Camping near STAR?

[Charleetho]

We are planning on attending STAR. Anybody have suggestions on a campground near the rally? We would be pulling a small camper behind our Goldwing.

We prefer state or federal campgrounds as opposed to RV Park(ing) lots.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

[HawkGTRider]

The nearest camping...

Melton Hill Dam (federal)
https://camprrm.com/parks/tennessee/tva-6/melton-hill-dam-campground/

The Crosseyed Cricket (commercial)
http://www.crosseyedcricket.com/cc_camping.htm

Soaring Eagle Campground (commercial)
https://www.campatsoaringeagle.com/

They are each about 17-18 miles (mostly on I-40) west of the rally site. Traffic is heavy around the rally site and as far is the I-40/I-75 split, but thins out somewhat after that.



STATE PARKS

30-35 miles away you'll find a couple of state parks located north of Knoxville. The commute would have significant miles on I-75, but you'd be coming through Knoxville and its traffic.

Norris Dam State Park
https://tnstateparks.com/parks/norris-dam

Big Ridge State Park
https://tnstateparks.com/parks/big-ridge

One more state park
Frozen Head State Park
https://tnstateparks.com/parks/frozen-head
It's only a little further than the other state parks but in a different direction. The commute would be significant.

[Charleetho]

Thank you.

I had booked a spot at the Norris Dam SP right after I posted this question.

Now based on your post the Melton Hill Dam campground looks better.

I may change my reservation.

Again, Thank you!

No offense to the host hotel, but I've stayed in 100s if not 1,000s of Holiday Inns while traveling for work. I prefer to do something different while on vacation.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

[Charleetho]

Reservations made at Melton Hill Dam. Who wants to camp? Lots of tent sites are available.

[HawkGTRider]

If I were coming from out of town, I'd be tempted to camp there myself (I normally tent camp). Living only 20 miles from the rally site, I'll be commuting. Alas, I live on the north side of Knoxville, so I'll have the same traffic I would were I staying at Big Ridge or Norris Dam SP.

Rush hour traffic means different things to everyone. It's really not all that terrible in Knoxville compared to bigger cities.

Yeah...Melton Hill is still the closest and easiest place to camp I suspect. Weekends may be pretty busy there, but with a reservation, it shouldn't be a problem. Sunday night the crowds will disappear (true for State Parks as well), and it will be even more pleasant.

[HawkGTRider]

Here's a screen shot of a couple of ways to avoid the interstate during rush hour traffic on your treks between Melton Hill and STAR HQ.

For reference, Red is interstate. Magenta and Cyan tracks are better when the interstate is ugly.

As you can see even zoomed out for this screen shot, the intensity of the road network goes berserk when you go south of the interstate. Don't go there. :-)

[stevegrab]

Wow you folks working on the rally are all doing great work helping out the visitors.

Kudos to Pat, Geoffrey and everybody else.

[HawkGTRider]

We're trying.