Cardens Bluff Campground
Campground · 42 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
North Cherokee National Forest & Wildlife Management Area (National Forest/Wildlife Management Area) · Restricted Access
- 42
- Bookable sites
- 30 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 5
- People per site
- 7
- Accessible sites
- 2,059 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Cardens Bluff Campground will open for the 2026 season on 4/27/26. At nearly 2,000 feet elevation, Cardens Bluff Campground is located on a peninsula overlooking the 6,430-acre Watauga Lake in Carter County, TN. There are 43 sites, primarily for tent camping. There is a bathhouse with showers and flush toilets. No electrical hookups are provided. Day use areas are located nearby for those wanting to take advantage of swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities. Campground Hosts are on site to answer questions and assist with your visit.
Recreation
Boating is popular for visitors to Cardens Bluff. Numerous campsites provide easy water access for kayaks, canoes and motorized boats. Swimming and fishing are also very popular activities at Cardens Bluff. Watauga Lake provides notably clean water for recreating.
Facilities
There are 43 campsites within Cardens Bluff Campground. Each section of the campground has flush toilets. In addition, there is an accessible shower house with eight showers for use by registered campers only.
Natural Features
Watauga Lake is a 6,430-acre hydroelectric reservoir managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority and surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest. Directly across the lake from the campground is the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness area, a rugged, undeveloped mountain range with only the Appalachian National Scenic Trail within its boundaries.Nearby Attractions
The nearby Rat Branch Boat Launch is an easy quick drive from the campground for campers with motor boats. Shook Branch Swim Area is also nearby on the shores of Watauga Lake. Big Laurel Branch and Pond Mountain Wilderness areas are located north and south of the campground for more rugged, backcountry hiking.
The facts
- Season: 4/29/2024 – 10/15/2024 — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 42 bookable sites
- 43 sites in total, including non-bookable
- 7 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 30 ft
- Up to 5 people per site
- Loops: CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND
Site types
- 36 Tent Only Nonelectric
- 6 Standard Nonelectric
- 1 Management
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups.
43 campsites at Cardens Bluff Campground
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 11:00 AM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Grade | Access | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 002 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 003 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Moderate | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 004 - HOST | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 005 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 006 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 007 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Moderate | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 008 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 009 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Hike In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 010 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 011 - Host | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 012 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 013 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 014 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 015 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 016 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | — | — | 20 ft | 5 | 🐾 |
| 017 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 018 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 019 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 020 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 021 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 022 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 023 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | Lakefront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 024 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 025 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | — | Lakefront | — | 5 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 026 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | Lakefront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 027 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | — | Lakefront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 028 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | — | Lakefront | — | 5 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 029 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | — | — | 30 ft | 5 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 030 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 031 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | Lakefront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 032 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | Lakefront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 033 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | — | Lakefront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 034 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Hike In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 035 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 036 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | Lakefront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 037 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Management | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | Lakefront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 038 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | Lakefront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 039 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | Lakefront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 040 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | Lakefront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 041 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Walk In | Lakefront | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 042 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Severe | Walk In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 043 | CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | Tent Only Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Slight | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
Getting there
From Elizabethton, TN take US 19E/321 south 5 miles to Hampton. Turn left on 321/67 travel approx. 4 miles to the campground entrance on the left.
36.30972, -82.11528 · 36°18'35.0"N 82°6'55.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 86°F in Jul, down to 46°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 46 | 50 | 59 | 69 | 77 | 83 | 86 | 85 | 80 | 70 | 59 | 50 |
| Low °F | 26 | 28 | 34 | 42 | 52 | 60 | 64 | 62 | 56 | 44 | 33 | 29 |
| Precip in | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 5.9 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.9 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 8 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Cardens Bluff Campground
- Can you reserve a site at Cardens Bluff Campground?
- Yes, Cardens Bluff Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Cardens Bluff Campground have?
- 43 sites in total, of which 42 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Cardens Bluff Campground?
- 30 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Cardens Bluff Campground?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Cardens Bluff Campground.
- Are campfires allowed at Cardens Bluff Campground?
- Campfires are allowed at Cardens Bluff Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Cardens Bluff Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Cardens Bluff Campground's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Camping is $12 per night.
Restrictions:
- Campsites are for one family of up to 5 family members and 2 vehicles.
- There is no alcohol allowed in the campground.
- 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. 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.
- It is your responsibility to read, know, understand, and follow all campground specific rules and regulations which are also posted at the campground.
- Please note that most sites will only accommodate a tent. Sites #16, 28 and 29 can accommodate up to a 30 foot RV or trailer.
Camping near Cardens Bluff Campground
- Watauga Point Recreation Area 1.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Dennis Cove Campground 3.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- The Laurels Picnic Area Pavilions 9.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Little Oak Campground 14.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Watauga Lake 3.5 mi · Facility
- Watauga Lake Area 7.6 mi · Facility
- Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park Visitor Center 8 mi · Visitor Center
- Roan Highlands 9.8 mi · Facility
- Holston Mountain Area 12.9 mi · Facility
- TN 91 Scenic Drive 13 mi · Facility
- Carver's Gap 14 mi · Facility
- Little Oak Campground 14.8 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 423-735-1500
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-03-11.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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