The newly designated Ocoee River State Park is Tennessee’s newest state park.
Officially separated from the old Hiwassee/Ocoee management this year, the park gives paddlers, anglers, hikers, and RVers wonderful access to the Ocoee corridor.
Where is it?
Ocoee River State Park sits along U.S. Highway 64 in Polk County, Tennessee. It’s roughly an hour east of Chattanooga and is a convenient detour for RVers headed to the Smokies or the Georgia highlands. The park is adjacent to Parksville Lake (also called Lake Ocoee) and the Ocoee Scenic Byway.
What visitors can expect
The state’s newest state park is largely river and recreation-focused rather than a full-service RV campground. Expect river access, scenic overlooks, and close coordination with surrounding federal lands.
The Ocoee corridor includes both calm lake paddling at Parksville and world-class whitewater in the gorge. The park offers public access along approximately 17 miles of river within the corridor.
Parksville Lake (the reservoir behind Ocoee Dam No. 1) is a popular spot for motor boating, canoeing, and fishing. Anglers report catching bass, trout, crappie, and panfish. If you want to fish from a bank or boat, bring the usual Tennessee licenses and check seasonal launch/fee info before you go.
Trails and nearby scenery
The Ocoee River State Park offers visitors numerous trails and scenic overlooks under U.S. Forest Service management. Expect short river-access walks, waterfalls, trails, and forested overlooks along or near the Ocoee Scenic Byway.
Camping and RV options
Right now, the state park emphasizes river access and visitor services. Overnight camping options for RVers are a mix of nearby federal and private campgrounds rather than an extensive state-run RV campground with full-hookup sites inside the park itself.
Popular nearby camping options include Parksville Lake campgrounds and Cherokee National Forest sites. Many developed federal campgrounds around Parksville provide standard RV sites and some with electric. There are also private RV parks and outfitters that run full-hookup RV sites and dump stations in the Ocoee corridor.
Local services and outfitters
If you want to raft, rent a kayak, or hire a guide, the Ocoee corridor is set up for it. Outfitters in the valley offer guided whitewater trips, calm-lake rentals, pontoon rentals, and river shuttle services. Many outfitters also provide up-to-date river conditions and seasonal tips that are helpful for RVers trying to plan guided half-day trips.
Tips for visitors
Plan for higher visitor traffic on summer weekends and fall leaf-peeping days. If you rely on hookups, book a nearby private RV park or a federal campground with hookups in advance.
If you’re there to paddle, bring a dry bag, quick-drying clothes, and a way to rinse your gear. (Many outfitters and campgrounds provide rinse stations.)
Respect seasonal closures and TVA/USFS safety notices for dams, controlled releases, and trail conditions.
Have you RVed in this area of Tennessee? I think it’s one of the most beautiful places we’ve visited! Tell us what you think using the comments below.
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