Thunder Rock Campground
Thunder Rock Campground is located 1.8 miles northwest of the Ocoee Whitewater Center, just behind TVA Ocoee Powerhouse Number 3. Nestled alongside the Ocoee River, this facility provides 37 regular campsites for popups and RVs less than 20 feet with no elctricity, ONLY site 9 is an electric site for less than 20 feet at 30 amp, and one group campsite. Thunder Rock is a popular destination for both whitewater and trail enthusiasts.
More like this: electric hookups in Tennessee · reservable in Tennessee · pets allowed in Tennessee · group sites in Tennessee
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 33 |
| Tent-only | 3 |
| Standard with electric | 1 |
| Group tent areas | 1 |
Site guide
38 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Power | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Tent only | Gravel | No | 5 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 002 | Tent only | Gravel | No | 5 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 003 | Tent only | Gravel | No | 5 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 009 | Electric | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | 30 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | Standard | Back-in | 65 | Gravel | No | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | Yes |
| 011 | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | No | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | Yes |
| 012 | Standard | Back-in | 65 | Gravel | No | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | Yes |
| 013 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | No | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 014 | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | No | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | Yes |
| 015 | Standard | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | No | Riverfront | 5 / 2 | 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 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Fees | Standard Electric site fee = $20 per night (or $15 per night with a discount pass) |
Picnic tables, grills, and lantern posts are located at each campsite. Water hydrants are located throughout the campground. Bathhouses provide flush toilets and warm showers. The campground host is located at the campground entrance next to the main bathhouse.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Cherokee National Forest |
| Fees | See Recreation.gov for details on fees. |
| 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 the Ocoee Ranger Station, turn left onto Highway 64 eastbound and travel 10.9 miles to the TVA Ocoee Powerhouse Number 3. Turn right and cross the bridge to reach the campground on the right.
| Nearest town | Benton, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 35.0761° N, 84.4856° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
All sites have a $18.00 cancellation and reservation fee.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx - West Viniard Alexander
45 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 ↗ | 11.6 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 23.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | Rick's RV Center ↗ | 24 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Thunder rock campground review
Worth a stop
The nearby Ocoee River put-in and Ocoee Whitewater Center, home of the 1996 Olympic Canoe/Kayak-Slalom Competition, makes this an ideal location for rafters and kayakers alike.
- 5.9 miClemmer Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.3 miMac Point Beach ↗Swimming
- 7.8 miChilders Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 10.2 miHiwassee River Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 11 miSpring Creek Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miThunder Rock Express1.5 mi trail
- 0.2 miDry Pond Lead Trail4.4 mi trail
- 0.4 miRhododendron Trail1.6 mi trail
- 0.8 miPoplar Hollow1.2 mi trail
- 1.1 miQuartz Bypass0.06 mi trail
- 1.1 miQuartz Loop Bike Trail1.8 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
Little Frog Mountain Wilderness begins about 1 mile away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1 miLittle Frog Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,634 acres
- 2.2 miBig Frog Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 8,502 acres
- 2.8 miChattahoochee-Oconee National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,796,317 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
- Central HeadframeStructure · Ducktown · 7 mi
- Isabella Managers' RowHistoric district · Isabella · 7.9 mi
- Copperhill Historic District (Boundary Increase)Site · Copperhill · 8.6 mi
Natural features
The Cherokee National Forest is located in eastern Tennessee and stretches from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border. The 650,000-acre swath of land is Tennessee's only national forest. It lies in the heart of the Southern Appalachians and is home to more than 20,000 species of plants and animals, as well as many rivers, creeks and lakes.
Recreation
Trailhead parking is available for the nearby Tanasi trail system, which includes approximately 30 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. This system can be reached via Thunder Rock Express, Dry Pond Lead, or the Rhododendron Trail. Thunder Rock also provides access to the Benton-McKaye Trail.
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 Thunder Rock Campground?
Sites at Thunder Rock 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 Thunder Rock Campground?
Standard Electric site fee = $20 per night (or $15 per night with a discount pass)
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Thunder Rock Campground?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Thunder Rock Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Thunder Rock Campground have?
38 sites, including 33 standard sites without power, 3 tent-only sites, 1 standard site with power, and 1 group tent area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Thunder Rock Campground?
Thunder Rock Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Does Thunder Rock Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Thunder Rock Campground?
Bathhouses provide flush toilets and warm showers.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Thunder Rock Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Thunder Rock Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Thunder Rock 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. Food storage restrictions apply at all areas on the Cherokee National Forest.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Thunder Rock Campground?
Trailhead parking is available for the nearby Tanasi trail system, which includes approximately 30 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Thunder Rock Campground?
Benton, Tennessee. The nearby Ocoee River put-in and Ocoee Whitewater Center, home of the 1996 Olympic Canoe/Kayak-Slalom Competition, makes this an ideal location for rafters and kayakers alike.
Source: Getting there