Hiking

Rock Bottom Horse Camp

8 RV Sites

Rock Bottom Horse Camp in Ewing, Virginia, offers a rare and specialized camping experience adjacent to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, providing dedicated equestrian facilities—horse pens, horse paddocks, and gated access—alongside traditional hiking and camping infrastructure at the doorstep of one of the most historically significant mountain passes in American history. Situated in Lee County at the convergence of Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, the camp serves horse-camping enthusiasts who want to ride the national historical park's backcountry trail system with their own animals in the same landscape that Daniel Boone and the Wilderness Road's first American settlers passed through in the 1770s. The camp's equestrian infrastructure is its defining distinction: horse pens and paddocks that allow riders to bring their own animals, a dump station for clean-up, and gated access that provides the security that horse campers with valuable animals need when leaving stock overnight. Walking trails on the property connect to the broader trail network, and the pet-friendly and open-access character of the facility suits the self-sufficient camping style typical of the equestrian camping community that travels with horses, trailers, and all necessary gear. The camp's primitive character relative to RV resorts is entirely appropriate for guests whose primary experience is horseback exploration of the mountain terrain. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park preserves the natural mountain pass in the Cumberland Mountains where the Warrior's Path—the ancient migratory corridor used by elk, bison, and the Indigenous peoples who hunted them—became the Wilderness Road, the primary route of American westward expansion in the late eighteenth century. An estimated 300,000 settlers passed through the gap between 1775 and 1810, making it one of the most consequential geographic features in the story of the United States' territorial expansion. The park's 24,000 acres encompass the gap itself, Pinnacle Overlook's panoramic vista of three states, and the Hensley Settlement—a remarkably intact early twentieth-century mountain farm community restored to operating condition on the ridge above the gap. The park's 85 miles of trails provide equestrian access through a landscape of Appalachian hardwood forest, ridge-crest meadows, and the historical features—road traces, fortification sites, and pioneer homestead foundations—that give the terrain historical depth alongside its natural beauty. The Cumberland Gap town of Middlesboro, Kentucky, just across the state line from Ewing, provides the nearest commercial services including fuel, grocery, and dining options for guests making supply runs during multi-day stays. The surrounding Powell Valley's agricultural character and the Lee County countryside's Appalachian heritage provide a rich cultural backdrop for guests exploring this corner of far southwestern Virginia. Rock Bottom Horse Camp operates seasonally from spring through fall in the southern Appalachian climate that delivers comfortable trail riding temperatures through most of the outdoor season. The spring wildflower bloom in the national park's hardwood forests and the October foliage season represent the most visually rewarding windows for equestrian exploration, and these periods generate the highest demand among riders who time their visits to the landscape's seasonal highlights. Guests planning to bring horses should contact the camp well in advance to confirm paddock and pen availability, as equestrian camping facilities in the Cumberland Gap corridor are limited and in consistent demand from the horse-camping community.

from $30/night

Yeary Valley Farms

4 RV Sites, 4 Tiny Houses

Yeary Valley Farms in Speedwell, Tennessee, offers four full-hookup RV sites and four tiny houses on a working farm in the Appalachian highlands, with 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 45 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. Themed cabin rentals, farm animals, and a pond make this a farm stay rather than a conventional campground. Four back-in sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 50-amp, sized to 45 feet, with fire pits. Four tiny houses and individually themed cabins serve guests without a rig — the themed units are much of the appeal here. At four RV sites, availability is genuinely limited, so book well ahead. Pets are welcome. The farm setting carries the experience, with farm animals on the property and a pond for fishing. Hiking, boating, and stargazing run from the area, and the dark rural sky at this elevation is worth an evening on its own. The position is unusually good for outdoor recreation. Norris Lake — Tennessee's finest fishing lake — has a public boat launch two miles away, and the Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area's extensive ATV and UTV trail network is 12 miles out. Off-roading is nearby, which draws a steady share of guests. The farm sits right off Highway 63 in Speedwell, with Flat Hollow Marina, Blue Springs Hollow Boat Dock, Powell Valley Resort, a Sunoco fuel station, and a Dollar General all within short distance. Summer lake season and fall riding weather drive demand. With four RV sites and four tiny houses, reserve as far ahead as you can.

