Campground

Blue Heron Campground

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

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

Weekend availability at Blue Heron Campground

Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 16, 4:45 PM PT

Sold out 1 of the next 6 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.

  • Fri, Sep 18
    Open
    24/44 sites
  • Fri, Sep 25
    Open
    28/44 sites
  • Fri, Oct 2
    Limited
    5/44 sites
  • Fri, Oct 9
    Open
    14/44 sites
  • Fri, Oct 16
    Open
    28/41 sites
  • Fri, Oct 23
    Sold out

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 Blue Heron Campground?

as of September 17

Sites are open right now — we found space out to Nov. That changes fast at a campground. We check Blue Heron 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
45
Electric sites
45
Water hookups
45
Max rig length
61 ft
RV ElectricStandard Electric

About this campground

Overview Blue Heron Campground is a rustic and spacious campground, situated on the Kentucky side of The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area--a vast and scenic expanse of land that offers visitors countless recreational activities.Recreation Numerous trails snake through the Recreation Area, offering mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding for visitors. The main river of the Big South Fork is also a short drive away, offering fishing opportunities.Facilities Blue Heron Campground combines the experience of traditional woods camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets, hot showers and electric hookups. Sites can accommodate both RV and tent camping. The campsites are spacious and provide picnic areas and plenty of shade.Natural Features The Big South Fork is located in north central Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky in some of the most rugged terrain of the Cumberland Plateau. The park encompasses approximately 125,000 acres of both rocky gorges and forested plateaus. Numerous pristine streams unite with the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. Over thousands of years, this ceaselessly moving water has carved the sandstone of the plateau into impressive cliffs, arches and chimneys that are found throughout the park. Nearby Attractions Just a few miles from the campground 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. 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. Additional attractions include the Daniel Boone National Forest and Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, offering additional recreation opportunities.

Getting there

For detailed directions, please visit: http://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/directions.htm

Elevation
1,276 ft
Contact
(423) 286-7275

Activities

  • HIKING
  • FISHING
  • CAMPING
  • BACKPACKING
  • BIKING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Never miss an opening at Blue Heron Campground

Popular Tennessee campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Blue Heron 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 Blue Heron 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.