Little Oak Campground

Cherokee National Forest

LITTLE OAK CAMPGROUND IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO IMPENDING WEATHER FROM HELENE. CLOSURE IS ANTICIPATED THRU MONDAY, SEPT 30, BUT COULD BE LATER DEPENDING ON DAMAGE ASSESSMENT. Little Oak Campground hugs the shores and inlets of beautiful South Holston Lake in Sullivan County, Tennessee. With a view of the Holston Mountain ridgeline and lake islands, Little Oak campsites are a relaxing setting for your vacation. There are 69 universally accessible campsites improved in 2012 including warm showers and a paved access road. Campground hosts are available on site to answer your questions. 

There are 69 universally accessible campsites for tents or RVs within four loops at Little Oak Campground. Each loop has a pair of vault toilets. In addition, there is an accessible shower house with 8 showers for the campground. There is a boat launch within the campground with an additional single vault toilet. The boat launch is for use by registered campers and their guests only.  

Notifications and Alerts

• This location is closed until further notice due to significant impacts from Hurricane Helene. Please continue to monitor this location’s facility page on Recreation.gov for status updates or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/cherokee for details. Keep in mind, local personnel may be attending to this urgent situation and not available to provide updates immediately.

Need to Know

• LITTLE OAK CAMPGROUND IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO IMPENDING WEATHER FROM HELENE. CLOSURE IS ANTICIPATED THRU MONDAY, SEPT 30, BUT COULD BE LATER DEPENDING ON DAMAGE ASSESSMENT.  

• The showerhouse/flush bathrooms, hydrants and dump station are currently operational . 

• The gates to the campground are closed from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Guests of campers are asked to leave before the gates are closed.

• Many of the campsites are on the Reservation system. Campers may camp on unreserved sites for a recommended two nights at a time or contact Recreation.gov to reserve the site longer. 

• All recreation areas on the Cherokee National Forest are alcohol free to promote family-friendly recreation.

• Campfires are limited to the burning of wood only. It's state law. Please bring wood from TN only. 

• Be BearWise: Never leave food out on tables or in the open. Store unattended food in bear-resistant containers, in a vehicle in solid non-pliable material, or suspend food at least 12 feet off the ground. Remember to use the bear resistant trash receptacles provided at this facility. Please adhere to the Cherokee National Forest Food and Refuse Storage Requirements 36 CFR 261.58 (cc) . Visit the Cherokee National Forest website or the Little Oak webpage of the Cherokee National Forest website for more information.  

• Check-out time is no later than 11 am EST on your departure day. You may check-in to the campground between 2 pm EST and 10 pm EST of your arrival date. If you have not checked-in before 2 pm EST the day after your arrival date, your site will be checked-out and will forfeit all fees. 

• All pets must be on a 6' leash at all times. Owners must pick up after their pets, and all pet waste disposed of properly.  

• It is your responsibility to read, know, understand, and follow all campground specific rules and regulations which are posted at the campground.   

• The boat ramp at Little Oak Campground is for use for registered campers and their guests ONLY. There is a public boat ramp a few miles down the road on Highway 421 for anyone else not camping at Little Oak Campground.  

• There are four bear-proof dumpsters located in the Boat Ramp parking area for use by Little Oak campers only. Please take your trash to these dumpsters and dispose of all trash responsibly, and make sure the sliding doors are closed.  

Natural Features

South Holston Lake is a 7,580-acre hydroelectric reservoir managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority and surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest. Holston Mountain and nearby Iron Mountain provide habitat for an array of wildlife including a healthy population of black bear.

Nearby Attractions

Little Oak Campground is within 30 minutes of Bristol, Tennessee, and nearby Bristol Motor Speedway. Backbone Rock Recreation Area is approximately 30 minutes away up beautiful Shadey Valley, and just five minutes past Backbone Rock is Damascus, Virginia. Jacobs Creek Campground and Swim Area is 25 minutes away for another view of South Holston Lake.

Recreation

Fishing is a popular activity for campers at Little Oak, with a concrete boat launch within the campground. Numerous campsites have easy access to the lake shore for tying off your boat. There are nearby trails for hiking and horseback riding. Children and adults enjoy riding their bikes on the roads between camping loops. There is also a lakeside grassy area popular for swimming and picnicking. There is an array of wildflowers to enjoy throughout the season, resident deer and turkey and other natural wonders for the naturalist in your group.

Contact Information

Mailing

4400 Unicoi Drive Unicoi Tennessee 37692

Physical

1051 Little Oak Rd Bristol TN 37620

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 423-735-1500

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From Bristol, take US 421 south for 12 miles, and turn right onto paved Camp Tom Howard Road. After 0.5 miles, this road becomes Forest Road #87. Continue on Road #87 for six miles. Turn right on Road #87G for 1.5 miles to Little Oak.

Available Campsites

• Site 060, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 057, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 052, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 066, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 065, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 018, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 015, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 028, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 039, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 042, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 048, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 055, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 020, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 011, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 019, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 037, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 059, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 068, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 030, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 003, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 010, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 062, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 050, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 043, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 008, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 063, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 025, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 036, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 058, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 001, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 016, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 054, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 051, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 006, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 069, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 009, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 041, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 029, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 002, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 021, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 064, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 017, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 022, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 053, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 061, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 046, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 027, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 071, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 049, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 040, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 047, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 038, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 005, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 070, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 024, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 012, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 004, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 045, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 056, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 026, Loop Lone Pine Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 014, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 044, Loop Big Oak Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 067, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 007, Loop Hemlock Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 072, Loop Poplar Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric

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