Chilhowee Group Camp
Located in the Chilhowee Recreation Area, Chilhowee Group Camp offers camping for up to 75 individuals. Nearby McKamy Lake offers a swim area with a sandy beach and fishing from the bank. On the drive up to the campground, stop at one of the many observation overlooks to enjoy the beautiful mountains. Wildlife is abundant in this area, so have your camera ready and tread lightly.
This is the group site. Looking for the main campground? Chilhowee Campground, 61 sites, is next door.
More like this: reservable in Tennessee · tent only in Tennessee · group sites in Tennessee
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group tent areas | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|
| Chilhowee Group Camp | 75 / – | 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 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The group camp includes a large open area with picnic tables and a grill as well as an RV site with electric hook up. Camp sites are scattered through the trees surrounding the RV site. Within the group site itself, a waterless vault toilet is available year-round. During the warmer months, (typically April-October), a bathhouse with flushing toilets and showers is available nearby. Both the beach and many trails are located within a short walking distance of the site. Drinking water is available near the entrance to the group site.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Cherokee National Forest |
| Fees | Non-electric sites (42 sites) - $12. Electric Sites (29 sites) - $20. Walk-in sites with electric (7 sites) - $15. Day use fees are $3 per vehicle per day. |
| Rules | Food storage restrictions apply at all areas on the Cherokee National Forest. All food and beverages must be stored in an approved bear-proof container, your locked vehicle or hard-sided camper at all times unless being eaten, prepared, or transported. Maximum of 5 people and 2 vehicles at each site. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Highway 64/411 intersection, travel east 7 miles, turn onto Forest Road 77, drive 7.5 miles to campground/recreation area.
| Nearest town | Benton, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 35.1536° N, 84.6089° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Goup areas must be cancelled more than 14 days from reservation date to get refund. The $8.00 service fee will still be charged for the reservation
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx - West Viniard Alexander
40 mi from the campground · 175 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Benton Shooters Supply ↗ | 2.8 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 15.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Rick's RV Center ↗ | 31.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Chilhowee Campground - Cherokee National Forest - Chilhowee Recreation Area Benton Falls
Worth a stop
In addition to the immediate local activities, world class whitewater rafting opportunities are nearby on the Ocoee and Hiwassee Rivers.
- 3.1 miMac Point Beach ↗Swimming
- 3.2 miClemmer Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.8 miHiwassee River Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 7.1 miChilders Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 8.6 miSpring Creek Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miMcKamy Lake Trail0.5 mi trail
- 0.2 miAzalea Hiking Trail2 mi trail
- 0.3 miElderberry Spur0.1 mi trail
- 0.3 miBenton Falls Hiking Trails1.5 mi trail
- 0.3 miBeach0.4 mi trail
- 0.3 miChilhowee Forest Walk0.4 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
Gee Creek Wilderness begins about 8.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 8.4 miGee Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 2,559 acres
- 8.8 miBig Frog Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 8,502 acres
- 9.3 miLittle Frog Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,634 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
- Polk County CourthouseBuilding · Benton · 2.9 mi
- William Wiggins HouseBuilding · Benton · 2.9 mi
- Nancy Ward TombObject · Benton · 4.1 mi
Natural features
The campground is located near the top of Chilhowee Mountain at an elevation of 2,000 feet. It is in a mixed hardwood and pine forest and the lake is a short walk from the group camp.
Recreation
Within the recreation area are approximately 25 miles of hiking and biking trails including the Chilhowee Trails System. Chilhowee Group camp is an excellent location for wildlife viewing and accessing a nearby scenic waterfall. Fishing is available on the seven-acre McKamy Lake. Boats are allowed, but gasoline motors are not.
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 Chilhowee Group Camp?
Sites at Chilhowee Group Camp 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 Chilhowee Group Camp?
Non-electric sites (42 sites) - $12. Electric Sites (29 sites) - $20. Walk-in sites with electric (7 sites) - $15.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Chilhowee Group Camp?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Chilhowee Group Camp open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Chilhowee Group Camp have?
1 site, including 1 group tent area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Chilhowee Group Camp?
Chilhowee Group Camp is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Chilhowee Group Camp?
During the warmer months, (typically April-October), a bathhouse with flushing toilets and showers is available nearby.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Chilhowee Group Camp?
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. Food storage restrictions apply at all areas on the Cherokee National Forest.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Chilhowee Group Camp?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 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 Chilhowee Group Camp?
Within the recreation area are approximately 25 miles of hiking and biking trails including the Chilhowee Trails System. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Chilhowee Group Camp?
Benton, Tennessee. In addition to the immediate local activities, world class whitewater rafting opportunities are nearby on the Ocoee and Hiwassee Rivers.
Source: Getting there
What if Chilhowee Group Camp is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Chilhowee Campground (under 0.1 mi), Parksville Lake RV Campground (3.2 mi), and Lost Corral Horse Camp (6.8 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby