184 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The area around Whitwell, Tennessee includes access to various types of camping and campgrounds within a short drive. Campers can find established sites at Raccoon Mountain Caverns and Campground in Chattanooga, which offers tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with amenities like drinking water and electric hookups. Marion County Park in Jasper provides similar options with the addition of glamping accommodations. For those seeking more natural settings, Prentice Cooper State Forest offers dispersed camping opportunities approximately 15 miles from Whitwell. The region features a mix of state parks, private campgrounds, and forest service land, with most developed sites concentrated along waterways like Nickajack Lake and the Tennessee River. The Dyrt includes reviews of campgrounds near Whitwell, highlighting both established facilities and more rustic options.
Many campgrounds in the area require advance reservations, particularly during summer months and fall weekends when visitors come to enjoy the region's waterfalls and hiking trails. Access to established campgrounds like Harrison Bay State Park and Cloudland Canyon State Park typically involves paved roads suitable for most vehicles, while reaching dispersed sites may require higher clearance. The climate features hot, humid summers and mild winters, making spring and fall ideal camping seasons. Cell service varies significantly, with better coverage at developed campgrounds and spotty reception in forest areas. Water levels at lakeside campgrounds can fluctuate seasonally, affecting shoreline access. A visitor commented, "Harrison Bay is a huge park, with four camping loops located on the Chickamauga Reservoir of the Tennessee River. It is about thirty minutes from downtown Chattanooga, making it a great place to stay for awhile if you want to check out the area's numerous hiking opportunities."
Campers report high satisfaction with sites near lakes and rivers, with waterfront locations being particularly popular. Several campgrounds feature scenic views of mountains and canyons, with Cloudland Canyon State Park receiving consistently positive reviews for its dramatic landscapes. Foster Falls Campground offers proximity to swimming holes and waterfall views, making it a favorite during warmer months. Tent campers appreciate the more secluded sites at places like Fireside Camp + Lodge, which one reviewer described as "a hidden gem in a gorgeous area of Tennessee" with "wonderful hiking trails, magical waterfalls, and a majestic lake" nearby. While some campgrounds like Fall Creek Falls State Park can become crowded during peak seasons, they offer extensive recreational opportunities including hiking, fishing, and swimming. Most established campgrounds provide basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to toilets, while primitive sites typically require campers to be self-sufficient.
"This place is Close to everything you’ll want to do in Chattanooga Tennessee"
"My family and I went a few years ago on a trip to Tennessee. It was a decent place to stay. We RV camped on this trip, but the campground had tent sites too."
from $55 - $56 / night
Check Availability"Campground Review:East Rim Campground Pro’s: 1-Handicap Accessible, there is a cabin which is also HDA. 2- If your visiting for a get together your right next to the day use area and there is a picnic"
"We stopped in for a few hours on our drive home from Tennessee. We drove through the campgrounds to scout out our site."
from $10 - $270 / night
Check Availability"Try to get a campsite on the lakeside, because the view is very nice and it makes it easy to get your boat in the water. They advertise a beach but we never found one."
"Tent camping along the edge of the river. Fire pits or grills, picnic tables, clean bathroom, and hot showers. If you are a light sleeper, the traffic noise from the highway might be disturbing."
"We drove for what felt like 20 miles down a well kept unpaved road from the entrance but I think it reality was only 5.5 miles."
"You can definitely get lost driving around or hiking. If you're looking for a quiet place to camp near Chattanooga this is it."
"Foster Falls is located at one end of the Fiery Gizzard Trail, one of the most beautiful trails in Tennessee, possibly the country!"
"We used two cars and parked one at our campsite here, and brought one to the beginning of the Fiery Gizzard Trail."
from $18 - $21 / night
Check Availability"Foster Falls Climbers Loop Trail is right at the entrance of the campground, definitely recommend hiking this trail. You’ll hike all around the falls getting beautiful views from the top and bottom."
"Bathhouse is a short walk from all the sites. Rangers there were helpful. Leaves are everywhere and we did see a few snakes but nothing we don’t expect from the great outdoors."
from $21 / night
Check Availability"Harrison Bay is a huge park, with four camping loops (3 for RVs, 1 for tents), and a large marina, located on the Chickamauga Reservoir of the Tennessee River."
"This is a great family campground and Tennessee State Park located on Chickamauga Lake of the Tennessee River. Good playground for the Grandkids and bicycle paths."
"Nestled in Tennessee’s Sequatchie Mountain, this tranquil campsite on a private estate’s grassy field is great for nature enthusiasts."
"Wide open spaces and access to amenities. The Verizon service here is great and the hosts have Wi-Fi. Close to town for your needs and 30 minutes away from Lookout mountain and those attractions."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"Tons of room to walk and play. Great swimming and fishing. Boating is huge here Bc there are docks all around the campground to pull up to. Playgrounds everywhere."
"They have a frisbee golf course, playgrounds, walking trails, beach, easy access to the water and fields to start up any activity you desire. We read about uneven campsite but ours was pretty flat."
from $21 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Fall creek falls is one of the best recreational areas in Tennessee. The park is very large and has so much to do. The falls are amazing, and it’s a moderate hike down to the base."
"Tons to do at one of Tennessee’s top state parks."
ScoutEasy access and paved, back in spaces. Multiple hiking trails. Decent store at check-in. Little to do without car. Must drive to the old stone fort. Slow T-Mobile service.
ScoutNice gravel sites in a shaded, forest area right next to the Fiery Gizzard trail. No RV hookups but I was tent camping anyways. Bathrooms were clean and the showers were nice. Outlets available inside each bathroom, otherwise no electricity. Little expensive, but nice enough to justify it.
GuideWe stayed just one night but really liked the clean bathrooms and showers, sites are level and clean, it wasn't crowded when we were there so we had ample privacy. Will stay here again.
TravelerSmall, clean. Nice modern, renovated RV /tent sites. Easy to leave your boat or kayak in the water near your site. Nice, clean, easy to walk to beach. Only one waterfront site has full hook ups. One row back was great.
GuideThis campground has a lot to offer but we were just passing through and stayed only one night. There are nearly 100 campsites divided into two loops with a comfort station for each loop. Roads are paved with gravel campsites. The campground is nestled in the woods. The camp facilities include a country store, coin operated laundry, seasonal swimming pool, restaurant - motel complex, cabins, and nature hiking trails.
ScoutWe really liked this park. We stayed in the West Rim Campground. We stayed two nights and this was about the right number of nights for us.
Pros:
* The staff was super helpful and intentionally went above and beyond. When I checked in, they saw that I had a free night on my account and offered to refund part of my stay and use the free night instead. I was going to ask them to do this, but I didn't even need to.
* Bathrooms were nice, and were clean
* Wifi worked pretty well
* West Rim has good shade which made it feel cooler than it have otherwise. This did impact Starlink connectivity. I was able to get about a 90% ping success rate by moving the camper around a little to get the best connection.
* The views from the overlook were very nice
Cons:
* The visitor center was under construction
* Some of bathrooms near the interpretive center were out-of-order
* Site 43 was not level. It wasn't a major issue but we were able to get our camper van completely level despite the use of leveling blocks.
ScoutI grew up in this area, but I'm back for the first time in maybe 8 years. They have done tremendous renovations on their amenities, some still ongoing. The scenery and cool mountain air is as great as I remember. Tons of hiking, backcountry camping, cabins, RV spots, and more. I've been camping in 8 states and Cloudland Canyon is still one of my favorites. Be aware, the drive up the mountain can be very difficult on a tow vehicle, make sure you're prepared for it. Same with some of the hiking trails.
ScoutVery quiet and peaceful
GuideWe had a hard time finding our campsite in the West Rim Campground due to the construction at the entrance, but we made it to the temporary visitors center and they got us checked in and how to get to our campsite. It backs up to woods, nice space between sites. Ours is gravel and has water and electric, but there are full hookup sites available as well. We did the waterfall hike one day and the west rim loop the next. The waterfalls were beautiful, but a LOT of steps (600+ metal steps) !! I would definitely stay here again
Camping spots near Whitwell, Tennessee range from established campgrounds to primitive sites across varied terrain. Located in Marion County at approximately 700 feet elevation, the area experiences mild springs with average temperatures between 60-75°F and humidity levels around 60-70%. Many campsites don't require advanced reservations outside summer weekends, with walk-up availability common during weekdays.
Explore cave systems: At Raccoon Mountain Caverns and Campground, underground adventures await. "Crystal Cave was right on site and enjoyed the guided tour. (Advanced reservations are required.)" notes Jen O. The caves maintain a constant 60°F temperature year-round, making them a good option during temperature extremes.
Rock climbing access: Fireside Camp + Lodge serves as a hub for climbing enthusiasts. "This unique campground caters primarily to rock climbers, thanks to its prime location just across the road from Foster Falls, a renowned climbing destination," explains Asher K. The camp has an old barn transformed into a hangout space with "comfortable couches, hang boards for climbing enthusiasts, a vintage fridge, and even a Pac-Man game."
Waterfall swimming: During summer months, seek relief in the numerous swimming holes. "We like to go when it's warm enough to swim in the waterfall," shares Kelly M. about Foster Falls Campground. The falls include natural pools that can reach depths of 6-8 feet at the base.
Secluded backcountry options: Prentice Cooper State Forest offers dispersed camping for those seeking solitude. "You can definitely get lost driving around or hiking. If you're looking for a quiet place to camp near Chattanooga this is it," notes Arden S. The forest encompasses over 6,000 acres with multiple primitive camping areas.
Lakefront sites: Water access ranks high among camper preferences. "We got in the spot pretty easily and woke up to the most gorgeous view over the water!" reports Nicole about Marion County Park. The park includes tent spots along the river where campers enjoy "fire pits or grills, picnic tables, clean bathroom, and hot showers," according to Deborah H.
Stargazing opportunities: Clear night skies draw astronomy enthusiasts. At Fireside Camp + Lodge, campers enjoy "the open field, which allowed us to stargaze at night under the clear skies," remarks Asher K. Light pollution is minimal at many of the area's campgrounds, with the best viewing typically after 10 PM.
Seasonal closures: Check operating dates before traveling. "This is a beautiful WMA area with tons of offshoots along a service road for camping, but please note, 99% of areas are closed between December and March," warns Raymond H. about Prentice Cooper State Forest.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: From primitive to modern, restroom amenities differ significantly. At Foster Falls, "the bathrooms were aged, did have shower," reports Traci C., while at Fall Creek Falls State Park, you'll find "modern bathhouses located in each camping area," according to Sandra V.
Site selection matters: Research specific sites when reserving. "We went through 1 and 2 and decided to have picnic at day use and drive on, then saw people going to the left and it was much quieter and more space between spaces," advises Cori H. about Marion County Park. At Fall Creek Falls, Andrea S. cautions that "camp slots on area C are so close to one another that most people couldn't use their fire pits for fear of burning their own tent, or their neighbor's."
Kid-friendly activities: Look for dedicated recreational areas. "Chester Frost Park was definitely somewhere you wanna bring your kids they would love it! There is a man made beach with a playground and loads of camping lots next to the river!" explains Haley H.
Choose quieter camping loops: Find sections away from high-traffic areas. At Cloudland Canyon, "The West Rim camping loop has a total of 48 tent/RV sites... This loop is far more wooded and offers a greater variety of site size and privacy, and has an extremely quiet and peaceful vibe to it," advises Stephanie J.
Consider developed campgrounds: Facilities make family outings more manageable. At Harrison Bay State Park, "the tent spaces are large enough for one to two vehicles + your tent/gear," says Lance H., adding that the park includes "lots of trails and a great little camp store. Playgrounds, swimming pool and SUP rentals just outside the park Entrance."
Site length considerations: Measure accurately before booking. At Raccoon Mountain, one RVer notes "We have a 40' class A and flat tow a Jeep. We stayed in site 203 for 3 nights. While we really enjoyed the campground, this site was not ideal for an RV our size. We weren't able to put our awnings out or comfortably sit outside."
Leveling challenges: Be prepared for uneven terrain. "Pay attention to grades of sites when booking, you might need extra supports to level out," advises Richard F. about Fall Creek Falls State Park.
Electric options: Availability varies between campgrounds. Chester Frost Park provides "water and electricity" at every site according to Susan S., while most primitive sites require self-sufficiency. Most developed campgrounds in the area offer 30A hookups, with some providing 50A for larger rigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Whitwell, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Whitwell, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 184 campgrounds and RV parks near Whitwell, TN and 8 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Whitwell, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Whitwell, TN is Raccoon Mountain Caverns and Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 44 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Whitwell, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Whitwell, TN.
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