Cardens Bluff Campground
Photo · US Forest ServiceThe place
Cardens Bluff Campground will open for the 2026 season on 4/27/26. At nearly 2,000 feet elevation, Cardens Bluff Campground is located on a peninsula overlooking the 6,430-acre Watauga Lake in Carter County, TN. There are 43 sites, primarily for tent camping. There is a bathhouse with showers and flush toilets. No electrical hookups are provided. Day use areas are located nearby for those wanting to take advantage of swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities. Campground Hosts are on site to answer questions and assist with your visit. Recreation Boating is popular for visitors to Cardens Bluff. Keep reading
Numerous campsites provide easy water access for kayaks, canoes and motorized boats. Swimming and fishing are also very popular activities at Cardens Bluff. Watauga Lake provides notably clean water for recreating. Facilities There are 43 campsites within Cardens Bluff Campground. Each section of the campground has flush toilets. In addition, there is an accessible shower house with eight showers for use by registered campers only. Natural Features Watauga Lake is a 6,430-acre hydroelectric reservoir managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority and surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest. Directly across the lake from the campground is the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness area, a rugged, undeveloped mountain range with only the Appalachian National Scenic Trail within its boundaries. Nearby Attractions The nearby Rat Branch Boat Launch is an easy quick drive from the campground for campers with motor boats. Shook Branch Swim Area is also nearby on the shores of Watauga Lake. Big Laurel Branch and Pond Mountain Wilderness areas are located north and south of the campground for more rugged, backcountry hiking.
The sites · 43
| Loop | Site | Type | Max rig | Electric | ADA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 001 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 002 | standard nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 003 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 004 - HOST | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 005 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 006 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | yes |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 007 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 008 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 009 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 010 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 011 - Host | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 012 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 013 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 014 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 015 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 016 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 017 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | yes |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 018 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 019 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | yes |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 020 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | yes |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 021 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 022 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 023 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 024 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 025 | standard nonelectric | — | — | yes |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 026 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 027 | standard nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 028 | standard nonelectric | — | — | yes |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 029 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | yes |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 030 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 031 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 032 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 033 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 034 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 035 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 036 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 037 | management | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 038 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 039 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 040 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 041 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 042 | tent only nonelectric | — | — | |
| CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND | 043 | tent only nonelectric | — | — |
Booking
Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.
Book on recreation.govYour representative
This campground sits in TN-01. This member’s public-lands record →