from $40/night

Mammoth Ridge RV Park

20 RV Sites

Mammoth Ridge RV Park and Campground in Greeneville, Tennessee, offers full-hookup RV sites on a lake with its own beach, a dog park, a general store and golf cart rentals. Sites take rigs up to 75 feet with electric hookups, which accommodates most large coaches traveling the Nolichucky valley between Morristown and Johnson City. Full-hookup RV sites with electric service accommodate rigs to 75 feet, and a dump station is on site. RV storage is available for guests leaving a rig between visits. Bathrooms, showers and laundry cover the practical side of a stay, a general store stocks basics and firewood, and WiFi reaches the sites. The lake is the property's center of gravity. A beach gives swimmers direct access, and fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking and paddle boats put guests on the water without leaving the campground. Walking trails and biking routes run the grounds, volleyball and gaga ball serve the younger crowd, and a covered pavilion handles group gatherings. A fenced dog park is on site and pets are welcome. Golf cart rentals make the property easy to move around, and a golf course is nearby. One practical note: this is bear country despite the populated setting, so store food accordingly. Greeneville is the home of Andrew Johnson, and the National Historic Site downtown preserves his homestead, tailor shop and cemetery. The Nolichucky River Gorge lies 20 miles south in the Cherokee National Forest, where a 14-mile canyon carries Class III–IV whitewater, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Cosby entrance is a 45-mile drive southwest. The campground runs spring through fall. Cherokee National Forest wildflowers peak April into May, and October foliage on the northeast Tennessee ridgelines is the busiest window of the year — with the Roan Mountain rhododendron bloom, 40 miles northeast, drawing heavily from mid-June into early July. Reserve ahead for both.

from $60/night

Forest Grove RV Resort

188 RV Sites

Forest Grove RV Resort in Dandridge, Tennessee, offers 188 full-hookup RV sites across 206 acres between Cherokee Lake and Douglas Lake, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 60 feet. Basic and standard back-in categories join a splash pad, outdoor pool, and pond in East Tennessee's lake country. One hundred eighty-eight back-in sites run in basic and standard categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp with site WiFi, sized to 60 feet, with picnic tables. The sites are spacious across the 206-acre property. A general store, propane fills and exchange, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. A splash pad and outdoor pool anchor the summer, with sports courts, volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, corn hole, and an arcade filling the grounds. A pond supports fishing, with walking trails, hiking, a playground, pavilion, and dog park besides. The forest setting across 206 acres gives genuine space between sites. Pets are welcome. Dandridge sits in Jefferson County between two of the region's best fishing lakes — Cherokee and Douglas — with the broader Great Smoky Mountains corridor within reach. That combination of serious recreational infrastructure and direct lake proximity is what has built the resort's reputation in East Tennessee. The resort serves the Tennessee lake season. Summer fishing and boating drive the heaviest demand, with October foliage in the Smokies bringing a second wave and the shoulder seasons offering the most comfortable conditions. Reserve ahead for warm-weather weekends and fall color.

from $55/night

Knoxville Campground

43 RV Sites

In Clinton, Tennessee—10 miles north of Knoxville off Interstate 75 in Anderson County where the Tennessee River Valley's ridges, the Tennessee Museum of Appalachia's folk heritage collection, and the Norris Dam's 1936 TVA engineering represent the specific convergence of Appalachian cultural heritage and New Deal infrastructure that the greater Knoxville metropolitan area offers within a 20-minute drive—Knoxville Campground provides full hookup RV sites with 50-amp service, four cabin types, a club room, laundry, arcade, and the I-75 access that makes it the most convenient family campground for northbound and southbound travelers needing a Knoxville-area base. Family-owned and operated by Kiefer Campgrounds, the property is open year-round and golf cart friendly. Full hookup RV sites with water, electric, and sewer connections provide 50-amp service capable of running the largest modern motorhomes and fifth wheels in all weather conditions. Cabin accommodations span four configurations—Rustic Cabins for the nature-forward guest, Mini Deluxe Cabins sleeping three, Deluxe Cabins sleeping four, and Super Deluxe Cabins sleeping six—giving families and groups the enclosed lodging alternative without requiring RV equipment. Hot showers with air conditioning serve the shared hygiene need year-round. A newly remodeled club room houses pool tables, card tables, and arcade games providing indoor entertainment for evenings and rainy days. On-site laundry handles the extended-stay practical requirement, and free WiFi covers the property for connectivity. Tent sites in a designated wooded area serve the lightweight camper. The campground is pet-friendly throughout. The Knoxville metropolitan area's outdoor recreation landscape begins immediately outside the campground. House Mountain State Natural Area—the highest point in Knox County—provides the ridgeline hiking with panoramic valley views that the eastern Tennessee geography makes available within a 20-minute drive. The Tennessee Riverboat Company's operations on the Tennessee River provide the scenic waterway experience that the river's industrial and natural history makes particularly interesting in the Knoxville context, where the TVA's dam system transformed the river from a flood-prone seasonal problem into the managed reservoir system that now anchors the region's recreation economy. The Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue provides the wildlife encounter experience that brings families with young children specifically to the Clinton area. The Tennessee Museum of Appalachia—one of the most complete collections of Southern Appalachian folk and material culture in the United States—occupies the nearby community of Norris and provides the cultural programming that makes Anderson County more than just an I-75 stopping point. The Museum of Appalachia's working farm, the dozens of reconstructed historic cabins, and the artifact collection assembled over 50 years by John Rice Irwin create a cultural property of national significance accessible within 15 minutes of the campground. Knoxville Campground is open year-round in eastern Tennessee's four-season climate. The campground's I-75 off-ramp proximity makes it equally functional as a one-night transit stop or a multi-day Knoxville-area base. The spring wildflower season in the surrounding ridge terrain, the summer river recreation calendar, and the fall foliage color across the Appalachian ridges that visible from the Anderson County ridgelines create the seasonal programming that makes return visits practical. Reserve your 50-amp site, map the House Mountain trailhead for the morning, and let Clinton's position as a Knoxville-area gateway earn the convenience and character that interstate access and Appalachian heritage together provide.

