C
Callum C.
Scout
ScoutHunter’s Check Station Campground - Prentice Cooper State Forest
Surprisingly busy, was almost full when I arrived at dusk on a weekday. Has a toilet, but it’s pretty rank.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Pocahontas, TN
12 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park offers numerous pet-friendly camping options near Pocahontas. The park features 50 sites with water and electric hookups, concrete picnic tables, and fire rings where pets are welcome. Campsites are paved and level, making them suitable for both RVs and tents. Dogs must be kept on leash throughout the campground and hiking trails. Several sites overlook the Duck River, providing scenic views for campers with pets. The sites are spacious with ample room between them, allowing comfortable outdoor time with pets. The campground is well-maintained with clean, modern bathrooms and shower facilities.
The park's trail system offers excellent opportunities for dog walking, with paths leading to three beautiful waterfalls. Sites are generally dry, though some lower-end spots may flood after heavy rain. Whispering Oaks Campground provides another pet-friendly option in the area with full hookups and large pull-through sites under shade trees. Most sites have gravel pads that are fairly level. The campground includes a swimming pool, playground, and large grassy field perfect for exercising dogs. The nearby Tennessee Hills Campground allows pets and features hiking trails directly accessible from the camping area. Campers should bring extra water for pets during summer months as mosquitoes can be numerous on trails. Several hiking paths in the region accommodate leashed dogs with routes ranging from easy to moderate difficulty.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Pocahontas (118)
1. Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park
"Recycling bins were also located near the well lit bathrooms."
"The campground itself borders the duck river and is absolutely stunning. The hiking trails are well maintained so hiking to the three waterfall's inside the park is a mild hike."
3 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
2. Rvino - The Broken Banjo
"The staff will come around and collect your trash for you (which isn’t necessary but a nice plus!)"
"It’s near I-24 which makes getting places easy. It will be noisy if you are sound sensitive. It is well maintained. The laundry room is great. You can get anything you need from the store."
6 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $32 - $85 / night
3. Rock Island State Park Campground
"Rock Island State Park is situated in the middle of Tennessee. The park itself is surrounded by beautiful forest and some pretty great and easy hiking trails. The falls themselves are a sight to see."
"Off I24 near Murfreesboro, Tn and a leisurely drive through the Tennessee countryside. Small towns, pickups and cows. Watch for stop signs, I almost missed one while looking at the scenery."
6 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
4. Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground
"Our site was surrounded by trees and felt very private."
"The Tennessee countryside is an enjoyable backdrop to this meandering road trip and you are very close to several other excellent Tennessee SPs."
8 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
5. Barton Springs Campground
"We had so much of our own space & could literally walk right out of our camper & go for a quick swim. We love finding places like this for us & our dog in the summer time."
"Beach area is clean and away from the main lake. Our campsite was right on the water. Even tough it was full, it was quiet! Staff was super helpful and friendly! We will definitely come back!"
Check Availabilityfrom $45 - $55 / night
6. Tennessee Hills Campground
"The best part about having family that lives in Tennessee is being able to go and visit. We do a big family reunion every other year, and we always have our shindig at a campground."
"I love camping and hiking in the Tennessee area. This campground definitely didn't disappoint. Here are a few things I loved about this campground:
- Big campsite spaces! This is always a perk."
7. Cedar Point Campground
"There are 10 campsites that are lakeside six of those having 50 amps. The sites are pulled through with electric and water there is a dump station provided."
"Quiet and peaceful with beautiful views of Normandy Lake. Fishing, swimming and canoe/kayak rentals available. Friendly staff."
Check Availabilityfrom $45 - $55 / night
8. Whispering Oaks Campground
"Just stopped for a quick overnight on way to Florida and didn’t want to tackle the delightful downhill plummet of 24 that occurs a bit past this location in the dark."
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $50 / night
9. Whispering Oaks Campground
"I will preface this with the fact that we are very partial to Tennessee. The climate, scenery, the people, all of it. The Park: Long gravel sites, most are pull through."
