Best Campgrounds near Rutledge, TN

Join the fun near Rutledge. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Rutledge is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Best Camping Sites Near Rutledge, Tennessee (305)

    1. Panther Creek State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Talbott, TN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 587-7046

    $26 - $42 / night

    "Panther Creek SP

    Panther Creek State Park was an unexpected find outside of Knoxville, TN , in Morristown. I’ve driven by the sign but no need to camp so close to home."

    "The hiking trails ranged from difficult to short and easy. The ’Trout’ hiking trail was very nice. One of the longer hikes was the Knob trail and it was very nice as well."

    2. Anchor Down RV Resort

    48 Reviews
    Sevierville, TN
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 784-4446

    $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.  "

    3. Cherokee Dam Campground — Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

    6 Reviews
    Jefferson City, TN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 882-5263

    "Sites along the lake. Clean campground. They need to clean up around edge of sites along the lake to make it easier access."

    "There are some really great lakefront sites here, and the tent spots are great, note- they are walk in sites, and you can get in the water from these sites."

    4. Greenlee May Springs Campground — Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

    3 Reviews
    Talbott, TN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (866) 828-4802

    "Had a site back in by their cabins that was just off the lake which was great for fishing and the kids to explore!"

    "My campsite was a little small but it was right on Cherokee Lake. A lot of permanent residence that are there during the season and I was there offseason so not a lot of people."

    5. Rocky Meadows Farm

    4 Reviews
    Corryton, TN
    12 miles
    Website

    $30 / night

    "I was need of a place to camp to breakup a long drive and this certainly did the trick!"

    "There are cows across the way that would get as close to the fence as possible and just stare at us as we drove by . I would recommend this place a million times it was absolutely beautiful."

    6. Big Ridge State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Maynardville, TN
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 992-5523

    $8 - $100 / night

    "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."

    "Close to the bathhouse and a quick walk to the entrance to get to the store, swim area, etc."

    7. Douglas Tailwater Campground — Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

    18 Reviews
    Sevierville, TN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 361-1522

    "I was very lucky to find this spot near the Great Smoky Mountains. It was October, cool and fine, when I backed up to the French Broad River in this immaculate campsite with super friendly hosts."

    "Driving distance to locations for exploring."

    8. Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    123 Reviews
    Gatlinburg, TN
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 430-5560

    $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."

    9. Dumplin Valley Farm RV Park

    11 Reviews
    Kodak, TN
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 397-7942

    $33 - $38 / night

    "We can be flexible with parking situations for those of you traveling with larger rigs pulling trailers, etc."

    "We planned an overnight stop at Dumplin as it was close to the interstate. It is very nice! Sites were part gravel and easy to pull through. We were in a pull through with full hook ups."

    10. Wilderness Road Campground

    16 Reviews
    Shawanee, VA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 248-2817

    $18 - $39 / night

    "Located in the Cumberland Gap where TN, VA and Ky touch borders. Very beautiful mountains with hiking trails ftom short distances to overnight primitive camping trials."

    "This is near the borders of KY, VA, and TN in Cumberland Gap park. Convenient to the park, the AT, and the nearby town for supplies, restaurants, and grocery."

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Recent Reviews near Rutledge, TN

1574 Reviews of 305 Rutledge Campgrounds


  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge

    Beautiful grounds if you feel like splurging

    It is an absolutely beautiful campground with an awesome club house and a ton to do. The pool and lazy river are heated. Honestly though you really need to want to splurge to justify staying here because you are still camping if that makes sense.

    Also the trolley “system” is super confusing and the front desk knows nothing about it lol

    Our site is great. It is right across the road from the playground without having to pay for a family site.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    East Campground - Norris Dam State Park

    Nice park but road is not that friendly

    Google maps and the website will tell you to take the 441 to get here but I recommend going down to the 61 and coming up that way as the road is quite a bit wider and not so steep and windy. The last mile or so into the campground is a pretty narrow road that when we were here was in bad shape with potholes. Note that some of the campsites have only 30 amp and some of the campsites have only 50 amp so when making a reservation don’t assume that a 50 amp campsite will also have 30 amp. They all did appear to 20 amp. There is a dump station available and a fairly nice bathroom and showers. Most of the spaces are fairly level and fairly easy to get into. 1-3 were quite short. Recommend popping down to the Clinch River Brewery for a beverage and possibly dinner. Also the Appalachian museum in Norris was pretty fascinating.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Cades Cove Campground

    Quite, beautiful, weekend traffic

    This is one of the quietest campgrounds I’ve stayed at. Sites are nestled in the woods in a cove in the Smokies. No cell service. No internet. No cable tv. Just peace and quiet! This is a national park campgrounds, so no water, electric or hookups. There is a dump station and modern bathrooms. Cold water showers. There is a camp store with basics. There is a lot of traffic especially on weekends with visitors driving the scenic Cades Cove Loop Road.

