$10 - $22 / night

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Established Camping

Rhea Springs Recreation Area County Park and Campground

15 Reviews

Rhea Springs Recreation Area County Park and Campground, near Spring City, Tennessee, is a scenic spot that offers a laid-back camping experience right by Watts Bar Lake. With sites that are close to the water's edge, you can enjoy stunning sunset views and easy access for boating and kayaking.

The campground features picnic tables and fire pits, perfect for gathering around after a day of swimming or exploring. Visitors have noted the clean facilities, including a single-room shower house, which is a nice touch for freshening up. One camper mentioned, “Wonderful lake view sunset!” highlighting the picturesque surroundings.

While the campground has transitioned from being free to a small fee for overnight stays, many locals appreciate this change as it helps keep the area less crowded. You can still enjoy the lake during the day without charge, making it a great spot for swimming and relaxing. Just be sure to check for any updates on closures before you head out, as some campers have encountered unexpected shutdowns in the past.

Whether you're pitching a tent or parking your RV, Rhea Springs offers a peaceful retreat with plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun.

Description

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

Rhea Springs Day Use area is located on Watts Bar Reservoir on the Piney River at mile 3.3L (Tennessee River 532.5R) in Rhea County, Tennessee. The Day Use area is located off of Rhea Springs Road in Spring City, Tennessee. It includes approximately 30.06 acres and 1,837.14 feet of shoreline. The site has one bathhouse, 42 picnic tables, one 6'x35' long fishing pier, a 20 space parking lot and paved circle drive.

HOW TO GET THERE Located North East of Spring City, TN in Rhea County. From Chattanooga, take Highway 27 North to Spring City, Turn right Vanns Creek Road, turn left at the stop sign onto Toestring Valley Road, go about 3 miles and turn right on Rhea Springs Road. Take Rhea Springs Road all the way to the end until you see the lake.

PET FRIENDLY NOTES Pets will love this recreation area! Take them for a walk along the lake and enjoy a picnic lunch, too!

RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES Swimming, Fishing, Boating, Camping

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Location

Rhea Springs Recreation Area County Park and Campground is located in Tennessee

Directions

Located North East of Spring City, TN in Rhea County. From Chattanooga, take Highway 27 North to Spring City, Turn right Vanns Creek Road, turn left at the stop sign onto Toestring Valley Road, go about 3 miles and turn right on Rhea Springs Road. Take Rhea Springs Road all the way to the end until you see the lake.

Address

Rhea Springs Road
Spring City, TN 37381

Coordinates

35.6832001 N
84.8262004 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Available
Verizon
Good
AT&T
Good
T-Mobile
Fair

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Dispersed
Group

Features

For Campers

Trash
Picnic Table
Phone Service
Showers
Toilets
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

49 min from Cleveland
53 min from Chattanooga
59 min from Knoxville
1 hr 40 min from Morristown

Awakening Adventures L.

Guide

Reviewed Mar. 13, 2024

Great place to camp on Watts Bar Lake

Easy water access if you are trailer boating. Single room shower house for men and women. Wonderful lake view sunset!

Stephanie C.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 22, 2023

Was free not anymore

Rhea springs is a beautiful place! I live locally, and honestly im glad they are no longer a free campgraound. I came on 4th of july and there was actually camp spots! When it was free if you wanted to camp you would be so packed in there that it was miserable. Starting to charge here was the best thing rhea could have done. Its free during the day to just swim and what not. I come put my kayaks in here a lot. Its such a beautiful place!

Month of VisitAugust

(5) View All

Jen

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 19, 2023

Beautiful place but not FREE

Please update. I'm here and Leon, county park director. He would not let me stay for free. It's cash only $10 TN residents $22 outside TN

Month of VisitAugust

Michael W.

Legend

Reviewed May. 19, 2023

Closed till June 2023

Call 1-423-775-7801 before go. Closed when I got here. Looks like nice setup. Grass mowed. Supposed to open by June 23 per county commissioner office. Road is a little narrow and rough getting in last 5 miles. Paved but potholes.

Sitenone

Month of VisitMay

(7) View All

Colleen B.

Traveler

Reviewed Oct. 26, 2022

Campground is Closed (Oct 2022)

Online said it’s open year round. Very clearly a ‘campground closed’ sign and gate. No go.

Siten/a

Month of VisitOctober

Gail U.

Traveler

Reviewed Oct. 23, 2022

Great Place

This is one of the nicest free camp grounds I have been to. It is very clean and a number of campsite both RV and tent. Most are on the water where others you can see the water.

Site13

Month of VisitOctober

(5) View All

rags L.

Traveler

Reviewed Oct. 9, 2021

Do waste your time……..

i just drove from nashville and the gate was closed. absolutely nobody was in the park at all.. i’ve called four times now. it definitely not worth your trip.

Sitenone because it was closed

Month of VisitOctober

Nikki L.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 29, 2021

I just want to know please!

