Best Campgrounds near Tallassee, TN

Camping opportunities in eastern Tennessee's Tallassee area include both developed facilities and dispersed options within the nearby Cherokee National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The region encompasses campgrounds like Citico Creek Area offering primitive sites along streams, while Jake Best Campground provides basic facilities with vault toilets. Established campgrounds such as Indian Boundary feature electric hookups and picnic tables. Calderwood Lake offers primitive waterfront camping accessible by boat or hiking trail. From tent sites to cabins and RV spots, the area supports varied camping styles and needs.

Road conditions vary significantly across the camping areas, with many sites accessible via unpaved forest roads that may have potholes or require higher clearance vehicles. Most developed campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically from April through October, particularly those at higher elevations in the Smokies. Dispersed camping in Cherokee National Forest typically allows up to 14-day stays. Cell service is limited or nonexistent in more remote areas such as Citico Creek. Many campsites require payment through self-registration drop boxes. A visitor noted about Jake Best Campground: "The campground is on the river, and I have never seen such crystal clear water anywhere on this side of the country."

Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, with creek-side and lakefront sites being highly sought after. Citico Creek campsites are noted for their privacy and spaciousness, though visitor reviews indicate inconsistent site cleanliness. Several campgrounds provide access to hiking trails, fishing, and swimming opportunities. Jake Best Campground users highlight the peaceful setting and trout fishing possibilities. More remote options like Calderwood Lake Primitive Campground require additional effort but reward visitors with solitude. As one camper described their experience at Calderwood: "If you are willing to bring everything with you, pack everything out, and paddle multiple miles on a nonmotorized finger lake, this is the place for you." Visitors frequently mention the area's scenic beauty and the opportunity to disconnect from technology.

Best Camping Sites Near Tallassee, Tennessee (582)

    1. Cades Cove Campground

    98 Reviews
    Townsend, TN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 448-4103

    $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."

    "We camped in the middle of a hot sticky Tennessee summer and felt just fine in all of the shade."

    2. Indian Boundary

    28 Reviews
    Tallassee, TN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 253-8400

    $20 / night

    "The lake is great for kayaking and swimming, with an easy trail around the perimeter. The gorgeous Cherohala Skyway is very close by (highly recommend!)."

    "The surrounding mountains and water were breathtaking. This camp ground is close to the water if you stay in loop A. Just a short walk the water and beach."

    3. Abrams Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    24 Reviews
    Tallassee, TN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 448-4103

    $30 / night

    "We were in site 11, nice but next to a group site so a little louder than I like. There are trails near by but I was unable to experience. Bear boxes and trash bins. Centrally located water."

    "Way if they beaten path and reservations can ONLY be made online. No cell service no internet for at least ten miles away from camp.. absolutely gorgeous location and rangers keep it clean every day."

    4. Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    123 Reviews
    Gatlinburg, TN
    28 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."

    5. Cades Cove Group Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    27 Reviews
    Townsend, TN
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 448-4103

    $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."

    6. Look Rock Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    14 Reviews
    Maryville, TN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 436-1261

    $30 - $36 / night

    "There is a state campground near the base, but it was crowded and noisy. Unfortunately I've been informed this campground is no longer in operation, so sad."

    "This place has so many gorgeous camping spits and hiking trails! In the fall there is just so many different hues of oranges reds and yellows"

    7. Jake Best Campground

    6 Reviews
    Tallassee, TN
    8 miles
    Website

    "Purchased wood and some other things from the nearby camp store at nearby Indian Boundary Campground (IBC)when I arrived."

    "Hiking trail near by and close enough to Tellico if supplies are needed. Recommend bringing firewood although we found burnable wood nearby. Also bring small bills as the fee is $6 per night."

    8. Townsend-Great Smokies KOA

    28 Reviews
    Townsend, TN
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 448-2241

    "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."

    "Right next to the entrance to the Great Smokey mountains. Townsend is a lovely town for eating and lots of walking trails. It is a short drive into pigeon forge if you want more activities to do."

    9. Citico Creek Area

    6 Reviews
    Tallassee, TN
    7 miles
    Website

    "This campground is great for being right next to great day hikes and easy access to Citico Creek, which was just across the gravel road from our site."

    "My only complaint was there were cars frequently driving by throughout the night on the dirt road. Other than that, really enjoyed this place."