10. Smooth Rapids Campground
"Affordable, walking distance to town and yet the grounds make you feel like you’re in a park far away from everything. Beautiful pines on property and lots of local hiking nearby."
"The Barren Fork River runs right along the entire stretch of campground and behind the restaurant. We typically do the medium length run that takes 2.5-4 hours depending on how aggressively you row."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $85 / night
Drive Time
- 1 hr 2 min from Nashville, TN
- 1 hr 21 min from Chattanooga, TN
- 1 hr 34 min from Huntsville, AL
- 1 hr 37 min from Cleveland, TN
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Pocahontas, TN
156 Photos of 118 Pocahontas Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park
Whispering Oaks CampgroundM
Rvino - The Broken Banjo
Barton Springs Campground
Greeter Falls CampgroundR
Horseshoe Bend MarinaJ
Beech Hollow Hideout
Rock Island State Park Campground
Stone Door Campground — Savage Gulf State Park
Ragland Bottom
Hammock SwayC
Father Adamz Campground — South Cumberland State Park
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Pocahontas, TN
1061 Reviews of 118 Pocahontas Campgrounds
- MickandKarla W.
LegendLong Branch — Center Hill Lake
A Big-Rig-Friendly COE Worth Returning To
We stayed here overnight on the way to Gatlinburg and three nights on the way back. GPS and signage was good as getting to this COE was easy. Often you don’t know what you’re going to get at a COE i.e. tight roads, low hanging branches etc. This was not the case as the campground (CG) is big rig friendly. For the overnighter, we checked in at the gate and proceeded to back in site 50 with water and electric (50/30/20 AMP). We had no problem backing into site 50 which sits above the creek that runs through the side of the CG. The gravel pad was fairly level(didn’t need any blocks under tires) with a picnic table, fish cleaning station, fire pit and stand up bbq. For the three nights we were in back in site 37, which was along the fence side of the CG. Site 37 had the same picnic table, cleaning table, stand up bbq and fire pit. This site’s pad was plenty long enough so we could put our toy hauler patio down. For both sites we got 1 bar on both Verizon and T-Mobile. As there is no Wifi in this CG, we used starlink. Since our starlink antenna is not hard mounted, we were able to move the antenna around to get a good signal through the trees. We were surprised this COE didn’t sell firewood nor ice. We enjoyed walking our dog around and even did some fly fishing in the adjacent river. We thoroughly enjoyed this COE.
- MickandKarla W.Legend
Whispering Falls RV Park
Great Customer Service and a Walk to Burgess Falls
We originally reserved three nights at Whispering Falls RV Park but changed our plans to an overnight stay with only 24 hours' notice. The staff was very accommodating and changed our reservation without any fees. On travel day, we called to see if we could arrive early since check-in wasn't until 3:00 PM. Again, no problem! Awesome customer service. We followed RV Life Trip Wizard GPS along with the directions in our confirmation email, which accounted for a detour due to construction of the new Burgess Falls State Park visitor center. The drive took us along country roads that we wouldn't want to navigate after dark. Check-in was simple, and we entered the gate code and proceeded to back-in site 7. We were impressed with the newer campsites featuring pavers and long pads. Utilities were conveniently placed, making hookups easy. Water pressure was decent at around 45 psi. Campground (CG) WiFi was pretty good at 20.5 Mbps download. We received one bar on both Verizon and T-Mobile, but our T-Mobile Home Internet was unusable, so we set up Starlink. Mature trees surrounded the CG perimeter but didn't cause us any satellite reception issues. Sites were decently spaced, with sites 9 and 10 looking like great choices for those traveling together. There were quite a few seasonal or permanent campers, but their sites were very well maintained. The CG also had a good-sized, unfenced dog area. One nice feature was being able to hear the falls from sites toward the back of the CG. We especially enjoyed being able to walk directly from our campsite into Burgess Falls State Park and access the trails leading to the falls to include bringing our dog on a leash. The store, which also serves as the check-in location, offered fast food, beer, and basic grocery items. Between the excellent customer service, well-maintained sites, and convenient access to the state park, we would definitely stay here again!
