Panther Creek State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Located in the Cherokee Reservoir in the historic Holston River Valley, Panther Creek River Park stretches across 1,444 acres and is filled with 17 different hiking trails of all difficulties all stretching across more than 30 miles of the terrain. These trails include beautiful views of Cherokee Lake and Cumberland Mountains from the Point Outlook Trail, which reaches a height of 1,460 feet above sea level. Panther Creek also includes mountain biking and horseback riding trails. Cherokee Lake offers year-round catches of bass, bluegill, catfish, and more with nearby boat rentals. The area was once occupied by Cherokee Indians until 1785, when pioneers settled into the area of what we now know as Panther Creek State Park.
Spring 37-77 F
Summer 62-87 F
Fall 37-80 F
Winter 28-51 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Panther Creek State Park
Renting an RV to stay at Panther Creek State Park is a great way to experience the area. From your campsite, you and your family can hike the trails during the day and rest in comfort at night. You can fish Cherokee Lake, then enjoy the fruits of your efforts cooked on a stove inside the RV that evening. To find an RV rental, check out RVshare.
Panther Creek State Park Campground
Panther Creek State Park Campground offers 50 level RV campsites, all of which are back-ins. The campground features a camp store where visitors can replenish their supply of perishable foods and purchase firewood and ice. There is a large swimming pool open to all guests and a rec hall for indoor games. A boat ramp allows guests to launch onto the lake, and a concessionaire rents small boats, kayaks, and canoes to those who wish to get onto the lake. Playgrounds and hiking/biking trails provide exercise and entertainment for those visitors who wish to remain on solid ground.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 20/30/50 amps
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, warm showers, dump station, laundry facility
Fee: $28 to $35 per night
Anchor Down RV Resort
Drive 20 miles south from Panther Creek State Park to find Anchor Down RV Resort. This resort is one of the premier RV campgrounds in Tennessee. It offers 175 campsites with level cement pads with full views of Douglas Lake, another TVA project with an incredible economic upside. Each site has an excellent view of the lake. The camp store provides campers with all the essentials, such as groceries, firewood, and ice. Though angling is the favorite activity for visitors to this lakeside resort, hiking trails, bike trails, and playgrounds provide plenty of activities for visitors and their families who do not wish to ply the lake. A swimming pool augments the swimming beach available on the lakeshore itself. Cable TV is offered at each campsite.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50 amp
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets, warm showers, fire rings, picnic tables, dump station, laundry facility
Fee: $59 to $79 per night
Cherokee Dam Campground
Cherokee Dam Campground offers 39 RV campsites, of which four are ADA approved. Each site sports an incredible view of Cherokee Lake. The campground has an impressive boat ramp where as many as four boats can launch simultaneously. Bird-watchers often camp here to observe the waterfowl that seasonally occupy the area near Cherokee Lake Dam. The fishing is excellent, with striped bass, crappie, bass, and trout among the fish species most often landed in this area of the lake. Camping is regulated through a reservation system. Visitors must commit to a two-night stay to camp at this location.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets, warm showers, fire rings, picnic tables, dump station
Fee: $29 per night
What to Do at
Panther Creek State Park
Inside Panther Creek State Park
Panther Creek State Park has over 30 miles of hiking trails of various difficulties. The park has a large swimming pool that augments the swimming area along the shore of Cherokee Lake. Most visitors come to watch the lake or get onto its surface to enjoy some of Tennessee's best angling. An 18-hole disc golf course and a modern playground are available for kids and adults to work off excess energy. The shores and islands of Cherokee Lake provide a fantastic habitat for wintering birds such as osprey and bald eagles.
Outside Panther Creek State Park
Since Panther Creek State Park lies within the city limits of Morristown, TN, there is plenty of opportunity for visitors to find the delights that have grown there and in the surrounding area. Restaurants offer cuisines as diverse as American, Mexican, Asian, and Mediterranean. Shopping malls, gift shops, and outdoor sports shops developed as a product of Cherokee Lake, which draws so many to its shores. The area is rich in history, as demonstrated by the number of museums and historical sites populating the region. Exploring the culture of this area brings memories that last a lifetime.
Restaurants
Redbud Deli
If you are looking for a quick but healthy sandwich for a mid-day meal, stop by the Redbud Deli. Enjoy their Chutney power bowl or their chili shrimp tacos for a different taste your palate will not forget.
