Thunder Rock Campground
USDA Forest Service campground in Cherokee National Forest, near Benton, Tennessee.
How it compares
- With 38 sites it is the #30 largest of 84 Tennessee campgrounds that publish a site count.
- Its lowest fee ($15) is $5 above the Tennessee median of $10/night.
- There are 22 other campgrounds in our data within 25 miles; 2 of them list a lower starting fee.
- Electric sites go up to 30 amp service (1 electric site).
- Pets allowed on 38 of 38 sites; campfires allowed on 38 (subject to seasonal fire bans).
- Straight-line distance: Chattanooga ~47 mi, Knoxville ~69 mi, Asheville ~115 mi.
Site mix
Amenities & rules
Fire pitsGrillsLantern postsPicnic tablesTent padsPets allowedTentsRVs/trailers
Fee notes from the agency: Standard Electric site fee = $20 per night (or $15 per night with a discount pass)
Trails within 5 miles
| Trail | Closest point | Mapped miles within 5 mi | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder Rock Express | 0.1 mi | 1.3 | USFS |
| Benton-Mckaye | 0.1 mi | 18.2 | USFS |
| Dry Pond Lead Trail | 0.2 mi | 3.9 | USFS |
| Rhododendron Trail | 0.4 mi | 0.9 | USFS |
| Chestnut Loop Bike Trail | 0.5 mi | 5.7 | USFS |
| Poplar Hollow | 0.8 mi | 1.2 | USFS |
| Quartz Loop Bike Trail | 0.9 mi | 1.7 | USFS |
| Bypass Bike Trail | 1.1 mi | 0.9 | USFS |
| West Fork Trail | 1.2 mi | 2.1 | USFS |
| Rock Creek Trail | 1.3 mi | 5.1 | USFS |
| Bear Paw Loop Bike Trail | 1.3 mi | 1.3 | USFS |
| Riverview Bike Trail | 1.4 mi | 3.0 | USFS |
+ 14 more named trails.
Mountain biking nearby
15.9 miles of bike-legal trail lie within 5 miles. Difficulty mix: Unrated: 15.9 mi
| Trail | Closest point | Miles within 5 mi | Difficulty (as tagged) | Kids | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder Rock Trail | 0.1 mi | 1.2 | Unrated | OSM | |
| Thunder Rock Express Trail | 0.1 mi | 1.3 | Unrated | OSM | |
| Rhododendron | 0.2 mi | 1.5 | Unrated | OSM | |
| Chestnut Mountain Loop | 0.5 mi | 5.8 | Unrated | OSM | |
| Quartz Loop | 0.9 mi | 1.7 | Unrated | OSM | |
| 1330 Bypass | 1.1 mi | 0.9 | Unrated | OSM | |
| West Fork | 1.2 mi | 2.2 | Unrated | OSM | |
| Bear Paw Loop | 1.3 mi | 1.3 | Unrated | OSM |
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 TouringBackpackingBikingBoatingCampingCanoeingFire Lookouts/cabins OvernightFishingHikingHorse CampingHorseback RidingInterpretive ProgramsKayakingMountain BikingNon-motorized BoatingOff Highway VehiclePicnickingRaftingRecreational VehiclesRiver TripsScenic DriveSwimmingVisitor CenterWhitewater Rafting
Nearest campgrounds
| Campground | Miles | State | Fee/night | Sites | Hookups | Max RV | Pets | Booking | Trails ≤5 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tumbling Creek Campground US Forest Service |
4.2 | TN | Free | 8 | — | — | — | ? | 27 (82.4 mi) |
| Parksville Lake rv Campground Cherokee National Forest |
5.8 | TN | — | 16 | E 30A | yes | yes | Reserve | 20 (35.2 mi) |
| Lost Creek Campground US Forest Service |
5.9 | TN | Free | 15 | — | — | — | ? | 6 (40.7 mi) |
| Sylco Campground US Forest Service |
7.2 | TN | Free | 12 | — | — | — | ? | 19 (60.3 mi) |
| Chilhowee Group Camp Cherokee National Forest |
8.8 | TN | $8 | — | — | — | — | Reserve | 20 (25.9 mi) |
| Chilhowee Campground Cherokee National Forest |
8.8 | TN | — | 59 | E 50A | 90 ft | yes | Reserve | 20 (25.9 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.