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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Activities powered by Viator. Prices and availability come from each provider and are confirmed when you book with them.

  1. Home
  2. Tennessee
  3. Cardens Bluff Campground

Camping at Cardens Bluff Campground near Unicoi

Public campground · Unicoi · 39 campsites

A forested campground near fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. Most campsites have no hookups, and RV fit varies by site.

About this campground

Cardens Bluff is surrounded by backcountry options as well as lake recreation: directly across Watauga Lake lies the undeveloped Big Laurel Branch Wilderness (with the Appalachian Trail running through it), and Pond Mountain and other rugged areas are a short drive away for hikers seeking remote routes. For boaters the Rat Branch Boat Launch and the Shook Branch Swim Area are convenient nearby access points.

4.0 on Recreation.gov · 176 reviewsBook on Recreation.gov
View all 9 photos

At a glance

  • RV sites up to 30 ft

    Length limits vary by campsite.

  • No hookups
  • Pets welcome
  • Flush toilets

    Showers on site.

OverviewCampsitesAmenities & locationReviewsPlan your stay

0 available sites

0 open of 39 sites
No sites offered for these dates.

We checked every night of your stay on Recreation.gov: no site is open for all 2 nights. Some sites are open on some nights.

Flexible dates

View the next available two-night stay.

Looking for the next open dates…
Fixed dates

Compare nearby campgrounds open for these dates. Your camping setup, rig size, hookups and dates stay applied.

Nearby campgrounds open for these dates
Check Recreation.gov directly ↗
View full availability calendar · night-by-night from Recreation.gov

Check dates on Recreation.gov.

SiteFr
13
Sa
14
Price
008
tent only nonelectric
––$12
012
tent only nonelectric
––$12
038
tent only nonelectric
––$12
039
tent only nonelectric
––$12
040
tent only nonelectric
––$12
041
tent only nonelectric
––$12
042
tent only nonelectric
––$12
002
standard nonelectric
––$12
018
tent only nonelectric
––$12
005
tent only nonelectric
No site is open for every night of your stay

You book directly on Recreation.gov. Rates and availability can change until reserved. Campground page on Recreation.gov ↗

No sites offered for these dates
Book on Recreation.gov

Amenities & location

  • Accessible Flush Toilets
  • Accessible Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Flush Toilets
  • Grills
  • Host
  • Lake Access
  • Paved Parking
  • Paved Roads
  • Pets Allowed
  • Scenic Overlooks
  • Self Pay Station
Check-in
2:00 PM
Checkout
11:00 AM
Pets
Allowed (per listing)
Maximum stay
14 nights

Hookups (individual campsites): 39 no-hookup individual sites.

Location

4400 Unicoi Drive
Open in Google Maps ↗

Cardens Bluff Campground: questions answered

What is the maximum RV length at Cardens Bluff Campground?
Longest RV site listed: 30 ft (2 of 4 RV sites list a length) (per the listing)
Does Cardens Bluff Campground have RV hookups?
39 no-hookup individual sites (per the listing)
How do I reserve a site at Cardens Bluff Campground?
Reservable on Recreation.gov (per the listing)
Are pets allowed at Cardens Bluff Campground?
Allowed (per the listing)
Sources and details

At a glance

Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.

Max rig length
Listing Longest RV site listed: 30 ft (2 of 4 RV sites list a length)
Hookups & power
Listing 39 no-hookup individual sites
Pull-through / back-in
Listing 0 pull-through, 5 back-in
Road & site access
Listing 41 paved site driveways
Pets
Listing Allowed
Cell signal
Listing Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 3 (85 reports), AT&T 3 (25 reports), T-Mobile 4 (21 reports)
Water
Listing Drinking water listed
Shade
Listing 14 of 14 sites that report shade are listed as shaded
Booking
Listing Reservable on Recreation.gov
Price
Listing Lowest listed rate $12/night (live price once you pick dates)
Stay limits
Listing 14 nights max
Getting there
Listing 4400 Unicoi Drive (map in Location below)
Generators · Quiet hours · Starlink / satellite
Not listed — check with campground

Reviews

Selected reviews

Verbatim from guest reviews on Recreation.gov ↗ (176 reviews, ★ 4.0). Not written or edited by us.