  • e
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Wilderness Road Campground

    Nice National Park Campground

    Pretty park. Sites are wooded and not too close together. Most sites need leveling blocks. The bath house is small. 2 stalls and sinks in the bathroom . 2 individual shower rooms. There appeared to be only 2 bathrooms/bath houses for the entire campground. Water pump at bathroom area. No dish washing station. Some sites had electricity, but not all of them. There are lots of hiking trails and a great visitor center. I hope to go back when I can spend more time in the park. Three star rating mainly due to the inadequate number of showers/bathrooms.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Little River Campground & RV Resort

    Labor Day weekend

    Overall a positive experience. We stayed in the tent camping area. Absolutely beautiful site with a wonderful river view, but be aware that the direct river bank is considered common area including day use so it had a lot of traffic while we were there. The staff was very helpful and friendly. Being a holiday weekend it was very crowded and very noisy, including a few neighbors without regards to quiet hours. Overall the facilities including bath house are were very nice though I believe the large crowds caused issues with the crew being able to keep up with keeping them clean. The location is very convenient to Townsend and we rode bikes out to explore and get food in the evening. We would definitely go back just probably not on a holiday weekend.

  • VThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Mountaineer Campground

    Pleasant Stay

    Lovely campground on the river and close to amenities. Biking, hiking, tubing, swimming. My favorite experience here has been the pavilion prayer and fellowship on Sunday mornings hosted by Charm ministry volunteers. Very casual with lots of singing and great conversation in a very positive and welcoming atmosphere. The bathrooms and showers were kept very clean as well as the laundry and pool area. The camp hosts were very helpful and work hard to keep the above clean. The campground offers a 50% discount on a 28-day stay which I took advantage of. They allowed me to stay an extra 28 days due to my dog passing away so I could wait for his remains. They were very understanding, thoughtful and gracious during this sad time for me and I am very grateful to the management and hosts for the time, space and respect they extended to me July & August.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Panther Creek State Park Campground

    Panther creek camping

    I had a very cute camp spot up in the woods away from the road it was number 50 it was so cute and quieter than the rest of the spots. It also had two fire pits one up by the tent area and one down by the picnic table

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Baileyton KOA Holiday

    Nice overnight stop

    We are headed from Atlanta to Fredericksburg VA for a wedding. This is a very nice place for an overnight stop, probably one of the nicest for a KOA. Very clean and tidy campground. Mostly level, gravel sites. But some grass between sites! Some shade. Full hookups. Clean bathroom & shower. Pool, playground, driving range, big water slide. The internet is VERY slow. Also lots of road noise from I-81. Gift shop & convenient store in office. We’ve taken our travel trailer to 48 states, and have found KOAs generally convenient, but not much more. This place is definitely above average

  • Kc K.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Big Ridge State Park Campground

    Big level site

    Site 43. Big site. fairly flat. Just have levelers on one side. Close to the bathhouse and a quick walk to the entrance to get to the store, swim area, etc. 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.


Guide to Rutledge

Camping near Rutledge, Tennessee, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or an adventure-filled trip, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One camper mentioned, "We did one of our hikes from our site—the Little River Trail to Cucumber Gap, and it was beautiful."
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. A visitor at Cades Cove Campground noted, "Had numerous sightings of wildlife even in the campground."
  • Fishing: Enjoy fishing in nearby streams. A review from Cosby Campground highlighted, "There is a stream that runs through the back of the site that our kids loved."

What campers like

  • Scenic Views: Campers appreciate the stunning landscapes. One reviewer at Elkmont Campground said, "The campground is beautiful, and the park rangers were awesome."
  • Clean Facilities: Many campgrounds are well-maintained. A visitor at Greenbrier Campground remarked, "The bathrooms were amazing, and the site had okay Verizon cell service."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Campgrounds often have activities for kids. A family at Anchor Down RV Resort enjoyed, "There is so much to do with the water activities and on-site that you could get away without a car."

What you should know

  • Limited Privacy: Some campgrounds have sites close together. A camper at Cades Cove Campground mentioned, "Most sites are close; site privacy is tightly packed."
  • No Showers: Many campgrounds do not offer shower facilities. A visitor at Cosby Campground noted, "The bathrooms are somewhat clean, but there are no showers."
  • Wildlife Caution: Be aware of wildlife, especially bears. A camper at Frozen Head State Park Campground warned, "Watch for copperheads!!! There are lots at this park."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. A family at Greenbrier Campground enjoyed the "great little spot to go swimming and several free things for kids to do."
  • Plan for Limited Cell Service: Many areas have poor reception. A camper at Cataloochee Campground advised, "There isn’t cell service, so be sure to plan your next move before you head in for the evening."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can make family outings easier. A visitor at Cades Cove Campground reminded others, "Do not forget to remove the drip pan on the Blackstone!!!! Doing so just irritates the bears."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park noted, "Be aware that the campsites are exactly the length as indicated. Not an inch more!"
  • Look for Amenities: Choose campgrounds with good facilities. A camper at Anchor Down RV Resort praised, "Great flat, concrete pads, fireplaces, super clean bathrooms/showers."
  • Be Prepared for Crowds: Some campgrounds can get busy. A visitor at Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA Campground mentioned, "It was completely sold out. It's a very busy campground with close together spaces."

Camping near Rutledge, Tennessee, offers a variety of experiences, from serene nature to family-friendly fun. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, there's something for everyone in this beautiful area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Rutledge, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Rutledge, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 305 campgrounds and RV parks near Rutledge, TN and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Rutledge, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Rutledge, TN is Panther Creek State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 19 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Rutledge, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Rutledge, TN.

What parks are near Rutledge, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 33 parks near Rutledge, TN that allow camping, notably Cumberland Gap National Historic Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.