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National River & Recreation Area · Kentucky and Tennessee

Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

National River & Recreation Area in Kentucky and Tennessee. No entrance fee.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational River & Recreation Area
StateKentucky, Tennessee
Entrance feeNo entrance fee
Campgrounds5
Nearest national parkGreat Smoky Mountains (87 mi)
Closest airportTYS (62 mi)
Big South Fork NRRA in Fall
Big South Fork NRRA in Fall Photo: NPS Photo

Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area is a national river & recreation area run by the National Park Service in Kentucky and Tennessee.

In the park service’s words

Encompassing 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. The area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features and has been developed to provide visitors with a wide range of outdoor recreational activities.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Open 24 hours, every day. The park is always open.

Camping

Campground Sites Booking From RVs Amenities
Bandy Creek Campground 149 Both $32 Yes hookups, dump station, showers, water, cell signal
Blue Heron Campground 45 Both $20 Yes, up to 50 ft hookups, dump station, showers, water, cell signal
Station Camp Campground 24 Reservable $28 Yes hookups, dump station, showers, water, cell signal
Bear Creek Campground 23 Both $28 Yes, up to 52 ft hookups, dump station, showers, water, cell signal
Alum Ford Campground 6 First come $5 No none listed

Getting there

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

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) Knoxville/Maryville, TN No road route 62 Large hub
Blue Grass Airport (LEX) Lexington, KY No road route 104 Regional
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (Lovell Field) (CHA) Chattanooga, TN No road route 108 Regional

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

  • Bandy Creek Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. Hours of Operation Open daily, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ET)
  • Helenwood Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. This visitor center is open 7 days a week Memorial Day through Labor Day.
  • Stearns Visitor Contact Station: Mon Closed; Tue Closed; Wed Closed; Thu Closed; Fri Closed; Sat 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Sun 9:00AM - 5:00PM. Stearns Visitor Contact Station is only open Saturdays and Sundays Memorial Day through Labor Day wekend.
  • Blue Heron Interpretive Center: Mon Closed; Tue Closed; Wed 9:30AM - 4:30PM; Thu 9:30AM - 4:30PM; Fri 9:30AM - 4:30PM; Sat 10:00AM - 5:00PM; Sun 10:00AM - 5:00PM. The visitor center is open May 30 through October 31. Open Wednesday through Sunday. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Hours of Operation: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 9:30 AM-4:30 PM ET Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM ET Outdoor structures are open year-round
  • Rugby Visitor Contact Station: Mon Closed; Tue Closed; Wed Closed; Thu 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Fri 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Sat 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Sun 12:00PM - 5:00PM. This visitor center is only open Thursday- Sunday from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.
  • Crossville Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. Hours of Operation.

Weather

The weather along the Cumberland Plateau can be best described as unpredictable. Each season brings its own weather patterns. Summers are generally hot and humid, with high temperatures sometimes eclipsing 90 degrees. The low temperatures in winter often dip below freezing. Spring sees the most amount of precipitation, but rainfall can occur in various amounts throughout the year.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Great Smoky Mountains, about 87 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area?

No entrance fee.

Where is Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area?

In Kentucky, Tennessee. The closest airport with scheduled flights is McGhee Tyson Airport, about 62 miles away.

Can you camp at Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area?

Yes, at 5 campgrounds the park service lists.

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