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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. ADA Access: N
The campground is located on FDR 77/Oswald Dome Road.
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.
From Highway 64/411 intersection travel east 7 miles, turn onto Forest Road 77, drive 7.5 miles to campground/recreation area. Do not use Benton Springs Road for access to the mountain.
We stayed at the campground in F loop. Very quiet place. Loved our week here. Medium size campground, crazy road up here, but doable. We had warm weather in late September/Oct. Some bugs, but not awful. Not fall here yet, but it is 2000 ft elevation. Bunch of hiking trails, but nothing spectacular. Benton falls is over rated and was very congested on a Saturday afternoon. They run hounds in the woods on the weekend, lots of barking. Hosts were real nice, thanks!
Oh and the campsites in F were well spaced and private .
I lived in the area for past 13 years and had no idea about this wonderful area. Thanks to my colleagues I am aware now. Great weekend visit place. Awesome views and great infrastructure.
Dont be misled by some of the photos on other reviews. Many of those great shots are of areas nearby, not the Chilhowee Recreation Area itself. I parked here to hike the trail to Benton Falls. Day use costs $3. You will need a pen to fill out the parking pass. I didn't have one. The picnic areas are nice and plenty. There are good bathroom stations and several wash spigots near the sidewalk to get the sand and dirt off of you. I was not impressed with the little beach area or the pond. The water was murky, with logs and trash in it. I avoided it. There were no pamphlets or maps in the holders. I took a pic of the map on the pay station. Finding any trail head is a challenge. And once you do, focus on the color of your trail, painted on the trees, because the signs rarely reassure you that you are still on the right path. The trail to Benton Falls is quite a hike, but wide and easy, most of the way. It is not handicap accessible. Once there, you descend stone steps to the bottom where you navigate boulders to find a spot to chill.
Pretty great views but don't let Google maps fool you. If you are not going on the paved Oswald road, you will have a tough time. There are 3 entrances to chilhowee and the paved one is the best one to do for leisure by far.
Our visit to the Chilhowee Recreation Area was a perfect Sunday getaway. It offered a blend of scenic drives, serene lakeside moments, and the breathtaking beauty of Benton Waterfall. It's a place where nature's wonders can be fully appreciated, and I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a peaceful escape in the great outdoors.
