roadtripper7619332

Manatee Springs State Park is a good place to stop on your way to somewhere else, but not as a final destination. The campground consists of 2 different loops. Magnolia has been remodeled recently and has hook-ups. Hickory is in desperate need of updating or at the very least some upkeep. We stayed in Hickory which is closer to the Springs. Luckily we were in site 75; 74 has the path to the springs right behind it.
On the plus side, all of the sites are large; we didn't have to worry about embers from the fire pit landing on our easy-up. Each site in Hickory includes a fire pit and picnic table. I would avoid this loop during warm weather...I imagine the mosquitos are horrendous in warmer weather being so close to the sinkhole called "Catfish Hotel".
Don't even think about putting up a utility tent for a luggable loo...the ranger came by and told us we had to take it down, even though we had no water in it. We completely understand the worry about gray water. The ironic thing was that, even though they seemed to be so worried about gray water, they didn't provide a place to wash dishes.
The bathroom, which again was in desperate need of updating, was clean. The floor never seemed to get dry; the volunteer said she wasn't able to figure out how to get it dry when it was humid.
Our original reservation was for 6 nights; we cut it short due to illness. I didn't expect a refund, but we were refunded for the 3 nights we didn't stay. Quiet hours are from 11-7 and that was adhered to by the guests. The site didn't appear to be raked between guests.
Verizon service was limited: we were able to send and receive texts but when I attempted to phone my husband when I was in town, the connection was not good.

We stayed in the Bridge Island Loop. All sites had gorgeous views of the mountains, Hahn's Peak, and the lake. We were there during the week in July; even though we were right at the marina, the water traffic was extremely light.
There is no electricity or water on this loop; there are 2 vault toilets in this area. There are a couple of faucets available where you can fill up containers. Pay showers & flush toilets are available near the cabins.
Beautiful tent sites away from the pop-up/trailer sites. Pretty windy during the afternoon, but the wind died down right around sunset.
You can't go wrong with any sites on this loop!

Spokane Creek Resort fit all of our requirements: body of water (creek runs through the property), shade, quiet, electricity and water at most of the sites. It was relatively easy to get to Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, Keystone, and Crazy Horse. Pool & putt-putt, as well as a cafe and store are on the premises; there's even a mountain you can climb to get a glimpse (take your binoculars!) of Mt. Rushmore. Clean restrooms/shower house along with extremely friendly employees who will give fantastic suggestions of things to see in the area.
At our site, the cell service wasn't great; we were able to send/receive texts but not calls. There is wi-fi; during the week (when there weren't as many people) we were able to get it pretty reliable, but needed to go to the store/office when a lot of people were there.
We just wish we lived closer so we could go back!

We camped during the week in July. Since the sites are "first come, first served" we weren't sure if we'd be able to get in. There are only 7 sites and one of those is taken by a camp host during the peak season. I'm not sure when that is; it definitely isn't July! We were the only ones in the campground both nights. We were lulled to sleep by Citico Creek which was down the hill behind our campsite but can be heard throughout the campground. It was an easy 2-minute walk to the creek down the trail.
Bear-proof garbage bins are provided, but we didn't see any evidence of bears or raccoons. The sites are level and in good condition. There is a vault toilet (with toilet paper!) but no water or electricity. There is no cell service. The sites are fairly level and are a good size with adequate spacing between them.
We would definitely camp here again but would make sure to have a backup plan just in case. Supposedly the campground is busy when the trout are released and during hunting season. The road leading to the campground is a one-lane, gravel road with potholes so be mindful when traveling on the road.

We camped here a couple of years ago, right before the campground went through renovation. We were looking for someplace fairly close to our house to camp overnight, so we decided to try Panther Creek. We liked the campground last time we were there, but it's really nice with the renovations.
All of the sites are paved and flat. Some sites are longer than others, so make sure you check the length before reserving.
All sites have water & electricity, some have full hookups. They also have fire pits and grills. There are trails for hiking and mountain biking.
The bathhouses are unisex: there are individual, spacious bathrooms that include toilet & shower. The lower bathhouse has 3, the upper has 4. There is a small pavilion in the lower section; the upper section has a large pavilion with a fireplace & picnic tables. There was a birthday party going on the night we were there, but around 9:00 they were gone and it was quiet.
We didn't have a reservation but checked the night before to see what sites were available. They don't hang tags on posts, so reservations are highly suggested so you don't snag someone else's reservation.
There is supposed to be wifi, but we couldn't get it to connect.
Panther Creek is within an hour of Knoxville. There is a WalMart & Aldi's down the road, just in case you forget something or need to get some groceries.

Our first impression was a disappointment. We are tent camping and there didn't seem to be anywhere to put our tent. The grassy area on this site (and most of the sites) wasn't level. The sites on the outer ring have short driveways. We ended up putting the tent on the asphalt. The camp host had some nails that he let us have so we could stake the tent down. We were just a little too close to the road to feel peaceful.
The inner ring sites had more room, but then you had to deal with the playground and the gigantic water tank in the middle. TN renovated their bathrooms in the State Campgrounds a few years ago. Now, there is a toilet and shower in each, and there are 4 total in this campground. It wasn't a problem until everyone decided to take a shower at the same time, so if you have to use the restroom you're pretty much out of luck. The bathrooms are well maintained and clean.
Each site has a fire pit, grill, and picnic table. There is electricity and water at each site. A dump site is close by. There is no internet, but our cell signal was good enough that we were able to use the hotspot and have a movie night one night.
A small canteen is available just in case you have forgotten anything.
If you camp here, make sure to check out the historical places in the area: the Norris Dam (the first dam built with FDR's New Deal), the CCC camp (the cabins are still in use), the grist mill & threshing barn, and the 2 museums.
Yes, we would camp here again, but it wouldn't be our first choice.