Must checkout camping destinations in Tennessee?

#1
Hoosier_Vol

Hoosier_Vol

VFL Stuck in B1G Hell
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#1
We finally gave in and bought a camper this week, been wanting to for a while but finally pulled the trigger. So, what's so must-see camping areas in Tennessee? Any good campgrounds near campus or close driving area?
 
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#6
#6
Indian Boundary......take your trout fishing equipment and bikes, hiking, etc.

Agree with Cumberland Mountain State Park... Outskirts of Crossville.....may also want to take golf clubs....and try out Fortes Restaurant nearby while you are there

www.recreation.gov

Indian Boundary, Cherokee National Forest - Recreation.gov

Explore Indian Boundary in Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee with Recreation.gov. Indian Boundary Recreation Area is the crown jewel of the South Zone of the Cherokee National Forest on the Tellico Ranger District. This family-oriented campgr
www.recreation.gov www.recreation.gov
 
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#7
#7
Anchor Down in Dandridge is a hit in the summer, especially with the kids. My personal favorite is Little Arrow in Townsend. It’s a stone’s throw from the national park.
 
#12
#12
Smokey X said:
Indian Boundary......take your trout fishing equipment and bikes, hiking, etc.

Agree with Cumberland Mountain State Park... Outskirts of Crossville.....may also want to take golf clubs....and try out Fortes Restaurant nearby while you are there

www.recreation.gov

Indian Boundary, Cherokee National Forest - Recreation.gov

Explore Indian Boundary in Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee with Recreation.gov. Indian Boundary Recreation Area is the crown jewel of the South Zone of the Cherokee National Forest on the Tellico Ranger District. This family-oriented campgr
www.recreation.gov www.recreation.gov
Click to expand...
Agreed. Great place, but nestled in the woods. Gotta get out and about for the scenery. Turn left out of the entrance back onto the highway and ride tp the top near the TN/NC border. Several nice overlook pullouts. Getting pretty high at that point, and scenery is grand. The ride down the NC into Robinsville can be hairy. We always camp on the rivers/creeks, but we've been hitting annual trout trips to Citco and Tellico for over 55 years. Never actually camped in Indian Boundry, but use the general store often, and have picnicked in there.
 
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#14
#14
Also Pickett Sate Park.

Don't know about camper hook ups or slots, but Standing Stone up in Livingston/Hilham is a nice retreat.

Cummins Falls State Park is also nice. Very rugged though for the climb down. They started requiring daily permits to hike to the bottom to control foot traffic. It took a beating on hte trails and at the bottom first few years it was open. No on grounds facilities yet. But, there is a pretty nice campground accross from entrance. And a central location to day trip out to half a dozen area parks within an hours plus drive. Used to be a part of the family land holding.
 
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#15
#15
Smokey X said:
Indian Boundary......take your trout fishing equipment and bikes, hiking, etc.

Agree with Cumberland Mountain State Park... Outskirts of Crossville.....may also want to take golf clubs....and try out Fortes Restaurant nearby while you are there

www.recreation.gov

Indian Boundary, Cherokee National Forest - Recreation.gov

Explore Indian Boundary in Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee with Recreation.gov. Indian Boundary Recreation Area is the crown jewel of the South Zone of the Cherokee National Forest on the Tellico Ranger District. This family-oriented campgr
www.recreation.gov www.recreation.gov
Click to expand...
The only problem with Indian Boundary is trying to get a reservation. It is so awesome it is difficult to get into 😳
 
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#16
#16
Don't forget our friends in the west of the state if you like historical wildlife. Reelfoot Lake is home to viewing all the Bald Eagles one can stand.

Speaking of which. This video is from Saturday. Edge of road next to one of my fields accross from my house. And "around the corner" from Cummins Falls. We got some pics of one circling the field/woods next to my house a few years ago but haven't spotted since. Supposedly nesting close by, but have never located. My house is about 300ish yard shot from this perch.

Edit: I guess nevermind on the Bald Eagle video. It's less than 30 secs. But, if I try to upload it from my phone, it only gives me the photos. to choose from. And if I try to email it to my work email, it won't leave my outbox.
 
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#17
#17
We used to camp alot in Maggie Valley as a kid. Week at church camp in Black Mountain, then back through Maggie Valley. Some equally great areas not too far over the state line.
 
#18
#18
GVF said:
Agreed. Great place, but nestled in the woods. Gotta get out and about for the scenery. Turn left out of the entrance back onto the highway and ride tp the top near the TN/NC border. Several nice overlook pullouts. Getting pretty high at that point, and scenery is grand. The ride down the NC into Robinsville can be hairy. We always camp on the rivers/creeks, but we've been hitting annual trout trips to Citco and Tellico for over 55 years. Never actually camped in Indian Boundry, but use the general store often, and have picnicked in there.
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Yeah the Cherohala Skyway is one of my favorite motorcycle rides. Been doing it for several years. One place we used to camp was at State Line CG past the hatchery. Can't do that now because of the camper size. Indian Boundary is really good for the size of the campsites. That's the thing about the forestry service CG's that makes them so nice.
 
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#19
#19
OrangeTsar said:
The only problem with Indian Boundary is trying to get a reservation. It is so awesome it is difficult to get into 😳
Click to expand...
Yep. I've only gone with a family friend of mine, who scopes out the website and as soon as the dates we want become available, he books it. I forget how far out it lets you book, but he has said that within seconds of the next set of dates becoming available, people are already in there booking them.
 
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#20
#20
05_never_again said:
Yep. I've only gone with a family friend of mine, who scopes out the website and as soon as the dates we want become available, he books it. I forget how far out it lets you book, but he has said that within seconds of the next set of dates becoming available, people are already in there booking them.
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That's also why we probably also tent camped on Citico and Tellico all these years besides being steamside for the fishing. And if we needed anything it was only about a 20 minute jump over the ridge to get to the general store. On rare occasions we'd run in there for a hot shower, but we mostly took ice cold baths in the side streams or rode home with the windows down. we would go in May between Mother's Day and Memorial Day, so the water was still up for good trout fishing, but it was also still cold at night most years and the water was ice that time of year.
 
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#21
#21
05_never_again said:
Yep. I've only gone with a family friend of mine, who scopes out the website and as soon as the dates we want become available, he books it. I forget how far out it lets you book, but he has said that within seconds of the next set of dates becoming available, people are already in there booking them.
Click to expand...
Yup, started camping there in the late 80s. Was easy to get a campsite then. But it has been a long time since I have been able to get back in. I usually settle for the no hookup North River campground instead.
 
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#22
#22
One year when we camped streamside at state line CG in April, I had twisted my ankle really bad and the swelling was horrible. I would sit on a rock at the edge of the stream and put my swollen foot in that water. It was basically flowing ice water. Did that 2 or 3 times and the swelling and pain was gone. Best therapy I ever had. Several places along that stream are stocked by the hatchery folks.
 
#23
#23
OrangeTsar said:
Yup, started camping there in the late 80s. Was easy to get a campsite then. But it has been a long time since I have been able to get back in. I usually settle for the no hookup North River campground instead.
Click to expand...
Have a friend who had a small cabin near North River. We fished the small streams, seldom fishing Tellico.
Hated the day he decided to sell.
 
#24
#24
Go aeiou said:
Have a friend who had a small cabin near North River. We fished the small streams, seldom fishing Tellico.
Hated the day he decided to sell.
Click to expand...
Yeah, a cabin on the North River would be a treasure. Did you ever see the „cabin“ on the Tellico that was just an old airsrtream trailer propped up on concrete stands? 😂
 
#25
#25
Ha, Lots of "different" styles of living in E. TN, Western NC, SW Virginia, N GA. I have a sister near Asheville, and we sometimes take a different route besides I-40 just to see the scenery and interesting towns and structures.
 
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