Best Campgrounds near Turtletown, TN

The Cherokee National Forest surrounding Turtletown, Tennessee provides a range of camping environments from developed campgrounds to dispersed sites along mountain streams. Thunder Rock Campground and Lost Creek Campground serve as primary camping areas in this Appalachian region, offering both tent and RV accommodations. Most established campgrounds maintain seasonal operations from April through November, though Lost Creek remains open year-round for primitive camping. The nearby Hiawassee/Ocoee State Park's Gee Creek Campground offers additional camping options with picnic tables, fire rings, and access to hiking trails, while Chilhowee Recreation Area provides both RV and tent sites with electric hookups.

Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many secondary forest roads requiring high-clearance vehicles, particularly after rainfall. "This campground is gorgeous and free. There are two sides of the camp, the camp side and the trail side. It is very, very high traffic on the weekends," notes one camper about a nearby free camping area. Most campgrounds in the Turtletown vicinity close during winter months due to weather conditions and limited maintenance, though several dispersed camping areas remain accessible year-round for experienced campers. Cell service is limited or non-existent in many camping locations, particularly those in valleys or remote forest sections. Campers should prepare for temperature fluctuations common in the Southern Appalachians, where elevation changes can create significant weather variations even in summer.

Waterfront sites consistently receive the highest visitor ratings across the region's mixed-use campgrounds. Several sites along the Ocoee River provide direct water access for swimming and fishing, though they tend to fill quickly during summer weekends. The proximity to whitewater recreation areas makes Thunder Rock particularly popular among paddlers. A visitor noted, "Great waters for whitewater rafters and kayakers to enjoy. For the hiking and biking enthusiasts the Tanasi Trail system that adjoins at the Ocoee Whitewater Center, just a short hike or drive from the campground." Campgrounds farther from main roads generally offer more solitude but fewer amenities. Wildlife sightings are common across all camping areas, with black bears occasionally reported, requiring proper food storage practices at all tent and RV sites.

Best Camping Sites Near Turtletown, Tennessee (566)

    1. Thunder Rock Campground

    20 Reviews
    Reliance, TN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 338-3300

    $12 - $20 / night

    "Campsites are close to one another. If you camp at a site near the water, it is really nice, but everyone will walk by your campsite so they can go down the path to the river."

    "Easy access off Hwy 64, so close to stores for food and firewood. Well maintained campsite with clean bathrooms and very clean, nice showers. Alcohol prohibited as think county is dry."

    2. Gee Creek Campground — Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park

    29 Reviews
    Delano, TN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 263-0050

    $35 - $85 / night

    "Bath house is relatively nice for a state park campground. 1 mile walking path surrounding the grounds is nice. Safe area for bicycle riding. Great proximity to many outdoor activities."

    "This sweet state park campground is tucked into a spot along Gee Creek, which is great for boating, fishing, and swimming in the summertime heat of Tennessee. "

    3. Chilhowee Recreation Area

    30 Reviews
    Benton, TN
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 338-3300

    $12 - $30 / night

    "My partner and I headed to nearby Chilhowie Campground in the Cherokee National Forest last year to try out our new teardrop camper.  We chose site 1 in the A Loop as it had shore power."

    "It has clean bathrooms with showers, fire rings with grill grates, lots of hiking, hike to a beautiful waterfall, huge lake to swim or float on a raft, and the lightning bugs were breath taking!!"

    4. Lost Creek - Cherokee NF

    9 Reviews
    Reliance, TN
    7 miles
    Website

    "Some have direct access to the creek. Great hikes around and good place to fish and hunt."

    "We chose a spot next to the creek. Was clear and flowing due to a lot of rain the few days before we arrived. Sites had concrete picnic tables and a pad. We had to clean ours when we arrived."

    5. Parksville Lake RV Campground

    15 Reviews
    Benton, TN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 338-3300

    $20 - $40 / night

    "Each site is a good distance away from the other and there is the constant sound of the creek flowing right next to it. The bathrooms are clean and right in the middle a perfect spot for a getaway"

    "Easy to navigate around sites.  Lots of shade.  Close by Occoee White Water center where the Atlanta olympics took place.  Plan your visit around the water release.  There schedule is online.  "

    6. Chilhowee

    12 Reviews
    Benton, TN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 338-3300

    $12 - $20 / night

    "Scenic views the whole drive up, followed by a safe, cozy campground with clean facilities and a great grouping of trails."

    "The campsite was clean, and our site was a good distance from other campers. The campground has a nice hike to Benton Falls which is beautiful."

