14 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Rutledge, Tennessee provides access to campgrounds along Cherokee Lake and within the surrounding rural landscape, ranging from lakefront RV sites with full hookups to more secluded spots in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Camping near Rutledge spans tent sites and full-hookup RV campgrounds, with several options offering direct Cherokee Lake access for fishing and boating. Greenlee May Springs Campground, located directly in Rutledge, offers waterfront sites with RV hookups and basic amenities. Nearby Panther Creek State Park Campground in Morristown features full-hookup sites for both tent and RV camping along with extensive recreation opportunities. The region's camping areas range from lakefront locations with boat access to more secluded spots in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Most developed campgrounds in the area operate year-round, though some seasonal facilities close between late fall and early spring.
The camping experience in this region centers around Cherokee Lake, with several campgrounds offering direct water access and lakefront views. Many sites require reservations, particularly during summer months when water recreation peaks in popularity. "The lake views are amazing, however the grass on our site had not been cut," noted one camper about Greenlee May Springs, highlighting the variable maintenance across facilities. Road access to most campgrounds is well-maintained with paved routes suitable for RVs and trailers, though some areas experience occasional flooding during heavy rain periods. Temperature fluctuations can be significant, with hot, humid summers and occasionally freezing winters, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons.
Campers consistently mention fishing opportunities and water access as major highlights of the Rutledge area. Panther Creek State Park receives praise for its extensive trail system and clean facilities, with one visitor noting, "Panther Creek has great hiking trails, pool, playground fire pits and so much more!" Several reviewers highlight the family-friendly nature of these campgrounds, with playgrounds and recreational facilities available at many locations. Cherokee Dam Campground stands out for its well-maintained waterfront sites and responsive camp hosts. While campgrounds closer to the lake tend to be more developed with full hookups and amenities, they also experience higher occupancy rates, especially during summer weekends and holidays. The quieter, more secluded camping areas typically offer fewer amenities but provide better opportunities for wildlife viewing and peaceful outdoor experiences.
"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."
"Nuzzled into the East Tennessee hills. Very pretty. Nice State Park. Would stay here again."
Available next weekend
"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. "
from $49 - $139 / night
"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."
"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."
Available next weekend
from $18 - $39 / night
"I was right next to the bathroom so there was no odor and hardly any foot traffic going back and forth. The views of the lake at night were pretty."
"Had a site back in by their cabins that was just off the lake which was great for fishing and the kids to explore!"
"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."
Available next weekend
"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."
from $30 / night
"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."
"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."
Available next weekend
from $30 / 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."
from $33 - $38 / night
LegendBeautiful campground with all the amenities. If you like rustic in the woods this is not your place, but they advertise what they are. Top dollar for top service and gorgeous sites. All the frills if that’s what you want. We love both. Lots of grass for dogs and good dog parks if that’s important.
TravelerNext door to trolley depot, and Old Mill heritage. Walking path along river. Walking distance to shops. Nice camping spots, clean showers and bathrooms. Lots of kids amenities, pool open most of the time.
GuideWell it was my first time and I went with this guy Brandon and his family. We had the lake in front of us, cooked out, had our music, restrooms, and showers. I loved the experience we should have brought us an air conditioning battery operated air conditioning unit or a fan. So I loved the beauty and the ones I was surrounded by. We even went out on the lake in a boat. We had a lot to keep us occupied, and happy for our 4 day stay! Wonderful sunrises and sunsets to make your days and nights perfect!
TravelerVisited in October of 2025 to go to Dollywood. Close to everything yet feels private. VERY well maintained and super friendly hosts. Nighttime activities like bingo, games for kids, large tv area, loved the creek. Would stay there again.
TravelerSuper clean park, friendly hosts that had planned activities for evenings, close to most everything but yet felt out of the hub. would stay again
TravelerShowers give you maybe 20 seconds of warm ish water. The. Pretty much tap temps. Amazingly it’s still completely fogs up the bathhouse mirrors due to the inadequate exhaust. That may. Be due to the temp, exhaust, and venting strings are easily manipulated by one of the million children in the “Resort”. It’s not a resort in any way. It’s a campground that has really nice pads. Marginal hookups. Lots and lots and lots of bears. Big BIG bears. I’m a bear hunter. There isn’t one I’ve seen that isn’t a legit Pope and Young. The toilets are clean. The floor and showers are gross. The lazy river is cold. Hot tube warm. If you are a camper spending $250 a night and a resort fee per person, you still don’t get given a towel to use the pool. Front desk actually said the towels were NOT for campers but for “ hotel resort” guest. So why am I paying the fee? We stayed here because it was a Margaretaville property. There are many other nicer and cheaper options in town. It’s expensive. The bar car does not exist. There is wood delivery. But it’s a bundle of twigs for $10. It is dry. The food is Sysco crap and the inside bars are just part of the kids arcade or cafeteria. Live music was super strange. The guy literally was standing in the doorway to the cafeteria bar. Don’t waste your money here. If you do anyway, plan on bears digging thru your stuff every night. Kids? Dogs? And Bears……not good.
