Camping options near Knoxville range from primitive tent sites to full-service RV parks and glamping accommodations. The region includes several notable campgrounds like Low Meadow Farms (formerly Brown Bike Farms), offering creekside primitive camping just minutes from downtown, and Southlake RV Park, situated on Fort Loudon Lake with waterfront access. Great Smoky Mountains National Park campgrounds like Elkmont and Cades Cove lie within an hour's drive, providing established sites with basic amenities. State parks including Big Ridge and Norris Dam offer a mix of tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin rentals throughout the year.
Most campgrounds in the Knoxville area operate year-round, though mountain locations may have seasonal closures from late fall through early spring. As one camper noted, "Clean and quiet. Firewood provided. My campsite was creek side and a stones throw from the firewood and porta-potty." Primitive sites typically provide minimal amenities such as fire rings and pit toilets, while developed campgrounds offer electric hookups, shower facilities, and dump stations. Reservations are strongly recommended for weekend stays during peak season (May through October) when temperatures average 75-85°F. Winter camping is available at lower elevations with temperatures typically ranging from 30-50°F, though occasional snow and ice can affect access to more remote sites.
The camping experience varies significantly across the area's developed and primitive sites. Lakefront camping receives positive reviews, with visitors appreciating water access for fishing, kayaking and swimming. A visitor to Southlake RV Park described it as a "great fishing hole for tent campers" where "you can easily launch a kayak, swim, fish, etc." Urban-adjacent sites like Low Meadow Farms combine proximity to city amenities with natural settings, making them popular for shorter stays. Several campgrounds in the region cater specifically to RVs with full hookups and amenities such as laundry facilities and WiFi, though cell coverage can be spotty in more remote areas. Proximity to mountain biking trails, hiking paths, and water recreation represents a common theme among highly-rated campgrounds in the region.
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
Round 1 of 5
$30 / night
"I had the most fantastic campsite right next to the river in Elkmont."
"We stayed 3 nights so we could hike the surrounding trails! Loved learning about the history of the area while checking out the old cabins."
$30 / night
"You can easily bike through the loop, or drive. Nice spot to see wildlife as well. Cades Cove is well known for spotting bears, deer and turkey."
"We camped in the middle of a hot sticky Tennessee summer and felt just fine in all of the shade."
$28 - $38 / night
"We only stayed one night, but will return to take advantage of the prime lake front tent spots! On the map it shows individual sites, but it’s more of a disbursed area."
"The tent sights are located right on a great fishing cove on Fort Loudon reserve. We booked tent site 7 but when we got there someone was fishing off the point where our campsite was supposed to be."
$49 - $139 / night
"Anchors Down is just outside Severville Tennessee and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Located on Douglas Lake with the Smokie Mountains in the back ground."
"This campground is one of the best you will find in Tennessee. "
$25 - $50 / night
"This campground is super close to Knoxville and Maryville, it is small, but easy to find where to go and to get to your site, even at night."
"Next to some good hiking and biking trails. Every site with the exception of one was right next to the creek. It’s definitely worth checking out."
"Had we been in a site away from the river, we’d have been packed in like sardines."
"Close to everything, right in the heart of pigeon forge. Best bath houses we’ve ever been too, all other reviews were spot on!"
$30 - $65 / night
"Bathrooms and Showers with hot water. 20 minutes outside Knoxville and extremely quiet."
"The campsite is nestled in trees and conveniently located to the Knoxville area. They have a small store for small forgotten items as well as a place to fill propane."
$18 - $31 / night
"We really enjoyed Milton Hill dam, very friendly people , well stocked store, easy access to swimming and fishing and full hook up sites if you want them."
"We made a last minute trip to Melton Hill that was very conveniently located just outside of Knoxville. The campsite offers several options for camping along the water or in the woods."
$8 - $100 / night
"Another close and convenient campsite to Knoxville, TN! Several campsites here are conveniently located along Norris Lake. If not on the lake a short 5 minute walk from other sites."
"I’ve stayed at this site a couple times now and I love the location. The site is a short and easy hike (under 2 miles) from the parking lot via the Lake Trail to the Dark Hollow Trail."
"We stayed at the main area but not much space or privacy so we put up a tent out side our door, but then moved to the tent camping site area the second night which was more secluded and private, but still"
"There is a lake, so naturally that means there is boating, jet skiing, canoeing and of course fishing."
