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Campgrounds around Farner, Tennessee occupy diverse terrain within the Cherokee National Forest and nearby recreational areas. Camping near Farner ranges from free dispersed sites along mountain creeks to developed campgrounds with tent and RV accommodations, giving campers a wide choice of settings and amenities. Lost Creek Campground represents a free dispersed camping option in this mountainous region, consistently rated highly for its creek access and peaceful atmosphere. Gee Creek Campground in nearby Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park provides established campsites with tent and RV accommodations. The area features several mixed-use campgrounds including Chilhowee Recreation Area and Thunder Rock Campground, where both tent and RV camping are supported. Most campgrounds in this region operate seasonally, typically from April through November, though some like Lost Creek remain open year-round.
Access to many campgrounds involves traveling gravel forest roads, with Lost Creek requiring a 7-mile drive on well-maintained gravel. "This is a great spot in the river. Picnic tables, fire ring, pit toilet and all you hear is the river at night. No cell service and it's first come first served for a spot," notes one camper about Lost Creek. Cell coverage varies significantly throughout the region, with limited or no service in more remote areas. Weather considerations include potential heavy rainfall that can affect road conditions. Most developed campgrounds offer basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, while facilities such as showers and flush toilets are limited to certain established sites. Elevation changes are significant, with some campgrounds situated at higher elevations offering cooler temperatures even during summer months.
Water access represents a significant draw for campers in the Farner area, with many campgrounds positioned along creeks, rivers, or lakes. Campers frequently mention the Hiwassee River as a highlight, with opportunities for kayaking, fishing, and swimming. A visitor explained, "Each campsite has a concrete table, fire pit, and tent platform. Some have direct access to the creek. Great hikes around and good place to fish and hunt." Primitive camping options like Lost Creek provide a more secluded experience with fewer amenities but greater privacy and natural setting. The region's mixed-use campgrounds balance accessibility with wilderness experience, typically offering both developed sites with some amenities and more primitive options. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the area, with visitors frequently reporting encounters with local fauna in the forested settings.
"Campsites are close to one another. If you camp at a site near the water, it is really nice, but everyone will walk by your campsite so they can go down the path to the river."
"Easy access off Hwy 64, so close to stores for food and firewood. Well maintained campsite with clean bathrooms and very clean, nice showers. Alcohol prohibited as think county is dry."
from $12 - $20 / night
Check Availability"Bath house is relatively nice for a state park campground. 1 mile walking path surrounding the grounds is nice. Safe area for bicycle riding. Great proximity to many outdoor activities."
"This sweet state park campground is tucked into a spot along Gee Creek, which is great for boating, fishing, and swimming in the summertime heat of Tennessee. "
"My partner and I headed to nearby Chilhowie Campground in the Cherokee National Forest last year to try out our new teardrop camper. We chose site 1 in the A Loop as it had shore power."
"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!!"
from $12 - $30 / night
Check Availability"A very well-kept campground given how off the beaten path it is. Most sites had tent pads and a concrete picnic table and were very clean. The garbage bins had been emptied so weren't overfowing."
"Some have direct access to the creek. Great hikes around and good place to fish and hunt."
"Each site is a good distance away from the other and there is the constant sound of the creek flowing right next to it. The bathrooms are clean and right in the middle a perfect spot for a getaway"
"Easy to navigate around sites. Lots of shade. Close by Occoee White Water center where the Atlanta olympics took place. Plan your visit around the water release. There schedule is online. "
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"The lake is great for kayaking and swimming, with an easy trail around the perimeter. The gorgeous Cherohala Skyway is very close by (highly recommend!)."
"The surrounding mountains and water were breathtaking. This camp ground is close to the water if you stay in loop A. Just a short walk the water and beach."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Close to grocery stores & TONS of mountain goodness."
"As close to heaven as it gets"
from $50 - $60 / night
Check Availability"This is a beautiful secluded site just off of Highway 64/74 not too far from the Tennessee border. The campground is very well kept and has wonderful amenities for both RV and tent campers."
