camp.tn
Not sure if this is a free camping area or a day use area, but we camped in our vehicles anyway. Parked on pavement. Enough room for a few vehicles. Vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, and a beautiful creek flowing through a wooded valley. Probably busy during warm season. No cell service. Sort of recommended. Whether camping is allowed is unclear.

camp.tn
A paid campground in national forest with vault toilet, fire rings, picnic tables, and multiple sites. Insert payment into metal post and fill out slip. This is a nice location in a wooded mountainous valley with creek flowing through. Enough room for a couple of vehicles, and no cell service. Not recommended due to fee.

camp.tn
Nice flat spot with fire ring on shore of lake. This is a popular area for locals to hangout, fish, and party. Some other van dwellers. Not very private, and potentially noisy, but a great place to set up camp for a night or two if passing through the area. Good cell service, and enough room for multiple vehicles. Recommended due to convenience.

A very remote primitive campsite at the end of miles of forest road. This is a gravel clear area with a fire ring that doubles as a trailhead and an access point for Wolf Creek Falls, a beautiful, tall waterfall. Wooded area surrounded by laurels. No cell service. Enough room for 3 or 4 vehicles. High-clearance recommended. Some trash at site, might be busy on weekends and holidays. Did not see a soul during my stay. Recommended.

A primitive clearing at the top of a wooded mountain. Not a glamorous site but very secluded and peaceful. Likelihood of encountering other humans is low. Narrow, overgrown forest road. Expect scratches from branches. Enough room for 2 or 3 vehicles, and some decent cell service. No fire ring or amenities. Short drive from Erwin, TN.

A mountain top access point and parking area for the Appalachian Trail. Very busy with human activity and hikers. Middle of the night snogging place for young lovers. The air was calm during my stay but very exposed to elements, wind, and inclement weather. No fire ring or amenities. Some cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles. An OK place to spend the night next to Erwin, TN, with great views, but not recommended for vehicle camping.

Found this vehicle accessible clearing near Erwin, Tennessee. Slightly twisty terrain driving in, 4wd required for distance of 10 feet. High elevation. Wooded. Some cell service. Primitive with fire ring. Along Appalachian Trail. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Along a dead end forest road so very quiet with little or no traffic. Best spot close to town. Recommended.

An inexpensive fee campground on the shore of Lake Watauga. Many sites are walk in, but several drive in like this one. Forest service campground. Fire ring, picnic table, sheltered tables, showers, running water, restrooms. Lovely wooded setting on lake surrounded by mountains. Discounted with Annual NPS pass. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site. Good cell service. Recommended.

A KOA campground in Tennessee, a short drive from I-81 near the Virginia border. A comfortable fee campground with hook-ups and amenities if you are looking for a safe and pleasing place to spend the night during the road trip. Friendly staff. Good cell service in a rural area not far from food and gas. Busy during peak season. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site.