Jacobs Creek Campground
Read the need to know section (located under facility information tab) for further details. Please read it before making any reservations. Jacobs Creek Campground is situated along the shores of beautiful South Holston Lake in Sullivan County, Tennessee, at an elevation of 1,730 ft. With a view of miles of undeveloped shoreline and the water, the campsites at Jacobs Creek Campground are a relaxing way to spend your vacation. There are 27 available campsites, 23 of which are reservable, including warm showers in the campground. Campground hosts are available on site to answer your questions. There is a Day-Use area adjacent to the Campground with a designated beach area.
More like this: reservable in Tennessee
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 18 |
| Tent-only | 9 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Amenities & rules
There are a total of 29 campsites, 27 of which are available, within three loops. Some sites are right along the water, and some sites are away from the water. The campground has flush toilets and showers. Each site is non-electric, and contains a table, fire ring and lantern holder. Some sites can accommodate a travel trailer, while some sites are tent only. There is a boat launch a few miles down the road along Hwy 421.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Cherokee National Forest |
| Fees | Camping is $12 per site. Day use fees are $2 per vehicle per day or a Cherokee National Forest Pass for $30 per year. Contact the Watauga Ranger District for more information at 423-735-1500. The day-use permit can also be purchased online. See info below in Passes. |
| Rules | Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the area. No burning plastic or other non-wood products except local wood in campfires and charcoal in grills. Food storage restrictions apply at all areas on the Cherokee National Forest. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Bristol, take US 421 South for 12 miles, and turn left onto paved Denton Valley Rd. After 1.5 miles, turn left onto Jacobs Creek Rd. Continue 0.5 miles and you will be at Jacobs Creek Campground.
| Nearest town | Bristol, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 36.5614° N, 82.0002° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx - Stone Mountain
27 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Mountain Sports Ltd ↗ | 11.2 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 33.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Camping, Hike, Swimming, Boating, Fish at Jacobs Creek Rec. Area Campground, in Cherokee N
Worth a stop
Jacobs Creek Campground is within 30 minutes of Bristol, Tennessee, and nearby Bristol Motor Speedway. Backbone Rock Recreation Area is approximately 30 minutes away up beautiful Shady Valley, and just five minutes past Backbone Rock is Damascus, Virginia. Little Oak Campground is 25 minutes away for another campground option along South Holston Lake.
- 9.9 miKeller Interpretive Center, Abingdon Muster Ground ↗Visitor center
- 12.7 miAppalachian Trail Conservancy ↗Visitor center
- 14.1 miSink Mountain Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 0.4 miJacobs Trail0.3 mi trail
- 1.7 miFlatwoods Horse Trail ↗13.8 mi trail
- 3.7 miHolston Mountain Trail ↗9.5 mi trail
- 4 miLittle Oak Mountain Trail1.4 mi trail
- 4.3 miLittle Oak1.6 mi trail
- 4.7 miJosiah Horse Trail0.8 mi trail
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
Big Laurel Branch Wilderness begins about 11.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 11.1 miBig Laurel Branch Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 10,804 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
- Pemberton Mansion and OakBuilding · Bristol · 4 mi
- Grove, TheBuilding · Bristol · 8.2 mi
- Walnut GroveBuilding · Bristol · 8.5 mi
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.
Recreation
Fishing is a popular activity for campers at Jacobs Creek. There is a boat launch a few miles down the road along Hwy 421. A few campsites have easy access to the lake shore. Children and adults enjoy riding their bikes on the roads between camping loops. There is also a day-use area adjacent to the campground for swimming and picnicking. There is an array of wildflowers to enjoy throughout the season, as well as resident deer and turkey and other natural wonders for the naturalist in your group. Jacobs Creek Shooting Range is about 1 mile outside the 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 Jacobs Creek Campground?
Sites at Jacobs 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 Jacobs Creek Campground?
Camping is $12 per site. Day use fees are $2 per vehicle per day or a Cherokee National Forest Pass for $30 per year. Contact the Watauga Ranger District for more information at 423-735-1500.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Jacobs Creek Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Jacobs Creek Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Jacobs Creek Campground have?
29 sites, including 18 standard sites without power and 9 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Jacobs Creek Campground?
The campground has flush toilets and showers.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Jacobs Creek Campground?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Jacobs Creek Campground?
Fishing is a popular activity for campers at Jacobs Creek. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Jacobs Creek Campground?
Bristol, Tennessee. Jacobs Creek Campground is within 30 minutes of Bristol, Tennessee, and nearby Bristol Motor Speedway.
Source: Getting there
What if Jacobs Creek Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Little Oak Campground (4.4 mi), Backbone Rock Campground (10.5 mi), and Cardens Bluff Campground (18.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby