Thunder Rock Campground
Campground · Tennessee · 38 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
- 38
- Bookable sites
- up to 10
- People per site
- 1,127 ft
- Elevation
Overview
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.
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.Facilities
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.
Thunder Rock Campground Map and Guide
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.Nearby Attractions
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.
Charges & Cancellations
All sites have a $18.00 cancellation and reservation fee.
The facts
- Season: 2/23/2024 – 1/20/2025 — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 38 bookable sites
- Up to 10 people per site
- Loops: THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND
Site types
- 33 Standard Nonelectric
- 3 Tent Only Nonelectric
- 1 Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
- 1 Standard Electric
Amenities
- Electric hookups
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: water hookups, sewer hookups, shade.
38 campsites at Thunder Rock Campground
Check-in 3:00 PM · Check-out 2:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Access | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Hike In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 002 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Hike In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 003 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Hike In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 009 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 010 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | Riverfront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 011 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | Riverfront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 012 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | Riverfront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 013 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 014 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | Riverfront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 015 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | Riverfront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 016 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | Riverfront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 017 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 018 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 019 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 020 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 021 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 022 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 023 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 024 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 025 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 026 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 027 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 028 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 029 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 030 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 031 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 032 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 033 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 034 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 035 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 036 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 037 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 038 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 039 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 040 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 041 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 042 | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| GROUP | THUNDER ROCK CAMPGROUND | Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Hike In | Riverfront | — | 10 | 🐾 |
Getting there
35.07611, -84.48556 · 35°4'34.0"N 84°29'8.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 6.0 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 6.4 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 11 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Fees and stay limits
Standard Electric site fee = $20 per night (or $15 per night with a discount pass)
From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Thunder Rock Campground
- Can you reserve a site at Thunder Rock Campground?
- Yes, Thunder Rock Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Thunder Rock Campground have?
- 38 sites.
- Are pets allowed at Thunder Rock Campground?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Thunder Rock Campground.
- Does Thunder Rock Campground have hookups?
- Electric.
- Are campfires allowed at Thunder Rock Campground?
- Campfires are allowed at Thunder Rock Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Thunder Rock Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Thunder Rock Campground's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- See Recreation.gov for details on fees.
Restrictions:
- 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.
Camping near Thunder Rock Campground
- Parksville Lake RV Campground 5.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Chilhowee Group Camp 8.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Chilhowee Campground 8.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Ocoee River 1.7 mi · Facility
- Ocoee River Area 3.3 mi · Facility
- Tumbling Creek Campground 4.2 mi · Campground
- Ocoee Scenic Byway 4.4 mi · Facility
- Lost Creek Campground 5.9 mi · Campground
- Mac Point Beach 6.3 mi · Facility
- Hiwassee River Area 6.4 mi · Facility
- McKamy Lake 8.6 mi · Facility
- Big Frog Area 9.7 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone 423-338-3300
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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