Area photo: Chimney Rocks over the French Broad · not the campsite
Weavers Bend Road Dispersed Camping
Free, first-come dispersed campsites along a narrow forest road on the French Broad River near Del Rio, for small, self-contained rigs and campers who don’t mind roughing it.
Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee · on the French Broad River near Del Rio
Season
Year-round
Road and weather permitting
Elevation
About 1,200 ft
On the French Broad River in the Cherokee National Forest
Hookups
None
No water, toilets or trash service
Big rigs
Small rigs only
Narrow gravel road; 24 ft is the longest reported
Updated October 12, 2026 · Details checked against the Forest Service website
Cherokee National Forest
The Weavers Bend experience
A handful of free, first-come campsites along a narrow gravel forest road on the French Broad River near Del Rio. There’s no water, toilet or trash service, the road suits small rigs only, and you can stay up to 14 days.
Free14-day stay limit
Fire ringsAt the existing campsites
French Broad RiverCampsites along the river bend
Cell signalVerizon, AT&T and T-Mobile reported
Small rigs onlyNarrow gravel road; 5-ton bridge
Life at camp
What campers say
The campground report card
Only Campendium has enough reviews to score it. Campers love the river, the quiet and the price, and the warnings are about the road, the few sites and trash left by others.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report24 ft Class C
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GAT&T 5GT-Mobile 5G
Last reported nightly rateFree
As reported by Campendium users; the 24-ft Class C camper who reported it called the drive “not a good idea.” Reports from 2023 mention only two designated sites and a 2025 report about five. Confirm conditions with the Forest Service before you go.
Off TN-107 near Del Rio
Getting there
Weavers Bend Road (FS 209C) leaves Brush Creek Road (FS 209) off TN-107 near Del Rio, about 50 minutes from I-40 at Newport. The gravel stretch is narrow, with few turnouts and a 5-ton bridge.
From I-40 (Exit 432 at Newport): US-25/70 east about 13.5 miles, TN-107 about 5 miles, then Brush Creek Rd (FS 209) to Weavers Bend Rd (FS 209C)From Hot Springs, NC: US-25/70 west about 10 miles, then TN-107 and Brush Creek Rd
FS 209C · WEAVERS BEND RD
Set your GPS
Weavers Bend Rd (FS 209C), near Del Rio, TN 37727
To Hot Springs, NC*About 45 min
To Newport (I-40)About 50 min
To GatlinburgAbout 1 hr 40 min
From KnoxvilleAbout 1 hr 45 min
Small rigs only. The road in is narrow gravel with few turnouts and a 5-ton bridge; a van, truck camper or small trailer is the realistic limit.
Bring water; pack out trash. There’s no water, toilet or trash service. Campers report dumping and water at the Love’s travel stop in Newport (about $10).
*Drive times are from OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate; the last few miles are slow gravel. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around Del Rio
Around Del Rio
Hot Springs, NC is about 45 minutes away and Newport about 50; the Smokies’ Cosby section and Gatlinburg are 1½ hours or more.
Photo thanks to Warren LeMay (CC0)
Hot Springs, North Carolina
A small Appalachian Trail town on the French Broad, known for its mineral hot springs and river outfitters.
Photo thanks to Brian Stansberry (CC BY 4.0)
Newport, Tennessee
The nearest town on I-40, with groceries and fuel, and the Love’s travel stop campers use for water and dumping.
Photo thanks to Sarah Stierch (CC BY 4.0)
Great Smoky Mountains NP (Cosby)
The park’s quiet Cosby section is the closest corner of the Smokies (the photo shows Newfound Gap, deeper in the park). Parking tags are required.
Photo thanks to APK (CC BY 4.0)
Downtown Gatlinburg
The mountain town at the national park’s edge, with shops along the Parkway, the SkyLift and SkyBridge, and the Space Needle.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
The three closest RV parks with hookups, by drive time.
Photo thanks to Smoky Bear Campground
Smoky Bear Campground
A quiet 46-site park near the national park’s Cosby and Greenbrier entrances, with a pool, hot tub and cabins.
Photo thanks to Creekside RV Park
Creekside RV Park
A shady 108-site park beside Walden Creek with a saltwater pool, creekside sites and some pull-thrus.
Photo thanks to Camp Riverslanding
Camp Riverslanding
A family-run campground on the Little Pigeon River with riverside sites, a heated pool and trolley stops at the gate.
Before you go
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Weavers Bend fits your rig and your plans, in one place.
