Chilhowee Campground

Chilhowee Campground
Chilhowee Beach Day Use Area
Fall Color, Chilhowee Overlook
Chilhowee Beach Day Use Area
Sugarloaf Overlook

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly

Sites & Rates

Average nightly rates

59 total sites · $17.36 avg/night

RV Sites

48 sites · $12-$20 range

$16.33/night

average

Tent Sites

11 sites · $12-$30 range

$17.36/night

average

About Chilhowee Campground

Located in the Chilhowee Recreation Area, Chilhowee Campground offers a multitude of camping opportunities for both RV and tent sites, many with electric hookups. The day-use area includes McKamy Lake, a swim area with sand beach, picnic sites, a group picnic area, and a bathhouse.  Be Aware; Do not use GPS directions: GPS coordinates will direct you up Benton Springs Rd. This route is not recommended. We recommend using Forest Service Road 77 to reach the recreation area. It's important to note, this facility requires driving 7 miles up to Chilhowee Campground on a narrow, winding road. Do not use the Benton Springs Access Road to the campground as this is an unpaved and dangerous road for RVs. Inexperienced RV drivers may have difficulties getting to and around the site.

Number of accommodations: 59

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Swimming

Swimming

Summer

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - May 22 to Nov 15

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

  • Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
Water Access

Water Access

  • Beach Access
  • Lake Access
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Report Incorrect Information

Help us improve by reporting any incorrect amenity information for Chilhowee Campground.

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

59 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 01, Loop: A Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 02, Loop: A Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
03, Loop: A Loop Tent
5 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30
/ per night
04, Loop: A Loop Tent
5 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30
/ per night
05, Loop: A Loop Tent
5 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30
/ per night
06, Loop: A Loop Tent
5 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30
/ per night
🚐 07, Loop: A Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 08, Loop: A Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 09, Loop: A Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 10, Loop: A Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 11, Loop: A Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 12, Loop: A Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 14, Loop: B Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 15, Loop: B Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 16, Loop: B Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
17/18, Loop: B Loop Tent
10 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30
/ per night
19, Loop: B Loop Tent
5 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30
/ per night
🚐 20, Loop: B Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 21, Loop: B Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 22, Loop: B Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 23, Loop: B Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 24, Loop: B Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 25, Loop: B Loop RV
30 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 27, Loop: C Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 28, Loop: C Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 29, Loop: C Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 30, Loop: C Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 31, Loop: C Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
32, Loop: C Loop Tent
5 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$12
/ per night
33, Loop: C Loop Tent
5 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$12
/ per night
34, Loop: C Loop Tent
5 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$12
/ per night
35, Loop: D Loop Tent
5 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$12
/ per night
🚐 36, Loop: D Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 37, Loop: D Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 38, Loop: D Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 39, Loop: D Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 40, Loop: D Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 41, Loop: D Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 42, Loop: D Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 43, Loop: D Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 44, Loop: D Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 45, Loop: D Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 46, Loop: D Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 48, Loop: E Loop RV
50 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 49, Loop: E Loop RV
50 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 50, Loop: E Loop RV
50 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 51, Loop: E Loop RV
50 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 52, Loop: E Loop RV
50 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 53, Loop: E Loop RV
50 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 54, Loop: E Loop RV
50 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 55, Loop: F Loop RV
50 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 56, Loop: F Loop RV
50 Amp · Electric Only
$20
/ per night
🚐 57, Loop: F Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 58, Loop: F Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 59, Loop: F Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 60, Loop: F Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 61, Loop: F Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
🚐 62, Loop: F Loop RV
No Hookups
$12
/ per night
63, Loop: F Loop Tent
5 guests · Pet Friendly
$12
/ per night

Reviews (387)

What Guests Are Saying

Chilhowee Campground is praised for its cleanliness, with exceptionally maintained bathrooms and spacious campsites that offer privacy and beautiful mountain views. The campground hosts are described as friendly and helpful, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere. While there are some minor complaints regarding noise and site management, overall, visitors find it a peaceful and enjoyable place for camping and outdoor activities, particularly hiking to Benton Falls.

Review Summary

4.4
387 reviews
5
62.0%
240
4
26.1%
101
3
7.8%
30
2
2.3%
9
1
1.8%
7

Howard C

Verified

June 21, 2026 Stayed at: 02, Loop: A Loop

5

Excellent Camping spots.

Ashleigh V

Verified

June 15, 2026 Stayed at: 05, Loop: A Loop

5

Overall everything was a 10 out of 10! Campground was super clean including shower houses & campsites. Plenty of fish in the lake!! Big area for swimming & beautiful hiking trails to Benton waterfall 💜 Our family will definitely be back!

John G

Verified

June 15, 2026 Stayed at: 07, Loop: A Loop

5

Chilhowee is the perfect place to relax, unwind, and enjoy nature! There was a lot of firewood available due to trees that had previously fallen, which was a nice perk. And, bathrooms were kept very clean in Loop A!

