Honest Review of Our Stay at Observation Knob Campground in Bristol, TN

We’re always on the hunt for campgrounds that are close to home, easy to settle into, and have enough going on to keep the kids entertained, without making us feel like we’re in the middle of chaos. Observation Knob Campground in Bristol, Tennessee had been recommended to us a few times, and since it’s only about 30 minutes from us, we decided to give it a try for a little weekend reset. Here’s our full and honest review of Observation Knob Campground!

About Observation Knob Campground

Observation Knob campground is set right on South Holston Lake, which is absolutely beautiful. The park is also a short 15-20 minute drive to Bristol Motor Speedway, making it the perfect campground to stay at if you’re coming for an event at BMS but don’t want to stay right in the hustle and bustle of the campgrounds at the track. Managed by Sullivan County, it’s open seasonally (April through October) and offers both RV and tent camping. It’s a gated campground, which I appreciated more than I expected—it just made it feel safer and more tucked-away, especially with kids and pets.

Blue dodge truck and camper parked in spot at Observation Knob campground

Quick Overview: What You’ll Find at Observation Knob

200+ campsites (mix of tent and RV sites)
Mostly 30 amp hookups (limited 50 amp sites, so book ahead if you need one!)
Water hookups available at sites
On-site dump station
Clean bathhouses
Gated entrance
Boat ramp & lake access
Playground and basketball court
Picnic shelters
Hiking trails nearby
Only 15–20 minutes from downtown Bristol

Honest Review of Observation Knob Campground

We really enjoyed our stay, but no campground is perfect. Here’s a quick breakdown of what worked well for us…and a few things we’d keep in mind for next time.

Wildwood Platinum Travel Trailer at Observation Knob Campground Bristol TN at sunset

Things We Liked About Observation Knob:

It’s a great spot for kids. This is always a top priority for us. The playground was clean and safe, and our kids honestly could’ve spent the entire weekend just fishing off the shoreline and playing outside. It’s not a flashy campground, but it has exactly what you need if you want your kids to actually unplug for a bit. It’s also pet friendly which was a pro for us! Josh and the kids caught several large carp while fishing from the bank!

Girl sitting in Chair at South Holston Lake

Family fishing on banks of SOHO Lake in Bristol TN

Lake access & gorgeous views. This is one of the campground’s best features. Whether you’re fishing, kayaking, or just want to sit with your morning coffee and look at the water, South Holston Lake is the star of the show here. It’s peaceful and the views are really beautiful, especially around sunset.

Sunset at Observation Knob campground in Bristol TN

Gated for added security. It might not be something you think about when booking a campground, but the gated entrance made me feel way more at ease letting the kids ride scooters or walk to the playground without hovering too much. It just felt a little more private and secure, and I loved that.

Budget-friendly. The nightly rates were super reasonable, especially for sites with electric and water. If you’re looking for a local weekend trip that won’t break the bank, this is a solid option.

Close to town. You’re just a short 20-30 minute drive from downtown Bristol, which is handy if you forget something or want to grab dinner. There’s also plenty to do nearby if you want to mix in some day trips with your camping time.

Things We Didn’t Like About Observation Knob:

Tight, narrow roads. Let me just say it: if you have a larger camper, be prepared to take it slow. The roads inside the campground are narrow and winding, and backing into your site might be a little more stressful than you’d like, especially if it’s crowded.

Sites are very close together. This was probably our biggest downside. We got lucky and had space on both sides of us, but if we’d had neighbors on either side, it would’ve felt very cramped. There’s not much separation or privacy between sites, so if you’re someone who likes a little room to breathe, keep that in mind when booking. We had a lakefront site but some of the sites that were not lakefront did seem to have more privacy/trees between them. This is something to consider when booking.

Limited 50 amp sites. This is definitely a “know before you go” thing, most sites are 30 amp, so if you need 50 amp, make sure you select it when you book (and book early). They go fast.

Landscapers. This may sound like an odd thing to mention and it is probably not the ‘norm’ but on one of the two days we were there, the landscapers were mowing. We were sitting outside with our kids and my parents fishing and just finishing up a picnic when the mowers came right over to where we are and started weed eating under my husband’s truck, around our feet, etc. They also were weed eating right around our electrical and water cords/hoses, etc.

I understand they have a job to do but it would have been helpful and nice had one of the crew came over and politely asked us to move or went to another site until we were done (they spent the rest of the day there mowing so it’s not like they didn’t have other areas in the campground to mow). Instead, they came right into the campsite blowing grass, etc. everywhere and, even more concerning, running equipment around my children before we had a chance to get them inside. I politely asked one of the crew to not weedeat our electric cable and was told “ah we do it all the time, it will be fine”. This was probably just a one off scenario but it did make me rethink staying there again.

Things To Know About Observation Knob Campground

While I wouldn’t categorize the things below as pros or cons but things you should be aware of when camping there.

Walmart delivery does deliver there (you do have to meet them at the gate) but DoorDash and Instacart do not. If you don’t plan to cook your own food there, you will have difficulty getting food delivered. I am not sure if local pizza places deliver or not but for us, this is something we like to know prior to booking a site so that we can come prepared with groceries, etc.
The sites are not full hookup, the sites do have water and electric but no sewer hookups. This was our first time not staying at a full hookup site and while the tank emptying process went smoothly this is something to take into consideration if you’re staying awhile.
Trash receptacles/dumpsters are not readily available throughout the campground. This was fine for us since we only stayed a couple of nights but if you’re staying for awhile, be prepared to haul your trash back and forth to the dumpsters.
Seasonal campsites are available before each season, it’s a lottery system from my understanding but there are many seasonal campers on site.
The park is pretty large and we don’t have a golf cart. I thought this might be an issue for accessing things like the playground, but it wasn’t. We took several walks around the campground and it was a nice afternoon walk for our family. If you have limited mobility this is something to consider though.

Final Thoughts: Would We Go Back to Observation Knob?

Yes, we’d go back, especially for a short weekend getaway when we want to stay close to home and enjoy some time by the lake. It’s not the fanciest or most private campground, but for what it is, a family-friendly spot with a gorgeous lake, safe environment, and reasonable rates…it works.

Would I book it for a full week in peak season? Maybe not. But for a long weekend where the kids can fish and play while we relax by the water? 100% yes. Just choose your site carefully, take it slow getting in, and bring your patience when it comes to space.

Planning a trip to Observation Knob? Feel free to drop your questions in the comments…I’m happy to share more about our site number, what we packed, and what we’d do differently next time!