11 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several rustic cabin rentals are available near Tellico Plains, Tennessee, ranging from primitive no-utility structures to cabins with full kitchen access and private bathrooms. Smitty's Lodge Motorcycle Campground offers cabins with access to shared facilities including refrigerators, microwaves, and coffee makers. Silvertop Cabins provides more private accommodations with basic bathroom facilities. Donley Cabin offers a more primitive experience with toilet facilities but no electricity or running water. Olde English Farm features furnished cabins with outdoor fire pits and picnic tables. According to a visitor at Smitty's Lodge, "Clean restrooms and showers, use of refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, and super nice hosts" make for a comfortable stay even when choosing basic accommodations.
Cabin sizes range from small one-room structures to larger family units with multiple sleeping areas. KOA cabins in the region typically include air conditioning, a double bed, and bunk beds as noted by one camper: "The cabins are small but do the job. They have three beds. One double and a set of bunk beds. They have AC as well." Most locations are pet-friendly, though Donley Cabin prohibits pets. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer months when the Great Smoky Mountains National Park sees peak visitation. Many cabins remain open year-round, while others operate seasonally from spring through fall.
Most cabin rentals provide beds with mattresses but require guests to bring their own linens, towels, and pillows. Kitchen facilities vary significantly between properties, from fully equipped kitchens to simple outdoor fire rings with grills. Campers should pack food, cooking supplies, and personal items appropriate for their specific cabin's amenities. On-site camp stores at locations like Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground offer firewood and basic supplies, while more extensive groceries can be found in Tellico Plains. Cell service is limited in many areas, particularly at more remote cabin locations, allowing for a true disconnected experience in the mountains.
"Our family used a mix of a cabin and a tent, which worked out perfectly—it gave us a great option to get some AC while still letting the kids get the real tent-camping experience."
"There are cabins, a couple RV sites, and the rest of the grounds are available to pitch a tent wherever you want to. Bathrooms are clean. Firewood is free."
"I found this awesome campground close to the beginning of the Cherohala skyway in Tellico Plains."
"Will definitely stay here again when passing through Tellico Plains."
from $20 / night
"We were impressed with the paved parking space, picnic table, fire pit and level tent pad. It looks like these are very new. Proximity to cades cove loop was great."
"Picnic table, fire ring and grill, sand tent area, level driveway- all make for a good choice for any type of equipment. No cell service for Verizon and none for many miles on the drive to the site."
Available this weekend
from $30 / night
"They all come equipped with a coffee maker and retro fridge. In fact the whole cabin is done in a retro theme. Brass rotary telephones adorn homemade wooden furniture. This place is it!"
"Family friendly Glamping campsites with solar shower, queen bed, memory foam mattress, night stands, all the essential cookware, campfire and grill, bathroom facilities, extra 4 person tent."
from $89 - $120 / night
"There are two sites that are very long with amazing decks. The park offers full hook up RV Sites, Cabins, Tent sites."
"Ask about the deck, fire pit camp sites, as they have a small table with chairs and glider swing. We will stop there again."
"Our site was good size and bathroom facilities were nice and clean with running water and flush toilets. I wish the national parks would have shower facilities at more of their campgrounds."
"I was in site A14, beside a branch of the Little River with a large tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, and paved, slightly sloped, parking pad."
Available this weekend
from $30 / night
"This is a very clean, gated campground located right on the lake with available boat slips to rent during your stay. This is a very open campground with very few trees."
"But with that being said the lake is beautiful. We didn't see the beach till the last day we were there unfortunately. But it look like an awesome area. There is a Beach area with volleyball."
from $49 - $69 / night
"Nobody wanted to go because no electronics, no electricity, no running water. We had to drag the kids, the 1st time."
from $35 / night
"Our first time here at the Hiwassee Outfitter camping area in Reliance, Tennessee. Most campsites have river view or stream view. One large circle, mostly tent camping. No electric hookup."
"Excellent sites, small outfitter store with food, drink, sundries. Breakfast & Lunch Diner. Multiple Float Rental types including sit in, sit on and inflatable kayaks."