- MickandKarla W.Legend
Nashville Shores
Great Off Season Stay
We followed RV Life Trip Wizard GPS and Waze off I-40 to Nashville Shores RV Resort without any issues. Check-in was quick, easy, and informative, and we headed to back-in site 7 with full hookups (FHUs). The concrete pad was level, with the water hookup located at the very back of the site. Water pressure was good at around 60 psi but dropped somewhat as the campground (CG) filled up over the weekend. We had 3 bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile, with T-Mobile providing a respectable 108 Mbps download. We used our T-Mobile Home Internet, which delivered 126 Mbps, rather than Starlink. Although there were trees along the CG's perimeter, most sites appeared to have a reasonably clear view of the sky for satellite internet. Site spacing was okay, although neighboring RVs were still fairly close. Several sites were located along the lake, with a few appearing long enough to accommodate larger rigs. We suggest calling the office for details on reserving one of those waterfront sites. One of our favorite amenities was the large fenced dog run, with plenty of room to throw a ball and let our pup burn off some energy. We also appreciated having two fire pits at our site. One was behind our rig, providing a nice spot away from the CG road, while the other was near the front, next to a small concrete patio with a picnic table. Although the CG filled up during our mid-October weekend stay, the adjacent water park had closed for the season on October 1. Without the water park crowds and activity, we found Nashville Shores to be a very enjoyable place to stay."
- eerika V.
TravelerOld Stone Fort State Archaeological Park
The waterfalls are beautiful and relaxing. You can hike the high-easier trail (but tree roots are present) or the lower-harder trails and be a unprofessional rock climber right down to the falls. 2.5 mile hike if you go all the way around. We spent over 2.5 hours here. Bonus is that if you are not camping here... you can use the very very clean showers for $5!
Cliff M.TravelerBigfoot Adventure RV park & Campground
Enjoyable place to stay, quiet nights. Very chill atmosphere. Would recommend.
- RRonnie C.Traveler
Howland's Hidout
This was a last minute stay, the camp was full but accommodations were made for us by the host to park in his front yard and connect to house power. We were invited to join the host and other guests at the massive fire pit that was warming the cool mountain evening. Very pretty here…was a long and winding road up the mountain from our travel direction. Excited to see what it looks like in daylight. I have 3 bars on my T-Mobile but also have StarLink.
don B.TravelerWiseman Park
Self serve campsite
Sides are clean and well spaced. The review said before that it was $20 a night. It’s now $30 a night for 20 amp service and I believe 44 for 30 or 50 amp service.
Brent F.TravelerStillwaters Creek Campground & Cabins
Beautiful Campground Near Fall Creek Falls State Park!
Stillwaters Creek Campground is a hidden gem tucked away in the beautiful hills of Spencer, Tennessee, just a short drive from Fall Creek Falls State Park. The campground offers spacious full-hookup RV sites, cozy cabins, and tent camping, with plenty of room to relax and enjoy the outdoors. The property is surrounded by beautiful woods and features a peaceful creek, walking trails, a fishing pond, playground, and pavilion. The bathhouse has been completely renovated with updated showers and restrooms, and there's laundry available on-site. The campground also offers Wi-Fi and a quiet, family-friendly atmosphere. One of the best things about Stillwaters Creek is the setting. It's peaceful and secluded enough to feel like you're getting away from it all, but still conveniently located near some of Tennessee's best hiking trails, waterfalls, and outdoor attractions. Whether you're visiting Fall Creek Falls, spending a weekend with family, or just looking for a relaxing place to unwind, Stillwaters Creek is definitely worth checking out!
