264 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Mountain City, Tennessee offers a variety of camping areas ranging from primitive tent sites to full-service campgrounds. Doe Valley Campground provides full hookups for RVs with high-speed WiFi in a peaceful setting about 5 miles from town, while Mountain City Campground features 30-amp and 50-amp service and tent camping near an accessible trout stream. The surrounding Cherokee National Forest and nearby Washington & Jefferson National Forest in Virginia offer dispersed camping options along creeks and forest roads for those seeking more remote experiences.
Access to camping locations varies seasonally, with many campgrounds operating from April or May through October. Little Oak Campground, located about an hour from Mountain City, operates from April to October, while Backbone Rock Recreation Area typically closes during winter months. Summer brings higher visitation, especially at waterfront sites, while spring and fall offer more solitude with cooler temperatures. Roads to some campgrounds like Dennis Cove can be challenging for larger RVs or trailers. One camper described the access to Dennis Cove as "good but extremely tight and windy at points so beware a wide trailer if you aren't used to this type of mountain driving."
Campground options in the region highlight the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. Sites along creeks and rivers are particularly popular, providing both scenic views and recreational opportunities. R&D Campground near Mountain City receives excellent reviews for its creek access and proximity to Doe Mountain trails. Many campgrounds in the area serve as convenient bases for exploring nearby attractions like the Appalachian Trail, Virginia Creeper Trail, and Cherokee National Forest. Several campers mention wildlife viewing opportunities, with one visitor to Doe Valley noting, "Wildlife in the campground and surrounding area was abound with a variety of birds wakening us each morning, and deer that came into camp regularly." The combination of mountain scenery, water features, and proximity to outdoor recreation makes the Mountain City area appealing to campers seeking natural experiences with varying levels of amenities.
"It offers RV, drive in and hike in tent sites and also teepee camping."
"There is a place to wash dishes outside as well. Fantastic walking trails - some parts quite steep but we got a good workout through the woods on the property."
from $25 - $136 / night
Check Availability"With camping just a moderate day hike away from Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia, this campground is a hiker's paradise."
"Campground Review: There are two campgrounds in Grayson Highland SP which is located by The Mouth Of Wilson, VA, near the North Carolina border."
from $27 - $98 / night
Check Availability"This campground is located about an hour or so from our home but it feels like a million miles away — in a good way!"
"**Holston Lake is absolutely beautiful. The campground is deep in the national forest, out on a series of peninsulas, making all the campsites quite close to the water."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"This campground is on a beautiful lake. There is no swimming on the lake(its pretty shallow) but awesome for kayaking and paddleboarding."
"The campground is in an excellent location, just 5-10 minutes away from downtown Blowing Rock and of course it’s right on the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway!"
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Campground Review: R&D Campground in Mountain City, TN is located in the far north east corner of the state almost directly in between Boone, NC and Demascus, VA."
"In the nearby area, there is a lot to do in natural beauty. There are a lot of trails here and many ways to enjoy them, including hiking and mountain biking."
"Stayed in Campsite #1 Even though it is within view of the road, the running water sound of the creek behind us lulled us to sleep."
"Beaver Dam Creek runs behind the campsite and is absolutely gorgeous with clear water, fish, and beautiful rhododendrons and trees that keep the area shaded."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability"It is located in Roan Mountain Tennessee. The campground has clean bathhouses with hot showers."
"Fire pits you had to walk up to but were away from tents, which I liked. Bathhouse was clean, well lit, pretty warm showers. Campground was very clean and has a lot of amenities."
"The campground is tucked away outside of Boone, but not so far that if you really need something you cant get it."
"Check-in was easy at the office at the entrance of the campground."
"I enjoyed the drive out to this site, it is far enough off of the beaten path but still close to town. The site is a very easy drive to Boone and Tweetsie Railroad."
"The only down side is that the tent sites are road side…so when the campers pull in and out you hear them hitting the gas."
"When I checked in, the host was very nice, and when I returned later to look at the camp store, another host was behind the desk, and he was friendly. "
"The people running it are very nice and since it right outside boone nc its very close to shops, restaurants and hiking trails."
from $31 - $63 / night
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ScoutNobody was here on Sat. Had gard time finding site. Site reserved did not have 30 amp and could not reach staff. Moved to other site hoping it would not be a problem. We were able to finally reach staff on Mon. Also no pcknick tables or fire rings.
