Fontana Lake Camping Trips
Nestled between the southern border of Great Smokies National Park and the northern border of the Nantahala National Forest you will find Fontana Lake, one of the most beautiful Smoky Mountain Blueways. This wild and scenic mountain region offers lake front camping sites that are close by to a wide range of fun outdoors activities including fishing, boating, water-skiing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and mountain biking.
Camping at Fontana Village
Fontana Village Resort offers The Campground at Fontana Village. This beautiful campground has sites for tent camping as well as RVs and travel trailers. This site is a great option for people who want the experience of camping as well as access to resort amenities such as the swimming pool, tennis courts, disc golf, restaurants, and fun organized activities for kids and adults. Campers can rent canoes, kayaks, paddle boards and pontoon boats from Fontana Marina to make boating a part of your lake camping experience.
Places to Camp Near Fontana Lake
The Cheoah District of Nantahala National Forest is a great place to camp near Fontana Lake. Here are two great camping sites in the Forest that give you easy access to the lake:
Cable Cove: This 26-site campground is located in a beautiful hardwood forest only 4 miles from Fontana Dam and half a mile from Fontana Lake. Cable Cove offers fishing access to a stream full of rainbow trout. Use the boat ramp to go out to Lake Fontana to fish for bass, bream, walleye and crappie. Picnic tables and grills are also available. On-site you can hike on a one-mile nature trail or travel to the nearby Appalachian Trail.
Tsali: Beautiful 42-site campground very close to Fontana Lake that offers tent camping as well as sites for RVs and trailers. Tsali is a great spot for anglers, as it offers lake fishing access and a boat ramp. This spot is said to offer some of the best walleye fishing in North Carolina. Located right next to the Tsali Recreation Area and its 40-mile singletrack mountain bike trail that is rated as one of the top 10 places to ride in the United States.
Fontana Camp Sites In Great Smokies National Park
In Great Smokies National Park you have the opportunity to camp right on the shores of Fontana Lake. The North Shore area of the lake is wild and scenic spot offers a rare opportunity to enjoy backcountry camping on sites that are accessible only by boat. Here is a list of GSMNP campsites that you can paddle to:
- #87 Jerry Hollow:
- #78 Double Island
- #73 Lone Pine
- #72 Gunter Branch
- #66 Lower Noland Creek
Keep in mind GSMNP rules require that all campers get a reservation and a permit for their chosen site. You can get your permits at the National Park Service website.