hike was lovely. Fall color was just peaking 🍂."
Lake activities: Swimming and fishing. McKemy Lake in the Chilhowee area provides a small beach area with designated swimming zones. According to Manie D., "We didn't go to the swimming beach, because dogs are not allowed. We did hang out at the lake and fish (no bites), but the water was not appealing for swimming (lots of down trees/branches and very silty)."
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced sites with natural screening. At Skull Island, campers appreciate that "I didn't feel crammed by other people. There was plenty of room between sites, and going in the summer time I still didn't feel like I was on top of our neighbors," according to Isabella H.
Riverside camping options: Several campgrounds offer direct water access. One camper at Skull Island loved "waking up to see the beautiful water all around you." Another noted you can "play in the water" which is "super nice as well. We love camping in places that have water close by to do things during the day."
Yurt camping Ocoee, Tennessee alternatives: While traditional yurts are limited near Ocoee, Cloudland Canyon State Park offers yurt accommodations about 45 minutes away. A visitor noted, "The yurts are spaced away from each other and off the road, and offer a lot of privacy; the loop that serves the yurts is not connected to any other road, and has a shelter, playground, and bathhouse."
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies dramatically by location and provider. In the Chilhowee area, "There is no WiFi or AT&T cellular signal in this park. However, if you drive to any of the scenic overlooks just outside the park, you will get AT&T LTE signal," reports Manie D.
Seasonal facility changes: Many campgrounds operate with reduced services in off-season. At Fort Mountain State Park, approximately 40 minutes from Ocoee, "In the winter, you have lost a lot of privacy foliage but still nicely spaced apart. All sites are 30/50 amp with water."
Steep access roads: Several campgrounds require navigating mountain roads. One camper at Chilhowee warned: "To get to this campground you have to go up a steep narrow windy mountain road. The camp sites are distanced well and the entire campground is in the shade."
Kid-friendly water areas: Look for designated swimming zones with gradual entry. 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!" as noted by Haley H.
Activity variety: Choose campgrounds with multiple recreation options. Fort Mountain State Park offers "putt putt, the only playground, seasonal concession and rentals, beach area and a super nice walking trail for everybody."
Yurt accommodations for Ocoee area family stays: For families seeking yurt camping near Ocoee, Tennessee without roughing it, consider the structured canvas options. One visitor noted they "are well appointed, well maintained, and absolutely beautiful, and are spaced out to offer a feeling of seclusion: perfect for winter getaways."
Site leveling challenges: Many mountain campgrounds have uneven pads. At Chattanooga North-Cleveland KOA, "Spots are easy to get in and out of. Although ours was not very level at all," reports Scott A., while another camper found their site "really strange back-in in the shape of an L over a creek with the electric on the wrong side."
Limited hookup variations: Water hookups aren't available at all sites. At Chilhowee, "there are no water hookups at the sites, only power (30A). You'll need to fill your fresh water tanks before you set up."
Challenging access roads: Mountain terrain creates tight turns. One RVer at Chilhowee explained: "The roads in the campground are narrow and again, some of the turns are sharp when pulling a trailer. 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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Ocoee, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Ocoee, TN is Chilhowee Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Ocoee, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 60 glamping camping locations near Ocoee, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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