Best Camping in Tennessee: Smoky Mountains, State Parks & Summer Spots

RV camping in Tennessee is easy to find at Tennessee State Parks. Additional RV camping that offers great amenities and incredible views include Anchor Down RV Resort in Dandridge and Blue Bank Resort in Hornbeak located on the banks of Reelfoot Lake. Land Between the Lakes in Dover offers RV camping, plus the opportunity for you to learn about pioneer life at the Homeplace 1850s farm as well as spot wildlife like elf, bison and more.

You’ll find great tent camping in Tennessee State Parks as well. Big Hill Pond State Park east of Memphis, Bledsoe Creek State Park, Henry Horton State Park and Savage Gulf State Park all provide tent camping in primitive, paved and backcountry sites. Some of the best camping in Tennessee can also be found at Obed Wild and Scenic River National Park in East Tennessee, Memphis Graceland RV Park and Campground and Lionsgate Campground in Bon Aqua, about 42 miles near Nashville.

Waterfall hikes to the base of Tennessee's highest waterfall, adventurous mountain biking and scheduled star viewing parties throughout the year, Fall Creek Falls State Park is the ideal place to go camping in Tennessee. Fall Creek Falls State Park offers camping near Nashville, TN and includes RV camping, tent camping, backcountry camping, primitive camping and walk-to campsites. 

• Seasonal highlights: Ideal for visiting June-August for waterfall hikes, guided sunrise and sunset hikes, mindfulness walks, pontoon tours, canoeing and more.
   
• Hours of operation: Check-in time for camping is 4 p.m. (CDT) and check-out time is noon (CDT).
   
• Parking information: All parked vehicles must stay within the campsite you have reserved. Vehicles can not infringe on a neighboring campsite or block the road in any way.
   
• Accessibility options: ADA campsites are available. If you require ADA-accessible accommodation, please make your specific requests when booking a reservation at 1-888-867-2757. All-terrain wheelchairs are available to reserve. An adult-sized changing table is located at the Betty Dunn Nature Center which is also ADA-accessible. Accessible paddling, including a tiered transition bench, roll cage with overhead grab bars, hand straps and pull bars are fitted at the paddling launch by the dam and off the paved Lake Bike Trail.
   
• Reservation information: Reservations for the main campground and Area C primitive sites can be made online. For all other camping sites, reservations must be made by calling the Reservations line 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-888-867-2757.
   
• Age restrictions or requirements: Each site may contain no more than 6 people. Must be 18 years or older to reserve campsite.
   
• Pet-friendly accommodations: Pets are welcome. They must be kept on a leash, contained at your campsite and you must pick up after your pets.
   
• Nearby attractions: Sparta is a small town 35 miles nearby that includes boutiques, local restaurants and Calfkiller Brewing Company. Crossville, 45 miles nearby, is home to numerous golf courses, restaurants and deep history. Cookeville 45 miles nearby has a wide variety of nightlife, boutique shopping, dining and murals.

You’ll find luxury camping at Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains, located 5 miles near Pigeon Forge. Enjoy organic bath products, on-site dining with seasonal and locally sourced produce, complimentary activities like yoga, live music and more, fire pits and s’mores, and private bathrooms in many of the tent suites.

• Seasonal highlights: Fill your summer camping stay with nightly fires and complimentary s'mores, morning yoga, kids activities, live music, dining al fresco, and an Adventure Concierge who can help you craft the ideal Great Smoky Mountains day filled with outdoor adventures like guided hikes, whitewater rafting and more.
   
• Hours of operation: Check in is 3 p.m. EST and check out is 10 a.m. EST. Quiet hours are enforced 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. EST.
   
• Parking information: Central parking lots are located throughout the camps. Tents are accessible via foot paths.
   
• Reservation/ticketing information: To reserve a safari tent stay, visit the online reservation link.
   
• Pet-friendly accommodations: Pets are welcome for a $35 fee per pet, per night. Pets are not to be left unattended at any time. Pets are to be leashed while on property. If you are planning adventures, please verify pets are allowed before booking.
   
• Nearby attractions: Located just outside of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you're close to the great outdoors, while also conveniently close to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville. Nearby attractions include Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Anakeesta in Gatlinburg, The Apple Barn & Cider Mill in Sevierville and whitewater rafting on the Pigeon River on Class II-III rapids.

