5 Of Our Favorite Campgrounds Near Knoxville, TN For Tent Camping
These 5 campgrounds near Knoxville, TN are some of our favorites for tent camping. They also have the distinction of being perfectly terrific just on their own or as a base camp to explore nearby towns or trails.
With the anticipation of the longs days of summer or the the approach of fall and the promise of cooler nights, it’s time to dust off those tents and take the family camping!
We love each of these campgrounds because you have the option to park the car for the entirety of your stay and still have plenty to do directly from the campground. Or, never leave your camp site and just enjoy time in your hammock.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, you’ll find jaw-dropping views from nearby trails or even a nice lunch at a hipster restaurant. (I’ve included some nearby food finds for each campground as well.)
And better yet, each of these camping options are within 2.5 hours from Knoxville TN. You can reserve sites online, and you should do it soon as these campgrounds fill up fast, especially on weekends.
P.S. This is what we use to plan our camping trip- A Detailed Review And Handy Checklist Of What To Pack For Car Camping.
1. Lake Powhatan Campground
Located 2 hours from Knoxville near Asheville, NC
This shady campground sits at 2200’ and all sites are within walking distance of the lake. I particularly like the tent sites at Lake Powhatan because they are fairly large with lots of trees and rhododendron, so it feels semi-secluded without feeling like other campers are too close.
Bathrooms have showers, and you can buy firewood and ice from the campground store.
One of our favorite things about Lake Powhatan Campground is its proximity to Asheville, NC if you feel like grabbing a bite to eat or exploring this hip city. But you don’t need to leave the campground as there is plenty to do right here.
Things To Do Near Lake Powhatan Campground
Mountain Biking- There are nearly 30 miles of double track and single track open for biking in Bent Creek Forest with options for all skill levels. The easier Hardtimes Trail follows a forest service road leading to Lake Powhatan and links to several trails.
Float Trip- Enjoy a float trip down the gentle, slow moving French Broad River. Rent a kayak, pack snacks, and enjoy a lazy day on the river. It’s a 7 mile river trip along the shoreline of the Biltmore Estate and takes 2-3 hours. The Asheville Outdoor Center, located a 15 minute drive from the campground, provides everything you need to take this self-guided trip.
Apple Picking- If you are visiting in September or October, take the family apple picking at a local orchard. Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard and Justus Apple Farm are two local favorites.
The North Carolina Arboretum and Blue Ridge Parkway– These North Carolina gems are just a few miles from the entrance to Lake Powhatan Campground.
Eat At A Restaurant In Nearby Asheville, NC– Recently named one of the hottest food cities in America by Zagat, Asheville has no shortage of fantastic local restaurants and breweries, and children are welcome at all of them. Downtown Asheville is a 20 minute drive from Lake Powahatan Campground.
Here are some favorite Asheville restaurants to check out:
- BBQ: Buxton Hall
- Breakfast: Early Girl Eatery
- Beer and Great Food: Wicked Weed
- Tacos: White Duck Taco
- Pizza: Asheville Brewing Company
See our Fun Asheville Weekend Getaway With Kids for all things to do and see in this awesome mountain town!
2. Davidson River Campground
2 hours and 20 min. from Knoxville near Brevard, NC
Davidson River Campground, elevation 2150′, is large and fairly crowded, but it’s location can’t be beat–it’s tucked away but only 10 minutes from downtown Brevard with its shops (including a great toy store), restaurants, antiques, and art galleries.
Brevard is also home to Dupont State Forest, which offers plenty of hiking and mountain biking trails to explore. The Hunger Games movie was filmed at Dupont where you can visit Triple Falls, the most recognizable mountain scenery in the movie.
Tip: For tent campers, try to get a site in the no-generators Poplar Loop. You can reserve a site in advance–definitely recommended for weekend visits. Bring bikes to enjoy the trail along the river.
