Where Is Meriwether Lewis Monument Campground
Meriwether Lewis National Monument is located in Hohenwald, Tennessee. The park is roughly 1.5 hours South West of Nashville. The roads leading to the campground are well paved, but in very rural Tennessee. Stay alert there is a beautiful bridge that wont allow anything other than a car or short van to pass. We didnt have any issues getting there in our own 26ft travel trailer and large Ford truck.
The roads and campground can accommodate Big Rigs . We had friends meet us with a huge diesel pusher Class A, and they had no issues finding a spot.
Rhea Springs Recreation Area
Located in Spring City, Tennessee on Rhea Springs Road, the GPS coordinates for the campground are 35.6832, -84.8262.
Rhea Springs was created by the Tennessee Valley Authority, when the Piney River was dammed to provide electricity. The recreation area sits on Watts Bar Reservoir, giving campers the opportunity to fish or enjoy boating and swimming in its waters.
Campsites are plentiful and widely spaced, with shady, lakefront sites being the most popular. The campsite provides fire rings, picnic tables, and a bathhouse.
Grateful campers enjoy this beautiful campground, not only for its price , but for the quiet and peaceful location on the reservoir. A swim beach and boat ramp tempt many into the water.
Free Camping in Tennessee Vibes: 7.9/10
Hiwassee Ocoee Scenic River State Park
Distance: 1 hour and 20 minutes Southwest of Knoxville
Nearby Cities: Cleveland, Athens, Lenoir City,
Best For: A mix of fast-paced adventure and relaxing activities
Dogs: Dog friendly. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
Access: All sites are drive-up.
The perfect balance between a relaxing family weekend and a fast-paced adventure is waiting at Hiwassee Ocoee State Park. Surrounded by Cherokee National Forest, the park is a hub for hiking both in and around the park. When the summer season is at its height, you’ll find places along the river to cool off, sunbathe on large boulders, or wade. Freshwater trout are ample in the cool mountain waters. Many outfitters offer white-water rafting and paddling expeditions if you’re ready to explore the Hiwassee or Ocoee rivers at a faster pace. While both rivers are exceptional white-water settings, users should be aware that even placid looking streams are potentially hazardous for those unskilled and unfamiliar with the basic techniques of floating or water safety.
Distance: 45 minutes northwest of Knoxville
Nearby Cities: Harriman, Kingston, Oak Ridge, Farragut
Best For: An immersive wilderness experience with car camping and backcountry sites
Dogs: Dog friendly. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
Access: Tent sites at the main campground are drive-up. Backcountry sites are hike-in only.
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Best Campgrounds In Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There are ten developed campgrounds in Great Smoky MountainsNational Park.
All ten of these are car campgrounds. All but one accept RVs, although most do have RV length restrictions. Each campground has running water and flush toilets. There are no showers or RV hookups available in the park.
Eight of the ten campgrounds accept advance reservationswhile the other two campgrounds are first-come, first-served. Abrams Creek,Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, and Cataloochee Campgrounds all requirereservations.
Here are the best campgrounds in Great Smoky MountainsNational Park.
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Camping Destinations Near Knoxville
Knoxville sits in the perfect location for quick access to a camping getaway. With multiple Tennessee State Parks within an hour from the city, you’ll find activities ranging from white-water rafting to waterfall hikes. We’ve highlighted five parks with campsites less than an hour from Knoxville. The only step left is to choose the adventure that is right for you.
Tip: If you need camping gear, check out our partnership with Arrive Outdoors. You can rent the gear you need online and have it shipped with free returns.
National Parks And Forests
While there is no free camping available within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cherokee National Forest shares a boundary with the national park and offers up some amazing places for free wilderness camping.
The areas with designated sites for dispersed camping are Citico Creek Area and the French Broad Creek Area. These areas also provide recreational opportunities for hiking, bicycling, and creek-play.
Citico Creek Area is known for its ample fishing opportunities . If staying at the French Broad Creek Area, youll need to look for signs directing you to the Paint Creek Corridor, as this is where the designated dispersed campsites are located. The Paint Creek Corridor is known for its scenic drive and picturesque picnic opportunities.
All of the dispersed camping sites within the Cherokee National Forest are primitive, without running water or electricity. Be sure to check out the Cherokee National Forest website for any restrictions or warnings before heading out.
Additional National Parks in Tennessee
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Indian Boundary Recreation Area
Eighty miles south of the city, the campground atIndian Boundary Recreation Area in Tellico Plains offers another family-friendly option for a drive-in stay. The rec areas pristine beach, fishing pier, and 3.6-mile trail around the lake make for a bevy of outdoor adventures. And dont panic if you forgot somethingthe Indian Boundary Outpost has anything and everything that you might need to pick up. The campsite fees here begin at $20, including electricity. Just be sure to pack your food in bear-proof containers.
