Best Tent Camping: Southern Appalachian and Smoky Mountains. Johnny Molloy

       35 Standing Indian Campground

       36 Tsali Campground

       37 Van Hook Glade Campground

       SOUTH CAROLINA CAMPGROUNDS

       38 Burrells Ford Campground

       39 Cherry Hill Campground

       40 Devils Fork State Park Campground

       41 Keowee–Toxaway State Park Campground

       GEORGIA CAMPGROUNDS

       42 Black Rock Mountain State Park Campground

       43 Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground

       44 DeSoto Falls Campground

       45 Dockery Lake Campground

       46 Fort Mountain State Park Campground

       47 Lake Conasauga Campground

       48 Tate Branch Campground

       49 Upper Chattahoochee Campground

       50 Wildcat Creek Campground

       APPENDIX A: Camping Equipment Checklist

       APPENDIX B: Sources of Information

       ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      I’d like to thank the following people for their help in completing this book: Margaret Albrecht, Angie Bell, Laura Burgess, John Cox, Bryan Delay, Deal Holcomb, Steve Grayson, Tom Lauria, Bill Mai, Nancy McBee, Molly Merkle, Francisco Meyer, Michael Molloy, Tom Rogers, Karen Tate, and Deborah Turpin.

      Along the way I met a lot of helpful public servants. I would like to acknowledge the contributions of personnel from the following public lands and agencies: Chattahoochee National Forest, Cherokee National Forest, Georgia State Parks, Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina State Parks, Pisgah National Forest, Sumter National Forest, South Carolina State Parks, and Tennessee State Parks.

      Thanks also to all the tent campers who shared their thoughts and a cup of coffee.

      —Johnny Molloy

      PREFACE

      Before there were cars, TVs, computers, and smartphones, life moved at a much more manageable, intimate pace. But in the age of text messages and social media, folks just can’t seem to find the time to be together—and when they do, the results can be disappointing. Traditional vacations to worn-out tourist traps minimize the companionship we seek in such outings.

      A tent-camping excursion is the answer to this quest for companionship. There’s no dragging from attraction to attraction or fighting over where to eat. A tent-camping trip can be a time of bonding on the trail and around the fire, where experiences and sights are shared. It’s a chance to experience the unique loveliness of the out-of-doors and enjoy a little fun along the way.

      As we make our way through this digital age, camping allows time for introspection not found in our rush-rush world. To commune with nature is a rewarding experience for young and old alike. It is healthful for the mind and body to return to the land from which we came. Tent camping is a true vacation for all—if you choose the right campground.

      That’s where this book can help. Once you’ve made the commitment to go tent camping, finding the right campground can make or break your adventure. Campgrounds range in character from roadside, RV-infested “cities” to secluded hideaways nestled deep in the bosom of the mountains.

      Over more than two decades, I’ve coursed through the Southern Appalachians and Smokies searching for the best campgrounds in the mountains of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The best of the best are those nearest to a wilderness experience and not overrun by RVs. Now it’s up to you to glean your favorites from this book, get back to nature, and make some memories of your own.

      —J. M.

      BEST CAMPGROUNDS

      BEST FOR SCENERY

       3 Cosby Campground (Tennessee)

       10 Little Oak Campground (Tennessee)

       19 Balsam Mountain Campground (North Carolina)

       29 Mount Mitchell State Park Campground (North Carolina)

       39 Cherry Hill Campground (South Carolina)

      BEST FOR HIKING

       6 Frozen Head State Park (Tennessee)

       19 Balsam Mountain Campground (North Carolina)

       24 Doughton Park Campground (North Carolina)

       35 Standing Indian Campground (North Carolina)

       42 Black Rock Mountain State Park Campground (Georgia)

      BEST FOR PADDLING

       9 Indian Boundary Campground (Tennessee)

       11 Nolichucky Gorge Campground and Cabins (Tennessee)

       22 Cable Cove Campground (North Carolina)

       41 Keowee–Toxaway State Park Campground (South Carolina)

       45 Dockery Lake Campground (Georgia)

      BEST FOR BICYCLING

       21 Black Mountain Campground (North Carolina)