Things To Do Near Davidson River Campground
Stroll Main Street- Window shop and enjoy the the relaxing downtown vibe. Make sure to check out O.P. Taylor’s Toy Store. Browse through two floors loaded with toys for kids of all ages. Fun for adults too with lots of retro toys, a race track kids can play with (and you too), and a terrific selection of LEGOs.
Hiking- In Dupont National Forest, hike to High Falls and Triple Falls and visit the Covered Bridge. The hikes are easy and short–perfect for the family. Pack a picnic, relax, and channel your inner Katniss at Triple Falls where the stars filmed many scenes. Tip: Arrive early if you can as it can get very crowded.
Mountain Biking– Brevard is known as a mountain biking town with trails in both Pisgah Forest and Dupont. Located just down the road from Davidson River Campground, the Hub will set you up with everything you need including bike rentals, trail info, and a cold draft beer.
Moore Cove Falls-This easy 1.5 mile roundtrip hike will take you to Moore Cove Falls where you can walk behind the waterfall.
Tip: The hike is located roughly 6.5 miles on the right along Highway 276 just past Looking Glass Falls but before Sliding Rock.
There are no signs on the highway for the hike, but an information board near the parking lot will let you know you’re in the right place.
See our Weekend Getaway In Brevard for more things to do and see in this small but super fun mountain town.
Places To Eat in Brevard NC
For a small town, Brevard offers something for everyone. If you wanted, you could skip camp cooking altogether and eat out at one of these yummy restaurants.
Cedar Mountain Cafeis located near the entrance of Dupont, is a good stop after channeling your inner-Katniss at Triple Falls. Everything is made in-house.
Bracken Mountain Bakery has a wonderful assortment of baked goods including classic European breads and pastries. Located downtown.
Magpie Meat & Three is the hip place to go for BBQ and your southern food fix. If you can, sit outside where they have a fire pit and play corn hole. Located downtown.
Brevard is also home to two wonderful breweries. Oscar Blues Brewery offers a nice outdoor patio, and a food truck serves burgers and tacos during the evening.
Sierra Nevada Brewing is a destination restaurant with a farm-to-table menu. It is massive both inside and out, boasting 400 indoor seats, a big outdoor dining terrace with corn hole and bocce, and plenty of tasty beers on tap. 25 minutes from the campground.
3. Indian Boundary Campground
Located 1 hour and 40 minutes from Knoxville near Tellico Plains, TN
Indian Boundary Campground is a quiet, family-oriented campground near Tellico Plains, TN that offers a swim beach, a fantastic and easy 3.6-mile hiking/ biking trail around the lake, and clean bathrooms with a shower.
Indian Boundary Campground sits at an elevation of 1,560 feet so it can be hot during warmer weather. Fortunately, you can cool off in the lake, and showers are available in the campground.
An on-site campground store sells bread, ice, milk, ice cream (most importantly) and other camping supplies if you are running low. It also offers an inviting covered front porch with rocking chairs and a table set up with a game of checkers for anyone who wants to play.
Tip: The B loop offers the most secluded sites (using the term loosely here as this is a fairly large campground with 87 sites total) and can easily fit two large tents. To give you an idea of the size, all sites can accommodate a 26’ camper.
All sites have electric hookup–my friends have been known to bring a toaster, crock pot, and coffee pot. Talk about roughing it!
Things To Do At Indian Boundary Campground
Hike or Bike the Campground’s Lake Loop Trail- From the campground, the only hiking trail is the 3.6 mile lake loop around the lake. It is a relatively easy and beautiful ride, crossing several small wooden bridges and zigzagging through rhododendron and hardwoods. The trailhead is located behind the campground store.
Explore the Cherohala Skyway- If you have time and want to seek higher elevation and cooler temps, hop in the car and drive 35 minutes east on the Cherohala Parkway to Huckleberry Knob, elevation 5560’. The parking for the trailhead is on the left after crossing the North Carolina border near mile marker 8.