Our take: a free riverside spot for small, self-contained rigs and campers who are happy to rough it, on a quiet bend of the French Broad. The road is the deciding factor: it’s narrow, slow gravel with a 5-ton bridge, there are only a few sites and no services, and it’s a long way from the Smokies’ main sights.
What it costsFree dispersed camping · checked Oct 12, 2026
CampingFree
Stay limit14 days
Then leave for7+ days
ReservationsNone first come
Under Cherokee National Forest order 08-04-00-22-180, you can camp up to 14 consecutive days in one place; then you and your gear must leave the area for at least seven days before returning. Each site allows up to 5 people and 2 vehicles.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the park’s booking page or call (423) 476-9700.
Typical July afternoon
Hot Springs87°
Phoenix107°
Warm, humid summers: 20° cooler than Phoenix in July (Hot Springs, NC station, about 5 miles away); January highs average about 48°.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and what campers say.
Open
Site types
Free; 14-day limit.
Open
Rates & policies
Stay limits, group size, road, water and trash.
Open
Before you book
Questions to answer before you go.
Open
Weavers Bend is a small dispersed camping area in the Cherokee National Forest’s Unaka Ranger District, on a bend of the French Broad River near Del Rio. It suits vans, truck campers and small trailers that carry their own water and power.
Best for
- Boondockers: free camping on the river, with a 14-day limit.
- Small rigs: vans, truck campers and small trailers.
- Quiet seekers: campers rate the noise near perfect (4.9 out of 5).
- Paddlers and anglers: you camp right on the French Broad.
Consider this
- The gravel road is narrow with few turnouts and a 5-ton bridge.
- Only a few sites: 2023 reports say two, a 2025 report about five.
- No water, toilets or trash service, and campers report litter left by others.
- An active railroad line runs nearby, and this is bear country.
Summer in the French Broad valley
Typical July afternoon
87°
Hot Springs
Hot Springs, NC station
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
20 degrees cooler than Phoenix, with nights near 65°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
Weavers Bend has a few undeveloped campsites with fire rings along Weavers Bend Road. There are no hookups, water, toilets or trash service, and no reservations.
Riverside spots Free
The few designated spots along the bend; arrive early and on a weekday.
Small trailers & vans Free
The realistic limit for the road; leave big rigs at a park with hookups.
Tent camping Free
Tents use the same first-come sites.
Longer stays Free
Stay up to 14 consecutive days, then leave the area for at least seven.
CostFreeNo reservations
Stay limit14 daysThen leave for at least 7 days
Group size5 peopleAnd 2 vehicles per site
RoadNarrow gravelFew turnouts; 5-ton bridge
Rig sizeSmall only24 ft is the longest reported
WaterNoneBring all you need
ToiletsNoneCome self-contained
TrashPack it outNo trash service
FiresExisting ringsCheck for fire restrictions
FoodStore it safelyBear country
Checked against the Cherokee National Forest’s alerts and orders on October 12, 2026. Stay limits come from Forest Order 08-04-00-22-180; for road conditions call the forest at (423) 476-9700.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Will my rig make it? The longest reported is a 24-ft Class C, and its owner advised against it.
- Is the road open? Storms closed nearby Paint Creek Campground in July 2026; check the forest’s alerts.
- Where will I get water and dump? Fill up before you leave I-40; campers use Love’s in Newport.
- What’s my backup? Sites are first come; have a plan if they’re full.
- Can I have a campfire? Use the existing fire rings and check for fire restrictions.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Year-round
Ready for a free night on the French Broad?
Check the forest’s alerts, fill your water tank and bring a small rig. There’s nothing to book: the Cherokee National Forest page has the current rules and closures.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. We couldn’t find photos of the campsites we could use, so the photos show the area, not the campsite, except the still from The Southern Lady’s video. Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: AppalachianCentrist (Chimney Rocks; CC BY-SA 4.0), Brian Stansberry (the French Broad near Del Rio, CC BY 2.5; Lemon Gap, CC BY 3.0; Newport, CC BY 4.0), Lee Ann Ratledge (Del Rio’s old post office; CC BY 4.0), Warren LeMay (Hot Springs; CC0), Sarah Stierch (Newfound Gap; CC BY 4.0) and APK (Gatlinburg; CC BY 4.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: Smoky Bear Campground, Creekside RV Park and Camp Riverslanding. Campendium’s logo is a trademark of its owner.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Weavers Bend Road Dispersed Camping unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the Forest Service’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the Forest Service and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Weavers Bend Road Dispersed Camping at fs.usda.gov or (423) 476-9700. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.