Our List Of Favorite Big South Fork Cabin Rentals
If you are looking for a weekend retreat in the woods and somewhere a little quieter (and a LOT less expensive) than in the Smokies, then look no further than the Cumberland Plateau, especially around Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
You’ll find lots of private rental cabins scattered all over this area at all kinds of sizes and price points.
This list is what I think is the best of the best of Big South Fork cabins that you can rent for your family’s perfect weekend getaway!
I have also specified if they have hot tubs (always a popular amenity) or are pet-friendly (because you can’t leave your fur baby behind right?).
These are the cabins my family has stayed in or looked at staying in when we visit Big South Fork.
If you are looking for cabins that you can stay in inside the park, there is only one place you can do that – Charit Creek Lodge. It is a wonderful hike-in rustic lodge with amazing food despite no electricity.
I take a trip to Charit Creek Lodge every year because it is just that fun. Read my review to find out more.
And if you are a horse person, you are in luck (like won the lottery luck) as the Big South Fork area is a huge horse-riding country. Many of these cabins come with stables and/or paddocks.
So let’s dive in and find you a perfect weekend getaway cabin for your family.
If you want to know more about Big South Fork in general and what activities and sights you should see, read 11 Things To Do In Big South Fork- An Ultimate Guide.
Heads Up: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you. We don’t accept money in exchange for specific recommendations. Read more about our philosophy.
The Best Big South Fork Cabins For Rent – By Location
I’ve tried to group the cabins by where they are located in relation to the park. It is a big area to drive around so you’ll probably want to find a cabin near the main sights or hikes you want to do.
There are lots of rental cabins along Hwy 297 which is the main road through the park as well as in the gated community of Wilderness Resorts.
Bear Creek Scenic Area also has quite a few cabin rentals.
I marked these places on the map as well as some other landmarks I mention below when talking about certain cabin locations.
Cabin Rentals Towards The West Side Of The Park In Tennessee
Beautiful and Serene getaway – trail ride or hike directly into Big South Fork! A 2 BR plus loft/ 2 Ba cabin that sleeps 8 and averages $155 a night. Has a 4 stall barn and you can ride to a trailhead directly from the cabin.
Hot Tub on deck as well. Pet-friendly. Located in Spruce Creek Acres (which you can find on Google Maps) off of Leatherwood Ford Rd/ Hwy 297 which is the main road that cuts across the park.
Enjoy Nature In Style A 3Br plus large basement/ 2 BA ranch-style house that sleeps 15 and averages $260 a night. Across the street from Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area and near the west entrance to Big South Fork as well as near Pickett State Park, this more modern ranch house sits on 26+ acres so it is nice and private.
No pets. The pictures show a hot tub on the back deck but it isn’t mentioned in the description so could be an old picture. If this is important to you, I would email the owner to clarify.
Cabin Rentals In Big South Fork Wilderness Resorts
Wilderness Resorts is a gated cabin community off of Station Camp Road, just outside the park boundaries and not too far from Station Camp Horse Camp in Big South Fork.
There is access to park trails directly from the neighborhood and many of the cabin rentals here accommodate horses as well.
Here is an example of one of the cabins for rent in Wilderness Resorts.
Hilltop Haven Cabin: Mountain Log Cabin With Hot Tub– 3BR/2BA cabin, sleeps 8.
Cabin Rentals In Oneida
If you don’t want to be super far from restaurants and shops but still on a quiet rural road, then check out New!!! Remodeled Summer 2022! Papa Bear’s Cottage, Big South Fork and ATV trails!
It is a 3 BR/ 2.5 BA cottage in the town of Oneida that sleeps 10 and averages $181 a night. The camp room with 3 twin tent beds is so cute. I also love the huge covered porch and that there is walking path directly behind the house. The location is on Grave Hill Road, not far from Hwy 27 through Oneida.
From Oneida, it would take you about an hour to get to the Twin Arches trailhead on the west side of the park but only 35 minutes to Yahoo Falls or Blue Heron Mining Community. No pets.
If you want to know more about the Twin Arches or Yahoo Falls hikes I mention, check out our blog 12 Of Our Favorite Hikes in Big South Fork.
Near Bear Creek Scenic Area/ Blue Heron Mining Community
This is a nice area somewhat centrally located in the park. I think the open-air museum at the former Blue Heron Mining Community (see my review) is super interesting to visit, plus there are some great hiking trails there as well.
Around Bear Creek you have the beautiful Bear Creek Overlook which may be the best place in the park to watch a sunset and also the short hike to the nifty Split Bow Arch.
