Watauga Lake Camping
Camping at Watauga Lake is a great adventure in the High Country and greater Appalachia. The Blue Ridge Mountains surround the lake, making for quite the scenic escape.
One of the best ways to explore the Watauga Lake is waking up at your campsite, walking to the water and floating away in your kayak or boat.
That’s possible at a few of the campgrounds listed below. Others require a mere 5-minute drive to the recreational day use areas open to the public.
Watauga Lake and its public-use areas offer plenty of activities such as fishing, kayaking, boating, jet-skiing, tubing behind motor boats or jet-skis, hiking, picnicking and, of course, camping.
Watauga Lake is located in Eastern Tennessee and is less than an hour from Boone NC and 30 minutes from Johnson City TN.
Carden’s Bluff Campground at Watauga Lake
For tent campers wanting to be right on the Watauga Lake, this is the spot.
As its name implies, Cardens Bluff Campground is located on a bluff overlooking the Watauga Lake.
Most of the campsites have great lake views and don’t forget to bring your fishing pole or kayak as you’ll be able to do that just a walk away from your campsite.
This is a Cherokee National Forest campground.
While primarily a tent-camping site, Cardens Bluff has at least three sites for accommodating a 30-foot RV, camper or trailer. However, no electrical hookups are provided.
Day use areas are located nearby for those wanting to explore more swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities. The closest public boat launch for Watauga Lake to the campground is Rat Branch Launch just down the road.
Cardens Bluff Trail nearby also offers an easy 1.1-mile hike gaining 100 feet in elevation. See the map a few paragraphs below.
Amenities include a bathhouse with warm showers and flush toilets and drinking water. No alcohol is allowed on the campground. You can burn wood in campfires and charcoal when cooking.
Camping costs $12 per night and reservations can be made here. Families of up to five people and up to two vehicles can reserve one campsite.
Sites 16, 28 and 29 can accommodate up to a 30-foot RV or trailer. See this map of campsites:
Just like all areas of 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.
Gates open at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Camping is available from mid-May to mid-October.
The campground is located off of U.S. 321 about 35 from Boone NC and 10 miles from Elizabethton TN. See the map below:
Bayview Family Campground and Marina
Located in Butler TN on Watauga Lake, Bayview Family Campground and Marina has more than 40 campsites, 35 boat slips and 10 jet ski slips that are seasonally leased.
No tent camping is available.
The Bayview season runs from April 1 through November 1.
Amenities include a covered gazebo, a covered picnic shelter, playground and an artesian water well for your enjoyment.
For more information, call 423-768-0434 or click to Bayview’s website.
Dennis Cove Campground near Watauga Lake
While not right on Watauga Lake, Dennis Cove Campground is part of the Watauga Lake Recreation Zone. It’s located a few miles away as the crow flies from the lake and is one of only two Cherokee National Forest campgrounds in the Watauga Lake area.
Located at 2,650 feet and along Laurel Fork Creek, the Dennis Cove Campground is described as secluded, rustic and remote.
“The altitude, creek-side location and lush forest surroundings make Dennis Cove particularly desirable during hot summer months,” according to a description at Recreation.gov.
Campsites are $10 for single sites and $20 for double sites. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251724
Dennis Cove Campground has 15 single campsites, including two-double campsites. For large parties, it’s possible to reserve the entire campground for retreats and other events.
Amenities include flush toilets. Each site features a table, fire ring and lantern holder.
The campground is open mid-May to mid-October.
Along with the water activities at nearby Watauga Lake, this campground offers fishing and hiking. Laurel Fork Creek is stocked with rainbow trout below the campground. The creek above the campground is managed as a wild trout stream with browns, rainbows and brooks.
Laurel Fork Trail follows the creek upstream for 8 miles with twenty-six stream crossings.
See the map to the Dennis Cove Recreation Area below. It’s about a 15 minute drive to Watauga Lake.
Little Stoney Creek Campground
Little Stoney Creek Campground is a free campground within the Cherokee National Forest and located on Watauga Lake with no amenities. That means no bathrooms, showers and trashcans, etc.
The campground is wooded with trails leading to the camping area. A gate prevents vehicles from driving through the campground, but there is a parking area before the gate.
A sign on the gate states:
The walk to camping areas is as short as 20 feet or less than yards, closer to the beachy area along the lakeshore. The camping sites closest to the lake are the most popular.
Based on a quick walk-through and glance of the parking area, less than two dozen sites and cars could frequent the area at the same time.
For directions to Little Stoney Creek Campground, see the map below:
Fish Springs Marina Campground
Campsites at the Fish Springs Marina Campground are available by 1-year lease.
Designed for RVs, the campground is open year round with fresh water provided from April 1 to October 31. The campsite is usually full, you can be added to the waiting list by calling 423-768-2336.
Here’s how the grounds are described:
“Our lakeside campground is the perfect escape from your everyday routine. Enjoy the rising fog and sunrise on Watauga Lake then walk right out onto the marina. It’s the perfect place to entertain family, friends or business associates.”
For directions to Fish Springs Campground, see the map below:
Little Pond Mountain Campground
Little Pond Mountain Campground is minutes away from the Watauga Lake and offers tent and RV camping with its 7 leveled, groomed and graveled sites.
Each site has a full water and sewer hook ups, both 30 and 50 amp electrical connections, picnic tables, fire rings and free Wi-Fi.
Tent camping costs $25. RVs and campers with a single air conditioner cost $25 and dual air conditioner cost $30. Extended stay discounts are possible.
Little Pond Mountain Campground is less than 3 miles to the Watauga Point Recreational Area on the Watauga Lake and access to other spots on the lake are even closer.
Alcohol isn’t allowed, but pets are welcome at this family-friendly campground.
See other rules at the campground’s website.
Directions to the Little Pond Mountain Campground are below:
Pioneer Landing Marina
Pioneer Landing is the easternmost marina on Watauga Lake and a site of significant local Cherokee Native American history.
While the site used to be primarily a tent camping area, it now houses RVs and campers year round. Campers stay or visit on weekends April through October. Boat slips are available.
Pioneer Landing is described as having a family atmosphere with familiar campers returning each summer. Due to repeat guests, contact Dan or Deanna at 423-768-3164 or via email at [email protected] for availability of camp spots.
Pioneer Landing Marina is located at 105 Cowan Town Road in Butler, TN.
For more information, click to www.pioneerlanding.com
Directions to Pioneer Landing Marina are below:
Cove Ridge Marina and Yacht Club
Cove Ridge Marina in Butler TN offers two RV campgrounds with “gorgeous lakefront pads.” The campgrounds include gated security and full utility access for cable, HDTV, high-speed internet, phone and Wi-Fi.
Here’s a description of the marina and campground:
“The marina provides a family atmosphere, abundance of open mountain acreage, walking/biking trail that surrounds the entire property, horseshoes, volleyball, basketball, a children’s playground, beach with chairs and umbrellas overlooking the swimming lagoon, gazebo, picnic area, fire pit and shoreline courtesy dock for easy loading and unloading.”
Cove Ridge Marina is located at 947 Piercetown Road in Butler, Tenn. See the embedded map for directions:
For more information and to see if sites are available, click to www.coveridgemarina.com or call 423.768.3760.
While this post was about camping at Watauga Lake, check out this article about camping on the Watauga River, which enters the lake in North Carolina and exits in Tennessee.