Rough Ridge Campground
USDA Forest Service campground in Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee.
Summary
Rough Ridge Campground is a USDA Forest Service campground in Cherokee National Forest, about 49 miles (straight line) from Knoxville. Camping is first-come, first-served only. For riders, 16.8 miles of bike-legal trail lie within 5 miles, the closest being Benton MacKaye Trail (2.7 mi away).
When it's open
Season not listed
Tennessee campgrounds open year-round →
Neither Recreation.gov nor our other sources publish an open season for this campground, so we don't guess. Check the official listing before an off-season trip.
Hookups & amenities
- 🚿ShowersNot listed
- 🚻ToiletsNot listed
- 🚰Drinking waterNot listed
- ⚡Electric hookupsNot listed
- 💧Water hookupsNot listed
- 🔧Sewer hookupsNot listed
- 🔌Full hookups (E/W/S)Not listed
- 🚐Dump stationNot listed
- 📶Wi-FiNot listed
- 🧺LaundryNot listed
- 🏪Camp storeNot listed
- 🛝PlaygroundNot listed
- 🏊SwimmingNot listed
- 🚤Boat rampNot listed
- 🐕Pet-friendlyNot listed
- ♿ADA-accessible sitesNot listed
- 🛖CabinsNot listed
- 🔥Fire ringsNot listed
- 🍖GrillsNot listed
- 🪑Picnic tablesNot listed
- 🧑Camp hostNot listed
- 🐻Food storage lockersNot listed
Listed only when Recreation.gov site records report it. "Not listed" means the source doesn't say, not that the campground lacks it.
Map: trails and roads near Rough Ridge Campground
Loads MapLibre with OpenFreeMap tiles only when you tap.
Campsite layout
Check live availability on Recreation.gov ↗
We don't show live availability. Openings change by the minute and only the official reservation system has them.
How it compares
- There are 50 other campgrounds in our data within 25 miles.
- Straight-line distance: Knoxville ~49 mi, Chattanooga ~71 mi, Asheville ~89 mi.
Amenities & rules
The agency hasn't published an amenity list for this campground.
Trails within 5 miles
| Trail | Closest point | Mapped miles within 5 mi | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sycamore Creek Trail | 1.9 mi | 5.6 | USFS |
| Whigg Ridge Trail | 2.0 mi | 2.7 | USFS |
| Brookshire Creek | 2.3 mi | 6.0 | USFS |
| Snowbird Mountain | 3.6 mi | 7.3 | USFS |
| Mitchell Lick | 3.8 mi | 1.4 | USFS |
| Panther Branch Trail | 4.2 mi | 1.6 | USFS |
| Big Snowbird | 4.2 mi | 1.6 | USFS |
| Laurel Branch Trail | 4.4 mi | 0.9 | USFS |
| Henderson Mountain Trail | 4.6 mi | 0.5 | USFS |
| Big Indian Branch | 4.9 mi | 0.1 | USFS |
| Sugar Cove Trail | 4.9 mi | 0.3 | USFS |
Mountain biking nearby
16.8 miles of bike-legal trail lie within 5 miles. Difficulty mix: Unrated: 16.8 mi
| Trail | Closest point | Miles within 5 mi | Difficulty (as tagged) | Kids | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton MacKaye Trail | 2.7 mi | 6.5 | Unrated | OSM | |
| Snowbird Mountain | 3.6 mi | 7.3 | Unrated | USFS | |
| Mitchell Lick | 3.8 mi | 1.4 | Unrated | USFS | |
| Big Snowbird | 4.2 mi | 1.6 | Unrated | USFS |
Ratings come only from OpenStreetMap mtb:scale / IMBA tags. Untagged trails show as "Unrated", and we never guess. Check conditions and maps on Trailforks or MTB Project.
Activities listed
Auto TouringBikingBoatingCampingFire Lookouts/cabins OvernightFishingHikingHorse CampingHorseback RidingInterpretive ProgramsOff Highway VehiclePicnickingRecreational VehiclesSwimmingVisitor CenterWildlife Viewing
Nearest campgrounds
| Campground | Miles | State | Fee/night | Sites | Hookups | Max RV | Pets | Booking | Trails ≤5 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Line Campground Cherokee National Forest |
0.2 | TN | — | — | — | — | — | First-come | 11 (29.2 mi) |
| Big Oak Cove Campground Cherokee National Forest |
0.3 | TN | — | — | — | — | — | First-come | 13 (30.6 mi) |
| Holder Cove Campground Cherokee National Forest |
0.5 | TN | — | — | — | — | — | First-come | 13 (33.3 mi) |
| Davis Branch Campground Cherokee National Forest |
1.4 | TN | — | — | — | — | — | First-come | 18 (42.8 mi) |
| Birch Branch Campground Cherokee National Forest |
3.2 | TN | — | — | — | — | — | First-come | 17 (45.1 mi) |
| Spivey Cove Campground Cherokee National Forest |
3.4 | TN | — | — | — | — | — | First-come | 21 (50.0 mi) |
Hookups: E = electric (max amps), W = water, S = sewer. "—" means the agency doesn't publish it. Trail counts are named USFS/NPS trails within 5 miles. 🟢 = kid-friendly (green-rated) bike trail nearby. "Open year-round" and month ranges come from the agency, state park or OpenStreetMap season; no tag means no season is published.