Featured amenities
Pet Friendly
About Rock Creek Campground (TN)
Number of accommodations: 11
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Birding
Canoeing
Fishing
Hiking
Kayaking
Paddling
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
11 Sites Available
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Site Details
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11 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (221)
What Guests Are Saying
Rock Creek Campground offers a beautiful, peaceful retreat with well-spaced sites, particularly along the creek, providing a serene atmosphere and excellent access to hiking trails and the river. Visitors appreciate the cleanliness of the facilities and the secluded feel, with zero light pollution enhancing the outdoor experience. However, some noted a lack of onsite staff and occasional noise from ATV activity, and it's important to plan ahead for reservations due to ambiguous campsite maps and no cell service.
What Guests Are Saying
Rock Creek Campground offers a beautiful, peaceful retreat with well-spaced sites, particularly along the creek, providing a serene atmosphere and excellent access to hiking trails and the river. Visitors appreciate the cleanliness of the facilities and the secluded feel, with zero light pollution enhancing the outdoor experience. However, some noted a lack of onsite staff and occasional noise from ATV activity, and it's important to plan ahead for reservations due to ambiguous campsite maps and no cell service.
Review Summary
William S
VerifiedAugust 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 1, Loop: Rock Creek Campground (TN)
This campground is basic as described. It offers a pleasant natural rural setting along the banks of the Emory River in the Cumberland Plateau of East Tennessee.
Gessika G
VerifiedJune 20, 2022 • Stayed at: 2, Loop: Rock Creek Campground (TN)
NPS needs to clearly define if this area is first come first serve, or should honor assigned spots. The reservation only says "ranger will not be present to assign spots." This led to confusion. A bunch of city slicks took my spot because they did not like theirs, and because of that statement, the ranger could not make them move. Unfortunately, it caused us to take someone else's spot. The people who had our spot got upset. It took the entire area to sort themselves out to avoid fights. Other than that, the campground is great. It's right next to the river and Cumberland Trail. It was way quieter than state park campgrounds.
Gessika G
VerifiedJune 20, 2022 • Stayed at: 2, Loop: Rock Creek Campground (TN)
NPS needs to clearly define if this area is first come first serve, or should honor assigned spots. The reservation only says "ranger will not be present to assign spots." This led to confusion. A bunch of city slicks took my spot because they did not like theirs, and because of that statement, the ranger could not make them move. Unfortunately, it caused us to take someone else's spot. The people who had our spot got upset. It took the entire area to sort themselves out to avoid fights. Other than that, the campground is great. It's right next to the river and Cumberland Trail. It was way quieter than state park campgrounds.
Rob G
VerifiedJune 19, 2022 • Stayed at: 6, Loop: Rock Creek Campground (TN)
Beautiful spot right next to the river. Cool trails around the campgrounds and easy access to get into the river. Been twice and would happily go again.
Rob G
VerifiedJune 19, 2022 • Stayed at: 6, Loop: Rock Creek Campground (TN)
Beautiful spot right next to the river. Cool trails around the campgrounds and easy access to get into the river. Been twice and would happily go again.
Jason T
VerifiedApril 16, 2022 • Stayed at: 2, Loop: Rock Creek Campground (TN)
We arrived around 19:00 and someone else was occupying our site. Tried calling the ranger station but there was no answer, so we decided to crash on campsite 1. It turned out very well, as this is the most secluded site and we had LOTS of room to move around. My boys had fun skipping rocks at the river, climbing the hillside next to the tent pad…overall, a great experience, but knowing this site used to be first come first served with a reservation, I think the reservations should be more explicit about the fact that they are specific now.
Jason T
VerifiedApril 16, 2022 • Stayed at: 2, Loop: Rock Creek Campground (TN)
We arrived around 19:00 and someone else was occupying our site. Tried calling the ranger station but there was no answer, so we decided to crash on campsite 1. It turned out very well, as this is the most secluded site and we had LOTS of room to move around. My boys had fun skipping rocks at the river, climbing the hillside next to the tent pad…overall, a great experience, but knowing this site used to be first come first served with a reservation, I think the reservations should be more explicit about the fact that they are specific now.