MY family and I have been camping at rhea springs or Jackson's island every summer for the past 21 years and today we drove down 3 hours like always so excited just to see the gate shut and a paper sign saying "closed for maintenance" so we drove to Jackson island and it was closed ,the sign read "TVA CLOSED" on a piece of paper scribble in pen. We found a hotel 40 mins away to stay in hopes of finding ANYWHERE to take my kids and and some family camping, THERE'S NO ONE TO CONTACT , THERE WAS NO STATEMENT LETTING ANYONE KNOW THEY WOULD BE CLOSED nor WHEN THE SITES WILL OPEN. My kids where all crushed and that just rips me inside. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFO or SUGGESTIONS ON OTHER CAMPING SITES!??

SiteRhea Springs & Jackson's Island

Month of VisitJuly

Jacob T.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 17, 2021

Closed by TVA

Arrived to find it was closed. No one to call or talk to. Just closed. Same with Jackson's Island.

Month of VisitJuly

Ryan W.

Guide

Reviewed May. 7, 2021

Really nice campground!

I was a bit confused cause I got here at 5 and the gate was closed, so I hung around trying to find my next move and when I pulled back around the gate was open? So a few more cars came through shortly after me..not sure if they open the gates in the afternoon for campers but it's open as of May 7! Beautiful site, right on the water and fire pits everywhere, bathrooms... For free you really can't beat this!

Month of VisitMay

(4) View All

Drew S.

Scout

Reviewed Apr. 16, 2021

Beautiful spot

While this campground is beautiful, the gate is still closed for the season. Website says it will open mid-April, so should be available soon!

Ky N.

Scout

Reviewed Apr. 5, 2021

Easter

Check to make sure they are open. Showed up on Easter weekend and this place was closed. So after 11/2 hr drive, we ended up camping up on the hill above the boat ramp.. Better luck next time..

Crystal C.

Legend

Reviewed Jan. 3, 2021

Quiet FREE Campground

Rhea Springs is a wonderful free campsite in central Tennessee which permits stay up to 14 days. As a part of the TVA the property as a whole is well maintained despite some obvious wear and tear on the restroom facilities.

I pulled into Rhea Springs later in the afternoon on a Wednesday and found a waterside site with ease. Though there were several other campers there it did not seem crowded at all as spacing of sites is well thought. I camped in my van near the waters edge in a semi flat area, though I will say some sites are much more uneven than others. I was on the main entry area as opposed to the peninsula are for camping as that seemed to be attracting more group camps and louder crowd at the time of my visit.

All sites are equipped with a fire ring and picnic table, but additionally they have a trash can which is picked up every few days by the TVA maintenance. Additionally you can find trash and recycling near the restrooms.

The restrooms were large enough for a couple of stalls and a very large kind of dingy looking shower. The shower had no curtain so a bathing suit or a buddy would be needed to use this and have privacy. The water in the showers does get very warm, so that is a bonus. There are also no mirrors in the restroom so if you are counting on one to get ready for the day pack one in with you.

When I visited my initial goal was to stay a single night but I really enjoyed the waterfront positioning of my campsite during the rains, it was very peaceful and coaxed me into a second night’s stay. I would definitely return to this campsite again in the future!

(8) View All

Pat H.

Traveler

Reviewed Dec. 27, 2020

Beautiful Setting

This campground is small but has some of the prettiest views I've seen. I'll definitely visit it again!

Chrischelle N.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 13, 2020

Lovely find!!

Wasn’t expecting much at first, but ended up being pleasantly surprised and happy I stayed here. I can easily say this is one of my favorite campgrounds on my road trip so far. Mostly because it offers so much for free. Plenty of camp spots as well as the ability to park/camp right next to the water. (There’s no Water or Electric hookups) Also, not a lot of places selling firewood nearby. But there is a gas station called Rocky Spring Mart towards the “Cuzzin RV Park” that sells some.

There’s a large boat ramp, and the park itself is perfect for fun water activities. So bring your kayak or paddle boards! There’s even a swim area.

There are flushing toilets and 1 shower stall per bathroom with decent pressure and hot water. They are cleaned daily. (If you’re a tall person you might feel a bit exposed in the shower due to the height of the doors)

There is a park manager that keeps track of every new camper. He asks a few questions and gives you a list of the rules. He’s kind, and will gently tell you if you’re violating said rules.

Speaking of which THE PARK/CAMPGROUND IS CLOSED ON SUNDAYS.

Overall, I’ve had a fun and relaxing time here, and would definitely come again if I’m ever in Tennessee again.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Rhea Springs Recreation Area County Park and Campground?

Camping at Rhea Springs Recreation Area County Park and Campground can cost between $10.00 and $22.00 depending on the site.

What is the elevation of Rhea Springs Recreation Area County Park and Campground?

Rhea Springs Recreation Area County Park and Campground is located at 754 feet.

What is the max vehicle length at Rhea Springs Recreation Area County Park and Campground?

Rhea Springs Recreation Area County Park and Campground allows vehicles up to 40 feet.

Are fires allowed at Rhea Springs Recreation Area County Park and Campground?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Rhea Springs Recreation Area County Park and Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Is there cell phone reception at Rhea Springs Recreation Area County Park and Campground?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is fair.

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