The trail is wide (it’s an old road) and a relatively easy 2.5 round trip hike. Bring a picnic and enjoy the 360 degree views and wildflowers from this grassy bald. It’s simply gorgeous.
Bald River Falls– Located just 22 minutes from the campground, you will find a magnificent 90’ waterfall on Forest Service Road 210 off the Cherohala Parkway. (From the campground, go west about 5 miles and find the Bald River Falls turn off-it is clearly marked on the Skyway.)
You can view Bald River Falls without leaving your vehicle or hike as long as you’d like on the relatively easy-moderate 5.6 mile Bald River Trail (mostly flat but a few switchbacks). The trail has picnic tables along the river for the first mile, and the kids will enjoy skipping rocks and dipping their feet in the ice cold water.
Note: Cell reception is non-existent at the campground and on the Cherohala Skyway.
For more info on Huckleberry Knob and Bald River Falls, see our Complete Guide to the Cherohala Skyway. It lists all the can’t miss stops and includes maps and other helpful hints.
Places To Eat Near Indian Boundary Campground
There’s nothing really “near” the campground itself, but these two eateries are worth a stop if they are on your way to Indian Boundary Campground.
Tellico Grains Bakery– If arriving from the Tennessee side of the Cherohala Skyway, stop in at Tellico Grains Bakery on the way to the campground to eat one of their delicious wood-fired pizzas or pick up baked goods for breakfast or dessert.
This is an excellent foodie stop! The peanut butter granola is awesome, and many area restaurants make it a point to serve their bread. Open Tuesday-Saturday; 10-4. 105 Depot St, Tellico Plains, TN.
Tellico Beach Drive-In– If you are returning home on the Cherohala Skyway through Tellico Plains, consider a burger and milkshake stop at the Tellico Beach Drive-In (a local favorite located 25 minutes from the campground).
4. Elkmont Campground in the Smokies
Located 1 hour and 10 minutes from Knoxville in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Elkmont Campground is one of two Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) campgrounds on the Tennessee side of the park. Cades Cove Campground is the other. Elkmont is my family’s “go to” campground in the Smokies.
Elkmont is centrally located to other points of interest in the park such as Metcalf Bottoms, Sugarlands Visitor Center, and Newfound Gap. That makes it a great place to camp if you’re interested in hikes like Alum Cave, Charlie’s Bunion, the Chimneys, Andrews Bald, etc.
It’s a busy campground but family friendly and quiet. It also has hiking trails from the campground so you can leave the car for the whole weekend if you want. The campground is shady and cools off at night despite its relatively low elevation of 2,150 feet.
You can buy firewood and ice from the campground store. They also offer vending machines (chips, sodas, coffee). You’ll find flush toilets but no showers.
Tip: I recommend the B-Loop and L-Loop in general, though any riverfront site would be a bonus here. The sound of the river lulls you to sleep and provides a fun place for the kids to play. For tent campers, I recommend the walk-in sites but would stay away from the walk-in sites B-25 and up (they are too close to each other). L1 is one of the best non- river sites in the campground.
Things To Do At Elkmont Campground
Hike The Little River Trail – This easy, flat hike is within walking distance of Elkmont Campground. It passes through the historic Elkmont Community with its old, dilapidated cottages used by the logging industry at the beginning of the century.
You can complete a 5.5 mile loop using the Cucumber Gap trail to return or simply hike out and back. This is another good hike for swimming holes and playing in the water. Tip: You can push a jog stroller on this trail if needed.
Elkmont Campground Nature Trail – The Elkmont Nature Trail is a short loop hike (less than 1 mile long) and is perfect for kids of all ages to get their wiggles out.
Play in the River – Bring water shoes and an inflatable tube and you can have fun all day on the river. For a calm, shallow swimming hole, go to the water beneath the bridge near the campground office.
See our super detailed blog about Elkmont Campground for everything you need to know about camping here, including detailed info about our favorite campsites along with pictures. Check out 10 Fun Things To Do At Elkmont for a list of available activities.
