Anthony Creek Horse Camp provides designated equestrian camping approximately 30 miles from Knoxville within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The camp operates seasonally from April 1 to November 13 and includes picnic tables at each site. Horse owners must bring their own water for animals as no drinking water is available on-site. The campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with drive-in access. Daily trail rides connect campers to extensive bridle path networks throughout the Smokies. Reservations are required for all equestrian campsites, and sites fill quickly during peak season.
Located near Townsend, Anthony Creek serves as a convenient base for accessing backcountry horseback riding trails. The campground features hitching posts rather than corrals, so campers should bring high-lines or portable containment systems for overnight horse management. The proximity to Cades Cove provides riders with access to scenic loop routes and connecting trails. Riders must clean up after their horses and follow park regulations regarding designated equestrian trails. The quiet atmosphere and separation from the more crowded areas of the park appeal to equestrians seeking peaceful camping experiences. Proper preparation is essential as no showers, electric hookups, or horse-specific amenities like wash racks are provided at this primitive campground.
$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."
"This campground is off the beaten path but found by LOTS so have a reservation. There is an 11 mile loop with historic structures and lots of wildlife. Watch for BEARS!"
"Amazingly clean campgrounds 10 minutes from the entrance of the National Park and 20 minutes from the Visitor's Center."
"The Lizard Lounge has a separate WiFi but you have to be inside or just outside to use it. Amazing river views and very close to the entrance of the National park."
$50 - $94 / night
"There is a camp store with firewood (you are required to buy it from an authorized location!). Nice roomy campsites, but not as much plant cover as at Elkmont in my experience."
"I wanted to see if there was a difference in the camping experience at the two locations."
"The campground is in close proximity to many of the trailheads. There is a nice bathhouse, but all the sites are rustic (non electric)."
"It may be the loveliest campground in Tennessee. There’s only 20 spots, and they all seem to be shady and have trees between neighbors."
"Tucked away in quiet town of Townsend TN on Hwy 73, the campground has tent sites and RV hookups. There are toilets and a shower for each restroom."
"It was definitely packed but everyone stayed pretty quiet even when kids were playing around the sites. Super clean sites and bath houses. Water on EACH site was the bomb!"
"Easy to get from Knoxville without going into the craziest part of traffic in Sevierville. There are many RV sites and cabins along the bend of the Little Pidgeon River. "
"Convenient to highway 66 that runs from Interstate 40 to Sevierville. Not particularly charming, but seems to be clean and well run. Worked well for a one night stay."
$30 / night
"Building a fire was next to impossible. I think there might have been thirty minutes without rain, so pictures are limited."
"About 1 hour away from Gatlinburg, but this side is less crowded. The sites are plenty big, a little tight to back into, but not a big deal."
$26 - $42 / night
"This great park for hiking is less than an hour from Knoxville. It’s always nice to escape the city and this was an ideal place to go. The hiking trails ranged from difficult to short and easy."
"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."
$20 - $60 / night
"This specific spot was huge and next to a wooded area and nature walk and, in my opinion, the best site in the whole campground! The bathhouse was small, but functional and clean."
"Sites were very clean and spacious and all have spectacular views of the lake."
"I chose this campsite as the location of my first backcountry overnight experience, and I was not disappointed. Loved every minute of it. Short hike from your vehicle on Laurel Gap Rd."
"Camp site is about .5 miles downhill from the Bote Mountain and West Prong Trail Head. There are 2 sites that can be used and they are separated from one another."
GuideEasy to get from Knoxville without going into the craziest part of traffic in Sevierville. There are many RV sites and cabins along the bend of the Little Pidgeon River. Fire rings all along the river with everyone out at night sitting along the river. Had all the amenities you would want in a full service RV Park.
LegendThis great park for hiking is less than an hour from Knoxville. It’s always nice to escape the city and this was an ideal place to go. 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. They even allowed mountain biking on a good amount of trails- bringing a bike next time! This park doesn’t have a huge campground (which is a positive in my book). A drawback is the lack of seclusion,-there really is none. The sites are essentially all in a flat grassy area with some trees around the outside, but they don’t help with privacy much. I would probably make this park a day trip destination or just stay a night because it is not a campground I would enjoy just hanging out around.
LegendPanther 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. I ended up sharing a site with a friend who lives even closer, lol This is a small State Park but it offers a lot to do recreation wise. The weekend we stayed there was a youth mountain bike event and cross country running going on. There’s also horseback trails. My only complaint about the trails is they are not marked well. A Boy Scout troop needs to do some merit badge work and improve them . The campground is small, a little tight in the sides and limited on full service sites. It’s a gradual uphill drive through the camp , you curve to the left and then back down the hill. The sites in the upper curve are bigger then the ones on the hill. There are several that offer tent pads and small vehicle pads. Check your lengths and bring your leveling boards. The two showerhouses are next to pavilions. All well maintained. The upper pavilion has a very cool fire pit area. And can accommodate a small gathering. There is a trailhead in the campground and several other trailheads in easy walking, pedaling distance , plus an awesome overlook and more strenuous hike up the road. The boat ramp is in an adjacent area and the lake is beautiful.
