Little Oak Campground
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.
More like this: reservable in Tennessee · pets allowed in Tennessee
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 66 |
Site guide
66 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 034 | Big Oak Loop | Back-in | 45 | Paved | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | ||
| 036 | Big Oak Loop | Back-in | 58 | Paved | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | |
| 037 | Big Oak Loop | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | |
| 038 | Big Oak Loop | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | |
| 039 | Big Oak Loop | Back-in | 65 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | |
| 040 | Big Oak Loop | Back-in | 70 | Paved | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | |
| 041 | Big Oak Loop | Back-in | 54 | Paved | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | |
| 042 | Big Oak Loop | Back-in | 47 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | |
| 043 | Big Oak Loop | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | |
| 044 | Big Oak Loop | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
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 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites 034, 036, 037, 038 and 62 more are listed accessible |
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.
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 starting late April thru mid-October, including water and hot showers. $10 per site during shoulder seasons with limited facilities including no water, which includes showers (early thru late-April and mid-October thru end of season, or when water is not available). |
| Rules | Sites are limited to a single family or not more than 5 people and 2 vehicles. No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the area. No burning of plastic or other non-wood products except local wood in campfires. 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 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.
| Nearest town | Bristol, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 36.5195° N, 82.0608° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx - Stone Mountain
23 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 | Mountain Sports Ltd ↗ | 9.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 11.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 38.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Little Oak Campground TOUR THE BEAUTY OF THE OUTDOORS
Worth a stop
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.
- 12.1 miSink Mountain Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 13.3 miKeller Interpretive Center, Abingdon Muster Ground ↗Visitor center
- 13.9 miLittle Milligan Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miLittle Oak Mountain Trail1.4 mi trail
- 0.3 miLittle Oak1.6 mi trail
- 1.1 miJosiah Horse Trail0.8 mi trail
- 1.1 miJosiah Hiking Trail2.5 mi trail
- 2.5 miFlint Mill1.4 mi trail
- 3.4 miFlatwoods Horse Trail ↗13.8 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 7.8 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 7.8 miBig Laurel Branch Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 10,804 acres
- 14.4 miPond Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 6,937 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 · 3 mi
- Parlett HouseBuilding · Bristol · 7.6 mi
- Bristol Municipal StadiumStructure · Bristol · 8.1 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 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.
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 Little Oak Campground?
Sites at Little Oak 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 Little Oak Campground?
Camping is $12 per site starting late April thru mid-October, including water and hot showers. $10 per site during shoulder seasons with limited facilities including no water, which includes showers (early thru late-April and mid-October thru end of season, or when water is not available).
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Little Oak Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Little Oak Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Little Oak Campground have?
66 sites, including 66 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Little Oak Campground?
Little Oak Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Little Oak Campground?
In addition, there is an accessible shower house with 8 showers for the campground.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Little Oak Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Little Oak Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Little Oak 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. Sites are limited to a single family or not more than 5 people and 2 vehicles.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Little Oak Campground?
Sites 034, 036, 037, and 038 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 66 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 Little Oak Campground?
Fishing is a popular activity for campers at Little Oak, with a concrete boat launch within the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Little Oak Campground?
Bristol, Tennessee. Little Oak Campground is within 30 minutes of Bristol, Tennessee, and nearby Bristol Motor Speedway.
Source: Getting there