"I don't have a huge point of reference, but I can give you details on everything that was smooth
- Location - Just off a 4 lane highway. Convenient with easy access to your site. "
from $55 - $900 / night
Check Availability"Camped on lot 14 which was quite spacious with easy access to the water. Tent was located away from the fire pit and picnic table and the restrooms were close by."
"We were right next to the camp host, which was pretty nice – we didn’t have to go far to ask for wood or ice! Plus, there were trails leading right to the lake. "
from $30 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Scenic views the whole drive up, followed by a safe, cozy campground with clean facilities and a great grouping of trails."
"The campsite was clean, and our site was a good distance from other campers. The campground has a nice hike to Benton Falls which is beautiful."
from $12 - $20 / night
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GuideLeft Pigeon Forge Tn. GPS took us on an adventure, route 129 The Tail of the Dragon 318 curves switchback and hairpins I was nervous but slayed it. Lol. Peachtree Cove RV Park is perfect for quiet camping. Dog run area stream or river at most sites. I had a reservation at Andrew’s Valley Railway Tour highly recommend both of these
ScoutI camped here with a friend last weekend and absolutely loved this place! It's a cute little site with a great host, clean bathrooms, free firewood, and super friendly dogs, goats, and people. I would for sure stay here again and recommend.
GuideParksville Lake RV Campground is an absolute gem! I had a fantastic stay here. The campground is beautifully maintained, and the sites are nice, spacious, and wonderfully shaded by the trees. We loved the layout of the RV loop, especially the outer section where a peaceful creek flows right past the sites—the sound of the water at night was perfect. The restrooms and showers were exceptionally clean and well-kept. I had Starlink connectivity at my site and my WeBoost cell signal booster gave me up to three bars on AT&T. The campground host was incredibly nice, welcoming, and helpful. It's a wonderful, relaxing spot, and I will definitely be back!
GuideA sign on the gate says that the area has been closed "due to vandalism and unauthorized activity".
GuideThis is one of several USFS campgrounds that are within a few miles of each other. The cost is only $8/night, first come first served. The sites are fairly large with about half of them on a wide, clear creek. There is no running water, but there are bear proof trash cans and vault toilets that were fairly clean, but didn't smell great.
There is free potable water and an RV dump station about a mile away at the North River Game Checking Station on River Road near the Spivey Cove campground..
The campsite was clean with picnic table, fire ring, and a lantern post. The fire ring was almost full of ashes and it appears that campers have to clean them out themselves.
The Green Cove Angler store is a couple miles away and has ice, firewood and other camper things.
Unfortunately, while we were there, it was bear hunting season and another camper had multiple barking and baying dogs that went on and on for hours.
ScoutBeautiful view on the water. Not very full, which was nice. I came for some quiet and privacy and while it worked, there were just some that were very social. Haha
TravelerWater was very low and poor quality. Host was friendly but don’t buy his wood - it doesn’t burn well. County water tasted funny, probably minimal treatment. We had quite a hike to the restroom, which wasn’t regularly cleaned.
ScoutBeautiful Campground, but Absolutely NOT Family-Friendly! I rarely leave negative reviews this strongly, but our experience at Turkey Creek Campground was so disappointing that I feel compelled to warn other families. First, I’ll give credit where it’s due. The campground is beautifully maintained, and the creekside sites are incredibly peaceful and serene. It’s a lovely setting, and during the day, the owner is friendly enough and seemingly hospitable. Unfortunately, the hospitality comes to a screeching halt the moment the clock strikes 10 PM.
We were two families camping together with six well-behaved kids who absolutely love the outdoors. We understand and respect campground quiet hours. We weren’t looking to throw parties, blast music, or disturb anyone. But apparently, at Turkey Creek,“quiet hours” doesn’t mean keeping noise to a respectful minimum. It means absolute silence, complete darkness, and seemingly no normal human activity whatsoever.
