The Laurels Picnic Area Pavilions is open for the 2022 season. The Laurels has been a popular area since the early days in East Tennessee. It was a common evening stopover for farmers from North Carolina taking produce to markets in Johnson City. The site is named for the native Rhododendron that thrives in the area, locally called "laurel." The Civilian Conservation Corps helped construct the current facilities in the early 1930's. Today, it is a popular day-use area, providing a nice shady place for family picnics and group gatherings.
The Laurels includes two picnic pavilions, numerous tables, grills, a bear-proof dumpster, and connected by foot paths. There is a vault toilet on site. There is no potable water.
Honeycomb Creek flows through the picnic area and is enjoyed by kids of all ages on warm summer days.
Set alerts at more campgrounds to increase your odds of getting a place to stay! Below is a list of the closest campgrounds supported on Campflare. Or, view all campgrounds in Cherokee National Forest.
| Nearby Campgrounds | Distance | Notification Rate |
|
Dennis Cove Campground
Cherokee National Forest
|
8.8mi | — |
|
Rock Creek Recreation Area (Cherokee National Forest, Tn)
Cherokee National Forest
|
8.9mi | — |
|
Cardens Bluff Campground
Cherokee National Forest
|
9.5mi | — |
|
Watauga Point Recreation Area
Cherokee National Forest
|
11.3mi | — |
|
Katy Branch
Cherokee National Forest
|
15.3mi | — |
|
Little Oak Campground
Cherokee National Forest
|
22.0mi | — |