Creek side cabin, Blair Creek Resort – Cabin #2 A 3 BR/ 1 BA cabin that sleeps 5 and averages $145 a night. No pets. Blair Creek Resorts is a small group of cabins on the banks of Blair Creek (duh) and this cabin has a nice view of the creek from the back deck.
Outside fire pit. *Note- when it lists hot tub as an amenity, it means jacuzzi tub in the bathroom.
There is a park campground near here as well – Bear Creek Horse Camp. To find out more about this campground and the 4 other front-country campgrounds in Big South Fork (including my favorite – Bandy Creek Campground), read Camping in Big South Fork.
Cabin Rentals At The Southern End Of Big South Fork
FLEXWORK, PLAY, TRAIL RIDE, SERENITY! BEAUTY BORDERING BIG SOUTH FORK NATL PARK! A 3 BR/ 2 BA house that sleeps 7 and averages $140 a night. The super special thing about this house is that the owners provide home-cooked breakfast (and other meals depending upon stay length).
And the cooking gets rave reviews. They are also pet friendly, horse friendly (room for 5 horses), and have a ton of games for kids – ping pong, cornhole, foosball, and horseshoes. They’ll even pet sit for your fur babies if you are gone all day. I mean that’s service.
You can find the place on Google Maps- look for End of Trail Bed & Breakfast. About an hour to Twin Arches TH or 70 min to Yahoo Falls. Close to Rugby if you are interested in touring that historic town.
End of Trail Bed and Breakfast has everything you could want in a cabin rental in Big South Fork 
An example of the amazing breakfast you will get at End of Trail Bed and Breakfast
Big South Fork Cabins For Rent With Hot Tub
Just thought I would specifically list the cabin rental mentioned above that has a hot tub – a real hot tub outside on a deck.
Pet-friendly Big South Fork Cabin Rentals
These are the Big South Fork cabins that allow you to bring your fur baby with you. Just make sure you read the fine print because some have a weight limit and almost all have a pet surcharge.
- Beautiful and Serene getaway – trail ride or hike directly into Big South Fork!
- FLEXWORK, PLAY, TRAIL RIDE, SERENITY! BEAUTY BORDERING BIG SOUTH FORK NATL PARK! – this one will even pet sit for you while you are out hiking (although you can take your dog on the trails in Big South Fork).
Laurel Fork Rustic Retreat
Laurel Fork Rustic Retreat is a gated cabin community of privately owned Big South Fork cabins. Some of the cabins within the community are rented by the family-owned property management company.
Laurel Fork is located on Leatherwood Ford Rd/ Hwy 297, not far west of Bandy Creek Campground. It is marked on Google Maps so you can search for it.
There are 7 cabins currently for rent on the Laurel Fork Rustic Retreat website.
- 3 cabins are 1BR/ 1 BA (sleep 2 people)
- 1 cabin is 2BR/ 1BA (sleeps 6)
- 2 cabins are 3BR/ 2 BA (sleep 6)
- 1 cabin is 3 BR/ 2 BA (sleeps 10)
6 of the 7 cabins have stables and paddocks for horses and all cabins have a hot tub. All cabins are pet-friendly with a fee per dog. There is a 2 night minimum stay and a 3 night minimum on holidays and in October.
Charit Creek Lodge
The only lodgings available in the park besides campgrounds, Charit Creek Lodge is a hike-in (or horseback ride in) collection of rustic cabins that have been turned into bunkhouses.
It is also one of my favorite places. It is like camping but not having to carry any stuff and someone else cooks all the food. It is amazingly relaxing rustic comfort despite not having electricity or cell service (or maybe that’s what makes it so relaxing!)
Read my blog about Charit Creek to get all the details – like what the hike in is like, what the different lodging options are, and what to expect food- wise (hint- it’s delicious!).
Pickett State Park
Located just across the street from the western border to Big South Fork, Pickett State Park is a lovely little gem of a state park. It has cabins for rent as well, ranging from historic Civilian Conservation Corps cabins to larger more modern ones.
Warning though – you may decide to spend your whole time in this park though as you read about how much it has to offer!
See my review of the cabins offered at Pickett State Park as well as all the fun things to do there!
You can canoe and swim on the main lake at Pickett State Park 
A historic CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) cabin at Pickett State Park
I hope this helps you find a perfect vacation rental among the many Big South Fork cabins (VRBO Listings) for your family’s next outdoor adventure.
Truly Big South Fork has become a popular place for some time in the woods as the Smokies get busier and busier. I love this park and try to visit as often as I can. When I don’t feel like camping, a cabin rental is a wonderful alternative for our family! Happy Trails- Amanda