The family-owned and operated Soaring Eagle Campground is located in Lenoir City, Tennessee, about 28 miles near Knoxville. The primitive campsites connect you with nature. Each campsite has a picnic table and a fire pit. There’s also lakeside camping available in Soaring Eagle’s cove, off the Clinch River on Watts Bar Lake. A bathhouse and laundry facilities are also available.

• Seasonal highlights: Soak in beautiful summer views of Clinch River, picnics, paddleboarding, canoeing and boat days on Fort Loudoun Lake.
   
• Hours of operation: Check out time is noon. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
   
• Parking information: All vehicles and guests mus tbe registered and paid for prior to site assignment. All vehicles in the primitive/lake area must have a parking pass on the rear view mirror. Parking is available at each campsite.
   
• Accessibility options/features: Soaring Eagle Campground has wheelchair-accessible entryways, parking lots and public bathhouses. Call 865-276-9017 to inquire about the best site placement near paved areas or accessible bathhouses.
   
• Reservation/ticketing information: For reservations, fill out the online form or call 865-376-9017.
   
• Age restrictions or requirements: Must be 18 or older to make a campsite reservation and check-in guests. Standard campsite rates are for two adults and two kids under 12. 
   
• Pet-friendly accommodations: Pets are welcome and must be registered at the front desk upon your arrival. Pets must be kept on a short leash and quiet at all times. Pets are not allowed in the play or pool area. Please pick up after your pets and dispose in the trash.
   
• Nearby attractions: Learn the history behind Tennessee's secret city, Oak Ridge at the Manhattan Project National Historic Park; maneuver rugged terrain and splash in streams while riding a SxS rental. The Great Smoky Mountains are about 66 miles east and Bristol Motor Speedway is about 136 miles away.

Located at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains, Greenbrier Campground in Gatlinburg is considered one of the top in the U.S. for fishing and camping. Greenbrier offers 120 full hookup campsites, river frontage sites and wooded campsites. 

• Seasonal highlights: Jump in one of the best swimming holes in Tennessee as the Little Pigeon River runs around the campground. Enjoy a private beach, trout fishing and more.
   
• Hours of operation: The check-in time for RV and tent sites is 1 p.m. Check-in time for all rentals is 3 p.m. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
   
• Parking information: There are pull-through river sites available. Parking is close by for tent camping. Full hook-ups including water/sewer and electric (30 and 50 amp) are included in each RV site.
   
• Reservations: Reserve your stay with online booking here.
   
• Pet-friendly accommodations: Pet-friendly campsites are available. Pets must be under the control of an adult at all times. Only quiet pets are allowed. Pets must be on a leash 6 feet or less unless in the dog park. Pets are allowed at the beach area and in the river as well as the pet-friendly walking paths throughout the campground. Review the full pet policy here.
   
• Nearby attractions: At Greenbrier Campground, you're conveniently close to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. Enjoy hikes that lead to waterfalls and overlooks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park; go trout fishing in the Little Pigeon River; horseback ride through the mountains; and go shopping and dining in nearby mountain towns. 

Find respite in nature at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch and the many places to camp. You’ll find 200 tent camping spots plus 125 30amp water and electric campsites in the Lower Campground. The area includes a 10,000 square-foot pavilion and a bath house.

• Seasonal highlights: Take a dip into the in-ground pool, play in Hurricane Creek by kayaking, tubing and canoeing, and catch live music scheduled throughout the year. Plus, kids can climb and explore the playground.
   
• Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 
   
• Parking information: Choose from back-in or pull-through sites that are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
   
• Reservations: Review all accommodations including RV sites and campgrounds on the website.
   
• Pet-friendly accommodations: Pets are allowed for campers and cabin rentals. Pets must be on a leash at all times and need to be attended to at all times.
   
• Nearby attractions: Dive into history on a tour of Loretta Lynn's Ranch. Make your way to Johnsonville State Historic Park about 20 miles away to learn the Civil War history of the area at the museum, see the Civil War-era fort remnants and enjoy nature on the 10 miles of trails. Stroll through The Walls Art Park that blends nature with an outdoor graffiti art gallery. 

Horse owners will love the spacious campgrounds at Circle E Guest Ranch in Belvidere, a camping area about 104 miles south near Nashville. Enjoy amazing horse riding trails all day and then come back to one of the 240 campsites available. Some sites have 30amp, some with 50amp and some with electric, water and sewer. Primitive camping is also available.

