Scenic byway · Cherokee National Forest · est. 1920
Cherohala Skyway
Indian Boundary's 87 dry-camp sites on a 96-acre lake at the Tennessee end of a 43-mile paved skyway — the only USFS dump station within 30 miles and the easiest bear-country basecamp in eastern TN.
Max RV length
35 ft
Hookups
None (dry)
Dump station
Yes
Dispersed camping
Allowed per MVUM
RV season
April – November (skyway closes for ice events)
Access road
Paved 2-lane National Scenic Byway, 43 mi TN+NC
About this area
Forty-three paved miles climb from Tellico Plains, TN to Robbinsville, NC, cresting at Santeetlah Overlook (5,390 ft) where a Class A pushes its cooling system harder than the spec sheet suggests. Indian Boundary is the Cherokee NF's RV-friendly anchor on the Tennessee end: 87 sites, 35-ft cap, dry-camp loops around a 96-acre lake with a swim beach and the only USFS dump station within 30 miles. Reservations route through recreation.gov; weekends June through August fill three months out. The skyway itself prohibits roadside camping but the forest roads branching off (FSR 217 toward Bald River Falls, FSR 35 toward Citico Creek) carry dispersed-camping rights under the Cherokee MVUM. Black bear activity is heavy enough that food storage on-site triggers ranger citations. Winter ice events close the skyway above 4,500 ft on no notice.
How to plan this area
Reservations and the Motor Vehicle Use Map
Developed loops book through recreation.gov; dispersed camping is legal only where the ranger district's MVUM allows it. Both links go straight to the official source.
Looking for the rig? Browse Tennessee RV rentals on PickRV
Official sources
Every fact on this page traces back to these primary sources.
Tennessee rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- Rental tax
- 7.00%
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00
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