    7. Persimmon Creek RV Park

    6 Reviews
    Culberson, NC
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 644-5800

    $55 - $900 / night

    "This is a beautiful secluded site just off of Highway 64/74 not too far from the Tennessee border. The campground is very well kept and has wonderful amenities for both RV and tent campers."

    "I don't have a huge point of reference, but I can give you details on everything that was smooth

    • Location - Just off a 4 lane highway.  Convenient with easy access to your site. "

    8. Top of the World RV

    8 Reviews
    Coker Creek, TN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 519-2967

    $45 / night

    "This place is a true gem hidden in the Tennessee mountains."

    "Close to grocery stores & TONS of mountain goodness."

    9. Morganton Point Campground

    17 Reviews
    Morganton, GA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 374-1645

    $26 - $50 / night

    "Camped on lot 14 which was quite spacious with easy access to the water. Tent was located away from the fire pit and picnic table and the restrooms were close by."

    "We were right next to the camp host, which was pretty nice – we didn’t have to go far to ask for wood or ice!  Plus, there were trails leading right to the lake. "

    10. Hiwassee River Area

    3 Reviews
    Turtletown, TN
    4 miles

    "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."

    "This is a popular location for the regional university students so expect a bit of a hootenanny to surround and welcome you."

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Recent Reviews near Turtletown, TN

1816 Reviews of 566 Turtletown Campgrounds


  • paul Z.
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Harrison Bay State Park Campground

    Great place even with unlevel sites

    We had a great stay here. Luckily I brought extra leveling blocks after reading other reviews. Loop C site 26 was a great spot listed as water view but the lake was right there. Might as well have been called waterfront. Had to block up the rear wheels on our class A to get level but we brought those with us. Had our Canoe in the water right behind us and plenty of room for the car and dolly. Awesome hiking trails and a great little seasonal restaurant at the marina. We will come back here again

  • Liz  M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Rough Creek Dispersed

    Only 2 Sites

    Gorgeous area at the end of the road. Only 2 sites and one intense drive to get here. It takes about 35 minutes to go 4 miles. Ground clearance and off road tires needed

  • Liz  M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Little Gassaway Creek

    1 Campsite off 4 x 4 Road

    Found this site on the way to another. Only one campsite and requires either off-road tires or 4 x 4

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Lake Santeetlah Dispersed

    Lake view but live in campers

    So there’s another site on Dyrt with the same name however it’s on the other side of the lake. Both sites are full of mainly people who live here it appears. Tents and tarps all along the river. Not a lot of drive in spots mainly tent walk ins. We showed up pretty late so not a spot but like I said. The campers looked like they lived in the majority of the spots. Zero signal at both areas for Verizon and T-Mobile. The road like most around here was beautiful driving in. The next nearby free dispersed spot is long hungry dog camp(I left a review on there for anyone needing it!)

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Lake Santeelah Dispersed

    Two seperate areas

    So there’s another site on Dyrt with the same name however it’s on the other side of the lake. Both sites are full of mainly people who live here it appears. Tents and tarps all along the river. Not a lot of drive in spots mainly tent walk ins. We showed up pretty late so not a spot but like I said. The campers looked like they lived in the majority of the spots. Zero signal at both areas for Verizon and T-Mobile. The road like most around here was beautiful driving in. The next nearby free dispersed spot is long hungry dog camp(I left a review on there for anyone needing it!)

  • George M.
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Mulky Campground

    Great location for fishing

    A lot of the campsites are right on the water, so it's super easy to fish. But if you want something more private, there are also some secluded spots up the road.

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Long Hungry Road Dispersed Campsites

    Trash..

    This area was easy to find with Apple Maps and T-Mobile and Verizon had signal. When we drove in it was around 9pm in a Saturday night and all sites was taken with what looked like people living there. And the road dead ends. All along the water. Tents and tarps everywhere. We found one spot not on the water and set up. Fire rings and picnic tables are at every spot. But when I woke up and it wasn't pitch black my heart broke. There was bags of trash and litter everywhere around us and tossed in the forest around us. The forest had a lot of thorns but I was able to get three large kitchen bags of trash out. From propane tanks to over twenty cans of food. Just tossed into the woods. We camp all over the United States, and this is our first place close to home and it broke my heart to see how our state treats these beautiful places. Please don't come if you don't appreciate nature enough to not use it as your trash can.

    So on Dyrt there's two sites with this name and same gps but you can follow around the lake and find the other one. Both areas are a lot alike. But definitely more fit for tent camping on the water. Park by the road and walk down sites so none fit for us since we camp in the truck. The sites all looked like the other areas around here where people very much lived there and never left, so not one site at either camping area was open.

