Best Campgrounds near Oliver Springs, TN

Camping opportunities in the Oliver Springs area of Tennessee include a range of developed campgrounds and natural settings for outdoor recreation. Windrock Park offers multiple camping facilities, including Windrock Campground, Windrock Ridge Campground, and Windrock Gap Campground & RV Park. These facilities accommodate tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin rentals. Halfmoon Camp Ground, located nearby, provides both wooded tent sites and open RV areas with power and water connections. The region spans from the foothills around Oliver Springs to nearby recreational areas like Melton Hill Reservoir.

Most campgrounds in the area operate year-round, though some state park facilities like Frozen Head State Park (about 15 miles away) have seasonal limitations, typically closing from November through mid-March. Access roads to most established campgrounds are maintained for standard vehicles, though some tent sites may require walking short distances from parking areas. "Most sites are level with concrete tables, fire rings and grills. Bathrooms are clean and adequate," noted one visitor about Melton Hill Dam Campground. Off-road enthusiasts should note that Windrock Park contains extensive trail systems, making it popular for those bringing ATVs and other off-road vehicles.

The campground experience varies significantly across the region. RV sites at Windrock Gap are described as having "power and water, but are very close together," while tent campers can find more spacious, shaded sites at Windrock Ridge where "site 26 is good for rooftop tent camping" with "shade in afternoon and plenty of room for additional vehicles." Many campgrounds in the area cater specifically to off-road enthusiasts with trailer parking and vehicle wash stations. Campers seeking water-based recreation can find sites at Melton Hill Reservoir, which features waterfront camping with swimming areas. Bathroom facilities receive mixed reviews across campgrounds, with some visitors noting they "could use work" while others praise cleanliness and maintenance. Proximity to off-road trails remains a major draw for most visitors to the area's campgrounds.

Best Camping Sites Near Oliver Springs, Tennessee (282)

    1. Frozen Head State Park Campground

    31 Reviews
    Petros, TN
    11 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."

    2. Melton Hill Dam Campground — Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

    29 Reviews
    Lenoir City, TN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 361-0436

    $18 - $31 / night

    "We really enjoyed Milton Hill dam, very friendly people , well stocked store, easy access to swimming and fishing and full hook up sites if you want them."

    "We made a last minute trip to Melton Hill that was very conveniently located just outside of Knoxville. The campsite offers several options for camping along the water or in the woods."

    3. Windrock Campground

    7 Reviews
    Oliver Springs, TN
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 435-3939

    $18 - $300 / night

    "Off roading, shooting range, mountain bike trails, atv rentals. Very close to town if needed. The serenity and peace we feel staying there makes us never want to leave."

    "Great sites, cute cabins great location."

    4. West Campground — Norris Dam State Park

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

    "We stayed at the main area but not much space or privacy so we put up a tent out side our door, but then moved to the tent camping site area the second night which was more secluded and private, but still"

    "There is a lake, so naturally that means there is boating, jet skiing, canoeing and of course fishing."

    5. Cove Lake State Park Campground

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

    $25 - $55 / night

    "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)."

    "Our site is nice and right on the lake but it’s a little odd the way the sites are. Our neighbors site is next to us but there table and fire pit are behind our rig."

    6. Soaring Eagle Campground

    9 Reviews
    Kingston, TN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 376-9017

    "We were in a pop-up camper and had a lakefront site, which was awesome, except for the highway noise."

    "The primitive tent sites are amazing, I didn’t give it 5 stars only because you can hear a little bit of road noise, as the campground is near the interstate."

    7. Windrock Ridge Campground

    4 Reviews
    Oliver Springs, TN
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (865) 435-1251

    $20 - $49 / night

    "This has got to be the largest off road park in the country. We camped at windrock ridge and could not believe the views. Highly recommend a visit."

