Camping spots near Sale Creek, Tennessee center around Chickamauga Lake's 810 miles of shoreline and the Tennessee River system. This area sits in the Ridge and Valley region of East Tennessee with elevations ranging from 680 to 1,100 feet. Water-based recreation dominates the camping scene here, with seasonal fluctuations in water levels affecting shoreline access at certain campgrounds during TVA drawdowns between late fall and early spring.
What to do
Hike to waterfalls: Laurel Snow Wilderness Area provides backcountry tent camping opportunities with hiking trails leading to scenic waterfalls. "There are a couple of scattered campsites within this wilderness. One being very close to a waterfall," notes a camper from Laurel Snow — Cumberland Trail. The trails require careful navigation as another visitor mentions, "The trails can also be hard to follow at a couple of points, I'd recommend bringing an offline map of the trail."
Fishing from shore or boat: Many campgrounds provide direct fishing access to Chickamauga Lake, known for bass, crappie and bluegill. At Bluewater Resort & RV Campground, a reviewer highlights, "The fishing is fantastic, Bass, Crappie, Bluegill and Rockfish are abundant." The campground includes a stocked fishing pond specifically for children.
Swimming in natural areas: Multiple swimming options exist beyond standard pools. "We also did some hiking in the morning which was a blast. We brought floaties and just hung out in the water during the afternoon to escape the hot weather," reports a visitor to Skull Island, which offers water access directly from campsites.
What campers like
Island camping experience: Skull Island provides a unique camping setting surrounded by water. "This is my second time camping at Skull Island and it has been wonderful. Nothing like waking up to see the beautiful water all around you," writes one camper who appreciates the distinctive location and water views.
Clean, modern bathhouses: Harrison Bay State Park Campground receives consistent praise for its facilities. "Spacious sites in D. AC bath houses!" notes one reviewer. Another camper adds, "Loop D is the tent-only loop; this loop is very shaded, and the sites are fairly large and can accommodate most size tents."
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds feature regular wildlife sightings. "Kids loved camping here deer will come up to your camp just keep an eye on your food coolers raccoons will get the," warns one Harrison Bay camper about the active wildlife presence around the campground.
What you should know
Weather considerations: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity from June through August. Spring and fall offer milder temperatures but more variable conditions, while winter camping requires preparation for occasional freezing temperatures and potential icy conditions.
Reservation systems vary: Most TVA and state park campgrounds require advance booking, especially for weekend stays. Chester Frost Park uses a first-come system for site selection after initial check-in. "You can not make reservations for the camping sites, it's 1st come. I do like this because some campgrounds are hard to get in because some campers are able to reservation all the prime dates before others."
Site privacy differs dramatically: Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground offers contrasting experiences between camping loops. "The East Rim campground is the thing of nightmares - sites on top of each other, no vegetation, no trees, right next to road, zero privacy... The West Rim camping loop has a total of 48 tent/RV sites... This loop is far more wooded and offers a greater variety of site size and privacy."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water activities: Chester Frost Park features specially designed swimming areas. "This place is definitely somewhere you wanna bring your kids they would love it! There is a man made beach with a playground and loads of camping lots next to the river!" notes a family camper.
Playgrounds and organized activities: Several campgrounds maintain dedicated recreation facilities. Harrison Bay offers "four camping loops (3 for RVs, 1 for tents), and a large marina, located on the Chickamauga Reservoir of the Tennessee River. In addition to camping, the park offers fishing, boating, hiking, a playground, a restaurant, swimming pool, interpretive center, nature viewing platform, and several picnic pavilions."
Wildlife education: Wildlife encounters provide learning opportunities. At Harrison Bay, one camper notes, "The Raccoons are relentless don't leave any food out and be sure you have good strong storage containers. they are fun to watch though." Many campgrounds offer guided ranger programs during summer months.
Tips from RVers
Concrete pad availability: Campgrounds with level concrete pads make setup easier. Bluewater Resort gets positive reviews for these features with one camper noting, "The pads are nice concrete and attention is paid to the landscaping."
Marina access: For RVers bringing boats, direct launch access matters. "We live on the lake at home and don't take a boat camping, but if we did this would be a great location for the fisherman or boater. Nice marina, great ramp and pull around for vehicles pulling boats," explains a Bluewater Resort visitor.
Noise considerations: Public boat ramps can create traffic through certain campgrounds. "The public boat ramp makes for a noisy time. Trucks and boats at all hours screaming through the park make it pretty miserable," notes a Bluewater Resort camper. Similar situations exist at other lakefront campgrounds, particularly on summer weekends.
