Adventure
| Location | Shady Valley, Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Nightly rate (listed) | $10–$20/night |
| Guest rating | 5.0 / 5 (70 reviews) |
| Maximum RV length | 90 ft (longest listed site) |
| Hookups | None listed |
| RV sites | 11 |
| Pets allowed | Yes |
| Book on | Recreation.gov |
From the park's listing on Recreation.gov. Confirm details with the park before you book.
More Tennessee RV parks with: Big Rig Sites
Closest stays by type. Distances are straight-line from Backbone Rock Campground, not driving.
Available Oct 30 – Nov 1 · 2 nights3 sites open for every night
Available Oct 30 – Nov 1 · 2 nightsOpen for every night
Available Oct 30 – Nov 1 · 2 nights87 sites open for every nightThis weekend · Not yet releasedRecreation.gov hasn't opened these dates yet
Backbone Rock Campground is a Recreation.gov campground in Shady Valley. It lists 11 RV or RV/tent sites. Pets are allowed per the listing.
Checking 2 nights (your saved dates or this weekend). Tell us what you're staying in to see matching sites and prices.
Availability checked Oct 12 on Recreation.gov. Rates are the provider's nightly rates; totals are estimates before taxes & fees.
You book with the provider. Each row shows that provider's lowest open option for your dates, and which provider our main button uses.
No recent availability data on Recreation.gov: this grid may be out of date, so check availability with the provider.
| Site | Fr 30 | Sa 31 | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06 standard nonelectric | – | – | $10 |
| 09 standard nonelectric | – | – | $10 |
| 01 standard nonelectric | – | – | $10 |
| 07 standard nonelectric | – | – | $10 |
| 10 standard nonelectric | – | – | $10 |
| 04 standard nonelectric | – | – | $10 |
| 02 standard nonelectric | – | – | $10 |
| 05 standard nonelectric | – | – | $10 |
| 03 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 08 standard nonelectric |
Verbatim from guest reviews on Recreation.gov ↗ (70 reviews, ★ 5.0). Not written or edited by us.
“My favorite camping spot in the mountains!!!”
“A good small campground. Lovely view at the creek running behind everything.”
“The camp host, Mike, was very helpful and kind. He kept the campsites so tidy and nice looking. The campsite is only 3-5minutes from service in the nearby town, which is nice. Even though the site is so close to service, there is little road noise other than a few cars. ”
This weekend (Fri, Oct 30 – Sun, Nov 1): Book online. Reservations online on Recreation.gov — open dates and rates come from the booking site.
No maximum RV length is listed for this stay. Unsure if your rig fits? Check it in the Rig Fit tool
4400 Unicoi Drive
Open in Google Maps ↗
Backbone Rock Campground sits along Beaverdam Creek at about 2,100 feet in northern Johnson County, just north of the rock tunnel known as Backbone Rock on Tennessee Highway 133. The creek is a focal point here it's stocked with trout and has a popular swim area that draws people on hot summer days, and the surrounding forest gives a fairly enclosed, shady feel to the individual sites. The campground contains 11 campsites in total, and all 11 are configured to accommodate both RVs and tents; each site includes a picnic table, a metal fire ring and a lantern holder. Vaulted conveniences include flush toilets in the campground, and an adjacent large Civilian Conservation Corps built pavilion with a lawn that can be reserved for groups. Note that the campground was closed for the 2023 season; because operating status, fees and reservation rules can change, check the Cherokee National Forest website or recreation.gov before you go. Beyond the sites themselves, Backbone Rock is a good base for short hikes and water-based recreation. The Backbone Rock Trail (#53) trailhead is roughly a quarter mile south on TN-133 and runs about 4 miles to where it meets the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, while the Backbone Falls Trail (#198) a 0.4-mile loop that reaches the top of Backbone Falls is a third of a mile south of the campground. Damascus, Virginia, is only about five minutes north for services and additional trail access. Expect opportunities for fishing, swimming, hiking and wildlife viewing in the immediate area; because the campground is small and the creekside sites are popular in summer, plan ahead and verify reservation availability if you need specific dates or group space.
| Agency / operator | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Booking | Recreation.gov [Recreation.gov] |
| Max RV / trailer length | Not listed |
| Bear storage | Not listed |
This listing doesn't publish RV length limits, so confirm your rig fits. Pickup area: Charlotte (Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)), about 107 mi straight-line from Backbone Rock Campground. RV rentals in Charlotte
Pick up in Catawba
Pick up in Troutman
Pick up in Troutman| – |
| – |
| $20 |
✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released
| Season | Not listed |
|---|
| Hookups | Not listed |
|---|
| Max stay | 14 nights max |
|---|
Sources: Recreation.gov — Backbone Rock Campground. "Not listed" means no source we use states it.
Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.
