Campground

Indian Boundary

Cherokee National Forest · Tellico Plains · Tennessee — managed by USDA Forest Service

Books out fast — 3 of 4 weekends we sampled are sold out
Indian Boundary campground
Photo: Recreation.gov · Mason Boring

Weekend availability at Indian Boundary

Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 18, 1:54 PM PT

Sold out 5 of the next 6 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.

  • Fri, Sep 18
    Sold out
  • Fri, Sep 25
    Sold out
  • Fri, Oct 2
    Limited
    2/86 sites
  • Fri, Oct 9
    Sold out
  • Fri, Oct 16
    Sold out
  • 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 Indian Boundary?

as of September 18

Weekends book out well ahead here — 3 of the 4 Saturdays we sampled, as far out as Oct, are already sold out. When a site frees up it's gone again within minutes, so people watch Indian Boundary and hear the instant one opens for their dates. Even midweek is filling — 1 of the 3 weekdays we checked are gone.

Weekends (Saturday night)

Sep 26Open
Oct 10Sold out
Oct 17Sold out
Oct 31Sold out

Weekdays (Wednesday night)

Sep 23Open
Oct 14Sold out
Oct 28Open

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

Campsites & amenities

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

Campsites
88
Electric sites
88
Pull-through
1
Max rig length
26 ft
Standard Electric

About this campground

Overview Indian Boundary Recreation Area is the crown jewel of the South Zone of the Cherokee National Forest on the Tellico Ranger District. This family-oriented campground offers a swim beach and picnic area with grills and an accessible picnic pavilion, as well as a fantastic, 3.2-mile hiking and biking trail around the lake. Spectacular mountain views, glimpses of wildlife, and a peaceful setting await visitors who come to Indian Boundary.Recreation Opportunities abound for fishing, swimming, boating, wildlife viewing and scenic driving. Other popular activities include hiking and biking the trail around Indian Boundary Lake. The recreation area contains a swim beach, boat ramp, fishing pier, picnic area and volleyball court.Facilities The 87-site campground has electric hookups, water faucets throughout the campground, grills, picnic tables and lantern posts. Modern restrooms add to the comfort of visitors in this natural setting. An on-site campground store sells bread, ice, milk, ice cream and other camping supplies. Indian Boundary Recreation Area Map  Natural Features Indian Boundary Lake covers 96 acres at an elevation of 1,560 feet, and sits among hardwoods and pines. At the lake, visitors enjoy watching beaver that inhabit an adjacent pond, identifying several species of ducks and other waterfowl and trying their luck at catching bass, sunfish and catfish. The Cherokee National Forest is located in eastern Tennessee and stretches from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border. The 650,000-acre swath of land is Tennessee's only national forest. It lies in the heart of the Southern Appalachians and is home to more than 20,000 species of plants and animals, as well as many rivers, creeks and lakes. Elevations range from 750 to 5,500 feet. Nearby Attractions The campground is two miles off the Cherohala Skyway, a 43-mile National Scenic Byway that stretches from Tellico Plains, Tennessee, to Robbinsville, North Carolina. Bald River Falls on Tellico River Road 210 is a popular destination. The Pheasant Fields Fish Hatchery also on Tellico River is operated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and is the rearing pools for the fish stocking program on Tellico River, Citico Creek, and the Green Cove Pond.

Getting there

From I-75 at Sweetwater, Tennessee, take State Route 68 to Tellico Plains. From Highway 68 in Tellico Plains, take Highway 165 (Cherohala Skyway) east for 16 miles. Turn left onto Forest Development Road 345 and travel 2 miles to the entrance.

Elevation
1,795 ft
Contact
(423) 253-8400

Activities

  • KAYAKING
  • MOUNTAIN BIKING
  • NON-MOTORIZED BOATING
  • SCENIC DRIVE
  • STAR GAZING
  • WILDLIFE VIEWING
  • HIKING
  • FISHING
  • CAMPING
  • CANOEING
  • BIKING
  • BADMINTON
  • SWIMMING
  • ACCESSIBLE SWIMMING
  • BACKPACKING
  • BIRDING
  • BOATING
  • RANGER STATION

Nearby federal campgrounds

Never miss an opening at Indian Boundary

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

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We'll email you if Indian Boundary 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.