3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Cherokee Trails Campground and Stables offers equestrian camping near Roan Mountain, Tennessee with facilities designed specifically for horse owners. The campground features level campsites with 30-amp electric hookups, water connections, and sewer hookups suitable for both RVs and tent campers. Campsites include picnic tables and fire rings. The campground operates seasonally from March through November, catering to riders seeking accommodations with their horses. While dedicated horse corrals aren't listed among the amenities, the campground's name and description indicate services for horse owners, including stabling options. The campground maintains clean shower facilities and restrooms for campers.
Bridle trails connect directly from the campground to nearby riding areas, providing convenient access for equestrians. Located in Bluff City, Tennessee, the campground offers proximity to regional trail systems popular with horseback riders. Trail accessibility varies seasonally, with optimal riding conditions typically found during spring and fall months when the campground is open. The campground's sanitary dump station accommodates longer stays for RV campers traveling with horses. Riders should note that reservations aren't accepted—sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Horse owners planning extended stays should contact the campground directly for information about trailer parking, feed storage options, and any specific equestrian policies not listed in the general campground information.
"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!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
"This is a wonderful spot to be to explore the surrounding areas:
- The famous Mount Mitchell trail, starts a short walking distance from the campground."
"River sites are first come first serve Has group camping {must reserve online} Large tent pads Rv sites Fishing Can purchase: Ice Soda/water Ice cream Kindling Fire starter Wood
Hiking: Access to"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $28 - $56 / night
"This is a small quite camp ground with horse stables. Husband and wife working there were very nice."
"Cabins, RV spots mostly level, paddocks for horses. Lots of exploration in the woods potential."
from $15 - $45 / night
"The family campground is a short distance further inside the park on the left side(approx 2 miles) marked by a small brown sign...and is situated at 1400 ft elevation. "
"Beautiful but crowded trails. There are equestrian trails and camping facilities. Dogs welcome. Ice cold creeps and lovely waterfalls."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $27 - $32 / night
"It’s a 6 mile hike up Maple Camp Ridge on trail 191 (Buncombe Horse Range) starting from a small parking lot close to Carolina Hemlocks Campground."
"A little below where we set up camp, we found a natural spring for water and theres a decent amount of firewood around. We parked at the top of Mt."
"I’d never used a KOA before but was tremendously impressed with the serene beauty of this place situated well away from traffic in a bucolic setting."
"They have cabins, a nice pool, a blob, lots of outdoor activities, playground area, horse shoes, even with it being a smaller KOA Campground there is a lot to do."
"It’s a beautiful, peaceful little campground tucked into the mountains and you can tell a lot of care goes into it."
from $65 - $79 / night
"Absolutely love camping here at warriors path State Park it's beyond one of my favorite places to camp"
RangerIt says no overnight camping but there were 3 cars camping so I decided to camp. Drove straight across the entrance where a sign said parking but no camping. Was actually a really good camp spot plenty of room.
ScoutI stayed long term while working in the area, including through the winter months, and loved the propane delivery. Coming home to a full tank already dropped at my site was such a nice perk.
It’s a beautiful, peaceful little campground tucked into the mountains and you can tell a lot of care goes into it. It’s not a parking lot like other places I’ve stayed the sites are tiered on the mountainside but level and large. Staff is friendly, they have a game room and laundry room and the store sells cold beer! It was a nice home away from home while working in town
ScoutAbsolutely love camping here at warriors path State Park it's beyond one of my favorite places to camp
TravelerThere are multiple sites for camping rvs if you are set up for boondocking.
LegendThis is a neat campground. We camp in the area a lot and this campground is either completely empty or totally full. We have stayed here a couple of times when it was empty. We don't have horses so I wouldn't stay here when it is full. For us it is great as a cheap stop if we are traveling through the area at the right time. A nice creek goes through the campground that is right on the highway, so we usually stay in the back to get away from the road noise. Not that there is much traffic in the area at night.
Check it out in our 360° Video and see it like you are there.
https://youtu.be/dlGXzrFK31Q
LegendA quiet, easy-access campground with good site privacy and great lake views. Some site boundaries feel a bit unclear and the bathrooms can get crowded, but the location is perfect for exploring the Blue Ridge. A solid stay, especially with the RV and primitive areas kept separate.
Check out our video of all the sites.
https://youtu.be/3NspCX_Zgnw
TravelerThe campground itself was good. Bathhouse was clean-ish. The one shower stall smelled quite moldy/mildewy. Not a lot of amenities. We stayed a week and all days during the week - Monday through Friday, there was construction literally right beside our RV. Constant leaf blowing. I understand that they are doing improvements, that is great. A head's up about it, possible option to stay at another site, a noise discount, or at least letting us know, so we could make a choice, would have been nice. Would never stay here again.
TravelerMost campsites have good privacy and is quiet most hours. All have easy access, but bathrooms are small for number of campers. Some campsites are a little confusing about site areas as it seems they overlap into each other some. The view of the lake is one of the best parts. More campgrounds should separate rv and primitive like they do.