ScoutOvernight stop that was quieter than expected for so close to I40. Not a fan of the access road and condition- narrow and a couple potholes swallowed up my left front; too narrow a road to avoid. Close to Walmart and Tractor Supply- always a plus. We hit up Copper Ridge Tavern and Grill- good service, small menu.
GuideThere is a beautiful drive to get to this campground once you get through the traffic jam of Sevierville. Enjoy the scenic and winding river road! Only loop C is open in the off season. Generators are allowed at this time of year, but must be off by 8pm. The women's restroom was revoltingly smelly (some animal had sprayed in there, smelled like male cat x100). I hope this was a temporary situation.
The sites have nice new pads(not perfectly level though) and the tent pads are spacious and flat. Cade's Cove loop was definitely worth taking, and I would do it again and stop at every stop. Take the pull outs and let the people pass you so you can really soak it all in. Also, make sure to get a parking pass and a brochure at the first stop, which explains the sites along the loop. I saw many turkeys showing off their fan tails. And a large black bear chowing down on the sweet, fattening, tender spring grass. Also there were quite a few deer out. The scenery was magnificent!
TravelerWe stayed at site 12 for 3 nights and had a wonderful time! The campgrounds are lovely with lots of attention to details. It is also VERY clean! We can’t wait to come back!
TravelerRiver running next to it made for great view. Vaulted toilet close by and very quiet. No showers though.
ScoutSnowbird is one of our yearly camping trips. It's really beautiful there. However, people seem to be unable to pick up their own trash. Every year there's abandoned tents and parts of tents left to rot. It's a shame. When we arrived there was a shredded tent left on the site. Last year it was a shelter tent. Come on people..
TravelerStayed at Peaceful Peak off Picadilly Lane in the Cobbly Nob and Bent Creek Golf Resort. The views- I felt like I was in another world! I cannot even begin to describe the feelings I felt as to what I was seeing. If you're looking for Luxe and Comfort- this is it! The cabin accommodates large groups and has ample amount of parking. We saw a Mama Bear and her 3 cubs while enjoying our morning cup of coffee- which they provide!! We will definitely be returning for our next stay.
ScoutLoved this campsite. The hosts were so nice and accommodating and the site was so relaxing. From the sound/view of the creek. To having the free range chickens come say hello. This place was a great escape with trails in the Smokey mountains only minutes away. Highly recommend!
ScoutVery clean and beautiful campground. Brand new toilets and showers. Camping sites are fairly small. I would camp here again.
GuideWe spent 2 weekend nights in site C21...it was severely unlevel as advertised. Most sites in this loop are either very sloped, or flat with picnic tables down a set of stairs. The campground was very quiet, although you could hear some traffic from the highway. The sites were mostly shaded, clean, and somewhat private. The bath houses were clean and modern. The office/store was not open the entire time we were there, and the host mentioned that there were some electrical issues that caused it to be closed. So we had to head through "the tunnel" into Middlesboro for firewood. Found plenty at the Tractor Supply store on the north side of town. Middlesboro has lots of places for supplies and food. Other than the sloping sites the only other real drawback to the campground is the limited water. In the C loop we only found water by the bathhouses, so the walk to get water was quite long.
Camping in the Knoxville area offers diverse experiences across eastern Tennessee's varied topography, with elevations ranging from 800 to 2,800 feet in nearby camping locations. The region's extended camping season runs from March through November at most sites, with temperature ranges of 30-90°F depending on season and elevation. Many campgrounds remain accessible year-round at lower elevations, allowing for multi-season outdoor adventures.
Hiking from camp: At Big Ridge State Park Campground, campers can access several trails directly from the camping area. "I've also finished the trip by hiking the loop back out by continuing on Dark Hollow to Big Valley Trail, to Ghost House Trail and back to Lake Trail (5.3 miles total). These sections of the trails are easy to moderate," notes one visitor to the backcountry sites.
Water recreation: Southlake RV Park provides direct water access for various activities. A camper mentioned, "If you are wanting to fish the bank or even put in kayaks this spot is money. The tent sights are located right on a great fishing cove on Fort Loudon reserve." The proximity to water makes this location ideal for swimming, fishing and paddling.
Historic exploration: At Cades Cove Campground, visitors can tour historic structures along the scenic loop road. "Go on the car tour loop and make sure to stop and look at the cabins and church. History at its finest," recommends one camper. The 11-mile loop features restored 19th-century buildings and offers frequent wildlife sightings, particularly in early morning and evening hours.