    10. Lake Santeetlah Dispersed

    10 Reviews
    Croatan National Forest, NC
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 479-6431

    "Nice lakeside side with good lake views. Park next to site. Toilet facility available, site next to marina on north side. Cellphone service with Verizon ok 1or 2 bars."

    "Our site has been very well-kept and is right next to the boat launch on Lake Santeetlah, at Avey Creek."

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Recent Reviews near Tallassee, TN

2353 Reviews of 582 Tallassee 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.

  • 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.

  • Doug S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Persimmon Creek RV Park

    Beautiful Little Camp Ground

    Persimmon Creek is a beautiful and peaceful place. The owner is very friendly and helpful. It is centrally located to some great attractions.

  • 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.

  • Kc K.
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Fooshee Pass Campground

    Amazing site! See note on hook-ups

    This campground is great. The hosts/camp store workers are so nice. This site is big and has easy walk-in access to water for swimming or fishing. **Only weird thing is the hookups are on the opposite side of the site. Take a 50 ft water hose and a 30 amp extension - ours was 50 ft but I think a 30 ft would work. **

  • A
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Chilhowee

    Clean areas

    Bathrooms always clean. It’s pretty family friendly with adult supervision. Great views and scenery. Swimming lake.

  • 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 Tallassee

Camping near Tallassee, Tennessee, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, 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." This trail offers stunning views and a chance to connect with nature.
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. A visitor at Cades Cove Campground shared, "Had numerous sightings of wildlife even in the campground." You might spot deer, turkeys, or even bears!
  • Water Activities: Enjoy tubing or kayaking in nearby rivers. One camper at Townsend-Great Smokies KOA said, "The river was awesome for swimming and tubing." It’s a great way to cool off during the summer.

What campers like

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the beautiful settings. A review for Elkmont Campground noted, "The campground is beautiful, and the park rangers were awesome." The natural beauty of the area is a big draw.
  • Friendly Staff: Many visitors appreciate the helpfulness of campground staff. One camper at Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA mentioned, "The staff was awesome and it's a great facility." Friendly faces can make your stay more enjoyable.
  • Clean Facilities: Clean bathrooms and well-maintained grounds are important to campers. A visitor at Gee Creek Campground said, "The bathrooms were clean, hiking close to the campground, we really recommend." Cleanliness can enhance your camping experience.

What you should know

  • Site Privacy: Many campgrounds have sites that are close together. A camper at Cades Cove Campground noted, "Most sites are close." If you prefer more space, consider booking early or looking for specific sites.
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may lack certain amenities. A review for Abrams Creek Campground mentioned, "There is a narrow and washed-out road to get back to the campground." Be prepared for a more rustic experience.
  • Bear Awareness: Bears are common in the area. One camper at Elkmont Campground advised, "Bears are everywhere, be smart!" Always store food properly and follow safety guidelines.

Tips for camping with families

  • Playgrounds and Activities: Look for campgrounds with family-friendly amenities. A visitor at Gee Creek Campground mentioned, "The kids loved the playground." This can keep the little ones entertained.
  • Easy Access to Trails: Choose campgrounds near hiking trails. One family at Indian Boundary enjoyed, "The campground can be very crowded, but the trails are great." This way, you can easily explore nature together.
  • Plan for No Cell Service: Be ready for limited connectivity. A camper at Cades Cove Campground noted, "There is no cell service with T-Mobile." Bring books or games to keep everyone entertained.

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Dimensions: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Melton Hill Dam Campground mentioned, "The sites dimensions are not the same for every site." Always confirm before booking.
  • Be Prepared for Busy Weekends: Expect crowds during peak times. A visitor at Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA said, "It was completely sold out." If you prefer a quieter experience, consider visiting during the week.
  • Bring Extra Supplies: Some campgrounds may not have stores nearby. A camper at Deep Creek Campground advised, "There are ample places to buy tubes." Stock up on essentials before you arrive.

Camping near Tallassee, Tennessee, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or just relaxing by the campfire, there's something for every outdoor enthusiast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Tallassee, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Tallassee, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 582 campgrounds and RV parks near Tallassee, TN and 39 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Tallassee, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Tallassee, TN is Cades Cove Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 98 reviews.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 39 free dispersed camping spots near Tallassee, TN.

What parks are near Tallassee, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 parks near Tallassee, TN that allow camping, notably Croatan National Forest and Tusquitee National Forest.