Fall Creek Falls State Park, located 16 miles from the town of Pikeville, Tennessee, offers the most extensive camping options in the region. The surrounding area sits at elevations between 1,200-1,800 feet, creating moderate temperatures with occasional foggy mornings during spring and fall. Most camping sites near Pikeville are located within the Cumberland Plateau region, characterized by sandstone bluffs and diverse hardwood forests that provide natural shade during summer months.
What to do
Hiking the Cable Trail: This challenging trail descends to the base of Fall Creek Falls. "If I recall it's not far from the campsite," notes Tyler J. about the Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground. "My favorite is the cable trail."
Kayaking on the water: Rock Island State Park offers water activities beyond swimming. "We saw people kayaking on the lake and fishing is permitted," notes Lee D. from Rock Island State Park Campground, located about 30 minutes from Pikeville.
Scavenger hunts: Some private campgrounds organize activities for guests. "There's also a scavenger hunt he put out that's super fun!" mentions Elizabeth L. about her stay at R&R RV Campground in nearby Dunlap.
Mountain biking: Trails throughout the region accommodate cyclists. "What a great State Park. Hiking. Bike Riding. Golfing. Can go on and on," reports Richard F. at Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground.
What campers like
Private beach areas: Some waterfront sites provide direct lake access. "Loop C is the last RV loop, also with a lot of shade, and sites 23-25 and 35-36 are right on the water, almost with their own private beaches," according to Stephanie J. about Harrison Bay State Park Campground.
Isolation options: For campers seeking solitude, private land camping offers complete disconnect. "Any site on this campground provides the perfect opportunity for real, authentic primitive camping, offering freedom and true disconnect from society," writes Lydia B. about Hammock Sway, a private campground with ten sites.
Wildlife encounters: Several campgrounds feature regular animal sightings. "Kids loved camping here deer will come up to your camp just keep and eye on your food coolers raccoons will get the," warns Constance at Harrison Bay State Park Campground.
Star viewing: Clear night skies provide excellent stargazing opportunities. "Very dark at night time, especially with little moon, the stars were jaw dropping," notes Joseph M. about his experience at Fall Creek Falls State Park.
What you should know
Campground location differences: Each camping area within parks has distinct characteristics. "Campgrounds A, B and C are tight, limited space. Campground D is tent only - preferred for a camping experience," explains Kevan R. regarding Harrison Bay State Park.
Weather preparations: Rainfall can impact ground conditions at some sites. "Parking is a little difficult, especially if it's raining a bunch as the ground is very soft," explains Anna R. about her stay at Howland's Hidout, a smaller private campground near Pikeville.
Campsite selection strategy: Sites vary in quality even within the same campground. "Pay attention to grades of sites when booking, you might need extra supports to level out," advises Richard F. about Fall Creek Falls.
Noise considerations: Some camping areas can be busier than others. "The camp slots on area C are so close to one another that most people couldn't use their fire pits for fear of burning their own tent, or their neighbor's," reports Andrea S. about her experience at Fall Creek Falls.
Tips for camping with families
Novice-friendly options: Some campgrounds specifically cater to beginning campers. "We love to camp at Fall Creek Falls State Park and think this would be a great park for novice campers due to the fact that the facilities are very nice," reports Sandra V. from Cumberland Mountain State Park Campground.
Year-round activities: Each season offers different recreational options. "We are definitely going back in summer to get wet in the falls and creeks. Can't swim in lake but you can kayak," notes Richard F. about Fall Creek Falls.
Connectivity considerations: WiFi availability varies by location. "The bonus surprise for us was that the Wi-Fi worked really well, which made it easy to stay connected when we needed to," shares Mary D. about Cumberland Mountain State Park.
Campground amenities for children: Facilities vary across parks. "The park itself has a scenic loop drive of the gorge, multiple waterfalls to visit, miles on end of hiking trails in which some cross rope bridges, awesome swimming holes, and even an olympic pool with diving boards and a snack shack for the kiddos," explains Brandie D. about Fall Creek Falls.
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Site grades can present challenges. "Not all are completely level. There are many trees to provide separation and privacy, and sites are spaced a decent amount of space apart," notes Lee D. about Rock Island State Park.
Arrival timing: Daylight arrivals are recommended at some locations. "Arrived in the dark, do not recommend as there are not much lighting to see especially if the sites is tight with others," warns Richard F. about Fall Creek Falls.
Site sizing variations: RV site dimensions can be limited at some campgrounds. "The sites themselves are kinda small but we have a huge rig (43") so most sites are small to us," explains Elizabeth L. about R&R RV Campground.
Dump station quality: Facilities for RVs are regularly upgraded. "Upgraded dump station all asphalt with 6 dumps," mentions Richard F. about Fall Creek Falls State Park, noting recent improvements to facilities.