from $58/night

Cumberland Falls RV Resort

25 RV Sites

Cumberland Falls RV Resort in Parkers Lake, Kentucky, offers 25 full-hookup RV sites with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 45 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout, at the gateway to one of the Appalachians' most extraordinary natural wonders. Premium WiFi, golf cart rentals, a lake, and a fishing pier serve guests exploring the Daniel Boone National Forest. Twenty-five sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp in back-in and pull-through configurations, sized to 45 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. A general store, restrooms, showers, firewood, and both standard and premium WiFi handle the practical side. Pets are welcome. A lake and fishing pier sit on the property, with a river and creek running nearby. Sports courts, pickleball, horseshoes, corn hole, walking trails, a pavilion, and a dog park fill the grounds, with golf cart rentals to cross the property and planned activities through the season. Hiking, whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, stargazing, and birding all run from the area, with boating and a casino nearby. Cumberland Falls is the reason to come. The 125-foot-wide curtain of the Cumberland River plunges 68 feet through a sandstone gorge and produces a moonbow visible by full moon light — a phenomenon found in only a handful of locations worldwide. The state resort park, the Daniel Boone National Forest, and the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area all converge here, with SomerSplash Waterpark and Wildcat Off-Road Park nearby. Full moon weekends draw moonbow viewers specifically. Reserve well ahead for those dates and for October foliage.

from $69/night

White Sands RV Resort

2 RV Sites

White Sands RV Resort in Greeneville, Tennessee, offers full-hookup pull-through sites accommodating rigs up to 85 feet in length on a 65-acre property in Greene County's Nolichucky River valley — a generously scaled resort with Great Smoky Mountains views in a historically significant east Tennessee community that served as the home of Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, and as the birthplace of David Crockett, two of the most consequential figures in early American political and frontier mythology whose Greene County connections give the area a historical depth that most visitors pursuing the nearby Smokies corridor pass without recognizing. The resort's 65-acre landscape, its view of the Great Smoky Mountains on the southern horizon, and the practical infrastructure for the full range of contemporary RV configurations give it the destination quality that east Tennessee's outdoor recreation and cultural tourism specifically reward. Full-hookup pull-through sites on level terrain give the resort the practical utility that large-rig operators specifically prioritize, and the 85-foot site accommodation covers the full range of contemporary RV and fifth-wheel configurations without the frustrating size restrictions that older or more compact campgrounds impose on extended motorhome and fifth-wheel travelers. The 65-acre property allows the site spacing and natural landscaping that give the resort a parklike character rather than the cramped urban campground feel that acreage constraints impose on smaller properties. Pets are welcome. Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, managed by the National Park Service in downtown Greeneville, preserves the tailor shop where Johnson worked before entering politics, his two homes from different periods of his life, and the national cemetery where Johnson is buried — the most complete presidential historic site in Tennessee and one of the more intimate interpretations of a 19th-century American political biography available in the National Park system. Johnson's presidency during Reconstruction and the single Senate conviction vote that failed to remove him from office give the site a historical significance that the modest Greeneville setting underscores in the specific way that visiting the actual places of a president's life rather than their memorialized monuments uniquely provides. The Nolichucky River through Greene County's gorge section, west of Greeneville near Erwin in Unicoi County, offers the finest Class IV whitewater paddling in Tennessee — a spectacular river gorge cut through the Unaka and Iron Mountains that sustains a commercial rafting and kayaking industry drawing paddlers from across the Appalachian region for the river's combination of technical difficulty and the gorge's natural scenery. The Cherokee National Forest's Nolichucky Gorge unit protects the forested ridges above the river in a wilderness corridor that the National Forest's trail network extends into the surrounding Unaka Mountain terrain. White Sands RV Resort serves guests year-round in Greene County's temperate east Tennessee climate, with the spring and fall seasons representing the most comfortable outdoor recreation conditions and the Great Smoky Mountains views from the resort providing the specific scenic anchor that gives the property its name and its primary visual appeal. The Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park, nine miles east of Greeneville on the Nolichucky River, preserves the site of the folk hero and congressman's birth in 1786 and the limestone spring that the Crockett family relied on, creating the beginning of a Crockett heritage trail that extends to the Alamo's 1836 conclusion. Reserve large-rig pull-through sites ahead for the peak summer season and any major Greene County events that draw the regional visitor market.

