10 Best Camping Spots in Middle Tennessee

By Tomeka Allgood

Campers have many options when looking for their next camping adventure in Tennessee. There are many locations throughout the state for all campers. One of the overlooked parts of the state is Middle Tennessee. Campers have many options to choose from several scenic camping sites.

Campgrounds…

Anderson Road Campground – Nashville, TN.

The Anderson Road Campground is a well-established camping area on 14,200 surface-acre Percy Priest Lake. This campground comes complete with its very own sandy swimming beach. Managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this campground has 37 shady and spacious campsites beside the lake. Campers enjoy fishing, paddling, horseback riding, hiking, and wildlife in this overlooked area in Nashville. A one-mile paved fitness trail is easily accessible and nice for a walk through the cedar trees alongside the lake. Reservations are typically available from May to September. More information about the Anderson Road Campground can be found here.

Cedar Creek Campground – Mt. Juliet, TN.

Open from April to October, Cedar Creek Campground on Old Hickory Lake is also managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This 22,500-acre reservoir flows from the Cumberland River, is located approximately 24 miles northeast of Nashville. Along with swimming, hiking, and fishing, Cedar Creek is popular for bird watchers. Many migratory birds call this area home in addition to other wildlife. This campground has 60 sites with water and electric hookups. Other amenities include restrooms with hot showers, laundry facilities, a dump station, and a boat launch.

Homestead on the Duck – Columbia, TN.

The Homestead on the Duck campsite is surrounded by the Yanahli Wildlife Management Area and the Duck River. This is a smaller campground with scenic views of forests, fields, wildlife, and the river. Even though hunting is not allowed on the property, campers will have access to hunting, fishing, and hiking. A Tennessee state-issued hunting/fishing license is required to hunt on the 12,800-acre Yanahli WMA. With ten campsites located on 23 acres, campers will get the true experience of being out in nature. They even have one site designated for glamping to accommodate those who want to be close to nature without sacrificing some of the comforts of home.

Peaceful Hills Retreat Campground – Centerville, TN.

A family-owned business, Peaceful Hills Retreat Campground, is the best getaway for campers seeking peace and quiet. Complete with a freshwater spring-fed creek and rolling hills, this picturesque retreat is ideal for solitude. Peaceful Hills Retreat donates a portion of its profits to A Soldier’s Child Foundation. The foundation serves children who have lost a parent who served in our military. Peaceful Hills Retreat offers 32 secluded campsites on 97 acres for RV and tent campers. In addition to the campsites, there are three homes available to be rented. Native Americans lived on the land where the retreat is located, and arrowheads have been found around the property.

Poole Knobs Campground – La Vergne, TN.

Close to 30 miles southeast of Nashville on Percy Priest Lake, Poole Knobs Campground is an outdoor adventurer’s playground. Campers can go fishing for large and small-mouth bass, catfish, and trout. Other favorite things to do here are boating, paddling, wildlife viewing and photography, horseback riding, and picnicking. Poole Knobs is another U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground with 87 shaded campsites, open from early May to late September. Both RV pull-through sites and tent sites are available and because of the popularity of this campground, reservations are highly recommended. Amenities at the campground include a shower house, restrooms with flush toilets, hot showers, laundry facilities, and a dump station.

Meriwether Lewis Campground – Hohenwald, TN.

The Meriwether Lewis Campground is one of three campgrounds along the historic Natchez Trace Parkway. It is located at milepost 385.9 on the Parkway and is considered the best of the 3 RV campgrounds along the Natchez Trace. Meriwether Lewis is at the northern end of the Natchez Trace Parkway in Hohenwald, TN. Many scenic trails, and rolling hills, and the history of this area is incredible. It is tucked back on a ridge at the Meriwether Lewis death and burial site.

This free campground has 32 well-spaced-out sites with a maximum stay of 14 days. All camping must take place in designated camp areas. It is important for campers to understand that this is strictly dry camping. This campground is open year-round on a first come, first serve basis.

State Parks…

Cedars of Lebanon State Park – Lebanon, TN.

Around 33 miles from Nashville and open all year, Cedars of Lebanon State Park has miles of horseback riding trails, hidden natural wonders like springs buried deep below ground, and a splash pad. This state park is full of surprises that make it a favorite for outdoor enthusiasts. With 117 campsites campers are also offered additional amenities like hot showers, flush toilets, outdoor wash-up stations, three bathhouses, and Wi-Fi. Every site has a picnic table and grill with firewood available for sale amongst other items, like ice. You can do laundry here and shop for essentials at the visitor center. If a tent or RV camping isn’t your thing, the park has the option to stay in one of the nine fully furnished cabins at the park. Campers can also check out the nature center and butterfly garden, play disc golf or go on a nature hike.

Fall Creek Falls State Park – Spencer, TN.

One of Tennessee’s largest and most visited state parks, Fall Creek Falls encompasses more than 29,900 acres across the eastern top of the Cumberland Plateau. Nature is at every turn in this scenic park. Waterfalls, gorges, and streams are plentiful and provide scenic views for days. Fall Creek Falls, at 256 feet, is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. It is not the only one that can be found in the park. Visitors also can check out Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls, and Cane Creek Cascades while there.

Fall Creek Falls features 30 cabins, 222 campsites in five different areas, and the 85-room Lodge Fall Creek Falls. All campsites have tables, grills, water, and electricity and are served by six bathhouses. The park has 16 primitive sites, meaning they do not include water or electric hookups and are for tent camping only. Nine of those primitive sites are “walk-in” and set back in the woods while the remaining seven, are “park-on” sites. Reservation for walk-in sites is only available over the phone. Backcountry camping is also available with a permit.

Montgomery Bell State Park – Burns, TN.

Campers at Montgomery Bell State Park can embark on a guided hike, take a golf cart safari, or go on an all-day waterfall tour. There are also plenty of things to do on the water, including canoeing and kayaking. This state park is open year-round and located 40 minutes from Nashville. Situated on 3,850 acres, Montgomery Bell State Park has 94 RV campsites and 22 sites for tents with full-service hookup sites available. In addition to the campground, the park rents eight two-bedroom cabins near Lake Acorn. Campground amenities include three bathhouses, showers, two dump stations, a laundromat, Wi-Fi, and a seasonal store. Firewood and ice are available for sale. If you want more information on this park, click here.

Tims Ford State Park – Winchester, TN.

Located on the Cumberland Plateau, Tims Ford State Park sits on 3,456 acres where campers have access to Tims Ford Lake, one of the most popular lakes in the state. The lake is regarded as one of the top bass fishing and recreational lakes in the southeast. The park offers eight public boat ramps, two marinas, over 20 miles of hiking and biking trails, and a Bear Trace 18-hole golf course. Open year-round, the park has 168 campsites across three areas. The campsites are limited to six people per site. There are 14 primitive campsites with paddles, for those on islands, and hike-in options with no amenities. Campers will be responsible for carrying in and out everything they need. The park practices the Leave No Trace rule for all primitive camp areas.

The non-primitive areas have access to two centrally located, heated bathhouses that offer hot showers and bathrooms. Each site in this area has a picnic table and a fire ring with a grill. With an inside campground playground and several others throughout the park, Tims Ford is a popular camping destination for families. The park also has a camp store that is open year-round, and Wi-Fi is available.

Please do not overlook Middle Tennessee when planning a camping adventure. It has a variety of camping options for all ages and skill levels. Scenic views and natural landscapes are part of the best camping experiences. With great waterways, caverns, and history outside of the campsites. Middle Tennessee has some of the best camping spots in the state.