Paint Creek Campground
Paint Creek Recreation Area (elevation 1760 feet) is located in Greene County in a mountain cove along Paint Creek. A majority of the widely-spaced campsites have streamside views and are screened by a variety of native plants, including rhododendron, hemlock and laurel. Be Bear Wise: Food storage compliance is strictly enforced. Store all food and trash in hard-sided containers and vehicles while not in use. Never have attractants in your tent. Violations of the food storage order are ticketable offenses and subject to fines. Food and trash left unattended will be impounded by campground staff.
More like this: electric hookups in Tennessee · reservable in Tennessee · pets allowed in Tennessee
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 17 |
| Tent-only | 3 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
20 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 2 | East | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 5 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 3 | East | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 4 | East | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | East | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | West | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | West | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | West | Standard | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 10 | West | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | West | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 1, 4, 5, 6 and 11 more are listed accessible |
- 20 total campsites
- All single occupancy
- 3 sites (13, 14, and 16) are tent-only
- 2 vault toilets, one in each loop
- Drinking water available at the center of the campground
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Forest | Cherokee National Forest |
| Fees | There is no fee for dispersed camping or day use within the Paint Creek Corridor. |
| Rules | Dispersed camping along Paint Creek Corridor is permitted in designated sites only. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Paint Creek Corridor. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Greeneville, take TN 70 south for 11.2 miles, turn right on Rollins Chapel Road and then follow the signs to Paint Creek. Access road is narrow with some sharp curves.
| Nearest town | Greeneville, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 35.9784° N, 82.8445° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx - Stone Mountain
37 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Bluff Mountain Outfitters ↗ | 6 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 25.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Blue Ridge Adventure Vehicles Inc. ↗ | 40.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Paint Creek Campground Walkaround: Moto Explore-"Cherokee NF Campgrounds"
Worth a stop
- French Broad River: Class I-III rapids. A popular commercial section runs 13 miles from Hot Springs, North Carolina, to Del Rio, Tennessee, with local rafting services.
- Scenic drives along Paint Creek Corridor with Hot Springs Loops - Meander along 5-mile Paint Creek Corridor to historic Paint Rock. Stop for a picnic, check out scenic waterfalls or splash in the ripples along the way. Extend your trip by travelling along French Broad River via River Road to the community of Hot Springs, North Carolina. Two overmountain routes will bring you back to Paint Creek:
- From Hot Springs, take US 25/70 west to TN 107 to Forest Road 54. Catch scenic mountain vistas along this winding gravel road that intersects Forest Road 41 near Paint Rock.
- From Hot Springs, take US 25/70 east to Forest Road 467 and wind through Pisgah National Forest to Hurricane Gap. Forest Road 31 brings you back to Paint Creek at Moses Turn trailhead. Take a side trip at Hurricane Gap to Pisgah National Forest’s Rich Mountain Firetower or catch the Appalachian National Scenic Trail #1.
- 1.9 miPaint Creek Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 7.9 miStackhouse Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 8 miRocky Bluff Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miPaint Creek Trail2.8 mi trail
- 0.2 miPaint Mtn Trail ↗9.6 mi trail
- 2.1 miLittle Paint Creek Trail3 mi trail
- 2.3 miJack Branch3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.2 miMeadow Creek Mtn Trail ↗13.7 mi trail
- 3.9 miRiver Ridge Loop0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Cherokee National Forest.
- inCherokee National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,228,298 acres
- 14.7 miSampson Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 10,895 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Dorland Memorial Presbyterian ChurchBuilding · Hot Springs · 6 mi
- Ellerson, William R. HouseBuilding · Hot Springs · 6 mi
- SunnybankBuilding · Hot Springs · 6.1 mi
Natural features
- Waterfalls: Kelly, Dudley and Ricker Falls can be seen from Forest Road 41 along Paint Creek. Cascades: 15 feet each.
- Paint Creek Pond: Among the cattails and other aquatic plants, watch for beavers and listen for frog calls. In the early morning, watch mist rise from the placid surface of the pond. The pond is an easy drive or bicycle ride from Paint Creek Campground.
Recreation
Recreation opportunities abound along the Paint Creek corridor. Paint Creek is a popular stream for swimming, wading and fly fishing. TWRA stocks Paint Creek with Rainbow trout throughout the summer. Warm water fishing is a short drive away at Paint Creek Pond. Two hiking trails begin within walking distance of the campground: Paint Mountain Trail (#7) and Paint Creek Trail (#10). Bike riding along the Paint Creek corridor to Hot Springs, NC is becoming a favorite pastime. Several scenic auto loops can begin at Paint Creek campground.
Guidebooks for Cherokee National Forest and Tennessee
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Cherokee National Forest hiking guideWilliam H. Skelton and Lamar Alexander, 2024Find at Bookshop.org
- Campgrounds in and Around the Great Smoky Mountains National ParkGrueen Huffman, 2010Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Paint Creek Campground?
Sites at Paint Creek Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Paint Creek Campground?
There is no fee for dispersed camping or day use within the Paint Creek Corridor.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Paint Creek Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Paint Creek Campground have?
21 sites, including 17 standard sites without power and 3 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Does Paint Creek Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Paint Creek Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Paint Creek Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Paint Creek Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Dispersed camping along Paint Creek Corridor is permitted in designated sites only.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Paint Creek Campground?
Sites 1, 4, 5, and 6 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 15 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Paint Creek Campground?
Recreation opportunities abound along the Paint Creek corridor. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Paint Creek Campground?
Greeneville, Tennessee. French Broad River: Class I-III rapids. A popular commercial section runs 13 miles from Hot Springs, North Carolina, to Del Rio, Tennessee, with local rafting services.
Source: Getting there
What if Paint Creek Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Houston Valley (5.7 mi), Rocky Bluff Campground (8.1 mi), and Round Mountain Campground (11.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby