Eastern Tennessee is filled with some of the state's most toured cities, including Chattanooga, Gatlinburg and Knoxville. It is also home to natural sites, such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cherokee National Forest and the Appalachian Mountain chain. Travelers can camp in and around all of these locations in a tent, RV or cabin, most of which also feature lake or river sports and other outdoor activities.
Northeast Corner
In the northeast corner of Tennessee near the Bristol, Johnson City and Kingsport tri-city area, campgrounds are found both inside the Cherokee National Forest and near the city areas. At Pioneer Landing in Butler inside the forest, campers can stay near Watuga Lake in tents or campers. The facility offers fishing, boating and seasonal family activities from April through October. In Kingsport, you can stay at one of 134 campsites at Warriors' Path State Park, with bike and hiking trails, boating and fishing, horseback riding and kids' activities, all on 950 acres.
Knoxville Area
Although Knoxville is a large city, its outskirts offer several camping choices. North of Knoxville in Lake City is Norris Dam State Park, with 75 campsites with grills and electrical and water hookups for RVs. The park also offers trout fishing in a lake and river, hiking trails, picnic areas, swimming and recreation areas on more than 4,000 acres. Fox Inn Campground is between Lake City and Knoxville near Interstate 75. It offers tent and full hookup RV sites, as well as cabins and amenities, such as a swimming pool and recreation areas.
Gatlinburg Area
Near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the cities of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are campgrounds in the mountain region and near Douglas Lake. Check out River Plantation RV Park in Sevierville, offering RV sites with patios, cabins with a kitchen and amenities like wireless Internet, cable television, an arcade and recreation area, pavilion, fishing and a hot tub and two pools. Twin Creek RV Resort is in Gatlinburg on a trolly stop two miles from downtown, offering full hookup RV sites on paved sites with decks, cabins and a pool and playground.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Camp in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee along U.S. Highway 441 and State Highway 73. In Townsend, visit Tremont Outdoor Resort for campground and log cabin camping. The 20-acre shaded park along a mountain river with fishing and tubing also features pools, a game room and playground, recreation areas and full hookup sites. The kid-friendly Great Smoky Jellystone Camp Resort, on the edge of the national park, offers tent, RV and cabin camping. It features full hookups, picnic and pavilion areas, pools, a theater and game room, miniature golf and kids' activities throughout the year.
Chattanooga Area
In the southeastern part of Tennessee, there are several campgrounds near the Tennessee River front city of Chattanooga, home to attractions like the Tennessee Aquarium, Lookout Mountain and river activities. In southern Chattanooga, camp at Raccoon Mountain RV Park & Campground, which is open year-round and convenient to Interstate 24. It offers a seasonal pool, basketball, hiking trails, a playground and go karts and an arcade, all near Raccoon Mountain Caverns. The 1,200-acre Harrison Bay State Park is home to more than 125 RV campsites and about 20 tent sites near boating, fishing and golf.
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