The Best Campgrounds Near OAC & The Ocoee River
We’re regularly asked about nearby camping options by our guests looking to stretch their whitewater rafting trip into an overnight weekend adventure. Luckily, there are several incredible options located just minutes from the Ocoee Adventure Center outpost!
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the best United States Forest Service (USFS) campgrounds in the Cherokee National Forest, ordered from closest to farthest from our outpost. Even the farthest option is a short, scenic 30-minute drive away, and each one offers a completely unique vibe, terrain, and set of amenities.
1. Thunder Rock Campground (Closest to OAC)
- Vibe: Active, convenient, and highly recommended.
- Distance from OAC: ~8 minutes (Located 1.8 miles northwest of the Ocoee Whitewater Center, just behind TVA Ocoee Powerhouse Number 3).
Nestled directly alongside the Ocoee River, Thunder Rock is our top recommendation and a hotspot for both whitewater and trail enthusiasts. The facility features 37 regular campsites and one group campsite.
If you love to hike or mountain bike, trailhead parking gives you immediate access to the nearby Tanasi trail system, which includes approximately 30 miles of trails via Thunder Rock Express, Dry Pond Lead, or the Rhododendron Trail. It also provides direct access to the famous Benton-MacKaye Trail.
- Amenities: Picnic tables, grills, lantern posts, water hydrants, and bathhouses with flush toilets and warm showers. An on-site campground host is stationed at the entrance.
- Rates: Single Site: $12/night | With Electric Hook-up: $20/night | Group Site: $15/night (up to 10 people).
2. Tumbling Creek Campground
- Vibe: Deep woods, rustic solitude.
- Distance from OAC: ~15 minutes (Located near Ocoee #3 Lake).
If your goal is to completely unplug and escape the crowds, Tumbling Creek is your destination. This peaceful, remote, and highly rustic campground offers 8 primitive campsites right along the banks of Tumbling Creek.
It offers easy access to the Tanasi trail complex for bikers, as well as the rugged Big Frog Wilderness trails. Hikers who tackle the Big Frog trails will climb above 4,000 feet for spectacular, panoramic mountain views and excellent wildlife viewing.
- Amenities: None. There are no picnic tables, no restrooms, and no potable water. Pack in and pack out everything you need.
- Rates: Free to camp.
3. Chilhowee Recreation Area
- Vibe: Mountain-top retreat with a beach.
- Distance from OAC: ~25 minutes (Perched atop Chilhowee Mountain).
Sitting at 2,800 feet above Parksville Lake, Chilhowee Campground offers a refreshing, cooler break from the peak heat of summer. This massive recreation area features over 70 campsites, including RV sites, tent-only sites, and an overflow area.
The crown jewel here is the 7-acre McKamy Lake, which features a sandy swim beach and bank fishing (boats are allowed, but gasoline motors are prohibited). The area also boasts 25 miles of hiking and biking trails, a scenic waterfall, and breathtaking overlooks on the drive up.
- Amenities: Electric hookups, multiple bathhouses, dump station, tent pads, and a day-use picnic area. (Open early April to late October).
- Rates: Single Site: $12/night | With Electric Hook-up: $20/night | Day Use Area: $3/vehicle.
4. Parksville Lake Campground
- Vibe: Central hub for lake lovers.
- Distance from OAC: ~30 minutes (Located near Parksville Lake along Hwy 30).
This highly popular campground is conveniently split by Highway 30 into two distinct areas: an RV campground on one side and a tent/group campground on the other. The RV sites are well-shaded, spacious, and can accommodate large rigs.
Because it sits right by Parksville Lake, this is the ultimate central location if you want to mix your Ocoee rafting trip with lake beach days, boat ramps, and sunset water views.
- Amenities: Well-spaced shaded sites, electric hookups, group sites clustered around central fire rings, and easy access to boat ramps.
- Rates: Single Tent Site: $12/night | Tent with Electric: $20/night | Double Tent with Electric: $40/night | RV Sites (17 sites with electric): $20/night.
Ready to Lock In Your Adventure?
Whether you prefer the hot showers of Thunder Rock or the total off-grid peace of Tumbling Creek, pairing a campsite with an Olympic-caliber whitewater rafting trip is the ultimate way to experience East Tennessee.
If you have more questions about camping, cabins, or local dining while rafting with OAC, check out our Explore the Area Tab or give our team a call at 1-888-723-8622!