Tent camping in the National Park is an exciting adventure for those seeking a nature-filled vacation. The park offers ten maintained campgrounds and also backcountry camping. Within the park are restrooms with flushing toilets and cold running water, but there are no showers or electricity hookups. Backcountry camping requires a free permit, and is allowed in several designated sites and shelters among the Appalachian trails. Native wildlife includes black bears, deer, elk and wild turkeys among other species. Four maintained campgrounds take reservations in summer and fall; the rest are first-come, first-serve.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Campground Reservation
(877) 444-6777
nps.gov/grsm
Fall Creek Falls offers three maintained camping areas with 228 sites. There are also nine primitive walk-in sites and three primitive camping areas located among trails for those interested in backcountry camping. The park has over 20,000 acres, along with a restaurant, inn and several other amenities, and visitors will have no shortage of activities during their stay.This park earned a "Southern Living" Reader's Choice award in 2000.
Fall Creek Falls State Park
2009 Village Camp Road
Pikeville, TN 37367-9803
(800) 250-8611 (camping)
state.tn.us/environment/parks/FallCreekFalls
Other than Fall Creek Falls, Tennessee boasts several state parks in each division of the state. Several parks also offer backcountry camping in addition to more standard campgrounds. Tent camping in the state parks is an exciting and fulfilling experience, offering nature, conveniences and relaxation. For individual parks' contact information, visit state.tn.us/environment/parks/findapark.
Tennessee State Parks
401 Church Street
L & C Tower, 7th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243-0435
(888) TN-Parks
state.tn.us/environment/parks/findapark/camping