LegendDespite having rained for a week, staying at this campground wasn’t half bad. Building a fire was next to impossible. I think there might have been thirty minutes without rain, so pictures are limited. Being in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you need to be prepared for rain since it is a temperate rain forest. I had brought Boy Scouts to this campground years ago and wanted to go back. This time, we did not stay in the group camping area. Since it was at the beginning of the week, it wasn’t too crowded, although there were two Boy Scout groups in the group camping area. There are several camping areas, and the one we were in allowed generators during the day. I think I heard one, but it was not so bad. Unfortunately, there are gravel tent pads, which is bad news for campers with tents you have to stake down. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. As a tent camper, I hate gravel tent pads. Being in the national park, the amenities are about the same as the other national park campgrounds. However, I was surprised that the bath house had an electrical outlet to be used for blow dryers and shavers. I don’t remember any other Great Smoky Mountains National Park campgrounds having that luxury. But like the other ones in this national park, the bath house does not have showers or campsite hookups for water, sewer, and electricity. There are several trails in the area, but the ones that originate from the campground is the¾ mile nature trail and the Bradley Fork Smokemont Loop. When my son and I hiked this trail, we had to watch out for and step around horse poop. Since this trail is also used by horses, there was lots of it. Fortunately, the nature trail didn’t allow horses. My granddaughter loved walking over the log bridges and skipping rocks at the campground while it wasn’t raining. I think that was her favorite part. As with most of my camping trips, I want to explore, and there is plenty to explore around this campground. Being in the national park, there is a wide variety.
Fewer than three miles down the road, there is an old mill (Mingus Mill), the Oconaluftee Visitors Center (which has the Mountain Farm Museum), elk, wild turkeys, etc. Within the boundary of the campground I discovered something at the campground that I never knew existed. There was an old church at the campground that was built before Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established. We were able to go into the church for me to take a few pictures. It was first constructed in 1836 and rebuilt in 1912. Not too far from the campground is the Appalachian Trail, the Benton MacKaye Trail, and the Kephart Prong Trail. This campground is also one of the largest campgrounds in the national park that I have been to. Although it is not an equestrian campground, Tow String camping area is“next door,” and it is an equestrian campground. The horseback riders pass beside the campground on route to the Bradley Fork Trail. Overall, this was one of my better experiences with national park campgrounds except for the rain.
GuideSmokemont is a great campground in the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains. It is a perfect base camp to enjoy this amazing national park. About 1 hour away from Gatlinburg, but this side is less crowded. The sites are plenty big, a little tight to back into, but not a big deal. There is no cell service but this is also a great opportunity to disconnect. Right next to the campground there are horse stables, really recommend an early morning horseback ride around the trails Mountains of the campground. Definitely looking forward to visiting again!
GuideAmazingly clean campgrounds 10 minutes from the entrance of the National Park and 20 minutes from the Visitor's Center.
You have a choice of "rustic" tent sites, tent sites with water/electric/cable hook-ups, RV, or Cabins. All sites are pet-friendly including cabins. All camp sites include fire pit and picnic table.
Lots of amenities are included in your stay. 2 bathroom areas, 1 shower area, pool, wi-fi, etc.
There's a general store in front of the campgrounds with gas station and small cafe attached. The general store will even deliver your purchased firewood to your site.
This Koa is near a lot recreational places and some restaurants. Also near towns like Gatlinburg, Pidgeon Forge and Knoxville.
A nice vacation spot.
GuideMy son and I went to this camp ground over memorial day. It's a very big campground with a horse stables area separate from the camping area. The horse stable offers horse rides starting at $40 bucks for an hour through the forest. I asked if experience was needed and the worker said, no experience necessary. I thought it sounded great, but my traveling partner did not (9 year old son). haha
The campground is big, with a lot of sites, but they seem closer together than some campgrounds, some are further out than others, our site was really close to our neigbhors and the creek was just across the road so we really drowned the majority of there noise. I feel like the NPS campground are typcially close together so this was what I expected.
No running water at campsite, but plenty of water spouts around.
No showers in bathrooms.
Most of the sites are really shaded, but some do have full sun. There was one near us that had no trees and I am thinking they wished they had some. It seemed "dark" early as you are in a valley, which was a unique experience for my son.
temperatures were cool in the evenings, so we didn't need any A/C which was nice sicne there is no power hook ups. We didn't notice many generators running during the day. I did imagine the people will only running to top off the batteries, but who knows.
We woke up and went to clingmans dome one morning and it really cold and really windy. If you plan for sunrise, pack a warm jacket. I wore a fleece vest and fleece jacket and was cold till we walked to the observation tower. It's a short paved walk, but it is straight uphill, so be aware of it. the experience is one that should be had if you are in the area. When we arrived around 530 am the parking lot was about 1/3 full. but I've heard stories that this parking lot is always very full, which is why we went sunrise instead of sunset.