• Seasonal highlights: Circle E Guest Ranch is like summer camp full of fun things to do like archery challenges, horseback riding, OHV trails, special outdoor events including guided horseback rides, OHV events, ATV/SXS events and more.
   
• Hours of operation: Check-in during office hours. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. For a faster check-in process, review, sign and print the waivers and bring them with you.
• Parking information: Circle E Guest Ranch offers plenty of parking onsite for campers.
   
• Reservation: A $30 deposit to hold a campsite is required upon booking. Please call 931-962-1790 to book.
   
• Age restrictions: All operators of off-road vehicles must have a valid driver's license. Children under 18 must be supervised and wear a helmet at all times. Children under 18 must have a waiver consent signed by a parent or legal guardian in the presence of a staff member. 
   
• Pet-friendly accommodations: A pet fee of $50 is required. Up to two dogs under 50lbs are welcome. All pets must be pre-approved by Circle E Guest Ranch. Pets must be kept on a leash at all times. No pets are allowed on trails.

Have the ultimate lake vacation by camping at Cages Bend Campground in Gallatin, located 30 miles near Nashville. The campground offers electric and water hookups at each site. group picnic shelter and showers. Laundry facilities are also on site. Two fishing docks are available and all sites have electric and water hookups.

• Seasonal highlights: Located on the shores of Old Hickory Lake, Cages Bend offers easy lake access via boat ramp. The 22,500-acre lake is perfect for a day of boating, swimming, sailing, waterskiing, riding the waves on a jetski and much more. Find a cove, play some summer music and soak in the sun. 
   
• Check-in and check-out times: Check-in time is 3 p.m. and check-out time is noon.
   
• Parking information: Ample parking is available onsite. The RV sites are back-in with the exception of site #10 which is a pull-through RV site. 
   
• Accessibility options/features: Accessible parking and accessible showers are available. Four sites meet accessibility standards. To book one of these campsites, call 615-824-4989.
   
• Reservation/ticketing information: Campsites must be reserved. Walk-ins are not permitted. Reserve online or by calling 615-824-4989.
   
• Pet-friendly accommodations: Pets are allowed and must be on a leash at all times. For the full pet policy, call 615-824-4989.
   
• Nearby attractions: Downtown Nashville is a short drive away from the campground. You're just minutes away from iconic attractions such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Ryman Auditorium, Andrew Jackson's Hermitage where the 7th U.S. president lived, Frist Art Museum and, of course, live music all day and night on Lower Broadway. You can go pier fishing at nearby piers such as Shutes Branch, Bledsoe Creek State Park, Sanders Ferry and Rockland. Spend a day hiking at Bledsoe Creek State Park to spot wildlife and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. 

Relax and unwind at Serendipity RV Resort & Campground in Brownsville, about 58 miles near Memphis. The 12 tent sites are equipped with electrical outlets and convenient water spigots. Serendipity also offers cabins, glamping yurts outfitted with heat and air conditioning, two queen beds, a deck, firepit, charcoal grill and picnic table as well as RV sites. 

• Seasonal highlights: June, July and August can be full of summer fun at Serendipity RV Resort & Campground as there are a number of activities to fill your days. Play the 18-hole disc golf course, kayak, paddle board, paddle boat, fish, hike trails and take a dip in the swimming pool. z
   
• Hours of operation / check-in and check-out times: Office hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April-November. The restaurant is open Thursday-Saturday 4 p.m. to close. Check in is 1 p.m. for RV and tent sites. Check out is 11 a.m.
   
• Parking information: Parking is available onsite for all campers. There are spacious back-in and pull-through sites available.
   
• Accessibility options/features: There is an ADA shower, paved trails and accessible parking. Golf carts are able to be rented for $50 a day for easy navigation around the grounds.
   
• Reservation information: A partially refundable credit card payment is required at the time of reservation. Full payment is due for all daily and weekly stays. Book your stay online.
   
• Pet-friendly accommodations: Serendipity is a pet-friendly campground. Pets must always remain on a leash and are not to be left unattended at campsites. Small mobile dog fences are approved at RV sites. Campground management follows the American Property Casualty Insurance Association Guidelines.
   
• Nearby attractions: Close to downtown Brownsville, make a day of exploring the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center where you can learn about West Tennessee's culture and agricultural heritage as well as visit the Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School onsite. Inside, the museum is full of the Queen of Rock n' Roll's costumes, memorabilia and greatest hits, all housed in the one-room schoolhouse she attended when she was a girl growing up in Nutbush, Tennessee. Navigate the gravel Rockin' Roll Hatchie Trail on a mountain bike. Check out the incredible Mindfield outdoor art exhibit and the Tina Turner statue at Heritage Park. Grab a delicious meal and a milkshake at Livingston Soda Fountain and Grill. 

