Best Camping in and near Natural Tunnel State Park

100% (2 reviews)

As tall as a city high rise, this natural cave has been attracting sightseers for over 100 years.

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Stay at a public campground in Natural Tunnel State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Natural Tunnel State Park

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Tri Mountain View

15 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents27 acres · Shady Valley, TN

Tri Mountain View Campground is located in the Northeast corner of Tennessee in the town of Shady Valley. With an elevation of 2,800 feet, Shady Valley is the second highest town in Tennessee. It is just 26 miles from the Bristol Raceway and the Bristol Caverns. It is just a 15 minute drive to Backbone rock and a short drive to the Appalachian Trail. The property was a Dairy Farm and went out of business in the late 90’s and since then there has been over 3,000 trees planted. Some of these trees include the rare Butternut and Hazelnut, but mostly White Pine, Walnut and Oaks. The property has approximately 1,000 feet of fishing on Beaver dam creek, so we recommend bringing waders. There is also a shower house, washer and dryer. https://trimountainview.com/ trimountainview.com

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Stormbrew Farm

18 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents18 acres · Abingdon, VA

Nestled in the breathtaking Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia, , hens, ducks, bees, Great Pyrenees, and cats pastorally roam over 18 acres of rolling farmland and forest. Experience our favorite parts of Stormbrew Farm through a primitive camping experience. Learn more about this land:An agrarian dream- a literal field of possibility. With 18 acres to choose from you may find yourself sleeping along the lazy Fifteenmile Creek, atop a hill under Virginia stars, or even set up with pastoral views of hens and Great Pyrenees dogs. The roadfront side of our property offers level terrain for pull-behind trailers, while vehicles (preferably 4WD) and tent campers can travel all the way back to the creek. Feeling froggy? Ford the stream and camp in the large field on the other side. Be sure to mind the animals and fields, as this is a working farm. One mile down the road from the farm is the Virginia Creeper Trail, renowned for biking, but as a multi-use trail, you can also enjoy walking, running, horseback riding, fishing, cross country skiing, and geocaching. South Holston Lake is only minutes away by vehicle, with two public access boating ramps 10 to 20 minutes away. For a drink by the water, head to Abingdon Vineyards- only 10 minutes away. Access to the Appalachian Trail is only 20 minutes away in Damascus. We became caretakers of this lovely property in June of 2021, moving from our existing farm, 45 minutes away. When we got it, it was a blank slate of a hayfield, and we have spent the summer laying infrastructure so that we may grow our cut-flower, honey, and vegetable business.

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Rock Bottom Horse Camp

18 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Ewing, VA

We are open to all campers, no horse required. Our farm is beautifully located adjacent to the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. The White Rocks trailhead is within walking distance and is a very popular for both horseback riding and hiking. The campground has a great view of the White Rocks and is located just a few minutes from Hwy 58 making it a convenient stop if traveling through. The campground is equine friendly, bring your horse trailer and stay the night after a long ride.

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Happy Camper Trl w/Theater Hot-Tub

28 sites · Lodging, Tents25 acres · Jonesville, VA

About this space Enjoy amped up camping at this at this posh mountain escape! Here you can reconnect with nature outdoors while luxury furnishings and full amenities provide all the comforts of home inside a spacious, pet-friendly camper. Add in an epic outdoor entertaining area featuring a theater with 120” screen, hot tub, griddle, firepit, and deck and you have the ultimate camping adventure. Bonus – the site is located on 25 acres in the VA mountains with views of KY and TN! The space This pet-friendly, luxury camping experience is ideal for everything from weekend getaways to extended mountain sojourns. The camper’s interior is packed with all the necessities required for a comfortable stay: a full kitchen with Keurig coffee machine, hot and cold-water sink, microwave, refrigerator, stove, oven; large dining booth; comfy seating area; full bathroom with shower tub combo; 2 private bedrooms; A/C, heat; a flat screen Smart TV with streaming capabilities; and expansive windows that fill the interior with natural light. Outdoors is the ultimate entertainer’s paradise. Relax in the hot tub and enjoy theatre under the stars on the 120” elevated screen that can be seen from the entire site. Start mornings off with coffee and the smell of bacon sizzling on the outdoor griddle and end the days with a cold one from the kegerator. Every guest receives all the fixings needed for S’mores to roast on the firepit, and complimentary wood is provided that can also be used to cook up delicious meals on the classic campsite grill. With views for miles, wildlife sightings, and proximity to major area attractions, a stay here is without a doubt the best way to effortlessly experience the exciting world of “camping with benefits”! IMPORTANT: Once You have booked a reservation with us, immediately call our our receptionist Tammi at 812.381.4355 because our system does not integrate with our property management software. This is especially important if you are booking last minute or late in the evening. We may not get your reservation until the next morning and you will be locked out of the space. So immediately after booking a reservation, call Tammi so we can ensure it is accessible.

