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Little Oak Campground has closed for the 2021 season. Big Oak and Hemlock loops will open on 4/4/22, and Lone Pine and Poplar loops will open on 4/25/22. Little Oak Campground hugs the shores and inlets of beautiful South Holston Lake in Sullivan County, Tennessee. With a view of the Holston Mountain ridgeline and lake islands, Little Oak campsites are a relaxing setting for your vacation. There are 69 universally accessible campsites improved in 2012 including warm showers and a paved access road. Campground hosts are available on site to answer your questions.
Fishing is a popular activity for campers at Little Oak, with a concrete boat launch within the campground. Numerous campsites have easy access to the lake shore for tying off your boat. There are nearby trails for hiking and horseback riding. Children and adults enjoy riding their bikes on the roads between camping loops. There is also a lakeside grassy area popular for swimming and picnicking. There is an array of wildflowers to enjoy throughout the season, resident deer and turkey and other natural wonders for the naturalist in your group.
There are 69 universally accessible campsites for tents or RVs within four loops at Little Oak Campground. Each loop has a pair of vault toilets. In addition, there is an accessible shower house with 8 showers for the campground. There is a boat launch within the campground with an additional single vault toilet.
South Holston Lake is a 7,580-acre hydroelectric reservoir managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority and surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest. Holston Mountain and nearby Iron Mountain provide habitat for an array of wildlife including a healthy population of black bear.
Little Oak Campground is within 30 minutes of Bristol, Tennessee, and nearby Bristol Motor Speedway. Backbone Rock Recreation Area is approximately 30 minutes away up beautiful Shadey Valley, and just five minutes past Backbone Rock is Damascus, Virginia. Jacobs Creek Campground and Swim Area is 25 minutes away for another view of South Holston Lake.
From Bristol, take US 421 south for 12 miles, and turn right onto paved Camp Tom Howard Road. After 0.5 miles, this road becomes Forest Road #87. Continue on Road #87 for six miles. Turn right on Road #87G for 1.5 miles to Little Oak.
My family and I had a great time here last weekend! It was quiet and beautiful! The price is amazing.
I don't have many complaints. It was secluded the drive up the mountain was scenic and had a couple nice little waterfalls we got pics of. One road in. I think there was technically 2 but the dirt road had a fallen tree we couldn't get past pretty good ways down and not far from it there was a car halfway over the hill with a 2x4 through the windshield and what looked like a homeless camp over the hill with a big pile of trash and cloths next to the car... so don't go down the dirt road that goes right from the entrance, who knows what goes on down there lol. Not the campgrounds fault but still a little unsettling.... As for the campground I stayed at lot #58 Everything was done online through recreation.gov and I printed all my stuff off thinking I'd need to check in. I showed up and didn't know what to do. Luckily some people came by on a golf cart and they were nice and said I could just show up and set up. I had good access to the water for my kayak. No designated swimming area but we walked the trail and found a good place to swim and the water was really clear. Everything looked pretty clean. I didn't see any trash. Bathrooms were fairly clean. The shower areas had no place to put your stuff down anywhere though. A shelf higher up would have been great. I turned the shower on and it seemed to spray every square inch of the room with water. I was trying to keep my dry cloths and towels from getting wet. But the water was hot and it was pretty clean. Overall was a pretty good stay. I'd recommend it to friends and would probably stay again.
We spent a recent weekend at little oak with two camp sites booked. The sites were well maintained and trash free which is always a plus. It was beautiful with the fall colors and overall a quiet place to stay. My only ask is that they get more bathrooms as they are very limited at the campground.
My new go spot quiet peaceful and secluded oh did I mention it’s on Holston lake.. it’s been a while since I’ve felt so peaceful in a campground.. we stayed until the Friday BEFORE the 4th of July. Best decision ever.. could feel the hype of the weekend as we Drove OUT!!!
Great camping. Extremely clean, well-maintained showers, restrooms and campsites. Perfect place for some peace, relaxation and outdoor exploration.
