Cardens Bluff Campground

Cherokee National Forest

CARDENS BLUFF IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO IMPENDING WEATHER FROM HELENE. CLOSURE IS ANTICIPATED THRU MONDAY, SEPT 30, BUT COULD BE LATER DEPENDING ON DAMAGE ASSESSMENT. At nearly 2,000 feet elevation, Cardens Bluff Campground is located on a peninsula overlooking the 6,430-acre Watauga Lake in Carter County, TN. There are 43 sites, primarily for tent camping. There is a bathhouse with showers and flush toilets. No electrical hookups are provided. Day use areas are located nearby for those wanting to take advantage of swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities. Campground Hosts are on site to answer questions and assist with your visit.  

There are 43 campsites within Cardens Bluff Campground. Each section of the campground has flush toilets. In addition, there is an accessible shower house with eight showers for use by registered campers 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

• CARDENS BLUFF 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 gate is closed at 10:00 p.m. and reopens at 7:00 a.m. The gate is only opened at night for emergencies. 

• An RV counts as one of the two vehicles allowed at a site. All equipment must fit on the site pad. Vehicles park in developed areas only.

• This facility does not allow alcohol. 

• Be Bear Wise: 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 Cardens Bluff 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.  

• There is no electricity/water/sewer site hook-ups at this facility. There is potable water within the campground.  

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

• Please note that most sites will only accommodate a tent. Sites #16, 28 and 29 can accommodate up to a 30 foot RV or trailer. 

Natural Features

Watauga Lake is a 6,430-acre hydroelectric reservoir managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority and surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest. Directly across the lake from the campground is the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness area, a rugged, undeveloped mountain range with only the Appalachian National Scenic Trail within its boundaries.

Nearby Attractions

The nearby Rat Branch Boat Launch is an easy quick drive from the campground for campers with motor boats. Shook Branch Swim Area is also nearby on the shores of Watauga Lake. Big Laurel Branch and Pond Mountain Wilderness areas are located north and south of the campground for more rugged, backcountry hiking.

Recreation

Boating is popular for visitors to Cardens Bluff. Numerous campsites provide easy water access for kayaks, canoes and motorized boats. Swimming and fishing are also very popular activities at Cardens Bluff. Watauga Lake provides notably clean water for recreating. 

Contact Information

Mailing

4400 Unicoi Drive Unicoi Tennessee 37692

Phone Number

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

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From Elizabethton, TN take US 19E/321 south 5 miles to Hampton. Turn left on 321/67 travel approx. 4 miles to the campground entrance on the left. 

Available Campsites

• Site 003, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 027, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 025, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 019, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 031, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 011 - Host, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 040, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 008, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 032, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 004 - HOST, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 043, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 026, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 038, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 030, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 018, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 005, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 033, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 015, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 009, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 017, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 042, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 007, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 041, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 022, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 014, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 020, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 028, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 034, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 012, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 016, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 039, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 024, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 002, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 029, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 010, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 035, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 023, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 036, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 013, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 021, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 001, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 006, Loop CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric

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