Map showing campground location near Erwin, Tennessee

Camper submitted image from Nolichucky Gorge Campground

Nolichucky Gorge Campground

Reaching Nolichucky Gorge Campground requires navigating a road that transitions from pavement to gravel and passes under a train bridge, a stretch narrow enough that campers towing rigs longer than 35 feet should plan carefully before committing. Reservations are available and worth making, though reviews note that site assignments have occasionally been disorganized on arrival. The campground sits directly on the Nolichucky River in Cherokee National Forest, with full hookups including electric, water, and sewer for RVs, plus tent sites positioned along the riverbank on grassy ground.

The layout divides into distinct zones. Tent sites run along the river and tend to stay quieter; the RV area set back from the water draws more activity and noise, particularly when the adjacent USA Raft Adventure Resort is busy. The two operations share the same road and entrance, so foot traffic from rafting customers moves through the area throughout the day. Cell coverage is limited here. Dark skies at night are a consistent trade-off.

River access is the main draw. Campers can float a short loop using tubes, and a trail connects to Cherokee Beach for swimming. The campground also provides a lily pad and a small pond as contained water options. "A short trail brings you to Cherokee Beach where you can swim," notes Ashley B., who also points out that riverside tent spots are set apart from the RV section. The Appalachian Trail is accessible from the campground, adding a hiking option beyond the river corridor.

Bathrooms include showers with hot water and have generally received clean marks in reviews, though the facilities are described as small. The camp hosts are consistently mentioned as approachable and helpful. Pets are allowed on-site. For places to camp near Erwin, the town provides the closest resupply point, roughly three miles north. Campers wanting a quieter or more dispersed setup might consider Cherokee NF Dispersed off FS 132A near Curley Maple Gap a few miles to the east.

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Map & DirectionsNolichucky Gorge Campground is located in Tennessee near Erwin

Public Campground

Coordinates

36.09998091 N
82.433586 W

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Connectivity

T-Mobile
No Coverage
Verizon
No Coverage
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage

Connectivity

T-Mobile
No Coverage
Verizon
No Coverage
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Cabins

Features

For Campers

Market
ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
WiFi
Showers
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
30 Amp Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

19 min from Johnson City, TN
35 min from Kingsport, TN
44 min from Asheville, NC
1 hr 11 min from Morristown, TN

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Reviews12 Camper Reviews - Nolichucky Gorge Campground

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

3.5

out of 5

12 Reviews

Guests commonly noted well-maintained riverside sites with clean facilities and helpful hosts. Noise levels vary significantly, and some visitors expressed concerns about pricing and reservation management.

Laura E.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 21, 2024

Nolichucky gorge campground fun

My teen daughter and I had a last minute midweek opportunity to go tent camping and they were so accommodating and friendly here. Beautiful riverfront grassy tent sites are serene and peaceful. Highly recommended

Sitetent site #10

Month of VisitAugust

Ashley B.

Traveler

Reviewed Oct. 14, 2023

Riverside camping

This is a great spot located right next to USA Raft. There are a handful of tent only riverside camping spots with RV sites set back from the river. A short trail brings you to Cherokee Beach where you can swim and chill out, or float in a tube back to your campsite. Camp can get a little noisy if you are in the RV area though.

Autumn S.

Traveler

Reviewed May. 28, 2023

Great Memories

The campground is beautiful and very clean/well kept. The bathrooms were clean and the water was nice and hot. The camp hosts are all very polite. The location is perfect and I loved being near the water. I was very happy with everything and already booked my next stay

Site55

Month of VisitMay

Emma T.

Guide

Reviewed May. 6, 2023

Riverfront

Loved this campground right along the river. It was awesome when we kayaked and took out at our site. Definitly will return.

Site19

Month of VisitMay

(4) View All

Shelly S.

Legend

Reviewed Oct. 11, 2022

Neighbors

Nolichucky Gorge is right next to USA Raft, same road, same entrance to the left. Veteran owned and well maintained. The staff is friendly and professional. River view sites, other sites and cabins. It seems that the two campgrounds have property issues that are not of their own volition. You have to pay to walk the river trail and use the beach if your not a guest of the campground. I only stayed one night , it was peaceful and dark. Access to the Appalachian Trail.

SiteRiver

Month of VisitSeptember

(10) View All

Walt T.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 9, 2021

Bad idea to camp here

The price is not worth what you get. Sounds and looks great via computer. Spots are described as water front . Totally not true. We were charged full price of 86.06 per night for a spot without full hook up. The second day we were abruptly informed that we were in the wrong spot and we were demanded to move. We told the manager that we would just leave and asked for a refund for the 2nd night. After arguing for 30 minutes we were told we would get half off for the second Night . Terrible customer service for sure Place is a rip off for sure . We are local and will never go back

Site5

Month of VisitAugust

David J.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 29, 2021

Loud party

The campground was very close with people playing music every night until 1 am and it started about 7 am. People partying all night and loud. I turned my air to 60 so it would run and drown out the noise.

Site25

Month of VisitJune

Kara P.

