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Can anyone offer the following beta for the Obed... best driving route from Cincy (and about how long does the drive take), camping, nearby food, does it cost money to climb there?

Can anyone offer the following beta for the Obed... best driving route from Cincy (and about how long does the drive take), camping, nearby food, does it cost money to climb there?

Head down I75, cross into Tenn. and look for 63 West. Go 63W to 27 South. This brings you into Wartburg (I think it's around 4-4.5 hrs.) where you can stop in the rangers office. Not hard to find since the town is so small...ask someone where it's at. They can fill you in on a place to camp. There's an area right on the river (but not near the climbing) that was free but now is pay. There is frozen Head State Park which is pay w/ showers also not very close to climbing, but close to town. And Haratio has mentioned on here in the past of a road you can take for camping that is very close to the climbing.
You can also sleep in your car at Lilly Bluff Overlook, but you should be discrete about it...no tents, fires, trash, etc....

There's an Italian restraunt, a Sonic Burger, 2 grocery stores, and a small store between Wartburg and the climbing that makes deli sandwiches, oh yeah, a Hardies too
If you want more you can drive to Oak Ridge. There's everything you can want and more there.

The climbing doesn't cost anything, but respect the area, and if you go to South Clear and Image Wall, etc. drop a couple of bucks in the box when you park!

Best guide for the area ithat I know of is "The Dixie Craggers Atlas". Sorry, I've searched for 15 minutes for it to put up a link, but can't find one. It was put out by Chris Watford, Market Place Press, Roswell, Georgia.

You can also stay in crossville about 30 minutes from lilly parking area. a few motels and 2 good mexican restaurants. tierrany area and south clear are good if it cold out.

Thanks guys! I have the Dixie Cragger's Atlas, Jeff-- I should have mentioned that and saved you the trouble of searching.

yasmeen, the best camping around the obed is 1 minute from south clear parking lot. when you're driving down the paved road, the turn for clear creek parking area is on the left (Doc Howard Road i think) and on the right is a gravel road. take the gravel road on the right. this forks, so go left. follow this for a little ways ( i think you pass a small house or trailer on the left) and the field ends and trees begin. you'll start seeing campsites on each side of the road. you can camp at any of these. it's a voluntary donation, but throw in a few bucks cause the owners are my friends - dale, marty, vade, and bryson. their self-sustained house is at the end of the gravel road and campsites. go tell em hi.