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The forested hills surrounding Sale Creek, Tennessee provide access to numerous dispersed camping opportunities within an hour's drive, ranging from waterfront sites to remote creek-side campsites. Prentice Cooper State Forest offers multiple primitive camping areas, including sites near Davis Pond and the Hunter's Check Station that accommodate tent and small RV camping. The Tennessee Valley Authority manages Jackson Island Dispersed Campground near Spring City, providing waterfront sites with minimal amenities. Cherokee National Forest's Lost Creek Campground features creek-side camping with concrete picnic tables and fire rings. Most sites in the region are primitive in nature, with few offering electrical hookups or developed facilities, instead focusing on natural settings along creeks, rivers, and forested areas.
Many campgrounds require travel on unpaved forest service roads, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles to access. According to one camper at Prentice Cooper, "There is a campground not too far after pulling in the gravel road that has some really nice spots. The other campground requires you to drive down a gravel road for approximately 7 miles and then down some trails that require high clearance." Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most sites, particularly in Cherokee National Forest where visitors report "no Verizon cell reception." Bear activity is common throughout the region, necessitating proper food storage. Seasonal closures affect accessibility, with one visitor noting that "99% of areas are closed between December and March" at Prentice Cooper State Forest.
Creekside camping receives consistently positive reviews, with visitors appreciating the sound of flowing water and opportunities for wading and fishing. A visitor to Lost Creek noted, "This is a great spot in the river. Picnic tables, fire ring, pit toilet and all you hear is the river at night." Weekend crowding can be an issue at popular sites, particularly during summer months. One camper recommended "going during the week" to avoid crowds at Prentice Cooper, which features OHV trails that attract significant traffic. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with campers reporting bear, deer, and various bird sightings. Dark skies at more remote sites like Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area in nearby Georgia provide excellent stargazing, with one visitor describing it as offering "a great view of the belt of the Milky Way."
"Prentice Cooper is an amazing place and offers two campgrounds and several backcountry camping spots."
"We loved exploring Prentice Cooper State Forest! What a gem! We actually stayed in one of the camping areas, but next time we'd like to backpack instead."
"The campground is very easily accessible and has no facilities other than garbage bins."
"Felt safe overall."
"This is a great FREE spot right outside the hunters entrance of prentice cooper state forest. There are about 12 spots and it wasn’t crowded when we came on a Saturday."
"Across the main gravel road is a large spot for off-roading / side by side parking. Main gravel road to campground is smooth no ruts. Campground should accommodate 24’ class b or so."
"You take a sometimes single lane road to get there. Very windy at points. There is a parking lot to hold 4+ cars. You walk 20’ on trail to first campsite."
"We really enjoyed our night tent camping here."
"The lost cove campground can be found deep in the wilderness of the Cherokee National Forest outside of Benton, TN. The campground is operated and maintained by the USFS."
"We chose a spot next to the creek. Was clear and flowing due to a lot of rain the few days before we arrived. Sites had concrete picnic tables and a pad. We had to clean ours when we arrived."
"Remote but could see being busy during warmer seasons. We loved it."
"Lovely little spot next to a very swimmable and warm crystal clear river - very popular with locals, and I imagine would be packed on weekends."
"This is a primitive group camping area close to Lake Conasauga. GPS is 34.86064073010609,-84.63659794105651. (Photos and this review are from my last stay here on 31 Oct- 02 Nov 2021.) "
"This is a large field for dispersed camping along Conasauga Lake Road that is popular with both hikers (Emery Creek Trail and Tear Britches Trail both have trailheads here) and Overlanders (site is on"
"This is a tough trail but good for teens looking to challenge themselves in the back country. The views are amazing with rock falls. Camping is primitive as back country can be but worth the trek."
"Obviously very close to the river to filter water from. We didn't see any wildlife at this site, but we did see a copperhead at another earlier in the trip, so be aware!"
"This campsite is a backcountry site located along the Goforth Creek trail and is the closest to the parking area. It is also the largest of the sites with room for several tents."
"The walk up to the campsite is fairly treacherous. You will need to clamber up some rocks and hop over some flowing water to get to the site."
"This is a great off grid camping spot along a creek. There are about 7 spots here with most of them each able to hold multiple vehicles and set ups."
"Nice spot next to a cool little creek."
ScoutI was worried that I would arrive and find all the campsites occupied. This was not the case. When I got there around 5:30 there was only one other site taken. I didn’t see them until the next morning. By morning, there were two other sites occupied.
ScoutBeautiful view on the water. Not very full, which was nice. I came for some quiet and privacy and while it worked, there were just some that were very social. Haha
TravelerHard to find, really busy but most of them were hikers let left at nightfall.
TravelerNice place but you gotta have a land pass or a hunting or fishing license to camp here. Access is easy to get in here. AT&T signal is good so this is very doable except it’s not free. To camp here for three days cost me 20 bucks.
TravelerThis is now a bed-and-breakfast and bee farm.
ScoutPulled in the middle grassy area to get full sun on my solar panels. I actually found a perfectly level spot even with leaving my truck hooked up. I came here via Mill Creek Road to Cowpen Road, made the first 6 miles in 2WD towing my 5700 lb MDC camper. At the hairpin turn at Cowpen Road I had to engage the 4WD High and manually shifting 1st to 2nd for towing. I didn't air down and my Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tires didn't break loose in any of the gravel or rocks, but it was dry conditions, just slightly wet. Great spot and as quiet as it can get in nature. I'm leaving today and planning to try the other way out, going right it's less unpaved gravel, but either way out it should be downhill and easier than getting here.
GuideHopefully they open it up soon but we drove about an hour to get here just for it to be closed. The whole road seems to be closed for the time being for road work. I hope this helps someone!.
The 5-8 miles up to this area do seem a little sketchy but we were hoping the actually site would be nice and hopefully it will be after the work they are doing right now.
TravelerNice spot next to a cool little creek. There was a good bit of trash in several of the fire rings, and found human waste and toilet paper about 5 feet from the waterline between a camp and the water, that was pretty disappointing. Leave no trace!! This includes hiking away from camp to bury your business. We still really enjoyed our stay. The road in was a little rougher than onX off-road let on, but had no issues getting in with my 4x4. Lots of wildlife, we even saw a bear a few minutes from camp.
GuideThe road to get to the sites is long, bumpy, and very curvy (so you’ve got to go slow). The sites themselves were full of trash, graffiti, and a homeless camp. We elected to not stay.
Dispersed camping sites surround Sale Creek, Tennessee throughout the mountainous terrain of eastern Tennessee and western Georgia. The area sits at the transition between the Ridge and Valley region and the Cumberland Plateau, offering camping opportunities between 700-4,000 feet elevation. Most free sites become accessible April through November, with seasonal closures affecting winter availability.
Swimming and fishing access: Lost Creek Campground offers clear creek access with shallow areas for wading and deeper sections for fishing. "My go-to spot gets picked up during the fall a lot but best dispersed site I've found in a while," notes a visitor to Conasauga River Camp.
Hiking opportunities: Several trails connect directly to dispersed camping areas. The Benton McKaye trail runs beside Jack's River Falls camping area, while Prentice Cooper offers extensive hiking networks. "We ran a bunch of the trails - enjoyed the views - wonderful spot," according to a Prentice Cooper visitor.
Stargazing: Remote sites provide exceptional night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. A camper at Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area reports it's "remote, little light pollution, and deep in the mountains... Go here on a new moon night in the summer and you're sure to have a great night of uninterrupted beauty!"
Creek sounds: Many campers specifically mention enjoying falling asleep to water sounds. The Goforth Creek Campground provides "really easy access to water for purifying or swimming" and "the hike up the creek is really beautiful and a much less traveled trail than others in the area."
Wildlife viewing: The forests around Sale Creek host diverse wildlife populations. At Ball Field, visitors are advised: "There are bears in the area and they love food. (A fed bear is a dead bear-please don't leave any food out and scare them away.)"
Secluded camping areas: Despite being within driving distance of larger cities, many sites provide isolation. The Davis Pond area at Prentice Cooper feels like "having your own small park in the middle of the mountains on a small bass pond," according to one reviewer.
Free camping options: Several no-cost sites are available near Sale Creek. "This campground is incredibly clean + quiet—and completely free," notes a visitor to Lost Creek Campground, adding it's "in the middle of nowhere (7 miles down a gravel forest road), surrounded by forest, with easy creek access."
Seasonal closures: Many areas close during winter months. "This is a beautiful WMA area with tons of offshoots along a service road for camping, but please note, 99% of areas are closed between December and March," reports a Prentice Cooper State Forest camper.
Road conditions: Access to most dispersed sites requires travel on unpaved roads. At Ball Field Dispersed Camping, "the rough gravel forest service roads are best traveled by a higher clearance vehicle. 2x2 usually works ok though. (It takes patience and a while to get here.)"
Cell service limitations: Nearly all dispersed sites have minimal to no connectivity. Lost Creek reports "no Verizon cell reception" while Ball Field Dispersed Camping typically has "intermittent and usually only one bar (or no cell)."
Crowding patterns: Weekends bring significantly more visitors, particularly during summer. At Jackson Island Dispersed Campground, "We went this past summer and had a nice visit. There wasn't too many people but a few weeks later we drove thru and people were packed in like sardines."
Best family-friendly spots: Some sites offer better amenities for children. The Tennessee Wall Camp provides "great sites with fire pits" and one visitor notes: "We really enjoyed our night tent camping here. There is a parking lot right off the road after a fun ~30 minute drive through residential roads right on the water."
Safety considerations: Bears are active throughout the region. At Jackson Island Dispersed Campground, staff regularly patrol through the camping area. "However police did patrol thru the area at night when we were there," reports one visitor.
Swimming holes: Several creek and riverside campsites feature natural swimming areas. At Conasauga River Camp, one visitor describes it as a "lovely little spot next to a very swimmable and warm crystal clear river - very popular with locals."
Site limitations: Most dispersed sites accommodate smaller RVs only. Lost Creek Campground "can accommodate tents and small RVs, complete with concrete picnic tables and a fire ring."
Level parking issues: Limited graded areas can make RV setup challenging. At Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area, "The field is fairly sloped, so you want to have some shoring if you are in a trailer, roof top tent, or van."
Access constraints: Some roads have specific challenges for larger vehicles. "Gravel road, lots of rocks included, and dust but if you're not worried about your car do it!" notes one visitor to Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Sale Creek, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Sale Creek, TN is Prentice Cooper State Forest Dispersed with a 4.1-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Sale Creek, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 dispersed camping locations near Sale Creek, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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