These Campgrounds Near Knoxville Offer Fantastic Camping and Hiking Trails
We love these 6 campgrounds, because they are some of the best campgrounds near Knoxville, TN with fantastic trails to explore just steps away from your tent.
And better yet, all of these 6 family-friendly campgrounds are roughly 2 hours from Knoxville so there are no super long drives to get there. Once you’re there, you’re there- no more driving on curvy roads and no more “Are we there yet’s?”
Park the car and leave it, pitch the tent, and hike to a variety of hiking trails right from the campground. And, because they are located in a state or national park, you’ll find plenty to do nearby.
So here we go!
Campgrounds Near Knoxville
Ready to kick back, relax, and enjoy a nice weekend around the campfire after hiking some pretty amazing trails? Even if you don’t wish to hit the trails, the campgrounds are nice enough that you might just hang up your hammock and chillax the entire weekend. Up to ya!
And if you want to hike some great trails but prefer a real bed at night, some of these campgrounds even have cabins available to rent as well and we will note those as well.
P.S. This changed my camping world: The Sleeping Pad That Will Make You Want To Tent Camp Again
And, we always use this: Packing List For Car Camping With Kids
1. Camping at Roan Mountain State Park
-Located 2 hours and 15 minutes from Knoxville near Johnson City, TN
Roan Mountain State Park is probably my favorite campground on this list, because it is located just 15 minutes to one of the most scenic stretches of the Appalachian Trail at Carver’s Gap.
The amazing 3 mile round trip hike on the AT to Round Bald and Jane Bald is easy enough for the family to enjoy and the views along the way and on top of the balds are simply awesome.
Although we really like the tent sites here and recommend them highly, Roan Mountain State Park also offers the option to rent a fully furnished cabin. We will try it sometime in the future for sure.
For more info, see our Weekend Getaway in Johnson City.
2. Camping at Cloudland Canyon State Park
2 hours and 15 minutes from Knoxville
Located in northern Georgia, Cloudland Canyon State Park is a great place for a weekend getaway. If you don’t feel like camping, check out the park’s cabins and yurts.
Read our full review of the yurt village at Cloudland Canyon State Park to find out all the details you need to know.
There are 3 main hikes that are by far and away the most popular in the park: the Overlook Trail, the West Rim Loop Trail, and the Waterfalls Trail.
Each of these hikes should be on your to do list on any visit (even if it’s a repeat).
If you have limited time, you could do all three in one day as long as your kids are fairly mobile and you start early. And an added bonus: Cloudland is dog-friendly. Yay!
For more information, see Our Complete Guide To Cloudland Canyon State Park.
3. Camping at Frozen Head State Park
1 hour from Knoxville
Frozen Head State Park is a fantastic weekend camping getaway. There’s plenty to do from the campground with plenty of swimming holes for the kids (and adults) and hiking trails to waterfalls and lookout towers.
We especially enjoy Frozen Head State Park because we can bring the “entire family” as its trails are dog-friendly (on leash of course!).
Our family’s favorite hikes include the easy but super scenic trails to Debord Falls and Emory Gap Falls.
All the information you need to plan this weekend camping getaway can be found in our Ultimate Guide To Camping In Frozen Head State Park.
4. Camping at Pickett State Park
2 hours from Knoxville
Pickett State Park in the Cumberland Plateau is definitely a “park your car getaway” with lots of activities. In addition to hikes to numerous rock formations, you’ll also find a swinging bridge and a small lake with canoe/SUP rentals.
As a bonus, it’s a designated dark sky area, so the stargazing is amazing. This is another park that also offers cabins for rent if you’re not quite ready to tackle camping.
I love the easy trail to Hazard Cave and the overall scenic beauty here, but the campground at Pickett State Park is probably my least favorite on this list.
We found the campground sites to be too small with little privacy, so cabins might be your best bet here. The historic CCC cabins are so cozy but if you need a little more room, they have newer (and larger) cabins as well.
As a state park, Pickett is also dog-friendly.
For more info on Pickett State Park, see our blog post My Favorite Hiking Trails In Pickett State Park
5. Camping at Bandy Creek Campground in Big South Fork
1 hour and 30 minutes from Knoxville
Ok, so not technically a state park, Big South Fork National Recreation Area spans 125,000 acres and is managed by the National Park Service.
You’ll find plenty of trails to hike throughout the park like the one shown here to Yahoo Falls, which is about 50 minutes from Bandy Creek Campground.
If you don’t feel like venturing out in the car, trails leading directly from Bandy Creek Campground include: Oscar Blevins Farm Loop, John Livens Farm Loop, as well as Bandy Creek Loop Trail.
The campground is nice with shady, spacious sites, and you can also take your dog on trails in Big South Fork.
Mountain biking is popular here too, and you’ll find biking trails from the campground.
For more info on Bandy Creek Campground and all of the other campgrounds in Big South Fork (there’s 5 total), read our Camping in Big South Fork.
6. Camping at Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
1 hour and 30 minutes from Knoxville
This national park campground is our family’s “go to” place to camp. We love the sound of the Little River, the moss on the trees, and the access to hiking trails right from the campground.
The Smokies are notoriously busy and especially during the fall, but we have to admit the spectacular autumn colors are hard to beat.
We typically avoid the Smokies on fall weekends because of the crowds and car traffic. One workaround, however, is that you can avoid the traffic jams on the national park roads by simply staying put at Elkmont Campground (reservations).
Exploring Little River Trail, Jakes Creek Trail, the Elkmont Nature Trail, and of course playing or fishing in the Little River will certainly occupy you for a weekend sans car.
Take your flashlights for a spooky nightime walk thru Elkmont’s “Ghost Town.”
Note that dogs are allowed in Elkmont Campground but are not allowed on any trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
For more info on Elkmont Campground, see our blog posts on our sister website- Simply Awesome Trips:
Everything You Wanted To Know About Elkmont Campground In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
10 Fun Things To Do At Elkmont Campground In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
More Camping Suggestions
The Sleeping Pad That Will Make You Want To Tent Camp Again
Camping Pack List For Camping With Kids (Campground, Not Backcountry)
Hope you find some time to enjoy a family camping trip to one of these fantastic places. Happy trails! – Amy
