0
Pull-thru
USFSCherokee National Forest · Tennessee
Donley Cabin
Overview Donley Cabin is a primitive and historic structure in the heart of the Cherokee National Forest, offering visitors a glimpse of the past.
Sites1first-come
Elev.2,464ft
Comf.Feb-Dec11 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Knoxville3h10real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 2,464 ft, Donley Cabin has a 11-month comfortable window (Feb-Dec). Winter nights average around 32°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. All 1 sites are first-come, first-served. No reservations, so arrive early. Of the sites, 1 walk-in. Within about 4 miles: 1 named hiking route, 9 peaks, lake or river access.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Reads strongest on shade and quiet. Softest on reservability.
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
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Nov
Feb-Dec
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
52%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Apr 14
Last spring frost; first fall frost Nov 1.
67°F
Average July low.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Knoxville
79 mi
3h10
02
Chattanooga
96 mi
3h29
03
Nashville
207 mi
5h42
04
Memphis
419 mi
9h32
By drive time
Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 10.7 mi away.
Picking your site
04 · 1 SITES
1
Walk-in
0
50-amp
0
Accessible
0
Prime
1
Sites
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Named hiking routes
1
Trail segments
9
Peaks
9
Viewpoints
1
Water & Access
Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
10.7 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.