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Black Bear Resort

47 sites · RVs, Tents23 acres · Hampton, TN

A secluded place nestled in the Pond Mountain Wilderness area of the Cherokee National Forest. Near streams, creeks, hiking trails, 3+ waterfalls, rivers, and Watauga lake. One tent per site, up to 2 adults and up to 4 children are included. Additional persons / tents will require additional charges.

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Morning Star's Mountain View

5 sites · RVs, Tents93 acres · Church Hill, TN

Check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bMZVGXMNj9U Morning Star Homestead is a 93 acre working farm and woodlands nestled in the Appalachian Mountains with an elevation that can see 3 states. Secluded and quiet.

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Creeping Thyme Forest

7 sites · RVs, Tents75 acres · Abingdon, VA

Primitive, remote camping. Nestled between small mountain ranges. Adjacent to mountain stream. Fishing pond. Wooded and open sites available. Rough gravel road loops around camping areas. Generally a high-clearance vehicle is recommended, unless you feel adventurous.

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Channels Park Edge Campsites

6 sites · RVs, Tents125 acres · Rosedale, VA

Primitive campsites are located within one and a half mile of the Channels State Park entrance. One can hike, bike or drive to the Channels if that's your destination. Beautiful views, forested hiking trails on old logging roads are plentiful on our 125 wooded acres. Wildlife abounds in this remote setting. Other interesting features are nearby salt mines with Civil War history and a nearby farm store, Goshen Homestead, less then 2 minutes away. There you will find firewood for sale, pastured poultry products like eggs and chicken, grass-fed milk meats and cheeses, ferments, dried fruits, baking supply like grains and flour, etc. All organic and non-GMO. You will be sure to find all your breakfast, lunch and dinner needs. The town of Lebanon is about 15 minutes away. Breaks Interstate Park is within an hour drive. Surprisingly, most phones get full service.

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Breath of Dawn

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents35 acres · Castlewood, VA

Welcome to our mountain camping retreat in Virginia, where you will experience the beauty of nature up close and personal. Our farm is a perfect place to relax, unwind, and enjoy nature's beauty. Location Our property is located in the Appalachian Mountains of SW Virginia, just a few a miles away from the Clinch River and over looking the Clinch Mountain. You'll escape the hustle and bustle by getting lost in our stunning views of the landscape. Activities Whether you are an adventurer or just looking for some relaxation amidst nature, our area provides plenty of activities for all. You can explore the trails in the nearby mountains, go kayaking in the rivers, or simply relax and enjoy the beauty of the scenery here on the homestead. There are also plenty of fun festivals and activities in the nearby towns. Accommodations Our rural homestead offers a quiet escape. Accommodations range from primitive campsites, glamping A-frame dry cabins to a cozy renovated RV with full amenities or a retro-vintage camper by the creek. Tents with setup are available for rent and you can purchase a 6 pack of eggs from the farm for your next meal. Wildlife As you explore the natural beauty of our homestead, you can also marvel at the wildlife. You'll see deer, turkey, lots of birds, and sometimes even bears. The night time is just as exciting as the stars fill the skies and you experience the light show of the fireflies in season. We believe our space is the perfect getaway for anyone looking to relax and breathe in better days. Come join us and create unforgettable memories! Plans We are building an educational homestead with farm stays here in rural SW Virginia to include dining experiences and food preservation classes. Our 35 acre farm is located on a mountainside with beautiful views of the Clinch Mountain. Our location is rural and peaceful with abundant wildlife. Deer, Racoons, Opossums, Bobcats, Bear, Fox, Groundhogs, and Turkey have been spotted on the property. We are a great spot for bird watching as well! Camp Grassland: Two of our prepped campsites are on a flattened area of the hillside field with access to a fire pit, log bench, and porta-potty. This location is in direct sun with beautiful views and easy access from the road. Parking at the top of the field is recommended unless you have a 4WD vehicle. Cabin Breazy: Situated at one of the highest points on the property, Cabin Breazy is our cozy, off-grid, dry A-frame cabin surrounded by mountain views. Farmhouse Holler: 2nd Campsite is located next to our old farmhouse on a lower section of the property. Its near the natural spring and is shaded. There are no convenient bathroom facilities at this location so it is recommended to bring your own. Reaching the porta-potty would require an extensive uphill hike or driving around to the other entrance. To reach this campsite, the driveway could be considered rough terrain so drive slowly. Lowered vehicles or those with little ground clearance are not recommended. Each campsite has a max occupancy of 2 people. If you need space for more campers, please reach out to us about how many are in your party. We can host groups with advanced notification. Overlanding vehicles are welcome. Attractions: If you are looking for birds-eye view of the area, visit the Mendota Fire Tower only 3.2 mile away. You can see it from the farm and see the farm from it. It's about a 15 minute hike from the road. You can choose the mildly challenging way up or take the old roadway for a smoother walk. Clinch River is only 20 minutes away. Cool off in the river or enjoy kayaking and tubing opportunities from Clinch River Adventures. Closest convenience store is about 15 minutes away. Closest Grocery store is about 20 minutes away. Friendly-leashed pets are welcome on the property. Remember to always keep your pet tethered as we have free roaming animals on the property. Never leave pets unattended on the property. Please clean up after your pets! All guests must sign the farm participant liability waiver on our website. https://breathofdawnva.com/waiver/ Review our pet policy on the if you are traveling with a pet. https://breathofdawnva.com/pets/