Camping World Truck Series To Make Debut At Knoxville
NASCARs Camping World Truck Series will debut at a new venue and this Friday, its the famed Knoxville Raceway half-mile dirt, short track. The Corn Belt 150 Presented by Premier Chevy Dealers at Knoxville .
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Racing on dirt isnt necessarily new to the Truck Series, which competed at Bristol this spring and held seven races on the famed Eldora Raceway from 2013-19. This weeks new venue renowned as the Sprint Car Capital of the World and host of the summers Knoxville Nationals creates a fresh challenge for the Truck Series drivers and has definitely become a popular venture as far as fans are concerned.
NASCAR Cup Series driver earlier this season with full-time series championship competitors Ben Rhodes finishing runner-up and Todd Gilliland finishing fourth. Current championship leader, five-race winner John Hunter Nemechek finished 39th on the Bristol dirt track, crashing out after completing only 48 laps.
Nemechek, 24, arrives in Knoxville riding a career year in NASCAR competition. He won the last truck race two weeks ago in Pocono to extend his series-best victory total to five. Hes won three of the last four races , has led laps in 11 of the seasons 13 races and his 485 total laps out front is more than double that of any other full-time series competitor. Nemechek has a series-high eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in the No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota.
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What Are The Campground Amenities
| Amenity | |
|---|---|
| Big Rig Friendly | Yes |
Meriwether Lewis Campground is FREE, and no reservations are needed. Accommodations are on a first-come-first-served basis. If you pull up and see an open spot, you can take it whether you are in a tent, trailer, motorhome, van, or skoolie.
The campground allows for a maximum of 14 consecutive days and a total of 30 days of camping per year.
Oh, and yes, you can use your generator until quiet time. But youll feel guilty like we did every time we ran it.
Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip
Perhaps one of the best road trips in America is to drivethe entirety of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Designated a National Parkway and an All-American Road, the469-mile long scenic highway runs from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to GreatSmoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.
Take your time driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, dubbed America`s Favorite Drive by theNational Park Service. Revel in the slow pace of life in the Blue RidgeMountains and appreciate the rich biodiversity of plant and animal life.
Make sure to spend at least three days camping in Shenandoah National Park and three days camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the full experience. Many visitors add an additional one to three nights in btween the two national parks, including a stop in Roanoke.
Spring, summer, and fall are all great times to make thiscamping road trip. Spring is the best time to see wildflowers in bloom whilefall is the best time to see the gorgeous fall colors.
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Other Great Smoky Mountains National Park Campgrounds
There are plenty of places to camp in addition to the tencar campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Backpackers are allowed to stay at several backcountrycampsites, including overnight shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Other optionsinclude group campsites for large parties and small horse campgrounds forequestrians.
Here are the best additional places to go camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Paint Creek Corridor Cherokee National Forest
Paint Creek Corridor is situated within the Cherokee National Forest. This area has a warm water fishing pond, several trails for day hikes, and overlooks to observe the stunning Dudley and Kelly Falls. Alternatively, you can take a scenic drive around the area to enjoy the stunning nature views.
Take note that dispersed camping is allowed only on designated sites and alcoholic beverages are not allowed in this area. The area has vaulted toilets.
- Best season : Spring, Summer, Fall
- Closest town : Greeneville, TN
- Map coordinates :X45J+9R Greeneville, Tennessee, United States
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Smoky Bear Campground And Rv Park
RV camping in Great Smoky Mountains doesn`t get much betterthan Smoky Bear Campground and RV Park. Pull-thru RV sites with full hookups,private tent sites away from the RVs, comfortable cabins complete with AC, anda convenient location just minutes from the park make this a fantastic place tostay on your GSMNP camping trip.
Learn more about Smoky Bear Campground and RV Park.
Tennessee Dispersed Camping Areas
Camping laws in Tennessee: Unless stated otherwise, scattered camping outside of designated campgrounds is permitted throughout Cherokee National Forest for visitors looking to get away from it all. Within 100 feet of water, trails, trailhead parking lots, and developed recreation areas, camping is prohibited. There are no fees associated with dispersed camping, and no permits are necessary.
Area of Citico Creek:This region gives isolation as well as backcountry experiences. Fishing, horseback riding, camping, and hiking are all popular activities.
With almost 20,000 acres of Wilderness in Citico Creek and Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock, this location offers plenty of seclusion and backcountry adventures. In Citico Creek and its rocky tributaries, you can catch both native and stocked trout, as well as smallmouth bass and catfish in the creeks lower levels.
Area of the French Broad River:An large road and path system connects the areas wooded mountainsides and creek gorges. Fishing, hiking, horseback riding, creek play, and camping are just a few of the activities available.
Area of the Tellico River:This location offers fantastic fishing, camping, hiking, and picturesque driving options. The Indian Boundary Recreation Area and the Cherohala Skyway are also located here.