ScoutNice camp and staff friendly. We drive the Blue Ridge Pkwy which was a bit of drive but the ride up to Mt Mitchell was beautiful. Only negative was the laundry rooms were small for a large camp like this but I made it work. Probably a bit more challenging during busy season but all that said this is a nice campground
ScoutGreat camping spot! Road isn’t horrible going up but there are some rougher areas toward the end of the road. Gorgeous sunset and sunrise spot! Fire rings seemed fairly abundant at the pull offs.
TravelerAbsolutely one of the most beautiful campgrounds that we have visited, and super clean. Such a great location for hiking and viewing the Blue Ridge Pkwy!
ScoutLet me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time. With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price
Traveler3 stars only because it says water hookups but they are far and few between communal. No spigot at individual sites. Need long hose(s)to reach the connection. Good T-Mobile 5G but too wooded for StarLink. Quiet, shady, somewhat level sites were available. $20/night.
TravelerThe road was very bumpy but I got up on my 2WD Honda Odyssey. A couple people came during the day to take photos, but the night was peaceful. A couple campsites on the drive up, less secluded though. View was gorgeous and the sunset was amazing. Amazing spot for stargazing.
ScoutMy husband and I arrived at Doe River Landing for 3 nights and enjoyed everything the resort offered. While there we read the 2 reviews posted by Kylie T, and by Andrew W, who gave the resort a 1 star rating. Not knowing the facts that caused the rating by them, and occurred prior to us, we approach the owner and asked.
The owner showed us videos from their security cameras. These adults has stated in Kylie T review and confirm by Andrew W review that they were a group of 20 adults and "every single one of us is over 21 and family". So why are these adults playing "hide and seek" under the pavilion as they stated? Andrew W stated, "It was not blocked off", yet they had to crawl on the ground and around bushes to get under the pavilion. When the owner yelled at them approximately 10 adults that were under the pavilion crawled out which was captured on the security cameras. Andrew W stated in his review the owner called them hooligans, which is rowdy, destructive persons and from the security cameras, that description is correct. There was no mention of damages in their reviews such as the Adirondack chair they broke or possible damage to the water pipes and electric wires under the pavilion, which the owner was currently checking.
Once we read these two reviews by Kylie T and Andrew W and saw the owners security videos, we felt future customers deserved to know another opinion based on our findings.
These entitled adults justified their review of a 1 star by stating they paid money to use the campground.
I would ask these adults "why do you think it is OK to treat someone else's property in this destructive way?"
GuideSeems to be a well established campground in an off the beaten path location. Roads alternately paved and gravel. The campsite is gravel in a wooded setting. Fair amount of space between sites. The bathhouse is clean but dated.
Camping spots near Mountain City, Tennessee offer distinct seasonal experiences, with elevations from 2,400 to over 5,000 feet creating temperature variations 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands. The Cherokee and Jefferson National Forests provide over 200 miles of creek-side camping locations with sites that can accommodate everything from small tents to mid-sized trailers. The region's creek access is particularly valued during summer months when water temperatures remain cool.
Hike to mountain fire towers: At Doe Mountain trails lead to excellent viewpoints. "Doe Mountain has a great fire tower that is well worth the hike and the trail to it is close to camp," notes one visitor to R&D Campground.
Explore Appalachian Trail sections: Roan Mountain State Park Campground provides easy access to the AT. "It's much easier to ascend Mt Rogers from here than down in the valley, but you won't likely travel alone. Come in in late spring when the rhododendron are in bloom! It's gorgeous," explains one camper.
Fish in mountain streams: The region offers excellent trout fishing opportunities. A visitor to Roan Mountain State Park noted, "Doe River runs through so fly fishing is available. Husband did catch a rainbow trout near group tent sites. Several small brookies near the history center."
Enjoy waterfall hiking: Many creekside campgrounds offer access to waterfall trails. At Backbone Rock Recreation Area, one visitor shared, "There's a cool rock formation falls that you can sit at or wade. Then there's the natural arch that's right over the road."