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Farmhouse Gallery & Gardens

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents73 acres · Unicoi, TN

Learn more about this land:You’ll cross the covered bridge (clearance 11’6” ) as you enter our farm, a 73 acre small family farm, nestled in the Buffalo Valley of Northeast TN, and featuring a down home country atmosphere. What makes our farm special are all of the unique extras: a working log cabin blacksmith shop, log cabin art gallery, certified commercial kitchen, lots of watchable wildlife, and walking trails. We have a one acre wildlife pond and a smaller pond fed by springs and Buffalo Creek, which runs through the farm. Our small buffalo herd is pastured not far from the campsites and our friendly peacocks and chickens roam the grounds. We also offer classes in blacksmithing, art, foraging and cooking periodically. We are rural but not remote and are minutes away from state parks, fishing, hiking, rafting and other recreational activities as well as downtown Johnson City and Historic Jonesborough with breweries, shops, and many restaurants. As purveyors of Appalachian culture and cuisine, we invite you to stay a day , or longer, to share our friendly and relaxing small farm atmosphere in the mountains.

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Wiley's Last Resort

18 sites · Tents90 acres · Whitesburg, KY

Wiley's Last Resort is about a hundred acres on top of Pine Mountain in Letcher County, KY. Jim Webb aka "Wiley Quixote" purchased the property in 1996 and began restoring, developing, and naming all the nooks and crannies that make up this wonderful place.

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Love Our Soil Farms- on the River

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents36 acres · Sneedville, TN