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
ScoutI camped here with a friend last weekend and absolutely loved this place! It's a cute little site with a great host, clean bathrooms, free firewood, and super friendly dogs, goats, and people. I would for sure stay here again and recommend.
GuideGreat campsites, little closer together than what I like but still nice and shaded all paved. Have three dump stations that are very nice. Will definitely come back. Better have reservations, cause it does stay full.
GuideBeautiful views from the trails. I went during the summer in July so it was on the busier side. There is a lake with a beach with boat and paddle board rentals. Seemed like a great spot to fish. Prepare for possibilities of bears as they were around. One night I must have not fully secured my bear box and a bear found my cooler. I tent camped on a pad where I can find some service (T-Mobile) but most spots are spotty. Next time I come, I want to try the back country locations. Trails are awesome with a cool story about the place around the tower and fortification. Attendants at the camp store were really nice. If groceries are needed there is grocery stores in the nearest town of Chatsworth down the mountain
GuideGreat campsite. No cell service at all. Has nice toilets and dish washing area.
TravelerThis KOA is a really nice CG. It’s nestled in a valley and surrounded by by mountains. Full service with a nice pool, camp store,clean bath houses/restrooms and lots to do for kids . Our site was along the creek. Very peaceful and loved hearing the water. Lots of mixed use, long term RV’s, cabin rentals and tent sites. The CG was s very large and most sites are close to one another, not much privacy but that’s what State Park CG’s are for. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Great WiFi here, very solid signal during our visit.
LegendOverall, this is a nice campground with lots of amenities in a great location. They have easy online booking and when you arrive you are instructed to go straight to your site and come to the office later for campground information and parking pass. Little Arrow has lots of amenities with the most popular being the swimming pool. In fact, it was a little too popular as it was quite crowded most of the time. The community firepit is a great place to gather with lots of people. There is a restaurant onsite (which we did not eat at but heard it was very good). The nearby town of Townsend is a great town with shopping and restaurants. We loved the brewery in town (Peaceful Side Social) which had great food and beer and lots of space for kids to run around. Next store to the brewery was a delicious ice cream shop. This campground is in a great location to visit the Great Smokey Mountain National Park with the entrance being just a few miles away and it’s a short drive to the Cades Cove Loop which is a very interesting and popular driving route in the park with historic sites and great wildlife viewing along the way. We had a buddy site which was laid out so that RVs are on the same pad and share a common area in between. We enjoyed the table and chairs and “kitchen” area which was great for gathering. Some sites back up to a river and have nice covered pavilions. There is public river access at the campground which I liked for fly fishing and my dog loved for swimming. The only complaints are that some sites (including ours) was very close to your neighbor and it is really a tight squeeze getting big-rigs into the park and to our site. The entrance to our loop was really tight and we even noticed one tow hauler ripped off part of his bumper on an old gate post that was covered by overgrown bushes. There are low hanging trees at the entrance which I mentioned to the manager and she dismissed it that stuff was really growing since it was late spring and they didn’t have time to trim. She did indicate that they intended on trimming but we left so I’m not sure if it happened or not.
TravelerWe had an awesome stay! Our family used a mix of a cabin and a tent, which worked out perfectly—it gave us a great option to get some AC while still letting the kids get the real tent-camping experience. We absolutely loved the French toast, and the bathroom and shower facilities were convenient. We really enjoyed our time and all the amenities. Thanks for a great stay!
LegendWe followed the confirmation email directions, which took us right to the campground. Check-in was quick, efficient, and exceptionally friendly. We were escorted to back-in Site 55, which was an easy back-in and one of the more spacious sites in the campground. We were glad we chose this site over one of the pull-throughs, which appeared much closer together. The long gravel pad easily accommodated our 40-foot fifth wheel and F-450, with well-positioned utilities. Since we were only overnighting, we did not disconnect. We received two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile. The campground Wi-Fi was adequate for checking email and general browsing but not streaming. There are plenty of mature trees throughout the campground, so Starlink availability will vary by site. We chose not to deploy ours but believe Site 55 would have provided a usable view of the sky. The campground also features a fenced dog park that is large enough to actually throw a ball and let your dog run. Overall, this is a clean, well-maintained KOA with friendly staff, spacious back-in sites, and a convenient location, and it will definitely remain on our list of campgrounds for future visits to the Chattanooga area.