Rustling Pines Campground

16 RV Sites, 1 Tent Site

Rustling Pines Campground spreads across 40 acres adjacent to the Daniel Boone National Forest in Laurel County, Kentucky, outside London—a small city in southeastern Kentucky's Lake Cumberland region that serves as a practical base for exploring the forest, reservoir, and waterfall country of one of the most scenically rich corners of the Appalachian plateau. The rustling pines campground stands out in this region for combining full-service RV camping with equestrian facilities—horse stalls and nearly four miles of hiking and equestrian trails—in a package that serves both standard camping visitors and the horse campers who drive long distances for trail riding in Daniel Boone National Forest terrain. The campground offers full hookup RV sites with 30 and 50-amp service, big-rig-friendly pull-through pads, primitive tent sites, and cabin rentals, alongside horse stall rentals at $10 per night for equestrian campers. Trail access from the property extends directly into the national forest trail network, and a natural log-and-branch playground built from site materials provides a nature-integrated play structure for children that stands apart from the plastic and metal playground equipment most campgrounds install. Clean modern bathhouses, picnic areas with fire pits, and reliable WiFi and cell service complete the guest services. London and Laurel County occupy the Cumberland Plateau in southeastern Kentucky, a landscape of sandstone ridges, hemlock ravines, and the cold mountain streams that feed Laurel River Lake and provide some of the finest trout fishing in the South. The Daniel Boone National Forest, which surrounds much of the campground, encompasses 708,000 acres of the Cumberland and Red River regions—a landscape that supports black bear, wild turkey, and white-tailed deer alongside the quiet forest trail experience that draws both riders and hikers from the Ohio Valley and the Southeast. Laurel River Lake, a few miles from the campground, is a clear, deep reservoir in the Daniel Boone National Forest with a swimming beach, boat launch, and fishing for bass, catfish, and the walleye stocked annually by the state. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, about 30 minutes southwest, is home to Cumberland Falls—the Niagara of the South—and is one of only two places in the Western Hemisphere where a moonbow, a rainbow produced by moonlight, reliably appears during full moons over the waterfall. Corbin, about 20 minutes south, is the home of the original Harland Sanders Café and Museum, where Colonel Sanders first developed the Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe in a restaurant that is still operating as a working KFC and museum. Rustling Pines Campground is open through the Kentucky camping season with peak demand in summer and fall. The equestrian facilities distinguish it from the broader camping market in the London corridor, drawing horse camping groups for multi-day trail rides in a national forest that offers exceptional equestrian terrain. Book horse stalls well in advance for fall camping weekends, when the hardwood foliage along the Cumberland Plateau trails creates conditions that equestrian campers consider among the finest in the eastern United States.

from $16 $14/night

Sun Outdoors Pigeon Forge

194 RV Sites, 9 Cabins, 14 Cottages

Sun Outdoors Pigeon Forge in Sevierville, Tennessee, offers 194 full-hookup RV sites and 23 cabin and cottage units at the gateway to the Great Smokies, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted up to 100 feet, open all year. Waterfront Signature, Signature Deluxe back-in, and Signature pull-through categories join standard tiers, with a lazy river, hot tub, and jumping pillow. One hundred ninety-four sites span standard full hookup, standard pull-thru full hookup, Signature deluxe back-in, Signature pull-thru full hookup, and waterfront Signature full hookup categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with cable TV and site WiFi, sized to 100 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. One hundred feet is exceptional for the Smokies, where terrain usually limits length. Twenty-three cabins and cottages round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, propane fills, dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. The daily resort fee covers cable and WiFi, local attraction discounts, the fitness center, and access to the amenity program, with the arcade priced separately. A lazy river and outdoor pool anchor the summer, with a hot tub and sauna alongside. A fitness center, recreation center, game room, arcade, jumping pillow, gaga ball, sports courts, pickleball, basketball, golf cart rentals, a pond, creek, playground, pavilion, dog park, and on-site dining fill the rest, with live music and planned activities through the season. Dollywood and the park entrance are minutes away. Summer and fall foliage drive demand hard. Reserve well ahead.