“Great location and views- main bathhouse was nice with showers. Clean sites. Great location good to some good hikes on the AT”

Mark E 5 · Oct 2025 · Recreation.gov

“Lovely sites, although all up or down stairs as noted. Unfortunately a baby was close by and cried most of our two nights. Some sort of gun range was also near?? Sounded like shooting starting at 6am in a Sunday. S very sleepless and tired time ...”

Raina B 2 · Oct 2025 · Recreation.gov

“the view from the campsite is absolutely beautiful. ”

Claire J 5 · Oct 2025 · Recreation.gov
Nearby

Campgrounds to compare

Prefer a roof?

Prefer a roof over your head

All glamping →
  • Doe River Landing7 mi · Roan Mountain
  • Safe Haven Farm7.4 mi · Roan Mountain
  • Farmhouse Gallery & Gardens12.6 mi · Unicoi
  • Plumtree Campground Tents & Cabins20 mi · Newland
  • Soulshine Farm23.5 mi · Green Mountain
  • Blue Bear Mountain Camp25.6 mi · Boone

Explore nearby

  • Campgrounds near Unicoi
  • RV rentals near Unicoi
  • Glamping & cabins near Unicoi
  • RV rentals in Tennessee
  • Glamping in Tennessee

Guides for this trip

  • How much does it cost to rent an RV?
  • Camping with dogs
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights3 sites open for every night

Watauga Dam Campground

1.8 mi from Cardens Bluff Campground (straight-line)
Sites from $35/night
$70 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Campspot · you book on their site
View Campsites
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights8 sites open for every night

Black Bear Resort

3.4 mi from Cardens Bluff Campground (straight-line)
Sites from $20/night
$40 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Hipcamp · you book on their site
View Campsites
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights3 sites open for every night

Little Pond Mountain RV & Campground - Hampton, TN

3.5 mi from Cardens Bluff Campground (straight-line)
Sites from $20/night
$40 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Campspot · you book on their site
View Campsites
–
–
$12
006
tent only nonelectric
––$12
010
tent only nonelectric
––$12
013
tent only nonelectric
––$12
014
tent only nonelectric
––$12
017
tent only nonelectric
––$12
019
tent only nonelectric
––$12
020
tent only nonelectric
––$12
022
tent only nonelectric
––$12
024
tent only nonelectric
––$12
026
tent only nonelectric
––$12
028
standard nonelectric
––$12
030
tent only nonelectric
––$12
031
tent only nonelectric
––$12
032
tent only nonelectric
––$12
034
tent only nonelectric
––$12
016
standard nonelectric
––$12
029
standard nonelectric
––$12
001
tent only nonelectric
––$12
015
tent only nonelectric
––$12
025
standard nonelectric
––$12
003
tent only nonelectric
––$12
021
tent only nonelectric
––$12
007
tent only nonelectric
––$12
009
tent only nonelectric
––$12
023
tent only nonelectric
––$12
035
tent only nonelectric
––$12
027
standard nonelectric
––$12
033
tent only nonelectric
––$12
036
tent only nonelectric
––$12

✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released

Trip idea

Ideas for your stay

An idea to start from, built from this campground's listing and real tours nearby. Times, openings and prices change, so check each before you go.

  1. Day 1 · Arrive and settle in

    • Check in and set up camp.
    • go fishing (per the campground listing)
  2. Day 2 · Get out and explore

    • Horse and Carriage Ride through Moses H. Cone Park Boone area · 2 hr · from $125/person
    • Boone, NC Walking Food and History Tour Boone area · 3 hr · from $120/person
  3. Day 3 · One more stop, then head home

    • Boone NC EVENING Walking Food and History Tour Boone area · 3 hr · from $199/person
Ways to stay

Bring a tent or have an RV waiting

  • Tent camping here: 39 sites take tents. See open sites ↑

Need an RV for your stay?