Biking: The Cades Cove loop road closes to vehicles on certain days to accommodate cyclists. "On certain days they close off the loop of Cades Cove for bicycles to be able to ride. At the store near the campground they rent bikes for a reasonable rate. We took the entire family on the loop bike ride. This was so much fun," shares a visitor.
Privacy in urban settings: Low Meadow Farms (formerly Brown Bike Farms) provides unexpected seclusion just minutes from Knoxville. "This small campground is a really beautiful meadow. I camped here with a friend over Labor Day weekend. It's very primitive but also very beautiful. Only a few miles from the city and a short bike ride on country roads or mountain bike trails!" explains one camper.
Lakeside camping: Melton Hill Dam Campground offers scenic water views that campers consistently mention. "We had a beautiful view onto the lake. The parking area is an asphalt slab and many have a slant to them and will require leveling," notes one visitor, highlighting the practical aspects alongside the aesthetics.
Spacious sites: At certain campgrounds, site layout and spacing receive positive feedback. "All driveways shaded, paved, and level. Very pleasant place," reports a camper at West Campground at Norris Dam State Park. Another visitor adds, "We stayed at site #2 which was nice but had soft ground from prior rain (when other sites had already dried up well)."
Wildlife viewing: Campers frequently mention animal sightings as a highlight. "This is a very unique spot in the smokies. I have never seen more black bear. It was a very safe distance we watched them about a football field away across a field pretty amazing experience," shares an enthusiastic visitor to Cades Cove.
Noise factors: Some campgrounds experience unexpected noise issues. At Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA, a camper warns, "When the noise of the amusement parks and traffic dies down you get about an hour of peace before the food warehouse on the other side (about 50 yds) starts loading trucks non stop through the night."
Site selection strategies: Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers varied camping experiences based on site location. "Many of the sites, particularly those on the western side of A - F loops, are along the river. Most of the sites are shaded. A few of the B-loop sites are walk-in," notes a detailed reviewer.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly across the region. One camper at Southlake RV Park reports, "The advertised wifi doesn't reach the campsites though so don't depend on it and when I connected at laundry to test it was like a 1/1Mbps speed. Cell Data signal isn't great here either."
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during peak season. "Make your reservations far in advance this is a destination!" advises a camper regarding Cades Cove. For Elkmont, another visitor notes, "Sites are booked in advance through recreation.gov so make sure you book, during nice weather this place is very busy, even during the week."
Swimming areas: Big Ridge State Park offers designated swimming spots. "Great place to swim for the summer with the kids," notes a camper, though another mentions "There is a nearby swimming area, but it was occupied by geese families and there was quite a lot of goose poop," highlighting the need to check conditions.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. At Volunteer Park, "The park has a playground with a wooden pirate ship for kids, and a really nice pool. It was crystal clear," according to one visitor.
Educational opportunities: Historic sites provide learning experiences for children. At Cades Cove, one camper suggests "Be sure to watch the YouTube video of the building of the dam in the 30's makes you appreciate everything even more," indicating the value of researching area history before visiting.
Kid-friendly hiking: Many trails near Knoxville-area campgrounds accommodate younger hikers. "We rented bikes on site, perfect day. We also did longer hikes in the area. Stayed here for 4 days as a basecamp, just a great wooded site," shares a visitor to Cades Cove, highlighting the mix of activity options.
Site levelness: RVers should prepare for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. A visitor to Melton Hill notes, "The parking area is an asphalt slab and many have a slant to them and will require leveling."
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging roads or site access. At West Campground, a camper advises, "Keep in mind, a trailer much longer that 16' will have trouble getting in." Another visitor adds, "Roads are a little narrow in the campground, made it a little hard to back trailer in- the front of the truck was the issue hitting rocks on the side of the road."
Long-term vs. short-term areas: Several campgrounds have distinct sections for different stay durations. At Volunteer Park, one RVer explains, "There were clearly people who had been here for a very long time, even having pole barns put up over there rigs...The grounds are decently taken care of aside from the long-term residents."
Hookup locations: RVers should note unusual utility arrangements at some parks. A camper at Southlake RV Park mentions, "Sites are not well developed with power and sewer in odd places," indicating the need to check hookup locations when selecting sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Knoxville, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Knoxville, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 441 campgrounds and RV parks near Knoxville, TN and 14 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Knoxville, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Knoxville, TN is Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a 4.7-star rating from 126 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Knoxville, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 free dispersed camping spots near Knoxville, TN.
What parks are near Knoxville, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 33 parks near Knoxville, TN that allow camping, notably Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Croatan National Forest.
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