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Is The Campground Family
Although this campground does not have any amenities, it is very kid-friendly. The campsites themselves are large with a picnic table and room to play. Depending on the site you pick, the land may slope down the mountain, so kids need to be aware of drop-offs and watched.
There is a hiking path down to a beautiful shallow stream with plenty of space for play and picnicking. More about this in the Whats there to do? section below.
If you are Roadschooling with your kids, there are plenty of opportunities to learn about nature, consumption of resources , and history.
The Complete Guide To Camping In Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the best way to explore America`s most popular national park.
More than 11 million people visit Great Smoky Mountains each year to bask in the incredible diversity of plant and animal life, marvel at the remnants of historic Appalachian mountain culture, and hike deep into the seemingly endless expanses of forested ridges.
Camp at one of ten developed campgrounds, hike deep into the backcountry to a remote wilderness campsite, or stay at the famous LeConte Lodge .
Or venture just outside the park boundaries for an even greater selection of campgrounds , hotels, cabins, and more.
Here is our ultimate visitors guide to help you plan yourGreat Smoky Mountains National Park camping trip.
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Camping Itinerary
It takes roughly an hour to get to Great Smoky Mountainsfrom Knoxville to the northwest or two hours from Asheville to the east.
Thanks to its convenient location straddling the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains are an extremely popular camping destination for locals living in each state as well as for out-of-town visitors.
Here are three popular road trip itineraries for camping inthe Great Smoky Mountains and the surrounding area.
Free Tennessee Boondocking Camping Spots & Rv Parking
Tennessee is a wonderful place to visit, and Free Tennessee boondocking lets you to do so on the cheap. Tennessee, dubbed The Volunteer State. One of the biggest draws for Free Tennessee boondocking is that it has an abundance of hiking, sightseeing, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Below are the top places for free Tennessee Camping Spots and Free Tennessee RV Parking sites. These are what we concentrated on when searching for the best Free Tennessee Boondocking Locations.
Jump directly to the 23 Eastern Tennessee Boondocking Locations
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Incredible Campgrounds Near Knoxville Tn
Nothing disrupts the peace and tranquility of your family camping trip quite like the cries of Im bored!. Thankfully, these fantastic campgrounds near Knoxville TN are so jammed packed with family-fun that boredom will be the last thing on your kids minds.
In addition to traditional camp favorites like hiking and fishing, the campgrounds below offer a variety of bonus activities, like swimming, storybook trails, playgrounds, ranger-led activities, and much more!
Dig in to the list below to find your perfect kid-friendly camping trip today!
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What Is The Monument Like
Meriwether Lewis is a Tennessee National Park with Camping!!
The Meriwether Lewis National Monument sits on the Tennessee portion of the Natchez Trace managed by the National Park Service. The grounds, trails, facilities, and campsite are kept in impeccable condition by the dedicated staff. There is an information center where you can learn about the Natchez Trace and Meriwether Lewis, one of Americas great explorers.
Being part of the National Park Service gives you a strong feeling of security and competence to the dry camping experience.
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Where To Buy Groceries/supplies
Fortunately, stocking up on groceries and other supplies iseasy when camping in the Smokies.
Several towns are located just outside the park`s borders,including Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Townsend, Cherokee, Bryson City, and more.Most of these gatewaycommunities have a variety of grocery stores, gas stations, general stores,and more.
Slightly further away from the national park are Knoxville and Asheville . Both of these cities have even more options to buy groceries and supplies, including REI and Cabela`s as well as smaller mom and pop outdoor retailers.
Do note that options for groceries and supplies are limitedwithin the national park itself.
Cades Cove Campground Store, Elkmont Campground Concession,Smokemont Riding Stables, and Cades Cove Visitor Center sell limited groceriesand supplies as well as snacks, limited prepared food, and beverages.
Do note that there are no gas stations within Great SmokyMountains National Park.
Indian Mountain State Park
Distance: 1 hour north of Knoxville
Nearby Cities: Jellico
Best For: RV owners and wildlife observers
Dogs: Dog friendly. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
Access: Full-hookups are available. All sites are drive-up.
Situated on a sparkling lake supported by a backdrop of lush mountains, the park offers serene camping and activities. The park is situated almost literally on the border between Tennessee and Kentucky. You can explore the park from a new perspective and discover the fun of paddling by renting a kayak, pedal boat, or paddleboard from the parkor bring your own. You don’t have to be a birder to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the birds that inhabit the park. If you want to get a better look at the park’s wildlife, the hiking trails that wind around the lake provide incredible viewing opportunities. As a bonus to your trip, stop at nearby Cove Lake State Park on your way to or from Indian Mountain to experience the beauty and activities of both parks.
Camping: Under an hour from Knoxville, Indian Mountain State Park has 47 campsites with paved pads to serve both tent and RV campers. The sites are equipped with sewer, water, and electrical hookups. Picnic tables and grills are also provided, and a modern bathhouse with restrooms and hot showers is centrally located.
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