USDA Forest Service · Tennessee
Chilhowee Campground
USDA Forest Service · Tennessee, United States
- Sites
- 61
- Hookups
- 32 electric, 27 no hookups
- Season
- May 15 to November 15
- Max RV length
- 90 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 2,149 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- AT&T good · Verizon good · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- CHILHOWEE (NFSR 77B) · bituminous surface treatment · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Cherokee National Forest
- Nearest town
- Benton
- Address
- 3171 Highway 64 East, Benton, TN, 37307
- Phone
- 423-338-3300
- Activities
- Accessible Swimming, Biking, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Rafting, River Trips, Scenic Drive, Swimming
61 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Located in the Chilhowee Recreation Area, Chilhowee Campground offers a multitude of camping opportunities for both RV and tent sites, many with electric hookups. The day-use area includes McKamy Lake, a swim area with sand beach, picnic sites, a group picnic area, and a bathhouse.
Be Aware; Do not use GPS directions: GPS coordinates will direct you up Benton Springs Rd. This route is not recommended. We recommend using Forest Service Road 77 to reach the recreation area. It's important to note, this facility requires driving 7 miles up to Chilhowee Campground on a narrow, winding road. Do not use the Benton Springs Access Road to the campground as this is an unpaved and dangerous road for RVs. Inexperienced RV drivers may have difficulties getting to and around the site.
Recreation
Chilhowee Recreation Area is an excellent hub for hiking and mountain biking in the Chilhowee Trails System, fishing in McKamy Lake, and wildlife viewing without having to get in your car. The 7-acre McKamy Lake offers a swim area with a sand beach, and fishing from the bank. Boats are allowed, but gasoline motors are not. Within the recreation area are approximately 25 miles of hiking and biking trails, and a scenic waterfall. The views and lake are beautiful, especially hiking to Benton Falls via a 1.5 mile in and out moderate trail. On the drive up to the campground, stop at one of the many observation overlooks to see beautiful mountain settings. Wildlife is abundant in this area, so have your camera ready and tread lightly.
Chilhowee Recreation Area Map and Guide
Facilities
Picnic tables, grills, and lantern posts are located at each site. Bathhouses providing flush toilets and warm showers are available in each loop, as well as in the day use area. Water hydrants are located throughout the campground. An RV dump station is located at the end of E Loop. Loops A and B offer walk-in tent sites with electricity.
Be Aware; Do not use GPS directions: GPS coordinates will direct you up Benton Springs Rd. This route is not recommended. We recommend using Forest Service Road 77 to reach the recreation area. It's important to note, this facility requires driving 7 miles up to Chilhowee Campground on a narrow, winding road. Do not use the Benton Springs Access Road to the campground as this is an unpaved and dangerous road for RVs. Inexperienced RV drivers may have difficulties getting to and around the site.
Natural Features
The Cherokee National Forest is located in eastern Tennessee and stretches from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border. The 650,000-acre swath of land is Tennessee's only national forest. It lies in the heart of the Southern Appalachians and is home to more than 20,000 species of plants and animals, as well as many rivers, creeks and lakes.
Nearby Attractions
In addition to the immediate local activities, world class whitewater rafting opportunities are nearby on the Ocoee and Hiwassee Rivers.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42° | 26° | -1° | 64° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 51° | 33° | 17° | 66° | 10 of 11 |
| March | 61° | 41° | 13° | 76° | 8 of 11 |
| April | 67° | 47° | 29° | 79° | 2 of 11 |
| May | 76° | 58° | 41° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 81° | 63° | 51° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 84° | 67° | 60° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 67° | 58° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 80° | 63° | 51° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 67° | 47° | 33° | 83° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 57° | 37° | 20° | 71° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 49° | 30° | 14° | 64° | 10 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
- Chilhowee Group Camp · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 1 sites
- Parksville Lake RV Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 16 sites
- Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park · Tennessee State Parks · 7 mi · 56 sites
- Lost Corral Horse Camp · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 4 sites
- Lost Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi
All public campgrounds in Tennessee · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-18. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.