I’m not exaggerating.
* We were told to turn off ALL our lights at 10 PM.
* We were confronted for opening our vehicle’s trunk because it made a brief beeping sound.
* Our children were startled by a large spider near the bathhouse, and the owner actually yelled at them to be quiet.
* One evening around 11 PM, we were talking quietly INSIDE OUR OWN TENT, barely above a whisper, when the owner approached our tent door to reprimand us for talking.
* On another occasion, he approached us to complain that our children had left TWO STICKS on the ground near the bathrooms. Two sticks! At a campground surrounded by woods, where the kids had just walked down a wooded trail to reach the bathhouse!
And don’t even think about enjoying a little background music while sitting around your campsite. Music of any kind played through a speaker is prohibited, regardless of volume. Apparently, even a little John Denver played quietly while enjoying the mountains is too much to ask. I fully appreciate that some people camp specifically for peace and quiet. We respect that, too. But there is a massive difference between enforcing reasonable quiet hours and making paying guests feel like they’re constantly being watched, monitored, and reprimanded for simply existing. The owner’s enforcement of these rules felt excessive, confrontational, and completely out of proportion to what was actually happening.
Instead of relaxing and enjoying our family vacation, we found ourselves walking on eggshells, worried that the smallest sound, light, or ordinary childhood behavior would result in another confrontation. What makes this particularly frustrating is that our kids were doing exactly what we’d hope children would do on a camping trip: spending time outside, exploring nature, enjoying each other’s company, and making memories away from screens. Yet somehow, even that seemed unwelcome. If we hadn’t already paid for five nights, we would have packed up and left after the very first night. That’s how uncomfortable the experience became.
If you are someone who wants a meticulously maintained campground where everyone retires to complete silence and darkness by 10 PM, Turkey Creek might be perfect for you. But if you’re a family hoping to enjoy a campfire, share some laughs, quietly socialize in the evening, and let your children experience the simple joys of camping, I cannot recommend this place strongly enough AGAINST it.
There are so many beautiful campgrounds in this area, and I cannot imagine choosing to return somewhere that made our families feel so unwelcome. Beautiful property. Extremely disappointing hospitality. Absolutely terrible experience for families. We will never return.
ScoutCalled the day of to ask if we could camp and set up after hours for that day and the next the lady told me yes i could pay in the morning i got here set up that night woke up around 8 am to go pay and reserve my campsite for the day and she told me they were booked even though she had told me the day before she had plenty of campsites. Then tried to tell me the only one she had was a $75 site for 4 people which is absolutely insane. She made snarky remarks and was overall incompetent in making sure the guests receive the right information the first time. Absolutely zero care that we set up not even 12 hours before to make us take it down and leave.
The Farner, Tennessee camping area sits within the Appalachian Mountains at approximately 1,700 feet elevation, with significant terrain variation throughout the region. Seasonal temperature fluctuations are notable, with summer highs averaging in the mid-80s and winter temperatures frequently dropping below freezing. Most dispersed camping spots near Farner operate under Cherokee National Forest regulations, with several requiring navigation of forest service roads that can become challenging after heavy rainfall.
Hiking local trails: At Chilhowee Recreation Area, trails range from beginner-friendly to more challenging routes. "There is a small hike to Cumberland Falls, which is gorgeous!! We had a great time! Hot water for showers/restroom facilities," shares Alison B. The recreation area includes a 3-mile loop to Benton Falls and several mountain biking trails.
Fishing opportunities: Lost Creek Campground provides direct creek access for anglers seeking smaller water fishing. "The creek can be used for shallow water wading or fishing," notes Gregg G. For lake fishing, Persimmon Creek Campground offers a stocked trout pond where "You pay for what you catch but totally worth it," according to Jason A.