There was a lot of people fishing the nearby bradley fork and lots of reports of trout caught. I did fish one pool for about 30 minutes, and did not have any fish to hand, but I saw quite a few fish in the pool over the weekend. the water temperture was 54 degress, but my son and some other boys swam in the creek everyday. It was not hot, but kids have a different threshold for cold I guess, and the excitement of the moving water in teh creek is hard to resist. I got in to my knees. I would like to return without my son and do some adequate walking away from the campground upstream to get into some less pressured water. It's on my list.
We went to cherokee but not the casino area. It was the section right outside the park. Which is a mixure of old stuff, new stuff, and things that are closed or being revamped, or who knows. We ate lunch one day at a pizza resturant right there called wize guys and it was good pizza.
My 9 year old son rated this campground as 10 out of 10.
ScoutThis campground is so convenient to Cades Cove. 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. Make sure to take the necessary steps to store your food. Great spot to go explore the beauty and history of East Tennessee!
GuideThis campground is off the beaten path but found by LOTS so have a reservation. There is an 11 mile loop with historic structures and lots of wildlife. Watch for BEARS! Bears and deer may be just across the road from your campsite. There are bikes and firewood available as well as a small campstore (with ice cream). Lots of trails, a waterfall, rivers and creeks to fish and wade. Horses and wagons to ride. Activities for campers young and old. Night walks and ranger talks. The most beatiful views this side of heaven. Take special note of the view walking back from the John Oliver cabin (the first one).
Anthony Creek Horse Camp operates seasonally from April 1 to November 13, approximately 30 miles from Knoxville within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The camp serves as an access point to extensive bridle trails throughout the Smokies. Located near Townsend, this primitive equestrian campground requires riders to bring their own water for horses and use portable containment systems as it offers hitching posts rather than corrals.
Trail riding from camp: Multiple connected trails allow for rides of various lengths and difficulty levels starting directly from Anthony Creek Horse Camp. Riders report "easy access to the trails right from camp" and consider it a "beautiful area" worth returning to.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The Cades Cove area offers exceptional wildlife spotting potential, especially for black bears. Visitors to Cades Cove Campground note "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."
Cycling the scenic loops: Several campgrounds provide access to cycling routes on closed vehicle roads. At Cades Cove, campers report "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."
Natural water features: Many horse campgrounds near Knoxville, Tennessee feature creeks or river access that enhance the camping experience. At Cherokee Great Smokies KOA, campers value waterside sites: "We enjoyed a River side site during the off season and during the week. Was very quiet and enjoyed the River."
Scenic mountain surroundings: The landscape around these equestrian-friendly sites creates a memorable backdrop. Campers at Townsend Great Smokies KOA appreciate that it's "Spacious and on the river. Close to the biking trails and Cades cove. Spots are clean, fire pits are great, well maintained pavers patio and nicely landscaped."
Historical sites: Many trails from equestrian campgrounds connect to preserved historical structures. Visitors recommend exploring these areas: "Go on the car tour loop and make sure to stop and look at the cabins and church. History at its finest."
Reservation requirements: Popular equestrian camping areas fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. For Cades Cove Group Campground, campers advise: "Make your reservations far in advance this is a destination!"
Limited amenities: Most horse campgrounds near Knoxville provide basic facilities only. Campers should prepare accordingly: "Proper preparation is essential as no showers, electric hookups, or horse-specific amenities like wash racks are provided at this primitive campground."
Weather considerations: The mountain climate can change rapidly. A visitor to Cades Cove noted: "November is when the leaves are changing. Temps cool at night, moderately nice during the day...got snow at Clingman's Dome however during the day!"
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated recreation for children. At Panther Creek State Park Campground, families appreciate the diverse options: "Great place for families because of the surrounding wooded activities. Hiking and biking was an A+."
Safety with wildlife: When camping with children in areas with bear activity, follow proper food storage protocols. A camper notes: "Make sure to lock your food up in your car or bear proof boxes because there are plenty of bears around."
Campground noise levels: Consider the social atmosphere when selecting a site for family camping. One camper observed: "If you want nature and solitude, go somewhere else. If you want nature, love community, and want someone for your kids to play with, this is perfect."
Leveling requirements: Many equestrian campgrounds have uneven terrain. At Toqua Beach Campground, RVers note: "They have gravel lots that are somewhat level. We stayed at site 104."
Hookup availability: Check campground amenities before arrival as many horse camps have limited services. Some RV sites in the area offer full hookups: "The sites aren't very large so check the internet under TN State Parks for available sites."
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts access and comfort for RVers. A camper shared: "We camped here in November and didn't have a problem getting a site, but the place did fill up!"
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Knoxville, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Knoxville, TN is Cades Cove Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 98 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Knoxville, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 equestrian camping locations near Knoxville, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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