Scout

Reviewed Oct. 27, 2020

Great little spot on the river to cool off

At first I was a little panicked that it was going to be a campground that jammed in too many people and we’d have no privacy. It was surprisingly quiet and we had plenty of space. We stayed in the tent spots along the river. It was quiet, we didn’t feel like anyone was on top of us, and the restrooms and general areas felt available.

The water levels are perfect for floating around and playing in the river. There’s even a little path you can take a tube up and float back down. They had a lily pad for general use and a little pond if you wanted something contained.

It’s a great little spot with good people running it. We’ll definitely be back!

Briggs B.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 8, 2020

Quite peace stop on the river

Stayed at this place because we couldn’t find anywhere else to stay but we wanted to be on the river. We stay up in the “pines” with our truck camper. They had a 30 amp hookup up there for us. Camp host are awesome people everyone was super helpful. We explored the National Forest most of the time we were there. But use rafting was right there if you wanted to go rafting you could. We will definitely go back to stay. Oh and there is also a small bar Nextdoor at USA rafting.

Andrew W.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 17, 2020

A small campground that's off the beaten path

This is a small quaint Campground just off of I-26 near Erwin Tennessee right on the nolichucky river and off of the beaten path. Restrooms were a little rundown with very little to do. Nice gravel pads that will not accommodate anything much longer than 35'. It looks like most sites are full time and run down. Note that this CG is not far from a nuclear fuel service plant which is also on the Nolichucky River. Closest services are in Erwin Tennessee.

Ashley B.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 8, 2020

Words can’t describe

We arrived with a reservation and there was no spot because someone decided to stay longer and someone unreserved showed up. It was just not unorganized and no one seemed to want to move from the spot so we could park our camper. It was a unique campground and after overhearing lots of talk due to the place we were parked we learned they try and over pack the park with people. It’s not your ordinary state park or US park. There is definitely a vibe I’ve never seen before. More of a hippy vibe. We were given a dvd a lady made of here visions. No dogs were on leashes and no one seemed to care. Just bizarre. The river was beautiful if you could see passed the tents. Bathrooms were clean enough but very small. This campground sits on a half gravel/half paved road that is mostly one way as far as width. If you’re hauling a huge camper it’s gonna make you sweat getting to the campground. You will question if your even on the right road because it turns to gravel and cuts under a train bridge. The office was under remodel so there was no “working office” or store. You has to knock on the guys trailer(not creepy at all). They parked our camper in front of his since our spot was given away so we had many people thinking we were the camp manager. Very annoying. There is also a rafting company with cabin rentals in the same area so there are quite a few random people moseying around. It is in a private area but is not private. I would not recommend this place unless you are and old hippy that wants to raft the rapids. If you want a quiet woodsy getaway this is not it. You are likely to have strangers sitting on your picnic table and making themselves at home at your site.

Jaren E.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2019

Beautiful and peaceful

Awesome campground love coming here! It’s super peaceful and super beautiful! The campgrounds are well kept up and there is showers and bathrooms! The camp host are super helpful and super friendly! The campground provides tubes for floating down the river and also there is a rafting center right down the road! Great place for a weekend getaway!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any photo galleries or virtual tours of Nolichucky Gorge Campground?

While there isn't a dedicated virtual tour available for Nolichucky Gorge Campground, you can find photos on their official website and various camping platforms including The Dyrt. These images showcase the riverside setting, tent sites along the water, RV spots, and the surrounding natural beauty of the gorge area. For the most current visual representation, contact the campground directly as they may have updated their online presence with additional photos or virtual content.

What amenities and facilities are available at Nolichucky Gorge Campground?

Nolichucky Gorge Campground offers several amenities including showers and clean bathrooms with hot water. The campground features both riverside tent sites and RV spots with electric hookups (30 amp available). Most RV sites can accommodate units up to 35 feet in length on gravel pads. The campground is well-maintained with helpful and friendly camp hosts. While some visitors note the spaces can be close together, many appreciate the peaceful riverside setting and clean facilities. The bathrooms are regularly maintained though some report they're a bit basic.

What activities can visitors enjoy in the Nolichucky Gorge area?

The Nolichucky Gorge area offers abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Visitors can enjoy river activities including tubing (with tubes provided by the campground), kayaking, and rafting through USA Raft located adjacent to the campground. Swimming is possible at Cherokee Beach, accessible via a short trail from the campground. Some campers take advantage of the convenient kayak take-out directly at their campsite. The surrounding National Forest provides excellent hiking and exploration opportunities. The riverside setting creates a peaceful backdrop for relaxation, though the campground can occasionally be lively with music and social gatherings in the evening.

Are RV rentals available near Nolichucky Gorge Campground in Erwin, Tennessee?

There are no RV rentals directly at Nolichucky Gorge Campground. For RV rental options, check with rental companies in nearby Johnson City or Asheville, which are within reasonable driving distance of Erwin. The campground itself can accommodate RVs, with sites that feature 30 amp hookups, though space is limited for larger rigs (generally 35 feet or less). If you're specifically looking for an RV rental experience in this area, contact the campground in advance to confirm their current policies and recommendations for local rental services.

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