Emma D
VerifiedApril 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 2, Loop: Rock Creek Campground (TN)
BE WARNED: Even though you have a SPECIFIC reserved campsite from recreation.gov, it is still first come first serve if you read the smaller print. You will get a campsite but both the park brochure and the small print say that you are guaranteed a campsite there and NOT the one you actually pick. This means that if you come in the evening you may get one of the campsites that is subpar compared to the beautiful image you saw on recreation.gov.
Emma D
VerifiedApril 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 2, Loop: Rock Creek Campground (TN)
BE WARNED: Even though you have a SPECIFIC reserved campsite from recreation.gov, it is still first come first serve if you read the smaller print. You will get a campsite but both the park brochure and the small print say that you are guaranteed a campsite there and NOT the one you actually pick. This means that if you come in the evening you may get one of the campsites that is subpar compared to the beautiful image you saw on recreation.gov.
Todd S
VerifiedMarch 27, 2022 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: Rock Creek Campground (TN)
We were unable to stay because we use a roof top truck tent and due to not being able to see the lay out of the campground our spot was across the bridge next to the river. We didn’t feel like we wanted to sleep in the parking lot.
Location Rock Creek Campground (TN)
Address:
Po Box 429
Wartburg, TN, 37887
United States
From the East: Take State Route 62 West, then veer to the right onto State Route 27. Make a left onto Kingston Street, and follow the brown Obed road signs to the visitor center on North Maiden Street. To continue on to the campground, stay on North Maiden Street until reaching an intersection. Stay straight on North Maiden Street crossing Main Street/Old Hwy 27 until you reach Spring Street. Turn right onto Spring Street and continue on to the sharp left-handed curve where the road becomes Catoosa Road. Stay on Catoosa Road for approximately 5.5 miles until reaching the entrance of the campground.
From the West: Take State Route 62 East, then make a right onto State Route 27 South. Make a right onto Kingston Street, and follow the brown Obed road signs to the visitor center on North Maiden Street. To continue on to the campground, stay on North Maiden Street until reaching an intersection. Stay straight on North Maiden Street crossing Main Street/Old Hwy 27 until you reach Spring Street. Turn right onto Spring Street and continue on to the sharp left-handed curve where the road becomes Catoosa Road. Stay on Catoosa Road for approximately 5.5 miles until reaching the entrance of the campground.
From the North: Follow State Route 27 South into Wartburg. Make a right onto Kingston Street, and follow the brown Obed road signs to the visitor center on North Maiden Street. To continue on to the campground, stay on North Maiden Street until reaching an intersection. Stay straight on North Maiden Street crossing Main Street/Old Hwy 27 until you reach Spring Street. Turn right onto Spring Street and continue on to the sharp left-handed curve where the road becomes Catoosa Road. Stay on Catoosa Road for approximately 5.5 miles until reaching the entrance of the campground.
From the South: Follow State Route 27 North into Wartburg. Make a left onto Kingston Street, then follow the brown Obed road signs to the visitor center on North Maiden Street. To continue on to the campground, stay on North Maiden Street until reaching an intersection. Stay straight on North Maiden Street crossing Main Street/Old Hwy 27 until you reach Spring Street. Turn right onto Spring Street and continue on to the sharp left-handed curve where the road becomes Catoosa Road. Stay on Catoosa Road for approximately 5.5 miles until reaching the entrance of the campground.
Rock Creek Campground is accessible via State Route 62 and State Route 27, both of which serve as major roads in the area.
Latitude & Longitude: 36.0702 / -84.6633
Elevation: 292 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
- Occupy the reserved site; modify reservations for site changes.
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
Wildlife & food storage
- Do not hang garbage from lantern poles.
Safety & rules
- Alcohol is not allowed in the campground.
Site capacity
- Equipment must fit on the site pad; park vehicles in designated areas.
Utilities
- Bring your own drinking water.
Local regulations
- Groups larger than 25 need a permit for activities off established roads.
- A permit is required for any business services in the area.
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
