$20 / night

Camper submitted image from Rock Creek Recreation Area - 1

Camper submitted image from Rock Creek Recreation Area - 2

Nature

Camper submitted image from Rock Creek Recreation Area - 3

Roads

Camper submitted image from Rock Creek Recreation Area - 4

Facilities

Camper submitted image from Rock Creek Recreation Area - 5

Activities

Established Camping

Rock Creek Recreation Area

8 Reviews

About

National Forest

Cherokee National Forest

Overview

Rock Creek Recreation Area is named for the small creek that runs alongside this recreation site. The facilities, creek-fed concrete pond and bathhouse were originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s. It is located just outside the town of Erwin, TN at an elevation of 2,300 feet - a welcome respite from the summer heat. Be Bear Wise: Food storage compliance is strictly enforced. Store all food and trash in hard-sided containers and vehicles while not in use. Never have attractants in your tent. Violations of the food storage order are ticketable offenses and subject to fines. Food and trash left unattended will be impounded by campground staff.

Recreation

Hike on one (or all) of the trails adjacent to Rock Creek Recreation Area. Visitors can enjoy cooling off in the creek-fed concrete pond. Younger children can enjoy the playground located in the day use area of the recreation area. Campground programs are offered every Friday night in July at the amphitheater.

Facilities

Natural Features

Campsites are nestled in a cove hardwood forest. Adjacent to the campground is Unaka Mountain Wilderness area, a rugged and undeveloped area.

Nearby Attractions

The Appalachian Trail crosses TN 395 at Indian Grave Gap, 3.1 miles east of Rock Creek. Mountain Balds, Beauty Spot and Unaka Mountain Overlook are located nearby along Forest Service Road #230. Whitewater rafting on the Nolichucky River is provided by private companies located in Erwin, TN.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Rock Creek Recreation Area is located in Tennessee

Directions

From I-26 take exit 34 to Main Street (TN107) in Erwin, take TN 395 east for 3.5 miles to Rock Creek Recreation Area.

Address

4900 Asheville Highway
Greeneville, TN 37743

Coordinates

36.1376833 N
82.347575 W

Open in Google Maps

Is Rock Creek Recreation Area sold out?

Quickly grab cancellations!

Learn More

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Fair
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

Trash
Picnic Table
Phone Service
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Water Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE

$20

/ night

First Come - First Served

Is Rock Creek Recreation Area sold out?

Quickly grab cancellations!

Learn More

Contact

General Info

Reservations

(877) 444-6777

Rachel S.

Guide

Reviewed May. 19, 2024

Quiet and discounted camping

Happy to get a discounted rate with our national parks pass. Stayed 2 nights here - only reason for not 5 stars is that the first bathroom (near the natural pool) was super gross - tons of bugs, sink didn’t work, wasnt clean. The bathroom near B loop was significantly nicer. Not every spot is level but we found an open one that was.

SiteA5

Month of VisitJune

Carol J.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 11, 2023

Not 5 stars this time

Just spent 3 nights at what had been one of my favorite places to camp. Sites are big and mostly private, and usually quiet. Bathhouses are a bit dated, but had been maintained and cleaned. The natural pool is a nice touch and the hiking is varied. I was very disappointed this time, as the bathroom wasn’t cleaned since I arrived 3 days ago. Today there was no hot water in #1, and host told me #2 showers were closed. Not sure about #3 . I was impressed by a quick response to an electrical issue at my site.

SiteA3

Month of VisitAugust

Cecilia M.

Traveler

Reviewed Oct. 20, 2022

Great campground !

Sites were level, gravel, nice bathrooms-beautiful area.

SiteLoop B - Site 19

Month of VisitNovember

Robert L.

Ranger

Reviewed Aug. 10, 2021

Great Semi-primitive Campground

Tight turns, but manageable with our 40' Fifth Wheel. Relatively level parking. Spacious sites. 20-30-50 amp hookups available. No water on sites but available not far away, with plenty of extra hose, for refilling water tank. Serene Campground with plenty of shade. Bathhouses were clean and in good repair. There is a mountain stream running through the campground that has been dammed up to make a swimming hole that is quite large, not sure on depth as we didn't get in, but water is very chilly even in late July. Nice playground just down from camping area and wonderful hiking trails abound.

SiteC-30

Month of VisitAugust

Ray & Terri F.

Legend

Reviewed Oct. 31, 2020

Nice, small, quiet, heavily wooded campground

The road in is a little narrow, but well maintained and easily navigable. Sites are heavily wooded, fairly well spaced, and most sites have a level area, but you have to back all the way in to get level on some. We were in site B16, which had no satellite coverage until most of the leaves fell. B Loop sites are 30A only. The website says there is shared water, which there is, but in B Loop, you can’t hook a hose to it to fill your tank, as the spigot is not threaded. C Loop had at least some threaded spigots. OTA TV was limited to 4 channels(PBS) with our omni antenna. There is no WiFi. AT&T had 1 bar and 0.8 MB/s w/o a booster, 2 bars and 2.4 MB/s with it. The bathrooms/showers were fairly clean and well maintained, but showing their age. There is a nice, but fairly strenuous 4 mile up and back trail from the campground to Rock Creek Falls. Campground was mostly empty during the week, maybe 8 or 10 out of 31 sites occupied, but completely full on the weekend.

SiteB-16

Month of VisitNovember

(5) View All

Lauren M.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 8, 2018

great place

The rock creek falls trail is great! this is a nice campground overall but the swimming area is a little rough and often crowded with a lot of locals. But the trails are beautiful and the campground is nice.

Lynn G.

Ranger

Reviewed Sep. 30, 2017

Great access to whitewater and nature

Our friends who are avid whitewater paddlers took us here. It’s a small campground with simple amenities, amazing old growth forest. There are so many great hiking trails here, plus some rock climbing/bouldering. Note that there are some areas with similar names further east near the Appalachian Trail.

Yay: Simple and beautiful camping here! Rangers check in periodically and had great recommendations.

Nay: no potable water but plenty nearby to treat.

Surprise: Make sure to visit Lone Mountain State Forest as well. There are rafting tour companies nearby

Justin S.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 30, 2016

Simple little campground

Nice and simple site that feels like it’s really in nature, but isn’t overly rustic. Pros: water, showers, flushing toilets, RV hookups, campsite, swimming, hiking, wooded & shady sites, clean. There isn’t too much of any one activity in/near the campground but lots more in the greater area. Cons: just plan to drive to another area if you’re staying for a few days (not really a con though). Not far from the Appalachian Trail, the TN/NC border, and highway 26. Asheville is about an hour away and is very charming.