Love Our Soil Farms is a developing, small regenerative farm that is the cornerstone of our family’s journey to living a more compassionate, peaceful, and sustainable life. Our independent family farm is a place—both physical and in spirit—that we hope to share with others. It is our passion project, driven by a desire to leave our earth better than we found it and create a healthier, more sustainable future for our children. We would love for you to join us here at Love Our Soil Farms on the beautiful Clinch River. It’s the perfect place for a getaway, whether you make it a day trip or come visit for an overnight stay. You can relax and unplug in your own cozy and comfortable space while surrounded by the majestic Appalachian mountains inhabited by an abundance of wildlife. Whichever stay, location, or event you choose, you will be only steps away from the river where you can swim, kayak or fish. You will be nestled up against our growing homestead, including our farm animals (we offer tours). We offer Farm-to-Table meals for all our guests and we love accommodating large groups with our different sites and are happy to help plan youre group event. Glamping Glamping in one of our three amazing luxury tents – located right on the river, the creek or tucked away in the mountains – is the ultimate in camping meets comfort. All three locations are nestled up against our farm and have full access to the river and gathering spots. Tents have their own private restroom with double compost toilets and an off grid hot shower heated by propane. Barnyard Staying overnight in our barnyard camper gives you the complete farm life experience. You will be staying right in the middle of our farm—between our barn and our milking parlor—surrounded by chickens, turkeys, and guinea hens! Inside your camper, you will have running water, a restroom, and a small kitchen. If you’re curious about life on a family farm or just want to get some good quality time in with farm animals, this is the place to stay. Boondocking Your own RV is welcome to park riverside, we currently do not have hookups so you will be dry camping. You are also welcome to use our fire pit and restrooms if they are available, as guests staying in our glamping tents will have the option to reserve them. The restrooms have double compost toilets and an off grid hot shower heated by propane. You can check with us prior to making your reservation to see if other guests have already reserved these amenities for their stay. Camping Classic tent camping is a blast here! You can bring your own tent or rent one from us. This is the ultimate experience for living off the land and reconnecting with nature. You will have your own fire pit, and you will be surrounded by an abundance of wildlife. When you stay overnight with us here on the farm you become part of our family. We want to make sure that you not only unwind but also get to take advantage of all the amazing things this beautiful homestead has to offer. You will have direct access to the river for kayaking, tubing, fishing, swimming, hiking, or just sitting along the bank enjoying the fresh air. Our family’s favorite activity is gathering by the fire pit at night, listening to the river, and gazing at the stars, which shine brighter here than anywhere we’ve ever been. We would love to share everything this peaceful place has with you. Waking up by the river is rejuvenating and is the perfect way to start your day as you reconnect with nature. While you’re perfectly welcome to cook all of your meals over a campfire for the full “roughing it” experience, we understand that there are times when you just want to kick back and relax. With that in mind, we also offer hot, home cooked family meals, delivered directly to your door upon request and at an additional expense. Tours Our farm is small but growing daily. We are striving to create a fully functional and self-reliant regenerative farm in an environment that is focused on soil health and increasing biodiversity, while peacefully existing and raising healthy and happy animals. If this is something you're interested in experiencing, we’ve got you covered. We offer different levels of tours and experiences and would love to share our farm, and our knowledge, with you. River dining Sitting on the river bank enjoying a farm-to-table meal can be romantic or just plain fun. We offer a limited amount of lunches by the river as well as candlelit dinners. Just let us know what you’re thinking and how many people you have in your party, and we’ll work with you to make your perfect event happen! Special events If you would like to hold a special event, such as a birthday party, wedding, or family reunion at our farm, we would love to make that happen. Special event availability is on a very limited basis with a select number of dates set aside for these types of events. Let us know what you have in mind and if we have the availability, we’ll work closely with you to make your dream event come true.

The best camping near Natural Tunnel State Park guide

Overview

About

This natural tunnel was called the Eighth Wonder of the World by William Jennings Bryan. Standing at 10 stories tall, the geological wonder formed over a million years ago. Groundwater bearing carbonic acid percolated up through the limestone, slowly dissolving it. A creek diverted into this underground chasm, further eroding the rock to form the tunnel you see today.

The natural cave is so large, it has served as an active railroad tunnel since 1894. On the 3rd Saturday of every July, the trains stop, allowing park visitors to walk through the 850-foot long tunnel. On other days, you can take a chair lift down to the viewing area at the bottom of the gorge.

The surrounding 900-acre park is great for hiking in solitude. For a stunning view, climb Lovers Leap Trail to the scenic overlook 300 feet above the gorge. Two campgrounds offer sites with electric hook-ups and access to the pool. But the large cabins are awfully tempting, as are the adorable yurts constructed in 2017.

Notable campgrounds

Cove View Campground - Offers shaded and sunny sites with electric and water hookups, perfect for tents or RVs up to 38 feet.
Lover's Leap Campground - Features back-in sites with electric and water hookups, accommodating tents, pop-ups, and RVs up to 50 feet.
Primitive Camping - Provides a rustic experience with tent pads and a common area with a fire ring, for those seeking a more traditional camping adventure.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Book early, as reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance, ensuring your spot in this sought-after natural haven.
Consider visiting during the off-peak season for greater availability and a chance to enjoy the park's tranquility.
Keep an eye on cancellation policies, as last-minute openings can provide unexpected opportunities for a stay.
Explore nearby camping options to maximize your chances of securing a site during busy times or if the park is fully booked.

When to go

The best time to visit Natural Tunnel State Park is from May through October, when the chairlift operates and full access to the tunnel is available. Winter offers a unique, serene beauty, but some facilities may be closed, and the chairlift is not operational.

Know before you go

Check the park's operating hours, which are from 8am to dusk, to plan your visit accordingly.
Be aware that the chairlift and some facilities have seasonal hours or may be closed for maintenance.
Accessibility is a priority, with features like an accessible chairlift and designated parking for guests with disabilities.
Remember to bring all necessary supplies, as cabins do not provide linens, and amenities vary.
Pets are welcome in certain areas, but be prepared to pay an additional fee and follow park regulations.