Creek-side camping spots: Backbone Rock Recreation Area offers prime waterfront sites. "Even though it is within view of the road, the running water sound of the creek behind us lulled us to sleep. We woke up around 9am, walked around and easily collected dead limbs for firewood for a hot breakfast," one camper reported.
Cooler mountain temperatures: The higher elevation locations provide relief from summer heat. A visitor to Blue Bear Mountain Camp noted, "The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat. Bathhouse was nice and clean. The hike to the pond was a little more strenuous than we anticipated but once you get there, there is a nice creek."
Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds offer well-spaced sites. One camper at Blue Bear Mountain Camp commented, "The campsites are very spaced out. The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat." Another at Roan Mountain State Park mentioned, "Our loop was very private and shaded."
Access to multiple trail systems: Many campgrounds connect directly to trail networks. A visitor to R&D Campground shared, "There is access to the Doe Mountain trails directly from the campground, they are multi-use with ATVs and dirt bikes using them but the riders were respectful and gave my dog and I plenty of room while hiking."
Seasonal operation limitations: Many campgrounds close during winter months. Little Oak Campground has specific operating dates: "Campground was nice and clean. Most sites have a view of South Holston Lake and trail access to the water. Shower house were clean. All sites are primitive," noted one visitor about this campground that operates April to October.
Cell service variability: Coverage can be spotty in mountain areas. One camper at Hickory Ridge Campground shared, "For cell phone coverage (Verizon), I had success at the viewpoint on the way up from the entrance. It was also where I watched the sunrise."
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult approach roads. At Blue Bear Mountain Camp, a camper warned, "The state maintained gravel road used to access campground was narrow and would be difficult to get a large camper up there, although there were lots of large ones there."
Weather unpredictability: Mountain elevations experience rapid weather changes. "I was very much hoping to take photos of the night sky, but there was a storm with wild winds and cold, so that didn't happen!" reported a visitor to Hickory Ridge Campground.
Choose campgrounds with creek access: Flintlock Campground offers water features perfect for children. "There's a beautiful mini river running through the campground with a lot of rocks to jump on. My children spent hours every day exploring," shared one family.
Look for campgrounds with recreation facilities: Some locations offer additional activities. "Flintlock is easy to get to but you'll still feel like you are camping. Staff is friendly and facilities are clean. There's a beautiful mini river running through the campground with a lot of rocks to jump on," noted a family camper.
Consider smaller campgrounds for quieter experiences: Less crowded options can be better for families. A visitor to Backbone Rock Recreation Area explained, "We have small children and enjoyed that this was a quiet site that felt very safe. We can't wait to return!"
Evaluate bathroom facilities: Clean, accessible facilities matter for family comfort. One Roan Mountain State Park visitor noted, "The campground is very well maintained, and the bathroom was spotless. The staff, rangers and volunteers, were super friendly."
Check site sizes carefully: Many mountain campgrounds have limited space. At Honey Bear Campground, an RVer shared, "After walking around, we noticed there were campsites that were more close together, while some more tucked away behind brush. I would recommend asking the check in desk about these different sites, so you can pick the one that fits your group most."
Plan for mountain road navigation: Roads to campgrounds can be challenging. "Good sites, drain well, a little close, but will definitely be back," noted a camper at Boone KOA, highlighting the importance of site selection.
Consider hookup limitations: Many sites offer partial hookups only. A visitor to Blue Bear Mountain Camp explained, "Some things to know before you go! They do not have water hookups- you fill your camper tank with water at the office area. They have spots with electric hookups. They have a dump station where you can empty your tanks on your way out."
Reserve well in advance for best sites: Prime spots book quickly. "The sites in the A loop are reservable, and they have been reserved for several weeks (maybe months) in advance. They are the best sites as far as seeing the lake and sometimes because they are larger," reported a Hickory Ridge Campground visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Mountain City, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mountain City, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 264 campgrounds and RV parks near Mountain City, TN and 22 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mountain City, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mountain City, TN is Blue Bear Mountain Camp with a 4.8-star rating from 27 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mountain City, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 free dispersed camping spots near Mountain City, TN.
What parks are near Mountain City, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 parks near Mountain City, TN that allow camping, notably Blue Ridge Parkway and W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir.
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