USDA Forest Service · Tennessee
Thunder Rock Campground
USDA Forest Service · Tennessee, United States
- Sites
- 38
- Hookups
- 1 electric, 37 no hookups
- Season
- February 24 to January 24
- Cost
- Standard Electric site fee = $20 per night (or $15 per night with a discount pass)
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,138 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- THUNDER ROCK (NFSR 45B) · bituminous surface treatment · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Cherokee National Forest
- Nearest town
- Benton
- Address
- 3171 Hwy 64, Benton, TN, 37307
- Phone
- 423-338-3300
- Activities
- Backpacking, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Non-Motorized Boating, Rafting, River Trips, Scenic Drive
38 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Thunder Rock Campground is located 1.8 miles northwest of the Ocoee Whitewater Center, just behind TVA Ocoee Powerhouse Number 3. Nestled alongside the Ocoee River, this facility provides 37 regular campsites for popups and RVs less than 20 feet with no elctricity , ONLY site 9 is an electric site for less than 20 feet at 30 amp, and one group campsite. Thunder Rock is a popular destination for both whitewater and trail enthusiasts.
Recreation
Trailhead parking is available for the nearby Tanasi trail system, which includes approximately 30 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. This system can be reached via Thunder Rock Express, Dry Pond Lead, or the Rhododendron Trail. Thunder Rock also provides access to the Benton-McKaye Trail.
Facilities
Picnic tables, grills, and lantern posts are located at each campsite. Water hydrants are located throughout the campground. Bathhouses provide flush toilets and warm showers. The campground host is located at the campground entrance next to the main bathhouse.
Thunder Rock Campground Map and Guide
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
The nearby Ocoee River put-in and Ocoee Whitewater Center, home of the 1996 Olympic Canoe/Kayak-Slalom Competition, makes this an ideal location for rafters and kayakers alike.
Charges & Cancellations
All sites have a $18.00 cancellation and reservation fee.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47° | 31° | 6° | 68° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 56° | 38° | 23° | 70° | 8 of 11 |
| March | 65° | 45° | 19° | 80° | 5 of 11 |
| April | 71° | 51° | 34° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 80° | 62° | 45° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 84° | 67° | 55° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 71° | 63° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 87° | 71° | 62° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 83° | 68° | 55° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 71° | 51° | 37° | 86° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 62° | 43° | 25° | 75° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 53° | 35° | 20° | 68° | 8 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
- Tumbling Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Parksville Lake RV Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 16 sites
- Lost Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
- Sylco Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
- Chilhowee Group Camp · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Tennessee · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.