Joey B

Verified

June 14, 2026 Stayed at: 55, Loop: F Loop

1

Very disappointing! We booked this trip more than two months in advance. Check in time was 3 PM, we arrived on time at 3 PM and found someone fully set up on our site. We went to the section host they told us they were only a recreational host, sent us to the host at another area of the campground. Once there we could not approach this hosts door because of a Pit Dog fenced in around their camper. We finally had to blow the truck horn to get someone to come out. They said they didn't know where the people were that were on our site. They told us they didn't have another site for us and asked us to just park somewhere in an open site until they called the other camper. We parked in a site across the road from our site. About 45 minutes later the host showed up and said they contacted the other camper but he was about an hour away. at the same time the camper coming into the site we were parked at arrived and got mad because I was parked in his site. So we spent the next 2 hours driving around the campground, towing a camper, parking in the road until a car would come, that drive around some more. When the man showed up at about 5:30PM he took another 45 minutes packing his stuff up, shook his head several times at me because I was parked in the road in front of the site waiting. At 6:15 I finally got into our site! At about 6:30 PM the host came by to ask if we got settled in. That was the last time we saw the host. We were right beside the bathroom, we never saw anyone ever clean it or even check on it. Empty soap bottles all over the sink trash scattered around the floor. We never saw a host ride through, we never saw a ranger ride through. We couldn't enjoy the peacefulness of nature that we were looking for because of all the dogs barking constantly day and night. We loved the location but someone needs to look into how this place is run. We camp in many places and this is the first negative review I have ever had to make. we won't be back. More 2 say out of word

Angelica S

Verified

June 14, 2026 Stayed at: 34, Loop: C Loop

5

Spacious and clean camping spots. Clean restrooms. Lots of trails for hiking and exploring.

Michael V

Verified

June 13, 2026 Stayed at: 04, Loop: A Loop

1

Rules should be enforced. Everything was fine until three families moved into one campsite right next to us, which isn't a big deal either. They automatically took up every single parking spot. They were also up until 5 AM blasting music and drinking alcohol. We could not reach the camp host or rangers, as the rangers' office was closed.

Kimberly P

Verified

June 12, 2026 Stayed at: 34, Loop: C Loop

5

Campgrounds and bathroom were very clean. Our site was right next to the bathrooms which is perfect when camping with little ones. We had a bear visit 2 nights. He stayed out of camp and was just rustling around in the brush. Tmobile gets service off and on depending on where you stand.

Ashley S

Verified

June 12, 2026 Stayed at: 50, Loop: E Loop

4

Loved the secluded location. Nice, big campsites. Plenty of shade.
Trails were all the same scenery except for Benton Falls. That is a must see!!
Signage getting to the campground could be better. There was a sign in the middle of a fork in the road that just said “Chilhowee Recreation.” There wasn’t an arrow to tell you which way to go. We chose the wrong way and ended up on a one lane gravel road. Luckily we found a spot to turn our little travel trailer around and head back down. Note for newcomers, stay on the paved road and head towards the Benton Falls trailhead (that was the only sign nearby with an arrow.

Mickey G

Verified

June 11, 2026 Stayed at: 04, Loop: A Loop

5

Great camping area. Super clean bath house. Awesome views from the mountain.

John G

Verified

June 8, 2026 Stayed at: 50, Loop: E Loop

5

Quiet, well maintained campground. Access to trails much appreciated.

Location Chilhowee Campground

Address:
3171 Highway 64 East
Benton, TN, 37307
United States

Highway access

Chilhowee Campground is accessible via Highway 64/411, located approximately 7 miles from the campground. From the highway, travelers should turn onto Forest Road 77 to reach the campground.

Elevation: 638 feet

Distance to downtown

17 mi drive to downtown Benton (about 29 min)

Policies & Rules

General

  • Be Aware! Do not use GPS directions - GPS coordinates will direct you up Benton Springs Rd. This route is not recommended. We recommend using Forest Service Road 77 to reach the recreation area. It's important to note, this facility requires driving 7 miles up to Chilhowee Campground on a narrow, winding road. Do not use the Benton Springs Access Road to the campground as this is an unpaved and dangerous road for RVs. Inexperienced RV drivers may have difficulties getting to and around the site.  
  • The campground is located on FDR 77/Oswald Dome Road.
  • Campfires are permitted in designated fire rings only.
  • Do not leave fires unattended. They will be extinguished.
  • Discharging firearms and fireworks is prohibited.
  • Pets must be on a leash and are not allowed on the beach.
  • No lifeguards on duty; swim at your own risk.
  • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
  • The nearest restaurants and/or stores for purchasing supplies are about 14 miles from the campground.
  • Campground hosts are on site.
  • Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
  • Be Bear Wise: Never leave food out on tables or in the open. Store unattended food in bear-resistant containers, in a vehicle in solid non-pliable material, or suspend food at least ten feet off the ground. Remember to use the bear resistant trash receptacles provided at this facility.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: September 9, 2026

USDA Forest Service Logo
Managed by USDA Forest Service