U.S. Forest Service · Cherokee National Forest · Tennessee

Tumbling Creek Campground

Located near Ocoee #3 Lake, this peaceful, remote campground offers 8 campsites along the banks of Tumbling Creek. Tumbling Creek Campground is convient to the Ocoee Whitewater Centers’ Tanasi trail complex which offers many miles and levels of difficulty for mountain bikers and hikers alike. If solitude is what you prefer, Big Frog Wilderness trails are also located nearby. Climbing to an altitude above 4,000 feet, some of these trails are rugged but reward the hiker with panoramic views of the mountains and the chance to see wildlife.

Open nowBooking not published8 sitesFreeTents only

More like this: first-come in Tennessee · free in Tennessee · tent only in Tennessee

Tumbling Creek Campground
Photo from the area. Harrison Keely (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
4fires
active
Rx - Rymer Camp (prescribed burn) · 7 mi away · 381 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesNo Fee.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
ForestCherokee National Forest
FeesNo Fee.
RulesFood storage restrictions apply at all areas on the Cherokee National Forest. All food and beverages must be stored in an approved bear-proof container, your locked vehicle or hard-sided camper at all times unless being eaten, prepared, or transported. Maximum of 5 people and 2 vehicles at each site.

Cherokee National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Tumbling Creek Campground30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 5.20 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowFebruary: 4.88 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowMarch: 5.56 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowApril: 5.01 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 4.58 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.90 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 5.14 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.84 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 4.67 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 3.52 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 4.85 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowDecember: 5.47 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 39.7°F averageFebruary: 43.6°F averageMarch: 50.8°F averageApril: 59.5°F averageMay: 67.5°F averageJune: 75.1°F averageJuly: 78.4°F averageAugust: 77.6°F averageSeptember: 71.6°F averageOctober: 60.3°F averageNovember: 49.0°F averageDecember: 42.4°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Cleveland Fltr Plt, 23 miles from the campground at 842 feet, station USC00401808 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 58 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 1 inch a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Coordinates35.0174° N, 84.4673° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Rx - Rymer Camp

    7 mi from the campground · 381 acres

  • Prescribed
    Rx Bird Dog

    22 mi from the campground · 34 acres

  • Prescribed
    Rx - Buck Branch

    27 mi from the campground · 652 acres

  • Prescribed
    Pinnacle Kv Rx

    43 mi from the campground · 246 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearBenton Shooters Supply ↗15.2 mi
RV sales & serviceRick's RV Center ↗23.2 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗27.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

Show all 8

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Guidebooks for Cherokee National Forest and Tennessee

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Cherokee National Forest hiking guide
    William H. Skelton and Lamar Alexander, 2024
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Tent Camping: Tennessee
    Johnny Molloy, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Campgrounds in and Around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
    Grueen Huffman, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to camp at Tumbling Creek Campground?

Nothing. Tumbling Creek Campground is listed as free. No Fee.

Source: Forest Service

Is Tumbling Creek Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 26, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Tumbling Creek Campground have?

8 sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Tumbling Creek Campground?

Tumbling Creek Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Tumbling Creek Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Thunder Rock Campground (4.2 mi), Parksville Lake RV Campground (9.2 mi), and Lost Creek Campground (9.9 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby