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North River Campground

Federal campground in Cherokee National Forest

Location: Tellico Plains, TN, TN

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

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

Highly rated (4.8/5) tent-friendly campground with beautiful wooded riverside setting and well-spaced sites. Campers praise the scenic drive, clean facilities, and peaceful remote location.

Wildlife alert: Black-throated Blue Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Western Palm Warbler, Woodland Jumping Mouse, Green Anole, Red-bellied Snake, and Common Snapping Turtle documented in area.

Insider tips for North River Campground: First-come, first-served only—arrive early to secure a site Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival to use Scan and Pay feature for payment Potable water available at nearby check station

Skip North River Campground if: You need hookups—no utilities available at sites. You require advance reservations—only first-come, first-served. Vault toilet odor is a dealbreaker—some reviewers reported smell issues.

Best time to visit North River Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.

Nearby campgrounds: Mcnabb Creek Group (TELLICO PLAINS, TN), Spivey Cove Campground (Tellico Plains, TN), Birch Branch Campground (Tellico Plains, TN), Davis Branch Campground (Tellico Plains, TN).

Cell Phone Coverage at North River Campground

Cell signal at North River Campground (Tellico Plains, TN): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

    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›North River Campground
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    Federal campground in Cherokee National ForestLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

    North River Campground

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    Tellico Plains, TN, TN★ 4 (0 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
    On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

    This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

    Best for:CampersNature loversFamiliesSites: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 Rings
    Recreation
    Picnic Tables

    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 hookups—no utilities available at sites✕ You require advance reservations—only first-come, first-served✕ Vault toilet odor is a dealbreaker—some reviewers reported smell issues

    Insider tips & when to go

    CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

    First-come, first-served only

    arrive early to secure a site

    Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival to use Scan and Pay feature for payment

    Potable water available at nearby check station

    Best: May-October

    Campground operates seasonally during these months 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 · 0%
    AT&T
    4G · 0%

    FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

    Wildlife nearby

    iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
    Alert: Black-throated Blue Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Western Palm Warbler, Woodland Jumping Mouse, Green Anole, Red-bellied Snake, and Common Snapping Turtle documented in area.

    Location

    Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
    Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
    N/A· Cherokee National Forest
    N/A

    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.

    Frequently asked questions

    RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
    How much does North River Campground cost per night?+
    North River Campground costs $20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
    What season is North River Campground open?+
    North River Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Does North River Campground have hookups?+
    No hookups.
    What is the maximum RV length at North River Campground?+
    North River Campground is primarily a tent camping facility.
    How do I make reservations at North River Campground?+
    North River Campground 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 North River Campground?+
    According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at North River Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
    What season is North River Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
    North River Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    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.

    $20 /night★ 4 (0)
    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 North River Campground cost per night?+
    What season is North River Campground open?+
    Does North River Campground have hookups?+
    All 7 questions →

    Nearby Campgrounds

    Mcnabb Creek Group

    TELLICO PLAINS, TN

    From $30/night

    Forest campground camping

    Spivey Cove Campground

    Tellico Plains, TN

    From $20/night

    Birch Branch Campground

    Tellico Plains, TN

    From $20/night

    Davis Branch Campground

    Tellico Plains, TN

    From $20/night

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