ScoutFR 472 is closed at the Golf Course and there are hefty fines if you are caught walking beyond the gate. Black Mountain Campground was destroyed by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The bridge across the S. Toe River was broken and washed out. The water system is also destroyed as well as the road network in the campground. There have been no announcements by the Forest Service about plans to repair the facility and, after a year, my guess is that there never will be.
Cherokee Trails Campground offers seasonal equestrian camping near Roan Mountain, Tennessee from March through November. The facility provides level campsites with 30-amp hookups, water and sewer connections for both tent campers and RVs. The campground features direct access to bridle trails connecting to popular regional riding areas, making it convenient for horse owners seeking accommodations while exploring the local trail systems.
Trail riding: Nearby Julian Price Park Campground provides additional outdoor recreation options within driving distance of Cherokee Trails. Visitors note the diverse trail network: "There is a hiking trail that goes around the lake. There's also a trail that you can access from the park that leads to Hebron Rock Colony which is an incredible hiking trail," according to Danielle L.
Water activities: Several water recreation areas complement the equestrian trails near Roan Mountain. "The lake is hatchery supported, and I did witness someone catching a fish as we walked along the lake trail," reports Myron C. about Julian Price Park. Fishing licenses are required and can be purchased locally.
Mountain exploration: The region's elevation provides opportunities for challenging hikes and mountain biking. A visitor to Maple Camp Bald mentions, "It's a 6 mile hike up Maple Camp Ridge on trail 191 (Buncombe Horse Range) starting from a small parking lot close to Carolina Hemlocks Campground." Water planning is essential as Francis C. notes, "0.4 miles from the bald is a nice water source."
Natural settings: The peaceful environment around equestrian camping areas near Roan Mountain receives consistent praise. At Black Mountain Campground, campers appreciate the waterway ambiance: "Outstanding place for car camping. A river right beside it. Tall majestic trees," writes Scott K., who also notes the campground serves as a good "jumping off point for the Mt. Mitchell trail."
Clean facilities: Campground maintenance stands out in visitor reviews. At Cherokee Trails, the bath facilities are well-maintained according to reviews. Similarly at Black Mountain Campground, "The showers and restrooms are always clean and good taken care of," writes Katrin M., adding "The camp hosts made sure several times that we had everything we needed."
Wildlife viewing: The area's diverse ecosystem supports wildlife observation opportunities. Myron C. reports, "While we were in this area, we saw several small deer, including one that came through our campsite." Morning hours typically offer the best wildlife viewing times in the quieter campground areas.
Seasonal considerations: Weather conditions affect trail accessibility throughout the year. Old Forge Recreation Area operates from April to October, similar to Cherokee Trails' March-November season. The camping areas are "very wooded tent only primitive campground" with "good trails along the rolling hills and creeks," according to Justin S.
Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires careful navigation. Regarding Springmaid Mountain, Terri S. cautions, "The roads to the campground were challenging due to the deep ruts and wash out," which can be particularly relevant for those hauling horse trailers.
Reservation policies: Unlike Cherokee Trails' first-come, first-served policy, many nearby campgrounds accept reservations. "Many of the sites in the A loop are reservable, and they have been reserved for several weeks (maybe months) in advance," notes Myron C. Planning ahead is advisable, especially during peak riding seasons in spring and fall.
Campsite selection: Choose sites with adequate space for horse trailers and family equipment. At South Mountains State Park, Jessica L. shares, "We camped at the family camping area, it was great, we had site 6 and it was on the river and the kids loved it!" Sites near water features often provide natural entertainment for children.
Safety precautions: Establish clear boundaries for children around horses and water features. "The tent pad was large enough to setup our 8 man tent and 2 man tent, and leave us plenty of room for our kitchen setup and room around the fire pit," mentions Erica F., highlighting the importance of designated activity areas.
Activity planning: Balance riding time with other recreational options. For families visiting the area, Sarah W. recommends, "Great trails. Great views. The nature trail area was a great way to start and end the day as we hiked back to 'basecamp'."
Site accessibility: When bringing an RV to equestrian camping areas, verify site dimensions and hookup availability. At Rocky Top Campground, Debbie O. warns, "The camp on the west side is Dangerous to drive up in a motorhome. I personally drove my 36' up the most curvy incline I wouldn't recommend anyone to give this a second thought if your not a seasoned driver."
Hookup specifications: Confirm electrical capacity meets your RV's requirements. Most campgrounds in the area offer 30-amp service like Cherokee Trails, while some provide 50-amp options. Jim D. notes Rocky Top Campground has "nice clean campground with affordable pricing," making it worth considering for RVers seeking value.
Dump station protocol: Plan your waste management around available facilities. Cherokee Trails offers a sanitary dump station for RVers, and Laura H. notes that at nearby facilities, "They have 50amp service and full hookup sites," which can be convenient for longer stays with horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Roan Mountain, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Roan Mountain, TN is Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway with a 4.6-star rating from 49 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Roan Mountain, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 equestrian camping locations near Roan Mountain, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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