Campground

Alum Ford Campground

Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area · Oneida · Tennessee — managed by National Park Service

Sites open now — checked live on Recreation.gov
Alum Ford Campground campground
Photo: Recreation.gov · NPS

Weekend availability at Alum Ford Campground

Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 17, 8:04 PM PT
  • Fri, Sep 18
    Limited
    2/6 sites
  • Fri, Sep 25
    Open
    4/6 sites
  • Fri, Oct 2
    Open
    6/6 sites
  • Fri, Oct 9
    Open
    4/6 sites
  • Fri, Oct 16
    Open
    5/6 sites
  • Fri, Oct 23
    Open
    6/6 sites

Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.

How booked is Alum Ford Campground?

as of September 18

Sites are open right now — we found space out to Nov. That changes fast at a campground. We check Alum Ford Campground around the clock, so the moment your dates fill up and a cancellation reopens them, you'll be first to know. Weekdays still have room — for now.

Weekends (Saturday night)

Sep 26Open
Oct 17Open
Nov 7Open
Nov 28Open

Weekdays (Wednesday night)

Sep 23Open
Oct 28Open
Nov 25Open

Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.

Campsites & amenities

Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.

Campsites
6
Standard No Hookup

About this campground

Overview Alum Ford Campground is located in the Kentucky portion of Big South Fork seven miles west of Whitley City, Kentucky at the end of Highway 700. The campground consists of six campsites each with picnic table and fire ring. Recreation The campground is located adjacent to the Alum Ford Boat Launch, providing access for motorized and non-motorized watercraft to this remote section of the Big South Fork River where it becomes Lake Cumberland. The Sheltowee Trace National Recreational Trail also passes through the campground. The Sheltowee Trace is a 260-mile back country trail through Daniel Boone National Forest, Big South Fork NRRA, and Natural Bridge, Cumberland Falls, & Pickett State Parks in Kentucky and Tennessee. Facilities Alum Ford Campground has six sites with tent pads, picnic tables, fire rings with grills, bear-proof garbage cans, and food storage lockers. A vault toilet facility is also available.  Natural Features This small campground sits above the Alum Ford Boat Ramp which provides access to the Big South Fork River.  Nearby Attractions The Big South Fork Scenic Railway Depot is located about 9 miles away in the town of Stearns, which offers train rides and other educational opportunities for campers. More information can be found online at https://bsfsry.com.  Just a few miles from Stearns is Blue Heron Mine, also known as Mine 18, a historic abandoned mining town that has been rebuilt as an outdoor museum. Visitors can hear audio presentations from actual people who lived in the community in the 1950s.   Additional attractions include the Daniel Boone National Forest and Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, offering additional recreation opportunities.

Getting there

Please use the following link to learn more about how to get here from various locations.

Directions to Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, not to this specific campground.

Elevation
709 ft
Contact
(423) 569-9778

Activities

  • BOATING
  • CANOEING
  • DAY USE AREA
  • FISHING
  • KAYAKING
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
  • WILDLIFE VIEWING
  • RAFTING
  • PICNICKING
  • PADDLING
  • MOTOR BOAT
  • HUNTING
  • HIKING
  • CAMPING
  • BIRDING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Never miss an opening at Alum Ford Campground

Popular Tennessee campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Alum Ford Campground around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.

Not ready to subscribe? Get a free weekend heads-up.

We'll email you if Alum Ford Campground opens up for a weekend you pick. No account needed.

Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.