USDA Forest Service · Tennessee
Cardens Bluff Campground
USDA Forest Service · Tennessee, United States
- Sites
- 43
- Hookups
- 3 with water, 42 no hookups
- Season
- April 27 to October 12
- Max RV length
- 30 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 2,113 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile good · AT&T good · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- CARDENS BLUFF (NFSR 329) · bituminous surface treatment · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Cherokee National Forest
- Nearest town
- Unicoi
- Address
- 4400 Unicoi Drive, Unicoi, Tennessee, 37692
- Phone
- 423-735-1500
- Activities
- Auto Touring, Biking, Birding, Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Non-Motorized Boating, Scenic Drive, Swimming
41 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Cardens Bluff Campground will open for the 2026 season on 4/27/26. At nearly 2,000 feet elevation, Cardens Bluff Campground is located on a peninsula overlooking the 6,430-acre Watauga Lake in Carter County, TN. There are 43 sites, primarily for tent camping. There is a bathhouse with showers and flush toilets. No electrical hookups are provided. Day use areas are located nearby for those wanting to take advantage of swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities. Campground Hosts are on site to answer questions and assist with your visit.
Recreation
Boating is popular for visitors to Cardens Bluff. Numerous campsites provide easy water access for kayaks, canoes and motorized boats. Swimming and fishing are also very popular activities at Cardens Bluff. Watauga Lake provides notably clean water for recreating.
Facilities
There are 43 campsites within Cardens Bluff Campground. Each section of the campground has flush toilets. In addition, there is an accessible shower house with eight showers for use by registered campers only.
Natural Features
Watauga Lake is a 6,430-acre hydroelectric reservoir managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority and surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest. Directly across the lake from the campground is the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness area, a rugged, undeveloped mountain range with only the Appalachian National Scenic Trail within its boundaries.
Nearby Attractions
The nearby Rat Branch Boat Launch is an easy quick drive from the campground for campers with motor boats. Shook Branch Swim Area is also nearby on the shores of Watauga Lake. Big Laurel Branch and Pond Mountain Wilderness areas are located north and south of the campground for more rugged, backcountry hiking.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 27° | 0° | 63° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 50° | 33° | 11° | 71° | 10 of 11 |
| March | 61° | 38° | 10° | 75° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 68° | 45° | 28° | 81° | 3 of 11 |
| May | 74° | 57° | 39° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 80° | 63° | 51° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 84° | 67° | 60° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 82° | 67° | 59° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 79° | 63° | 50° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 65° | 46° | 33° | 82° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 56° | 37° | 19° | 71° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 47° | 32° | 11° | 65° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Watauga Dam Campground · Tennessee Valley Authority · 1 mi · 29 sites
- Dennis Cove Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 14 sites
- Low Gap Camp · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
- Roan Mountain State Park · Tennessee State Parks · 10 mi · 112 sites
- Little Oak Campground · USDA Forest Service · 15 mi · 66 sites
All public campgrounds in Tennessee · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.