campgrounds.fyiIndependent · federal campgrounds · no paid placements
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USFSCherokee National Forest · Tennessee

Big Oak Cove Campground

Looking to camp where you can wake at the crack of dawn and start fishing? The cool waters of the Tellico River just feet away will ease you to sleep each night.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.2,592ft
Comf.Feb-Dec11 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Knoxville2h33real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 2,592 ft, Big Oak Cove Campground has a 11-month comfortable window (Feb-Dec). Winter nights average around 32°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: 1 named hiking route, 14 peaks, lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER
QuietCoolRoomyShadeRV-fitReserv.

Reads strongest on quiet and cool nights. Softest on cool nights.

Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.

When to go

02 · CLIMATE
JFMAMJJASOND
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Nov
Feb-Dec
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
61%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Apr 14
Last spring frost; first fall frost Nov 1.
67°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Knoxville
80 mi
2h33
02
Chattanooga
98 mi
2h53
03
Nashville
209 mi
5h05
04
Memphis
421 mi
8h56
By drive time
Knoxville · 2h33Chattanooga · 2h53Nashville · 5h05Memphis · 8h56Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 10.4 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Named hiking routes
1
Trail segments
10
Peaks
14

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
10.4 mi
Method

We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.

Check availability on Recreation.gov →