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Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn)

Cherokee National Forest — lakeside

Location: Unicoi, TN, TN

Price: From $12 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (41 reviews)

Season: May through October

PLEASE NOTE: AS THE HURRICANE BANNER DESCRIBES, JACOBS CREEK CAMPGROUND AND DAY-USE AREA IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. READ THE NEED TO KNOW SECTION (LOCATED UNDER FACILITY INFORMATION TAB) FOR FURTHER DETAILS. PLEASE READ IT BEFORE MAKING ANY RESERVATIONS.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Showers, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/jacobs-creek-campground-tn to be notified when sites open up.

Jacobs Creek Campground offers affordable camping at $12/night along the scenic shores of South Holston Lake with water views of undeveloped shoreline. The campground provides essential amenities including flush toilets, showers, fire rings, and a boat launch for water activities.

Wildlife alert: Brown Creeper, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Cooper's Hawk, and Tree Swallow have been documented in the area.

Insider tips for Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn): Book early — this is a popular federal campground. Water activities available: boating, kayaking, and canoeing on South Holston Lake. Elevation is 1,730 ft with scenic views of miles of undeveloped shoreline.

Skip Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) if: You need RV hookups — most sites have no hookups.. You're planning to camp outside May-October — seasonal operations only.. Check facility status before reserving — campground has closure notices that require review..

Best time to visit Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn): May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..

Nearby campgrounds: Little Oak Campground (Unicoi, TN), Backbone Rock Campground (Unicoi, TN), Watauga Point Recreation Area (Unicoi, TN), Cardens Bluff Campground (Unicoi, TN).

Cell Phone Coverage at Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn)

Cell signal at Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) (Unicoi, TN): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.

  • Verizon 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.

CamperWatch
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CamperWatch›TN›Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn)
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Cherokee National Forest — lakesideLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn)

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Unicoi, TN, TN★ 4.5 (41 reviews)From $12/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

PLEASE NOTE: AS THE HURRICANE BANNER DESCRIBES, JACOBS CREEK CAMPGROUND AND DAY-USE AREA IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. READ THE NEED TO KNOW SECTION (LOCATED UNDER FACILITY INFORMATION TAB) FOR FURTHER DETAILS. PLEASE READ IT BEFORE MAKING ANY RESERVATIONS.

Best for:BoatersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsShowersBoat Launch
Recreation
Picnic TablesElectric Hookups
Family & Pets
Flush ToiletsCamp Host

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — most sites have no hookups.✕ You're planning to camp outside May-October — seasonal operations only.✕ Check facility status before reserving — campground has closure notices that require review.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground.

Water activities available: boating, kayaking, and canoeing on South Holston Lake.

Elevation is 1,730 ft with scenic views of miles of undeveloped shoreline.

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 100%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Brown Creeper, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Cooper's Hawk, and Tree Swallow have been documented in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
423-735-1500· Cherokee National Forest
Getting there →

From Bristol, take US 421 South for 12 miles, and turn left onto paved Denton Valley Rd. After 1.5 miles, turn left onto Jacobs Creek Rd. Continue 0.5 miles and you will be at Jacobs Creek Campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#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.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) cost per night?+
Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) costs $12 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) open?+
Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn)?+
Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn)?+
Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) is rated weak. Best carrier: Verizon. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) open, and what are check-in times?+
Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Jacobs Creek Campground MapBe BearWiseFood and Refuse Storage RequirementsCherokee National ForestJacobs Creek Rules & RegulationsWelcome to Tennessee
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$12 /night★ 4.5 (41)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) cost per night?+
What season is Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) open?+
Does Jacobs Creek Campground (Tn) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Little Oak Campground

Unicoi, TN

From $10/night

Backbone Rock Campground

Unicoi, TN

From $10/night

Watauga Point Recreation Area

Unicoi, TN

From $30/night

Cardens Bluff Campground

Unicoi, TN

From $12/night

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