Water recreation: Blue Ridge Lake at Morganton Point Campground features swimming areas and boat rentals. "The lake offers many recreation opportunities including swimming, boating, picnicking, fishing, camping, and hiking. Rentals are available from the store front in Morganton or the beachside location," explains Jenn B. Note that kayak and paddleboard rentals cost approximately $35 per day.
Natural water features: Many campgrounds near Farner provide water access, but the creek at Gee Creek Campground receives consistent praise. "Very beautiful, clean, awesome rangers," reports jessecah W. Another camper notes, "The Rangers check in daily and are very friendly. A trail runs the perimeter of the camp and the Hiwasee River runs next to the campground."
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the region maintain high cleanliness standards. At Parksville Lake RV Campground, visitors appreciate the well-kept facilities. "Very clean, decent sized lots. Clean bathroom and shower. Nice little creek flows nearby, had a great experience!" says Bill G. This smaller campground stays relatively quiet even during busy seasons.
Wildlife viewing: The remote settings provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. One camper at Gee Creek noted, "Whippoorwill called through the evening which was cool." Dawn and dusk offer the best chances to spot deer and small mammals, while bird watching is productive throughout the day. The region is home to black bears, so proper food storage is essential at all campsites.
Road conditions: Access to camping areas varies considerably. For Thunder Rock Campground, be prepared for highway noise. "The campground was alright. The majority of the sights were right on the riverside, but the neighboring road has heavy traffic," advises Austin R. Lost Creek requires "traversing a well maintained gravel road for 7 miles," according to Gregg G.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds in the area operate on limited schedules. Thunder Rock and Chilhowee typically close from November through April. Indian Boundary generally operates from April 17 to November 4. During peak summer weekends (Memorial Day through Labor Day), arrive early as first-come, first-served sites fill quickly.
Limited amenities: Bring necessary supplies as amenities vary. At Lost Creek, "There is no potable water available from a spicket and no Verizon cell reception," reports Gregg G. Many campgrounds lack showers, and firewood availability is inconsistent. Stock up on supplies in nearby Benton or Tellico Plains before heading to more remote sites.
Beginner-friendly sites: Indian Boundary provides family-friendly camping with amenities for children. "Great camping area, great for family camping. Hiking trail around lake fun to kayak and fish on also has a swimming area and large picnic area that's covered," recommends Kaitlyn. Sites in loops A and B are generally recommended for families.
Weather preparation: Pack for temperature fluctuations, even in summer. One camper at Chilhowee noted, "There was rain in the forecast everyday, but it only really rained one day (it was a down pour that lasted ~30 mins). It was fairly humid the rest of the time, with a random sprinkle here and there." Morning temperatures can be 20+ degrees cooler than afternoon highs.
Playground access: For families with younger children, Gee Creek offers playground facilities. "Nice bathhouse that is cleaned multiple times a day. The Rangers check in daily and are very friendly. The campground also has a playground to keep kids entertained," writes Anna M. Several other campgrounds feature open grassy areas suitable for games and activities.
Hookup limitations: Many campgrounds offer only partial hookups. 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," advises Mike N. When available, electric hookups are typically 30-amp service, with 50-amp connections limited to newer campgrounds.
Access challenges: RV access varies significantly between campgrounds. At Parksville Lake, "Only issue with Parksville lake is that it is a tight drive into the sites," notes Gary C. For Chilhowee, "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," warns Carissa D.
Dump station locations: Plan waste management carefully as not all campgrounds have dump stations. Those that do may have restricted hours or seasonal availability. Several private campgrounds in Blue Ridge, Georgia offer dump services for a fee, typically $10-15 per use, which can be more convenient than backtracking to forest service facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Farner, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Farner, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 617 campgrounds and RV parks near Farner, TN and 60 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Farner, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Farner, TN is Thunder Rock Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 24 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Farner, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 60 free dispersed camping spots near Farner, TN.
What parks are near Farner, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 parks near Farner, TN that allow camping, notably Tusquitee National Forest and Croatan National Forest.
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