Guide to Pocahontas
Normandy Lake serves as a popular camping destination near Pocahontas, Tennessee, with its 3,220 acres of water surface and 73 miles of shoreline. Most campgrounds in the region sit at elevations between 800-1,200 feet, creating moderate temperatures that range from 40-85°F throughout the camping season. Winter camping often sees temperatures dropping to the 30s, with occasional light snowfall between December and February.
What to do
Waterfall hiking trails: Rock Island State Park Campground offers excellent waterfall access with varying difficulty levels. "I loved the hiking there. The campsite has a good website, letting you know exactly what you get. Have the option to go tent or RV. Beautiful surroundings," notes Aaron S. The park features multiple falls within hiking distance of campsites.
Kayaking on calm waters: Barton Springs Campground provides direct water access for paddlers. Michael T. from Cedar Point Campground reports: "Awesome sites right on the water, we brought our kayaks and were able to launch directly from the campsite. Lake is extremely quiet and calm."
Swimming options: During summer months, several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas. "The nearby swimming beach was great for the kids. Many short hiking options available," shares Christy E. about Rock Island State Park. Cedar Point also features "a decent swimming beach with sand" according to visitors.
What campers like
Level, shaded sites: Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park receives consistent praise for site quality. Scott G. notes: "We love this place! The sites are level and there are plenty of shade trees to go around. Very quiet at night also. The showers are SUPER clean!!"
Secluded waterfront camping: Many campers appreciate the privacy of some waterfront sites. "If you plan to go camping here, pay a little extra & get waterfront. We had so much of our own space & could literally walk right out of our camper & go for a swim," recommends Mariah C. about Barton Springs.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground offers abundant wildlife viewing. Shelly S. recalls their experience at Old Stone Fort: "We had deer in our site everyday... It was so quiet and woodsy."
What you should know
Site selection matters: At some campgrounds, site selection significantly impacts experience. One camper cautions about Fall Creek Falls: "Pay attention to grades of sites when booking, you might need extra supports to level out." Another notes that "some lower sites can become water logged if there's a good downpour."
Highway noise considerations: Manchester KOA (now Rvino - The Broken Banjo) sits near I-24. "This park is located in Manchester, TN right next to I-24, so if you are in the pull-throughs on the front row, you will hear the traffic," advises Scotty W., though he still rated it highly overall.
Variable cell reception: Connectivity varies widely between campgrounds. One camper at Barton Springs reports: "I also had no cell service in b loop. Enough for phone, but not really any other connectivity." Plan accordingly if you need reliable internet access during your stay.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple activity options: Smooth Rapids Campground combines camping with river recreation. One visitor shares: "Smooth Rapids is a kayak and tubing outfitter, so you can take a float down the river, and they have a shuttle that will drop you off." The campground also offers rental equipment for those without their own.
Kid-friendly water features: Several campgrounds feature shallow water access points. Brandie D. describes Fall Creek Falls: "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."
Playground facilities: Whispering Oaks Campground provides dedicated play areas. "They have a nice place for the kids to play in the field with a play ground," notes Katie D. Similarly, other reviewers mention "large fields perfect for games and activities" at various campgrounds.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup locations: Extension cords may be necessary at some sites. Michael T. advises: "If tent camping, the electric pole is a bit far, so be sure to bring extra long extension cords." This applies to several campgrounds in the region where utilities aren't always optimally placed.
Site size considerations: Larger RVs should research carefully. Jon S. cautions about Rock Island: "Fair warning, sites all seemed to be pretty small." For big rigs, Manchester KOA offers "level, pull through sites" according to Joel R., who calls it a "regular stop for our travels."
Accessibility challenges: Some campgrounds have steeper entrances. One RVer notes about Smooth Rapids: "The entrance and exit is very narrow and steep even for our Sprinter motorhome, let alone something larger. Would not advise it!" Always research road conditions before booking with larger vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Pocahontas, TN?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Pocahontas, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Pocahontas, TN is Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park with a 4.5-star rating from 39 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
Pocahontas, TN?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Pocahontas, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 118 dog-friendly camping locations near Pocahontas, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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