Best Tent Camping near Ocoee, TN
Tent campgrounds in the Cherokee National Forest surround the Ocoee River area, providing both established and dispersed tent sites for outdoor enthusiasts. Lost Creek Campground offers free primitive tent camping with creek access approximately 7 miles down a gravel forest road near Reliance, Tennessee. Other options include the Chilhowee Campground with mountain views and lake access, and several dispersed camping areas along Goforth Creek.
Most tent sites in the Ocoee region feature concrete or natural surface tent pads alongside basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables. Creekside Camp provides flat primitive tent sites next to a creek but lacks facilities like toilets or tables. According to one visitor, "Super quiet when we were there in March. Nice creek view through the side of the campground, likely no cell service unless you go one way or another up the mountain." The Lost Creek area requires campers to bring their own water, as drinking water is unavailable at most primitive sites. Vault toilets are present at some established campgrounds but absent at dispersed sites.
Backcountry tent camping options extend into the Big Frog Wilderness Area, where multiple primitive sites exist along hiking trails. These secluded tent sites provide deeper wilderness experiences away from crowds. One reviewer noted that Big Frog Mountain is "one of the most beautiful places I've ever been," while cautioning that it's "in the middle of nowhere and there are no bathrooms or facilities or running water." Most primitive tent areas in the region allow pets and campfires when seasonal restrictions aren't in effect. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for day hiking, swimming in creeks, or accessing the nearby whitewater recreation on the Ocoee River. Areas with creek access, like Goforth Creek Campground, provide additional appeal for tent campers seeking natural water features.
