State Park Nearby

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

Lakeview RV Resort

87 RV Sites

Lakeview RV Resort in Bluff City, Tennessee, offers 87 full-hookup RV sites overlooking Boone Lake with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 50 feet, open all year. Standard, cable-equipped, and wide back-in categories join a storm shelter, fishing pier, boat docks, and outdoor pool. Eighty-seven back-in sites run in standard, with-cable, and wide with-cable categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp, sized to 50 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. The wide category is worth requesting for larger rigs or guests who want elbow room. Cabins round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, propane fills, restrooms, and firewood handle the practical side, with a storm shelter on site — a genuine safety feature in the Tennessee Valley. Site rates vary by category and date. An outdoor pool anchors the warm months, with a lake, pond, fishing pier, boat docks, and boat rentals giving direct water access for fishing, boating, canoeing, and kayaking. A recreation center, playground, pavilion, dog park, horseshoes, corn hole, biking, and on-site dining fill the rest, with planned activities through the season. Pets are welcome. The elevated viewshed over Boone Lake against the Blue Ridge is the resort's signature. Bluff City sits on US-11E between Johnson City and Kingsport, with the lake's bass and walleye fishery and the South Holston River tailwater close by. Year-round operation makes this viable across seasons. Summer and October foliage are the peaks — reserve ahead.

from $55/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

Cove Ridge Marina & Resort

5 RV Sites, 1 Cabin, 2 Houses

Cove Ridge Marina and Resort occupies a private cove on Watauga Lake in Butler, Tennessee, delivering one of the most scenic marina and camping combinations in the southern Appalachians. Watauga Lake is Tennessee's highest-elevation lake—sitting at roughly 1,959 feet and flanked by the ridges of Cherokee National Forest—and the cove ridge marina position on its shoreline provides mountain views, deep clear water, and a natural setting that defines the experience from the moment you arrive. The marina anchors the resort's water-activity offerings with covered and open boat slips, dry storage, fuel service, boat rentals, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals, and a Dock House Restaurant serving meals at the water's edge. RV sites overlook the lake and surrounding mountain ridges, offering the kind of camping vistas that justify driving considerably out of the way. For guests who prefer enclosed accommodations, the resort offers a historic two-bedroom farmhouse, a three-bedroom lakehouse sleeping up to eight, a cozy tiny cabin with loft beds, and three Safari Tents that combine outdoor character with comfortable furnishings. Watauga Lake's geography sets it apart from Tennessee's other reservoirs. Created by the TVA's Watauga Dam in 1948, the lake fills a high mountain valley that produces consistently clear, cool water and the long ridgeline views that define the Southern Appalachian experience. The Cherokee National Forest extends in every direction from the resort, providing immediate access to backcountry terrain that ranges from gentle ridge-top walks to serious wilderness routes approaching Roan Mountain's famous rhododendron balds above 6,000 feet. The Appalachian Trail crosses Watauga Lake via a pedestrian bridge at Watauga Dam, and the trail corridor through this section of Northeast Tennessee offers day hiking and multi-day backpacking access that few lakeside resorts can match. The historic community of Shady Valley nearby is one of the best cranberry bog habitats in the southeastern United States. The Tri-Cities metropolitan area—Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol—is 30 to 45 minutes away, providing full commercial services, Bristol Motor Speedway, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, and the cultural offerings of a region that sits at the geographic heart of Appalachian heritage. Cove Ridge Marina and Resort operates seasonally through the warmer months, with boat slip demand and cabin reservations picking up early for summer weekends on one of Tennessee's most beautiful lakes. Watauga Lake's high elevation keeps temperatures noticeably cooler than the lowland reservoirs, making summer camping here genuinely comfortable without air conditioning in most years. Visitors who want to pair on-the-water recreation with easy Appalachian Trail access and dramatic mountain scenery will find that Cove Ridge delivers a natural setting that rivals anything in the Tennessee highlands.