  • S
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Yarberry Campground

    Beautiful views

    Even the non-lake site spots have lake views. Lots of nice amenities, but still rustic. My site was a little tough to back into, but worth it.

  • G F.
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Amicalola Falls State Park Camping

    Overpriced

    Like some of the other privately managed Georgia state parks, our visit here was disappointing.

    The issues started at the welcome center. The RV parking area was full of cars, even though plenty of regular parking spots were open. When we mentioned it to staff, the response was dismissive — one employee told us, “that’s above my paygrade.”

    The restroom at the welcome center was also a low point. The toilets are stainless steel with no seats — the kind you’d expect to see in a jail — and designed so shallow that whether you sit or hover, you end up getting splashed. It’s an unpleasant and unsanitary setup.

    The campground itself felt neglected, with rotting picnic tables and a general lack of upkeep. It’s also isolated from the rest of the park — there isn’t even a connector trail from the camping area to a single hiking trail, which makes it feel cut off from the very amenities most people come for. At $60 a night, you’d expect at least a basic map of the trails and amenities, but instead you’re told to snap a photo of a cardboard display. That felt like corner-cutting.

    One memorable (and concerning) part of the stay was the bear activity. In September, several bears came through the campground, startling tent campers who had to retreat inside their cars for safety.

    All in all, while the natural setting of Amicalola Falls is beautiful, the way the park is managed left the overall experience underwhelming and, at times, frustrating.


Guide to Turtletown

Turtletown sits in the Cherokee National Forest region of southeast Tennessee, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 feet. The area experiences mild springs and falls with summer temperatures averaging in the 80s, while winter can bring occasional snow. Campers will find a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed camping options, with several sites offering direct access to the Hiwassee and Ocoee Rivers.

What to do

River activities: The Hiwassee and Ocoee Rivers provide excellent options for water recreation. At Thunder Rock Campground, "whitewater kayakers can put on the river right from their campsite," according to Henry F. For rafting enthusiasts, Jennifer S. notes, "I took my son camping, river rafting, and ziplining last Labor Day weekend. We had a great time!"

Hiking trails: Multiple trail systems connect to campgrounds in the area. At Lost Creek Campground, "the Benton McKaye trail running directly beside it" makes it easy to start your hike right from camp. GoWhereYouAreDraw N. adds that Thunder Rock has "two trailheads in the surrounding area - Thunder Rock Express and Dry Pond Lead with parking available at the Campground entrance."

Fishing spots: Several campgrounds offer fishing access. Katrin S. describes the Hiwassee River Area: "We overlooked the Hiwassee on campsite 43. The river is smooth until 11am. We went fly fishing right from the campsite. The water gets released at 11am, so the current picks up and water levels will rise quickly."

What campers like

Waterfront sites: Many campers appreciate riverside camping. At Gee Creek Campground, Anna M. notes, "The Rangers check in daily and are very friendly. A trail runs the perimeter of the camp and the Hiwasee River runs next to the campground." Tyler J. simply states that Thunder Rock is "right next to the ocoee river. Wonderful spot."

Privacy between sites: Campsites with adequate separation are valued. Brian P. describes Gee Creek as a "nice campground with a new playground, hot showers and good river access." At Lost Creek, Scott E. mentions, "Sites had concrete picnic tables and a pad. The highlight would definitely be the creek. There are spots that you can swim around in."

Clean facilities: Campgrounds with well-maintained amenities receive high marks. At Chilhowee Recreation Area, Jason L. notes, "This campsite was beautiful. Sites were clean. The bike trails were challenging." Even primitive sites like Lost Creek get praise - Charles H. comments, "This is a great spot in the river. Picnic tables, fire ring, pit toilet and all you hear is the river at night."

What you should know

Campground access: Some campgrounds require driving on forest roads. Lost Creek "can be found deep in the wilderness of the Cherokee National Forest outside of Benton, TN... traversing a well maintained gravel road for 7 miles," according to Gregg G. Similarly, Nathan G. notes about Chilhowee, "There is definitely a long drive (7 Mile) uphill to the campground, but it is definitely worth the drive."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Turtletown, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Turtletown, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 566 campgrounds and RV parks near Turtletown, TN and 53 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Turtletown, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Turtletown, TN is Thunder Rock Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 20 reviews.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 53 free dispersed camping spots near Turtletown, TN.

What parks are near Turtletown, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 parks near Turtletown, TN that allow camping, notably Tusquitee National Forest and Croatan National Forest.