National Park Service · Tennessee
Bandy Creek
National Park Service · Tennessee, United States · in Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
- Sites
- 145
- Hookups
- 95 electric, 96 with water, 49 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Max RV length
- 73 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Laundry
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,581 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
- Nearest town
- ONEIDA
- Address
- 4564 LEATHERWOOD RD, ONEIDA, TN, 37841
- Phone
- (423) 286-7275
- Activities
- Accessible Swimming, Amphitheater, Backpacking, Biking, Birding, Camping, Day Use Area, Evening Programs, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting
145 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Bandy Creek is a spacious and modern campground, situated in The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area--a vast and scenic expanse of land that offers visitors countless recreational activities.
Recreation
Numerous trails snake through the Recreation Area, offering mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding for visitors.
A swimming pool, along with on-site volleyball court, playgrounds and ball fields, make Bandy Creek an ideal spot for families.
The main river of the Big South Fork is also a short drive away, offering fishing opportunities.
Facilities
Bandy Creek combines the experience of traditional woods camping with the modern conveniences of flush toilets, hot showers and electric hookups. Sites can accommodate groups and both RV and tent camping.
The campsites are spacious and provide picnic areas and plenty of shade.
Natural Features
The Big South Fork is located in north central Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky in some of the most rugged terrain of the Cumberland Plateau. The park encompasses approximately 125,000 acres including rocky gorges and forested plateaus.
Numerous pristine streams unite with the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. Over thousands of years, ceaselessly moving water has carved the sandstone of the plateau into impressive cliffs, arches and chimneys, which are found throughout the park.
Nearby Attractions
Located just under 20 miles from Bandy Creek is the Blue Heron Mine, also known as Mine 18, a historic abandoned mining town that has been rebuilt as an outdoor museum. Visitors can hear audio presentations from actual people who lived in the community in the 1950s.
Fees
Campsites with Water and 50-amp Electric Hook-up: $32. This fee applies to all sites with 50-amp service within loops B, C, and D.
Sites without Electric: $20. This fee applies to sites within loop A.
Group Camp: $125. This fee applies for up to 25 persons per night. An additional $3.00 per night per person is required for more than 25 persons.
Campsites with Water and 30-amp Electric Hook-up: $25. This fee applies to all sites with 30-amp service within loops B, C, and D.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 26° | -7° | 65° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 50° | 32° | 15° | 70° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 61° | 40° | 10° | 78° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 68° | 48° | 30° | 82° | 3 of 11 |
| May | 77° | 60° | 39° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 82° | 64° | 50° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 85° | 69° | 60° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 69° | 59° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 82° | 64° | 50° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 67° | 47° | 34° | 85° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 58° | 38° | 20° | 74° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 49° | 32° | 10° | 66° | 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
- Station Camp Campground · National Park Service · 5 mi · 24 sites
- Pickett CCC Memorial State Park · Tennessee State Parks · 7 mi · 31 sites
- Great Meadows Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi
- Bear Creek Campground - KY · National Park Service · 14 mi · 22 sites
- Blue Heron Campground · National Park Service · 16 mi · 45 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.