EXPLORE · FREE CAMPING

Free Camping in Tennessee

26 No-Fee Sites 2 with Restroom 6 with Water

Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest runs the length of the eastern Tennessee mountain border with North Carolina and Virginia. The Nolichucky, Watauga, and Ocoee/Hiwassee ranger districts all permit dispersed camping on most forest roads. The Citico Creek Wilderness and Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock (shared with NC) have backcountry dispersed camping. The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has dispersed camping in designated backcountry zones.

No reservations needed for dispersed camping. Check fire restrictions at fs.usda.gov before your trip — restrictions change frequently in summer. Stay limit is typically 14 days at any one location. Find free camping on the Trek4Free map →

Before You Go

Gear up for dispersed camping — no hookups, no camp store, no running water

💧
Water Filter
Sawyer Squeeze or Katadyn — essential when no water provided
🏕️
Leave No Trace Kit
WAG bags + trowel for sites without restrooms
🗺️
Offline GPS
Cell service is rare at dispersed sites
🐻
Bear Canister
Required in many dispersed zones in bear country

Free Camping Sites in Tennessee

A.T. CABLE GAP SHELTER
Restroom Water 6 sites

Trail shelter located on the Appalachian Trail.

📍 35.4153, 83.7734°W
SANTEETLAH CREEK CAMPSITES
Restroom Water 95 sites

Dispersed campsites located along Santeetlah Creek. Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table and lantern post. There is a fourteen day stay limit within a …

📍 35.3402, 83.9345°W
A.T. MUSKRAT CREEK SHELTER
Water 6 sites

Shelter on the Appalachian Trail

📍 35.0207, 83.5813°W
BEAR CREEK HUNT CAMP
Water 25 sites

The Bear Creek Hunt Camp is a three-sided shelter available for free public use. There is a picnic table and fire ring located onsite. There is a fourteen day…

📍 35.4210, 83.9496°W
CABLE COVE CAMPGROUND
Water 130 sites

Campground is currently closed due to health and safety issues.

📍 35.4316, 83.7536°W
DEEP CREEK HUNT CAMP
Water 20 sites

The Deep Creek Hunt Camp is a three-sided shelter available for free public use. There is a picnic table and fire ring located onsite. There is a fourteen day…

📍 35.4190, 83.9169°W
A.T. BROWN FORK GAP SHELTER
6 sites

A.T. BROWN FORK GAP SHELTER (Camping Area)

📍 35.3743, 83.7339°W
A.T. CARTER GAP SHELTER
6 sites
📍 35.0010, 83.4965°W
A.T. COLD SPRING SHELTER
6 sites
📍 35.2312, 83.5600°W
A.T. LONG BRANCH SHELTER
6 sites
📍 35.0700, 83.4981°W
A.T. ROCK GAP SHELTER
6 sites
📍 35.0916, 83.5230°W
A.T. RUFUS MORGAN SHELTER
6 sites

A.T. RUFUS MORGAN SHELTER (Camping Area)

📍 35.3242, 83.5905°W
A.T. SASSAFRAS GAP SHELTER
6 sites

A.T. SASSAFRAS GAP SHELTER (Camping Area)

📍 35.3309, 83.6669°W
A.T. SILER BALD SHELTER
6 sites
📍 35.1443, 83.5725°W
A.T. STANDING INDIAN SHELTER
6 sites
📍 35.0398, 83.4749°W
A.T. WAYAH BALD SHELTER
6 sites
📍 35.1895, 83.5644°W
A.T. WESSER BALD SHELTER
6 sites
📍 35.2825, 83.5821°W
CONASAUGA RIVER CAMPGROUND
115 sites

CONASAUGA RIVER CAMPGROUND (Campground)

📍 34.9899, 84.6356°W
HANGING DOG CAMPGROUND
281 sites

closed until further notice

📍 35.1056, 84.0833°W
NANTAHALA LAKE DISPERSED CAMPING SITE - LAKE ACCESS
10 sites
📍 35.1683, 83.6698°W
QUINN SPRINGS CAMPGROUND
220 sites

QUINN SPRINGS RECREATION AREA (Campground)

📍 35.2289, 84.5478°W
SYLCO CAMPGROUND
60 sites

SYLCO CAMPGROUND

📍 35.0281, 84.6024°W
TUMBLING CREEK CG
40 sites

TUMBLING CREEK CG

📍 35.0174, 84.4664°W
Free Camping

Cherokee National Forest USFS near Elizabethton, TN off of Panhandle Rd, flat parking spot in a pushoff just off of Panhandle Rd. Privacy behind parking spot, …

📍 36.4552, 82.0907°W
Free Camping

Meriwether Lewis Camp Site: Milepost 385.9 on the Natchez Trace Parkway. This is a free 32-site NPS campground with a pioneer cemetery, picnic tables, ranger st…

📍 35.5249, 87.4556°W
Free Camping

This small campground is located in Cherokee National Forest just northeast of Benton TN. Site number one is usually spoken for but there are 7 others to choose…

📍 35.2500, 84.5000°W