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Islands

Less Than An Hour From Knoxville Is Tennessee's Stunning Lakeside Park With Swimming, Camping, And Trails

Anderson County Park on Norris Lake, just under an hour from Knoxville, offers a quieter alternative to Eastern Tennessee's major tourist destinations with 196 acres of forested shoreline, about forty campsites with hookups, and a three-bedroom rental house. The park features six miles of hiking and biking trails, swimming beaches, and boat launches for both day-use and overnight visitors, with generally positive reviews despite some reports of uneven terrain. Its limited cell service and Wi-Fi, combined with proximity to Interstate 75 and nearby attractions like Oak Ridge and downtown Knoxville, make it an accessible yet secluded destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts.

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www.islands.com

Between Chattanooga And Mammoth Cave Is Tennessee's Fall Creek Falls State Park Gateway With Small Town Charm

Spencer, Tennessee makes the case for itself as a low-key basecamp for exploring Fall Creek Falls and a cluster of lesser-known state parks — Rock Island, Bone Cave, and Scott's Gulf/Virgin Falls — all within a 20-to-45-minute drive of town. It lays out which trails and swimming holes to hit at each park, noting Bone Cave requires a guided tour, and rounds out the practical details with where to eat (Mel's Old Times Cafe, The Ugly Mug) and a small history museum for downtime between hikes.

Permalink hikingtravelwaterfallsstate parks

www.islands.com

Between Nashville And Chattanooga Is Tennessee's Wildly Underrated State Park With Scenic Trails And Lakes

Fiery Gizzard State Park is one of three new Tennessee state parks carved out of the sprawling South Cumberland State Park between 2022 and 2025, and at roughly 7,800 acres it's the largest of the trio, inheriting the famous Fiery Gizzard Trail, waterfalls, gorges, and Grundy Lakes. The piece is a practical primer covering trail options and difficulty, rock climbing rules at Foster Falls and Denny Cove, fishing and non-motorized boating on the lakes, primitive camping costs, nearby towns like Monteagle and Tracy City, and swimming/beach access — useful for anyone planning a visit now that the old South Cumberland name and boundaries no longer apply. Worth keeping as a trip-planning reference for this lesser-known but highlight-packed replacement park.

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www.islands.com

Between Knoxville And Atlanta Is An Underrated Georgia Mountain Lake With Scenic Camping And Trails

Georgia's Lake Winfield Scott gets pitched as a quiet, uncrowded alternative to Atlanta and Savannah tourism, tucked in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest near Vogel State Park. The piece covers the practical stuff worth remembering: the 18-acre CCC-built lake allows only paddle/electric boats and fishing with a license, three connecting trails (including links to the Appalachian Trail) form a 6-mile loop rated highly on AllTrails, and campsites split into north/south loops plus a 10-person cabin. It also lays out booking logistics — reservable April–August, first-come-first-served otherwise, $26-50/night, three-night minimums on holiday weekends, and roughly a 2.5-hour drive from Atlanta's airport.

Permalink hikingcampingtravelstate parks

www.islands.com

Between Asheville And Hickory Is North Carolina's Crystal-Clear Blue Ridge Lake For Fishing And Camping

Lake James State Park in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains offers a scenic and accessible retreat featuring a 6,800-acre reservoir with clear turquoise waters ideal for fishing, swimming, and water sports. The state park provides three campground options ranging from $20–$30 per night, including a secluded peninsula accessible only by kayak, plus over 30 miles of hiking and biking trails with views of the surrounding mountains. Located about an hour from Asheville and accessible year-round with free day-use admission, the park combines outdoor recreation with convenient access to major regional airports.

Permalink campingnorth carolinastate parksoutdoor

www.planetware.com

Georgia's Beautiful State Park Full Of Waterfalls And Viewpoints Is Truly A Natural Wonder

Tallulah Gorge State Park near Tallulah Falls, Georgia offers five waterfalls, a nearly 2-mile-long gorge, and 20 miles of trails suitable for various skill levels, with camping and rock climbing also available. The park's history includes a famous 1970 tightrope walk by acrobat Karl Wallenda, and visitors can learn about the area's ecology and protected species at the on-site interpretive center. For easier access, the North and South Rim trails provide scenic overlooks of multiple waterfalls, while more ambitious hikers can tackle the permit-required Gorge Floor Trail or nearby Panther Creek Falls.

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www.independent.co.uk

12 state parks that are just as beautiful as national parks — and they’re free

State parks across the US offer spectacular geological features and outdoor recreation at little or no cost, often with far fewer crowds than national parks. This guide highlights 12 free-to-enter state parks featuring dramatic waterfalls, natural bridges, canyons, and river landscapes across regions from Ohio to Missouri, including Ohio's Hocking Hills gorge system, Pennsylvania's Ricketts Glen with 22 waterfalls, and Arkansas's Mount Magazine perched atop the state's highest peak. Most parks offer affordable camping and cabin accommodations for overnight stays.

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