Tennessee · Camping

Old Forge Campground

from $7
fee: Apr, Jun
best months

Is Old Forge Campground open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Cherokee National Forest. It doesn't name Old Forge Campground, so check the source for the area it covers.

Campsite limitations
Agency closure covering Cherokee National Forest · Order 08-04-00-22-180 · USFS · Cherokee National Forest
Emergency road closures due to storm damage
Agency alert covering Cherokee National Forest · USFS · Cherokee National Forest

As of Nov 4, 8:55 AM CST · Source: USFS · Cherokee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

At 1,872 ft
Unaka Ranger DistrictCherokee National Forest

Old Forge Campground is a small, primitive tent camping site in Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest, within the Unaka Ranger District. It sits along the banks of Jennings Creek, and its large walk-in tent sites are screened by native vegetation. The area was once an iron forge, where iron ore was smelted for the railroad operation that harvested timber here in the early 1900s. Vault toilets are the only amenity. A fee is charged for stays. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Greeneville show October highs around 72°F with lows near 44°F, and April highs around 70°F. That station sits about 550 feet lower than the campground, so temperatures at the site run a little cooler. The Jennings Creek Horse Trail and Little Jennings Creek Trail both start about 0.1 mile away. Horse Creek Recreation Area is about 1.8 miles off, and Camp Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 4.1 miles away.

Best time to go · Apr, Jun
Best time to visit Old Forge Campground
Best months: April, June and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
1. Jan
  48° / 25°
  12 wet
2. Feb
  52° / 28°
  12 wet
3. Mar
  60° / 34°
  13 wet
4. Apr
  70° / 42°
  12 wet
5. May
  77° / 52°
  13 wet
6. Jun
  84° / 61°
  12 wet
7. Jul
  87° / 65°
  13 wet
8. Aug
  87° / 63°
  11 wet
9. Sep
  82° / 56°
  9 wet
10. Oct
  72° / 44°
  9 wet
11. Nov
  60° / 33°
  10 wet
12. Dec
  51° / 29°
  12 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Greeneville Exp Stn, TN, 9.1 mi away at 1,320 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.