    "The wooded tent sites where perfect not all are level so ask to drive through and preview avails before booking. fire ring, table provided. the only down side is that there is heavy SxS traffic on camp"

    8. Windrock Gap Campground & RV Park

    3 Reviews
    Oliver Springs, TN
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 435-6009

    $20 - $70 / night

    9. Halfmoon Camp Ground

    2 Reviews
    Oliver Springs, TN
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 435-2385

    $25 - $40 / night

    "Halfmoon Campground is located near Windrock Off-Road Park and has RV sites, tent sites, and cabins. RV sites have power (up to 50amp) and water, and have decent separation between sites."

    10. Volunteer Park Family Campground

    13 Reviews
    Heiskell, TN
    18 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."

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Recent Reviews near Oliver Springs, TN

1569 Reviews of 282 Oliver Springs Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Kc K.
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Fooshee Pass Campground

    Amazing site! See note on hook-ups

    This campground is great. The hosts/camp store workers are so nice. This site is big and has easy walk-in access to water for swimming or fishing. **Only weird thing is the hookups are on the opposite side of the site. Take a 50 ft water hose and a 30 amp extension - ours was 50 ft but I think a 30 ft would work. **

  • Kc K.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Big Ridge State Park Campground

    Big level site

    Site 43. Big site. fairly flat. Just have levelers on one side. Close to the bathhouse and a quick walk to the entrance to get to the store, swim area, etc. Roads are a little narrow in the campground, made it a little hard to back trailer in- the front of the truck was the issue hitting rocks on the side of the road.

  • Tom B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Blue Heron Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    3 Stars, because no Camp Host, No staffing, Elec Had Reverse Polarity

    Want to give this 5 stars, because it was an awesome base for exploring Big South Fork. However, it is not staffed with a Camp Host, nor is there anyone at the entrance shack. My electrical post at Site 001 showed reverse polarity, so I had to move to site 004. 

    Don't let that discourage you. Great campground.


Guide to Oliver Springs

Camping near Oliver Springs, Tennessee, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails in the area. Campers at Bandy Creek Campground rave about the nearby trails, with one reviewer saying, "The roads and some trails are fun on our bikes."
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. A visitor at Cades Cove Campground mentioned, "Had numerous sightings of wildlife even in the campground."
  • Fishing and Swimming: Enjoy the rivers and lakes. Campers at Greenbrier Campground noted, "The river ran close enough to our site that we didn't feel like we needed a premium spot."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Many campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. One reviewer at Frozen Head State Park Campground said, "The restrooms are heated and immaculate."
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Campers often enjoy the peaceful surroundings. A visitor at Elkmont Campground shared, "It was perfectly quiet at night which was great."
  • Friendly Staff: Good service can make a difference. A camper at Anchor Down RV Resort mentioned, "Awesome and seamless check-in process, perfectly level concrete pads."

What you should know:

  • Site Privacy: Some campgrounds have closely spaced sites. A family camping at Cades Cove Campground noted, "Most sites are close together."
  • Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for spotty cell service in some areas. A visitor at Greenbrier Campground said, "There is little cell service between the Campground and downtown Gatlinburg."
  • Bear Awareness: Campers should be cautious about wildlife, especially bears. A reviewer at Cades Cove Campground warned, "Do not forget to remove the drip pan on the Blackstone!!!! Doing so just irritates the bears."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and family-friendly activities. A parent at Gee Creek Campground shared, "The kids loved the playground, and the fairytale story walk."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring food and snacks, as some campgrounds may have limited stores. A camper at Cumberland Mountain State Park Campground mentioned, "There is a small on-site store."
  • Safety First: Keep an eye on kids, especially near water. A reviewer at Gee Creek Campground advised, "The loops where the tent sites are can be quite busy."

Tips from RVers:

Camping near Oliver Springs, Tennessee, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Whether you're in an RV or pitching a tent, you'll find a spot that suits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Oliver Springs, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Oliver Springs, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 282 campgrounds and RV parks near Oliver Springs, TN and 9 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Oliver Springs, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Oliver Springs, TN is Frozen Head State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 31 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Oliver Springs, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Oliver Springs, TN.