Located on the beautiful Reelfoot Lake, Reelfoot Lake State Park offers paved tent campsites at the South Campground that includes three bathhouses with restrooms. Two bathhouses have hot showers and one has a washer, dryer and dish washing area. There’s also a pavilion, boat launching ramp area, fish cleaning house, privately owned bait shops with fishing supplies, boat rentals and interpretive programs during the summer months. For a more secluded stay, check out one of the 10 primitive tent-only campsites at the Airpark North Campground.

• Seasonal highlights: Fill your days with wildlife pontoon tours on the lake, meet and greets with bald eagles and sunset pontoon tours. Explore the flooded forest in a kayak or canoe when the winds are calm. Special summer events include July 4th pontoon tours that include a patriotic fireworks display.
   
• Check-in and check-out times: 4 p.m. is check-in time and the check-out time is noon. The Check-in Station is located in the Camp Store. Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day.
   
• Parking information: RV pull-through is available. For camping at South Campground, parking is available onsite.
   
• Accessibility options: Reelfoot Lake State Park has accessible parking at the Visitor Center and Aviary, an adult-sized changing table in the restroom, all-terrain wheelchairs designed to navigate a wide of range of terrains available for reservation, wheelchair-friendly trails, an accessible paddling launch at Kirby Pocket and an ADA-friendly Nature Center and Museum. You'll find accessible campsites at the South Campground where RV campsites 11, 12, 13, 30 and 32 are wheelchair-friendly, include ADA fire rings, electric, water and sewer. ADA sites can be requested when making a reservation.
   
• Reservations: Book your camping or RV site through the online booking system.
   
• Age restrictions: All children under 16 are required to wear a helment when riding a bike in the campground. Individuals must be 18 years of age or older when requesting an overnight accommodation. A parent or adult must accompany children or individuals under the age of 18. Valid identification may be requested or required by park personnel for age verification.
   
• Pet-friendly accommodations: All pets must be on a leash per state law (fines can be accrued if not compliant).

Take the family on a nature retreat at Birdsong Resort, Marina & Lakeside RV & Tent Campground in Camden on the banks of Kentucky Lake’s scenic Tennessee River. You’ll love your lakeside weekend at Birdsong which includes a full-service marina, and a free laundry mat among other amenities. The primitive tent sites are in shaded, grassy areas and include bathhouses with restrooms and hot showers. 

• Seasonal highlights: Make your summer memorable at Birdsong Resort with a dip in the swimming pool. Rent a boat, kayak or canoe for the ultimate lake day on the largest man-made lake in the U.S. - Kentucky Lake. Games onsite include a basketball court, volleyball sandpit, horseshoes, shuffleboard and sand piles. Special events are held throughout the season.
   
• Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday
   
• Parking information: Parking is available onsite. Some pull-through RV sites are available, but many are back-in sites.
   
• Reservations: A reservation inquiry form must be filled out. The form is not a reservation, so you must call the office at 731-584-7880 to provide credit card information to complete the reservation.
   
• Accessibility features: Birdsong Resort is ADA accessible with paved trails. Boat docks can be hard to navigate based on water levels. Please call 731-584-7880 for accessibility specifics.
   
• Pet-friendly accommodations: Pets are welcome. Pets must remain in the RV. When walking your pet, they must be on a leash in the pet walking area. Please pick up after your pet.
   
• Nearby attractions: Tour the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Museum to learn about America's only freshwater pearl farm. Check out the showcase room as well. Explore Johnsonville State Historic Park for a deep dive into Civil War history as well as nearby Fort Donelson National Battelfield. Pose for a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Tennessee and enjoy shopping in local boutiques as well as great dining at local restaurants downtown. Magnolia Park in Erin, Tennessee is a great swimming hole with a rope swing.

The best time to go camping varies depending on what activities you'd like to enjoy while in Tennessee. For swimming and other water activities, camping in June to August is ideal. Fishing, wildlife viewing, fireflies and stargazing at night and boating all against a vibrant and green summery backdrop make for great memories. Be prepared for high heat and peak crowds. For lower temperatures, look to go camping during the spring or fall.