Places To Eat Near Elkmont Campground
Remember to bring some some cash for the coin-operated ice cream machine at the campground store. Your kids will love seeing the robotic arm delivering their treat.
Mellow Mushroom Pizza- Head to Mellow Mushroom Pizza or restaurant of choice in the touristy town of Gatlinburg if you don’t feel like cooking.
Elvira’s Cafe- Located 25 minutes away, this Wears Valley restaurant would make a great breakfast stop on the way to the Little Greenbriar Trail. Their breakfast menu is perfect for fueling up before your day hike. If you happen to be here for lunch or dinner, try their house-made pickled beets. So good!
The Burger Master– If you are traveling through Townsend on your way home, get your burger and shake fix at Burger Master! It’s a local’s favorite right on the river. 8439 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway.
For a full itinerary with everything you need to know, see our book Great Smoky Mountains National Park With Kids on Amazon.
5. Roan Mountain State Park
Located 2 hours and 15 minutes from Knoxville near Johnson City, TN
Roan Mountain State Park has multiple hiking and biking trails, ranger programs, a playground, and even a pool. The Doe River, stocked with trout, runs through the park and campground.
And the biggest bonus of this campground–you’ll find one of the most scenic mountain balds on the Appalachian Trail located just a 15 minute drive away from your camp site. The campground is located 40 minutes from Johnson City, TN.
I’m usually deterred by any campground with a pool because, for me, it takes away from the “natural” camping experience and almost certainly implies “crowded campground.” But I was pleasantly surprised here.
Their tent section offers large sites surrounded by rhododendron thereby offering privacy and shade. At almost 3,000 feet elevation and nice tree cover, it stays relatively cool at night which is a bonus during the hot season. I would definitely return here with a tent, but the RV sites seemed unbearably close to each other.
Tip: Not a camper? Consider renting a state park cabin. Reserve in advance as they go quickly.
Things To Do At Roan Mountain Campground
Hike To Round Bald and Jane Bald– Hike the Appalachian Trail (AT) northbound from the parking area at Carver’s Gap (elevation of 5512 feet) to reach Round Bald and Jane Bald. This amazing 3 mile roundtrip hike to Jane Bald is a crowd pleaser, and believe me that it’s worth it to get here early to find parking and solitude before the crowds arrive en masse around noon.
I find this hike to be one of the easiest, most accessible family hikes to one of the most beautiful views in the Appalachian mountains. The hike to Round Bald and Jane Bald is a steady but not so steep incline, especially to Round Bald (0.7 miles from the parking area at Carver’s Gap).
You could easily stop at Round Bald for 1.5 mile roundtrip hike and just explore the bald without continuing to the steeper Jane Bald.
Places To Eat Near Roan Mountain State Park
On your way back to Knoxville, stop in Johnson City, TN at one of our favorite dining options downtown.
Yeehaw Brewing in Johnson City, TN 
Inside Yeehaw Brewery in Johnson City, TN
Yeehaw Brewing & White Duck Taco- Enjoy the patio at White Duck Taco and the adjoining taproom of Yeehaw Brewing. Housed in the historic Tweetsie Railroad Depot, kids are welcome and will enjoy a kid’s menu (quesadilla, BLT chicken sandwich, etc.) and free popcorn from Yeehaw. The tacos are unique and fresh. Address: 126 Buffalo Street
Apple Picking- Jarrett’s Apple Orchard, located on Roan Mountain, does not offer pick-your own until the end of the season (Oct. 31), but you can pick up a bag of your favorite apples and taste test to make sure! Peak season is September and October. 161 Jess Jarrett Rd. Mon-Sat: 8:30am- 5:30pm.
See our Weekend Getaway To Johnson City for more things to see and do in this fun town!
Happy Trails! I hope you and your family can get the tents out this year and have a wonderful time exploring one of these fantastic campgrounds – Amy
