Campgrounds and RV parks near Johnson City, TN

Johnson City sits in northeast Tennessee's Tri-Cities region, at the western foot of the Southern Appalachians and within a short drive of Cherokee National Forest, the Appalachian Trail, and several Tennessee Valley Authority lakes. RV travelers use it as a practical base for exploring Roan Mountain, the Nolichucky and Watauga rivers, and Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest town. Private parks in the immediate area cover most travel styles. Woodsmoke Campground and Riverview Campground offer wooded and creekside sites close to town, while Jonesborough / Cherokee NF KOA Journey provides full-hookup RV pads with a franchise reservation system. Lakeview RV Resort caters to travelers who want a longer stay with water views, and Appalachian Caverns Campground pairs sites with an on-site show cave. Public land options sit within roughly an hour's drive. The Cherokee National Forest stretches from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border and covers about 650,000 acres as Tennessee's only national forest. Roan Mountain State Park adds a state-run campground and cabins at the base of the Roan massif.

Public and private sites use different systems. Reservations for Cherokee National Forest campgrounds can be made at Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777, and at most Cherokee National Forest campgrounds sites are first come, first served unless a specific loop is listed as reservable. Campers may occupy unreserved sites for up to two nights at a time, or contact Recreation.gov to reserve the site longer. Tennessee State Parks, including Roan Mountain, book through the Itinio-powered reserve.tnstateparks.com portal. Advanced reservations may be made up to one year in advance, with a non-refundable Advanced Reservation Fee per campsite. Private parks such as Woodsmoke Campground, Riverview Campground, Lakeview RV Resort, and Appalachian Caverns Campground take reservations directly, while Jonesborough / Cherokee NF KOA Journey uses the KOA site and app. Reserve summer weekends and October dates at least two to three months in advance.