You'll find year-round recreational opportunities in Tennessee. Camping and cabin rentals on both public and private lands are close to activities such as whitewater kayaking, boating, fishing, hunting, mountain biking and hiking. Sightseeing is never far away in the Volunteer State, which is geographically broken down into three sections: East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee and West Tennessee.
Cabin Rentals in State Parks
Twenty of Tennessee's 53 state parks have cabins for rent. They vary by park but are either rustic, basic or deluxe or suites and villas. Pickett State Park's rustic cabins were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s; others are newer. Amenities include kitchen appliances, utensils, linens and towels. Basic and deluxe cabins have one or two bedrooms, one bath, a kitchen and living area and grills; some deluxe cabins have air-conditioning and telephones. Villas have two or three bedrooms, with two baths, television, air-conditioning/heat and telephones. You can make your reservations up to a year in advance; a three-night minimum is required over holiday weekends.
Camping in State Parks
With the exception of Meeman Shelby, Rock Island State Parks and Fall Creek Falls, 36 state park campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The majority of sites throughout the state have water and electric hook-ups and can accommodate tent or RV campers. Some campgrounds have primitive sites restricted to tents or pop-up campers without water and electricity. The state has updated the bathhouse facilities, so most are modern; some showers are on a pay basis. The maximum stay is two weeks.
Cabins in National Parks
For a remote Tennessee experience, hike into a national park area. At Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, the rustic cabins at Charit Creek Lodge have kerosene lamps and wood-burning stoves; heated showers are available. Family-style dinner and breakfast are included; lunch is extra unless you're staying more than one night. LeConte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has seven private cabins and three multiroomed lodges. Operated by the same company as Charit Creek, LeConte has similar dining options.
Camping in National Park Areas
Bandy Creek Campground at Big South Fork is one of the premiere park service campgrounds. In addition to electrical and water hook-ups, it has a swimming pool, playground and volleyball court. It is adjacent to the Bandy Creek Stables, which sells firewood; you can pick up ice at the visitor center. Modern restrooms include showers. Another developed campground is the concession-run Station Camp equestrian camp. There are ten developed campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains. Each has flush toilets and cold water, with picnic tables and fire grates at each site; there are no showers in the park.
Private Cabin Rentals
There are dozens of private cabin rentals in east Tennessee. Most are situated near the communities of Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Gatlinburg and Townsend, close to the Smoky Mountains. On the west side of the Big South Fork in Fentress County, the Laurel Fork Rustic Retreat has a dozen cabins that can hold from six to 16 people. Surrounded by pines, these cabins are close to historic Rugby, originally established as an English utopian community in the 1880s.
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