Cabin rentals near Tellico Plains, Tennessee range from primitive structures to fully furnished accommodations. The area sits within the Cherokee National Forest at elevations between 900-5,000 feet, creating distinct seasonal conditions. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing while summer days reach the 80s, affecting cabin rental availability and road access in certain areas.
Hiking to Bald River Falls: Located 30 minutes from Tellico Plains, this waterfall hike provides an accessible adventure. A visitor at Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground recommends, "Go do the hike by bald river falls 30 min away," noting its proximity makes it an ideal day trip from cabin accommodations.
Motorcycle touring: The Cherohala Skyway offers prime routes for motorcyclists staying in cabins. "We were on motorcycles. Could't have ask for better!!" remarks a guest who stayed at one of the cabins at Smitty's Lodge Motorcycle Campground, highlighting the area's popularity among riding enthusiasts.
Historical exploration: The abandoned vacation homes at Elkmont provide unique cultural exploration. "The campground has a wonderful area and the history of the place is amazing," notes a visitor to Elkmont Campground, referring to the Daisy Town ghost town where several cabins stand preserved.
Community meals: Some cabin areas offer complimentary dining options. A camper at Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground mentioned, "They also have free meals that depend on the day of the week," providing a welcome amenity after a day of outdoor activities.
Rustic simplicity: The basic cabin options appeal to those seeking disconnection. "Me, my Husband, and our 5 kids went several years ago when the kids were alot younger. Nobody wanted to go because no electronics, no electricity, no running water...Everybody in our family has always agreed that was the absolute best time we ever had as a family," shares a visitor at Donley Cabin.
Wildlife viewing: The area provides opportunities to observe native species. "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," reports a visitor to Cades Cove Campground about the nearby cabin areas.
Bathroom facilities vary significantly: From primitive to modern, bathrooms differ between cabin properties. At Toqua Beach Campground, "This is a very clean, gated campground located right on the lake with available boat slips to rent during your stay," while primitive cabins have minimal facilities.
Seasonal restrictions: Many cabin areas have limited winter access. Elkmont Campground and its cabins operate from "April 29 to October 31," making advance planning essential during peak months.
Cell service limitations: Communication can be challenging in many cabin areas. "No phone signal which is ok with us because we like to unplug," notes a visitor at Hiwassee River Area, reflecting the common connectivity situation throughout the region.
Wildlife education opportunities: Turn wildlife sightings into learning experiences. "This is a great campground, but can get a little busy. That doesn't make it good or bad, but you need to know what to plan for. 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," advises a visitor about the Cades Cove Campground area.
Interactive recreation: Look for cabins near water activities. "The cabins are small but do the job," combined with "Conveniently located to the Cherohala Skyway. Would definitely stay here again. Well worth the $12 to pitch my tent for the night," show the value proposition for families at different price points.
Pack entertainment: With limited electronics access, bring alternatives. "I found this awesome campground close to the beginning of the Cherohala skyway in Tellico Plains," mentions a visitor, indicating the need to plan activities around the natural attractions rather than electronic entertainment.
Lakeside cabins for boat owners: Several properties offer both RV sites and cabins with boat facilities. At Hiwassee River Area, a visitor notes, "Excellent sites, small outfitter store with food, drink, sundries. Breakfast & Lunch Diner. Multiple Float Rental types including sit in, sit on and inflatable kayaks," providing alternatives for RVers seeking cabin accommodations with water access.
Level considerations: Terrain varies across cabin sites. "They have gravel lots that are somewhat level," reports a visitor to Toqua Beach Campground, highlighting the need to check terrain specifications when transitioning from RV to cabin stays.
Electrical capacity: Power availability differs between properties. "If you want a patio site if you can, they're very nice," suggests a camper, indicating that some properties offer enhanced amenities that RVers typically seek when choosing cabin alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Tellico Plains, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Tellico Plains, TN is Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground with a 5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Tellico Plains, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 111 cabin camping locations near Tellico Plains, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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