Chilhowee Campground
Cherokee National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Benton, TN, TN
Price: From $12 per night
Price range: $12–$30 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (347 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/chilhowee-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Chilhowee Campground offers 59 sites for both tent and RV camping with electric hookups on select sites, located in the Chilhowee Recreation Area with access to McKamy Lake's swim area and sand beach. The campground provides a range of amenities including flush toilets, showers, and a dump station.
Wildlife alert: Eastern Milksnake, Black Kingsnake, Green Anole, groundhogs, northern short-tailed shrews, eastern gray squirrels, ovenbirds, green herons, eastern wood-pewees, and carolina chickadees documented in the area
Insider tips for Chilhowee Campground: Use Forest Service Road 77/Oswald Dome Road to access the campground, not GPS directions which incorrectly route via Benton Springs Rd Book early as this is a popular federal campground Visit McKamy Lake's day-use area for swimming at the sand beach even if not staying overnight
Skip Chilhowee Campground if: You need water or sewer hookups - only electric hookups available on select sites. You require year-round camping - seasonal operations May through October only. You prefer to camp outside peak season.
Best time to visit Chilhowee Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Chilhowee Group Camp (Benton, TN), Parksville Lake Rv Campground (Benton, TN), Quinn Springs Pavilion (Benton, TN), Lost Corral Horse Camp (Reliance, TN).
Cell Phone Coverage at Chilhowee Campground
Cell signal at Chilhowee Campground (Benton, TN): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryUse Forest Service Road 77/Oswald Dome Road to access the campground, not GPS directions which incorrectly route via Benton Springs Rd
Book early as this is a popular federal campground
Visit McKamy Lake's day-use area for swimming at the sand beach even if not staying overnight
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
The campground is located on FDR 77/Oswald Dome Road. 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
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Cherokee National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Cherokee National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Chilhowee Campground cost per night?+
What season is Chilhowee Campground open?+
Does Chilhowee Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Chilhowee Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Chilhowee Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Chilhowee Campground?+
What season is Chilhowee Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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