Rentals that may deliver here and whose listed length fits sites up to 30 ft. Delivery may be available — confirm fees and dates with the owner before you book.

Cozy Winnebago for campground or off-grid camping
Cozy Winnebago for campground or off-grid camping

Travel trailer · 25 ft · sleeps 6 · 13 mi from campground

$105/night listed · Outdoorsy · Delivery may be available

View rental
29' Jayco Jay Flight Delivery and Setup Available
29' Jayco Jay Flight Delivery and Setup Available

Travel trailer · 29 ft · sleeps 8 · 20 mi from campground

$159/night listed · Outdoorsy · Delivery may be available

View rental
PUMPKIN 2021 Sunray 109
PUMPKIN 2021 Sunray 109

Travel trailer · 12 ft · sleeps 2 · 119 mi from campground

$75/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available

View rental
Things to do

Activities near Cardens Bluff Campground

Bookable tours nearby

Paid experiences on Viator. Distances are from this campground when the tour lists its own start point.

Horse and Carriage Ride through Moses H. Cone Park
Horse and Carriage Ride through Moses H. Cone Park

Boone area · 2 hr · from $125/person

Boone, NC Walking Food and History Tour
Boone, NC Walking Food and History Tour

Boone area · 3 hr · from $120/person

Boone NC EVENING Walking Food and History Tour
Boone NC EVENING Walking Food and History Tour

Boone area · 3 hr · from $199/person

See 2 more bookable tours
Boone Bash Scavenger Hunt
Boone Bash Scavenger Hunt

Boone area · 2 hr · from $29/person

Best time to go

Seasons, rates and how booked it gets

  • Peak season Apr 27–Oct 12: RV & Tent $12, Tent $12 per night

stays up to 14 nights (Recreation.gov rules).

Plan your stay

How far ahead to book Cardens Bluff Campground

For August weekends, book about 151 days ahead. Three in four August Friday and Saturday arrivals were booked later than that, and half were booked 48 days or less before arrival. Past timing is guidance, not a guarantee of what is open now.

See booking patterns
Arrival monthFri/Sat arrivals: half booked at leastA quarter at leastOther days: half booked at leastA quarter at least
April56 days ahead154 days ahead51 days ahead113 days ahead
May54 days ahead104 days ahead42 days ahead96 days ahead
June44 days ahead128 days ahead54 days ahead134 days ahead
July53 days ahead138 days ahead54 days ahead143 days ahead
August48 days ahead151 days ahead49 days ahead162 days ahead
September42 days ahead127 days ahead43 days ahead130 days ahead
October41 days ahead118 days ahead39 days ahead105 days ahead

Months with fewer than 30 reservations of that kind are left blank. Sites where nearly every booking was made the day of arrival (pay on arrival) are left out. Closed seasons, windows not yet released for booking, and currently unavailable nights are separate from this history.

Based on Recreation.gov reservations, FY2015–2025 (7,316 reservations in the years scored). Counts reservations made, not nights actually camped: cancellations aren't in the data, and nights a site was closed count as not booked. FY2020–21 (COVID) are left out of the scores.

Blowing Rock Scavenger Hunt and Escape Game
Blowing Rock Scavenger Hunt and Escape Game

Boone area · 45 min · from $10/person

Compare site types

39 individual reservable campsites from Recreation.gov, checked Nov 8. Rates are the listed nightly rates.

Tent-only sites

Tents only, no power

33 sites · $12/night

Loops: CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND (33)

0 open Nov 13–Nov 15

Standard sites (tent or RV)

Tent, van or small RV, no power

6 sites · $12/night

Loops: CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND (6)

0 open Nov 13–Nov 15