Type: Deli, American
Location: 345 East Economy Road, Morristown, TN 37814
Circle S Cattle
For a reminder of how beef is supposed to taste, visit Circle S Cattle. This restaurant specializes in producing taste from any kind of meat. Try their pulled pork barbeque plate or their 20-ounce ribeye steak to get a filling and tasty meal.
Type: American
Location: 148 Cold Creek Drive, Morristown, TN 37814
Emma’s Asian 1
For a fine Asian meal, visit Emma’s Asian 1. Here you find a variety of Asian cuisines under one roof. Look for Japanese Sushi dishes, Chinese sweet-and-sour plates, and Thai noodle plates, to name a few.
Type: Asian
Location: 1629 West Andrew Johnson Highway, Morristown, TN 37814
Shopping
College Square Mall
College Square Mall in Morristown, TN, is just a few blocks from Panther Creek State Park. The mall includes 51 shops, including recognizable brand names such as American Eagle and Maurice's.
Location: 2550 East Morris Boulevard, Morristown, TN 37813
Walmart Supercenter
To extend your stay at Panther Creek State Park, visit the Walmart Supercenter in Morristown to refresh your perishables and essentials. In this store, you can purchase fresh groceries, apparel, and medicines.
Location: 475 Crockett Trace Drive, Morristown, TN 37813
Sightseeing
Crockett Tavern Museum
Take in some of the early history of the area around Panther Creek State Park by visiting the Crockett Tavern Museum. The museum sits on the site of the childhood home of Davy Crockett, a famous soldier/frontiersman/legislator. The museum is a replica of the business started by the Crockett family, one of the first American families to settle in the area.
Location: 2002 Morningside Drive, Morristown, TN 37814
Theater Guild
Take the family to enjoy a live performance at the Theater Guild in Morristown. There is nothing like a live performance at a theater to highlight the culture of a specific area.
Location: 314 South Hill Street, Morristown, TN 37813
General Longstreet’s Headquarters Museum
One of history’s twists comes to life at General Longstreet’s Headquarters Museum near Morristown. During the winter of 1863-1864, Confederate forces needed to shelter in a new area as the region of Northern Virginia along the Rapidan River was depleted of supplies. Longstreet's Division relocated in Morristown's area to rest and resupply only to be ordered forward to the final grinding years of the Civil War, where rest was an unlikely friend. This museum is a reconstruction of the house that Longstreet used as his headquarters.
Location: 5915 East Andrew Johnson Highway, Russellville, TN 37860
How to Get to
Panther Creek State Park
Most visitors coming to Panther Creek State Park come through Knoxville, TN, which is 40 miles southwest of the park. To approach the park from Knoxville, get on United States Highway 11 East (US-11 E), driving northeast out of Knoxville. Drive on US-11 E for 36.3 miles. Turn left onto Tennessee Highway 342 West (TN-342 W) and go for 2.4 miles. Turn right onto Panther Creek Road; the park entrance is 0.8 miles ahead on the left.
Entering Panther Creek State Park
Panther Creek State Park is open from dawn to dusk every day of the year for day-use activities.
Panther Creek State Park Entry fee : $0.0
You'll make memories that last a lifetime when you take an RV adventure to Panther Creek State Park. If you don't have an RV of your own, rent one with RVshare! If you share your trip photos on social media, be sure to tag us, or send them to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on our blog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Panther Creek State Park
Panther Creek State Park is known as an exceptional bird-watching area. The park is inhabited by avian species like bald eagles, black vultures, Canada geese, mallards, turkey vultures, double-crested cormorants, and loons.
The campground at Panther Creek State Park features 50 designated RV campsites. All of the spots are back-in campsites and come equipped with full hookups, including 20, 30, and 50-amp electricity.
Panther Creek State Park has a fairly moderate climate. The summer temperatures are typically between 66 and 87 degrees, and the winters range from 31 to 52. There is also sporadic rainfall throughout the year and occasional snowfall during winter.
Most people prefer to visit the park during summer. If you visit between May and September, it should be comfortably warm for activities like swimming, disc golf, fishing, and bird-watching.
Pets are welcome at Panther Creek State Park for no additional fee. Dogs must always be leashed and cleaned up after, and they cannot be left unattended at any time.