LegendWe took US-321 into the back side of Gatlinburg to avoid the downtown craziness. RV Life GPS guided us directly to Twin Creek RV Resort, while Waze suggested a few shortcuts that we wisely passed on. The campground (CG) entrance was a little tight and downhill, but we had no trouble getting to the office for check-in. One of the very friendly and helpful staff members escorted us to back-in site 14, where backing in was easy. We wanted to lower our toy hauler patio to enjoy the creek running behind the sites, and the staff kindly allowed us to park our F-450 in site 38 across the road to give us more room. Our site had a nice patio area with a long bench, picnic table, and nearby fire pit. CG Wi-Fi was so-so at 6.17 Mbps download. Verizon had 2 bars and T-Mobile had 3 bars, while our T-Mobile Home Internet delivered a respectable 106 Mbps download. There was considerable road noise from US-321, especially during daylight hours, although evenings were noticeably quieter. The fenced dog park was small, but there was plenty of room around the CG to walk our pup. Overall, we enjoyed our creekside site, the helpful staff, and the convenient location away from the busiest part of Gatlinburg.
TravelerBeautiful spot in the smoky mountains. State park style amenities, no showers. No hookups. Very busy very open campground. Nice that some trails are walking distance from campground. I would not camp here again as I prefer more separation and privacy. No cell service. STARLINK is usable but obstructed with tree canopy
GuideDrove 5 hrs from our last campground to here for event Campground was very well maintained and liked the site. Wasn’t overly crazy about the event not a lot of vendors mainly jeeps went to a few local shops in town had a great lunch at the cookie dough monster.
Cherokee Lake is a primary recreational hub for camping sites near Rutledge, Tennessee, with elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,400 feet across the surrounding terrain. The region experiences significant temperature variations with summer highs regularly exceeding 90°F and winter temperatures occasionally dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds in the area remain operational from March through November, though seasonal availability varies by location.
Hiking at Panther Creek: Extensive trail networks surround many campgrounds, with Panther Creek State Park offering 60+ miles of trails for various skill levels. "Very nice bathrooms. The sites aren't the most private we've ever stayed at, but the mountain biking was so much fun we didn't care! Hiking and biking was an A+," notes one visitor to Panther Creek State Park Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Cherokee Lake provides ample fishing access with multiple shoreline spots accessible from campgrounds. One camper at Cherokee Dam Campground explains, "The campground had just reopened from being shutdown due to Covid, so the place was extremely clean. The camp hosts were so awesome... There is a playground and a swimming area, lots of picnic spots, kayak rentals, etc."
Historical exploration: Some campgrounds offer unique historical features worth exploring. The campground at Elkmont Campground provides access to interesting historical sites. As one camper noted, "This camp site is great for hikers! We visited this site while participating in the Dirty Bird Dirt Circuit! We camped while running the race through the trails of the park."
Private wooded sites: Many visitors appreciate secluded camping spots with natural surroundings. At Rocky Meadows Farm, one camper shared: "For those who want peace and quiet, it doesn't get much better than this! It's secluded but clean, and lots of fireflies and a great view! My girls loved exploring and catching fireflies."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses are frequently mentioned as a positive feature. A visitor to Big Ridge State Park Campground remarked, "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."
Waterfront access: Direct access to water is highly valued by many campers. "Cherokee Dam campground is literally one of the most beautiful campgrounds in the area! The grounds are so well-kept, and the lake is just breathtaking," explains a visitor to Cherokee Dam Campground, adding "There's a swimming area, boat launch, and walking trails."
Maintenance varies by season: The condition of campsites can fluctuate throughout the year. A visitor to Greenlee May Springs Campground noted, "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."
Wildlife considerations: The area has active wildlife, including bears in some locations. As one camper at Big Ridge State Park Campground mentions, "This is a great place to camp. Clean and friendly, quiet and relaxing. There is truly something for everyone here."
Reservation requirements: Most popular sites require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. "It is so hard to get a reservation here, so we decided to take what we could get so we could try it out! Staff is very nice, park is clean and I'm sure in the summer it is bustling," reports a visitor to Anchor Down RV Resort.
Look for multi-activity campgrounds: Sites with various recreational options keep children engaged. At Panther Creek State Park, a camper shared: "Panther Creek State Park has a great campground for families to spend time at. For a lesser known state park, they have a lot of amenities. Playgrounds, hiking, horseback trails, mountain bike trails, tennis courts, disc golf, baseball field, volleyball, lake access, swimming pool."
Consider proximity to bathrooms: Families often prefer sites near facilities. "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," notes a visitor to Panther Creek State Park.
Check for seasonal activities: Some family-friendly features operate on limited schedules. As one camper at Big Ridge State Park observed, "Lots of hiking trails, easy access to Cherokee lake. Playground is good for kids. Pool closes before Labor day."
Site leveling considerations: Many RV sites in the region require leveling equipment. At Dumplin Valley Farm RV Park, a visitor noted: "Sites were part gravel and easy to pull through. We were in a pull through with full hook ups. The area is so nice and if you were looking for things to do, it's close to Pigeon Forge and not terribly far from Gatlinburg."
Campground access challenges: Some roads leading to campgrounds have limitations. "There is a railroad tunnel on the route our GPS took us, so if you are pulling a camper, you will be able to take a side road and go around the tunnel," explained a camper at Cherokee Dam Campground.
Hook-up availability: Electric, water, and sewer connections vary significantly between campgrounds. A visitor to Anchor Down RV Resort shared, "Beautiful views from all campsites, level concrete pads for easy set up. Each site has plenty of room on both sides. The staff is friendly."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Rutledge, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Rutledge, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 327 campgrounds and RV parks near Rutledge, TN and 6 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 4.6-star rating from 22 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Rutledge, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 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.
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