Fish Springs at Little Pond Mountain Campground

19 RV Sites

Fish Springs at Little Pond Mountain Campground in Hampton, Tennessee, offers 19 full-hookup RV sites with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, sized for rigs to 45 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout, at the base of Roan Mountain in the upper Doe River valley. An outdoor pool and ball field sit on a property built as a base for southern Appalachian mountain recreation. Nineteen back-in sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp, sized to 45 feet, with picnic tables and site WiFi. A dump station, laundry, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. One vehicle is allowed per site, with an extra vehicle fee of $1 per night on arrival — among the more modest such charges in this batch. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with a ball field and basketball on the grounds. Boating, swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and biking all run from the area, with off-roading and a golf course nearby. The cold, clear mountain streams around Roan Mountain hold some of the finest wild trout water in the East, which is why many guests book. Pets are welcome. Hampton sits in Carter County where the Cherokee National Forest's spruce-fir summits, the Appalachian Trail's high-elevation traverse, and Watauga Lake's shoreline converge — one of the most recreation-rich environments in the southern Appalachians. The campground serves the mountain season. The June rhododendron bloom on Roan Mountain and October foliage are the two peak windows, with summer lake and trout traffic between them. With 19 sites, reserve well ahead for any of the three.

from $20/night

Black Bear Resort

Black Bear Resort in Hampton, Tennessee, offers cottages, cabins, a bunkhouse, tent sites, and RV camping four-tenths of a mile from the Dennis Cove Trailhead, with a breakfast cafe, laundry, and shuttle service to Appalachian Trail access points. It is an Appalachian Trail Passport stamp location, and the section-hiker infrastructure is what the resort has built its identity around. Accommodations span the range. Cottages and cabins provide enclosed lodging, a bunkhouse offers hostel-style dormitory space for thru-hikers and groups, and tent sites and RV sites cover the rest. Laundry and restrooms serve guests coming off multi-day sections, and the on-site dining room handles meals — the breakfast cafe in particular is a fixture for hikers heading out. Pets are welcome. Walking trails run from the property, and the resort's shuttle service to multiple AT trailheads is the practical amenity that sets it apart in this corridor. Hiking, fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, and biking are all accessible from camp, and a playground serves families. Firewood is available on site. The Dennis Cove Trailhead, four-tenths of a mile away, enters the Appalachian Trail near Laurel Fork waterfall. Watauga Lake's 6,430 acres provide warmwater and tailwater fishing across the Big Creek inlet, the Laurel Creek embayment, and the Watauga River below the dam. The Roan Highlands' rhododendron balds bloom in June, visible for miles from the surrounding ridges. The resort serves the Carter County mountain season. Thru-hiker traffic peaks in spring as northbound hikers come through, and the June rhododendron bloom and October foliage draw the general visitor market. Reserve ahead for all three.

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.

Doe River Landing

5 RV Sites, 1 Cabin, 1 Onsite RV/Trailer

Doe River Landing in Roan Mountain, Tennessee, offers six RV sites with water and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp service, plus a cabin and a travel trailer rental, in the Doe River gorge of Carter County. Sites take rigs to 45 feet with fire pits and picnic tables, and site WiFi reaches the property. At six sites this is a small, modern operation minutes from Roan Mountain State Park. Six back-in sites carry water and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp, in premium and standard configurations sized to 45 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. A cabin and a travel trailer rental serve guests without a rig. A dump station is on site for guests without sewer connections, and a general store, firewood, laundry, restrooms, and showers cover the practical side. The property makes good use of its river frontage and mountain setting. Walking trails run the grounds past a community fire pit and a pavilion, with a dog park and playground for families and pets. Fishing, swimming, hiking, volleyball, horseshoes, corn hole, and picnicking all run from the property, and the mountain and creek terrain makes for good birding. A barn on site doubles as a wedding venue. Pets are welcome. Roan Mountain State Park and the Appalachian Trail's Roan Highlands balds are minutes away. Bristol Motor Speedway, Grandfather Mountain, and Sugar Mountain Ski Resort are all within day-drive range, and skiing and snowboarding are nearby in season. Office hours run 9am to 6pm Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and 9am to 8pm Friday and Saturday, seasonally. The June rhododendron bloom on Roan Mountain and October foliage are the two peak windows — with six sites, book as far ahead as you can.