from $39/night

Halls Top Hangout

5 Cabins

Hall's Top Hangout in Hartford, Tennessee, offers five cabins in the Pigeon River gorge, with walking trails, restrooms, showers, and firewood on a mountain property in Cocke County. The setting at the confluence of Big Creek and the Pigeon River puts guests at the launching point for the Upper Pigeon's commercial rafting corridor. Five cabins make up the accommodations — this is cabin lodging rather than an RV park, so there are no sites or hookups here. Restrooms, showers, and firewood serve the property. With five cabins, book well ahead rather than counting on availability. Walking trails run the mountain property, with hiking and birding from the grounds and a creek and river close by. Off-roading and skiing are nearby. The setting is the offering — this is a genuine mountain retreat rather than a programmed resort. Hartford sits where I-40 crosses the Pigeon River in a gap between the Bald Mountains and the Smokies' main ridge. That position gives access to the most intense whitewater rafting in the Tennessee Smokies, and it is also the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park's most remote and least-visited northern access at Cosby — a genuinely different park experience from the Gatlinburg corridor's crowds. The property serves the Smokies season. Summer rafting and October foliage drive the heaviest demand in the gorge, with the Cosby side of the park staying quieter than the main corridor throughout. Reserve well ahead for fall color weekends.

Pigeon Forge Landing

99 RV Sites

Pigeon Forge Landing in Sevierville, Tennessee, offers 99 full-hookup RV sites along a lazy river, with 30 and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 50 feet at a brand-new resort. Executive Waterfront back-in, Mountain View Executive Plus, and Executive+ pull-through categories join standard tiers, with a pool, fitness center, and clubhouse. Ninety-nine sites span Executive back-in, Executive+ pull-thru, Executive waterfront back-in, Mountain View Executive Plus, Mountain View, and pull-thru categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp with cable TV and site WiFi, sized to 50 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Naming categories by outlook — waterfront or mountain view — tells you exactly what you are booking. A general store handles the practical side. One policy to clear first: the resort has a ten-year age restriction on all RVs, though older coaches are reviewed for approval — send a photo to [email protected] before booking. An outdoor pool anchors the property, with a fitness center, clubhouse, playground, and dog park filling the grounds. Canoeing, kayaking, pickleball, and hiking round it out. Pets are welcome. The property is new throughout, which shows in the finishes. Sevierville sits minutes from the Pigeon Forge entertainment corridor and the western entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the most visited national park in the country at more than 12 million visitors a year. Summer and fall foliage drive demand hard in the Smokies. Reserve well ahead, and clear RV approval early if your coach is older.

from $66 $57/night

Creekside RV Park - TN

106 RV Sites

Creekside RV Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, offers 106 full-hookup RV sites along Walden's Creek, with 30 and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 45 feet behind a gated entrance. Creekside categories at both amperages join standard full-hookup and pull-through tiers, with a lazy river, outdoor pool, zip line, and mini-golf. One hundred six sites span 30-amp full hookup, 30-amp creekside full hookup, 50/30-amp full hookup, creekside full hookup 30/50-amp, and pull-thru full hookup categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with cable TV and site WiFi, sized to 45 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. The creekside categories put you on the water and are worth requesting early. A general store, laundry, dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. Rates run by season — roughly $55 for 30-amp and $60 for 50-amp in early spring, rising to $60 and $65 through the summer, with separate fall pricing. A lazy river and outdoor pool anchor the summer, with a zip line, mini-golf, pavilion, walking trails, and on-site dining filling the grounds. The creek supports fishing, canoeing, and kayaking, with hiking, biking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, live music, and productive birding nearby. A golf course and skiing are close. Four miles from Dollywood puts the resort inside the most entertainment-dense corridor in the southern Appalachians, with the national park's 521,000 acres just beyond. Summer and fall foliage drive demand hard. Reserve well ahead.

from $55/night