Bandy Creek
Bandy Creek is a spacious and modern campground, situated in The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area--a vast and scenic expanse of land that offers visitors countless recreational activities.
More like this: electric hookups in Tennessee · reservable in Tennessee · big rigs in Tennessee · pets allowed in Tennessee · group sites in Tennessee · dark sky in Tennessee
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 95 |
| Tent-only | 37 |
| Standard, no hookups | 10 |
| Group sites | 2 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 73 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
144 sites in 5 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Group Sites | Group | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | No | 114 / 38 | Yes | Yes | ||
| E2 | Group Sites | Group | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | No | 96 / 32 | Yes | |||
| A003 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 51 | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| A004 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| A005 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 36 | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| A006 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 48 | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| A007 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| A008 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 43 | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| A009 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 49 | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| A010 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 36 | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | 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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water |
| Max vehicle length | 73 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Dark sky | 8.1 miles from Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
| Accessibility | Sites E1, A014, A032, C030 and 4 more are listed accessible |
Bandy Creek combines the experience of traditional woods camping with the modern conveniences of flush toilets, hot showers and electric hookups. Sites can accommodate groups and both RV and tent camping. The campsites are spacious and provide picnic areas and plenty of shade.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
| Nearest town | Oneida, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 36.4889° N, 84.6976° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedSte-Wildlife Openings Rx
25 mi from the campground · 8 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 7.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Hail's Sports and Outdoors ↗ | 13.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Weekend RV Center ↗ | 43.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
BANDY CREEK CAMPGROUND REVIEW
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- R. M. Brooks General Store and ResidenceBuilding · Rugby · 9.3 mi
- Barton ChapelBuilding · Robbins · 11.2 mi
- Bruno Gernt HouseBuilding · Allardt · 12.3 mi
Natural features
The Big South Fork is located in north central Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky in some of the most rugged terrain of the Cumberland Plateau. The park encompasses approximately 125,000 acres including rocky gorges and forested plateaus. Numerous pristine streams unite with the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. Over thousands of years, ceaselessly moving water has carved the sandstone of the plateau into impressive cliffs, arches and chimneys, which are found throughout the park.
Recreation
Numerous trails snake through the Recreation Area, offering mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding for visitors. A swimming pool, along with on-site volleyball court, playgrounds and ball fields, make Bandy Creek an ideal spot for families. The main river of the Big South Fork is also a short drive away, offering fishing opportunities.
Nearby
Located just under 20 miles from Bandy Creek is the Blue Heron Mine, also known as Mine 18, a historic abandoned mining town that has been rebuilt as an outdoor museum. Visitors can hear audio presentations from actual people who lived in the community in the 1950s.
Guidebooks for Tennessee
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- 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 Bandy Creek?
Sites at Bandy Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Bandy Creek?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Bandy Creek have?
145 sites, including 95 standard sites with power, 37 tent-only sites, 10 standard sites without power, and 2 group sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Bandy Creek?
The longest site here provides 73 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Bandy Creek have hookups?
Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Bandy Creek?
Bandy Creek combines the experience of traditional woods camping with the modern conveniences of flush toilets, hot showers and electric hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Bandy Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Bandy Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Bandy Creek?
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.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Bandy Creek?
Sites E1, A014, A032, and C030 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 8 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
Is Bandy Creek good for stargazing?
Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area, a certified International Dark Sky Park, is 8.1 miles away. Skies that dark carry for miles; a moonless night here should show the Milky Way.
Source: DarkSky International
What is there to do at Bandy Creek?
Numerous trails snake through the Recreation Area, offering mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding for visitors. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Bandy Creek?
Oneida, Tennessee. Located just under 20 miles from Bandy Creek is the Blue Heron Mine, also known as Mine 18, a historic abandoned mining town that has been rebuilt as an outdoor museum.
Source: Getting there