from $57/night

Roan Creek Campground by Doe Mountain

Roan Creek Campground by Doe Mountain in Butler, Tennessee, offers spacious full-hookup RV sites with water, sewer, and electric, alongside tent camping and rustic cabins on Roan Creek in northeast Tennessee. Fire pits, picnic tables, and site WiFi serve guests using the property as a base for the region's outdoor recreation. Full-hookup back-in sites carry water, sewer, and electric with fire pits and picnic tables. Rustic cabins provide enclosed lodging, and tent sites cover simpler camping. A dump station, restrooms, showers, and WiFi handle the practical side. Pets are welcome. The creek is the setting. Walking trails run the property, with fishing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, hiking, picnicking, and birding all available from camp. The mountain terrain surrounds the campground on every side, and the water is the reason most guests book. Doe Mountain Recreation Area is the headline draw — 8,700 acres of trails and adventure terrain, and one of the more substantial riding and hiking areas in the region. Beyond it, northeast Tennessee's high country opens up in every direction, with the Appalachian corridor's lakes, rivers, and ridgelines all within reach. The campground works equally well for a quiet getaway and an active outdoor trip, which is much of its appeal — guests can ride Doe Mountain all day or spend it beside the creek without leaving the property. The campground serves the northeast Tennessee mountain season. Summer water recreation and October foliage drive the heaviest demand, with riding season on Doe Mountain extending through the shoulder months. Reserve ahead for fall color weekends.

from $20/night

Firefly Hills

13 RV Sites

Firefly Hills in Beattyville, Kentucky, sits in Lee County's eastern Kentucky mountains within minutes of some of the most concentrated outdoor recreation terrain in the Appalachian South — Red River Gorge Geological Area, Daniel Boone National Forest, and Natural Bridge State Resort Park collectively provide hundreds of miles of hiking, world-class rock climbing, kayaking, and horseback riding accessible from a campground that specifically caters to the full-time RVers, adventure travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts who make the Red River Gorge corridor a long-term base rather than a quick passing visit. Fifteen spacious RV sites with full hookups on level concrete pads with picnic tables give guests the practical infrastructure for extended stays, and the campground's brand-new bathhouse with three full bathrooms — including an ADA-accessible unit — reflects the investment in quality daily facilities that sets Firefly Hills apart from older rural Kentucky campgrounds whose infrastructure reflects decades without renovation. An on-site laundry room with card-operated machines handles the needs of longer-stay guests, and a garbage and recycling station provides the waste management infrastructure that responsible extended-stay camping requires. The campground's welcoming atmosphere and explicit inclusion focus create a community environment suited to solo travelers, couples, and families arriving from the widest range of backgrounds and camping styles. RV rentals available through the campground extend its accessibility to guests who want the Red River Gorge experience without owning their own equipment. The campground's orchard provides a pleasant walking and exploration environment between outdoor excursions, the stocked pond offers camp-side fishing in a natural setting, and community campfires serve the social gathering function that the concentrated outdoor recreation community of the Red River Gorge corridor naturally cultivates — guests in this region tend to share climbing routes, trail recommendations, and paddling conditions in the informal evening exchanges that campfire settings specifically enable. Red River Gorge Geological Area in the Daniel Boone National Forest is internationally recognized as one of the finest sandstone arch landscapes in the eastern United States — over 100 natural arches across a deeply dissected plateau of Corbin sandstone, including Haystack Rock, Double Arch, and the accessible Sky Bridge trail that delivers a natural arch crossing experience to casual hikers. The Red River's gorge provides Class I-III paddling through the geological area, and the climbing at the Military Wall, Muir Valley, and dozens of additional crags attracts sport climbers from across the Appalachian region and the Midwest for the concentration of quality routes per canyon mile. Natural Bridge State Resort Park provides the flagship arch viewshed accessible by trail or skylift. Firefly Hills operates year-round in eastern Kentucky's mountain climate, with spring and fall representing the most popular outdoor recreation seasons — spring wildflowers in the gorge from April through May and fall foliage in October through early November create two peak windows of extraordinary natural beauty in the Lee County mountain terrain. Rock climbing season extends from March through November, and the paddling season on the Red River peaks with spring rains and fall precipitation. Reserve sites ahead for the October foliage season, when Red River Gorge area campgrounds fill from the Louisville, Lexington, and Cincinnati markets that specifically target the Appalachian fall color window.

from $47/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

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