Best Dispersed Camping near Barkley Lake

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Barkley Lake

15 Reviews of 7 Barkley Lake Campgrounds

• A

  Andrea L.

  Traveler

  Apr. 7, 2024

  LBL FS-326

  Lovely, quiet spot!

  This was a fantastic dispersed camping spot! A few cars went by looking for whatever, but the road dead ends at Energy Lake. It was quiet most of the time. Occasionally heard some obnoxious people across the lake where I believe a campground is located. Also heard a sound during the night, possibly coyotes. Otherwise, I felt safe and had a great time here!! The ground was flat and there was a lot of room. We were just passing through and needed somewhere quiet to sleep after two days of driving. There is a lot to do in this area! I hope I got the location right… it wouldn’t let me add the exact coordinates I saved when I was there.

  Read More
• 

  Staci R.

  Legend

  Sep. 19, 2022

  LBL FS154 - Dispersed

  5 Star Dispersed? Planning ahead will make the difference

  This site is quite remote feeling, but for a dispersed site, it is absolutely the BEST, which is why it is sometimes difficult to secure it, being it is first come first served. Be sure to have your dispersed camping permit before coming out! They are available online, and at any of the Visitor's centers. The roads coming out to this site are graded graveled roads, and do not require 4WD, however some of the roads are still blocked by trees felled (probably during December 2021 tornados), so you won't want to be dragging a trailer behind you when you turn a curve to see a fallen oak.  I traveled in on FS-154 and turned left onto the road that runs next to the site. When leaving, I attempted to continue traveling down the unnumbered road toward FS-134, but both directions in the fork were blocked by trees. This campsite is very popular, even though there are ZERO AMENITIES, which means you need to know and understand sanitation ("cat holes") as there are no port-a-johns or vault toilets, there is also NO POTABLE water, so you either pack it in or bring your filter and drink lake water. 

  The campsite itself is on a small peninsula, just big enough for a large two room tent, a makeshift fire ring, and a vehicle. I was there during the lake's winter pool, so the water was very low, leaving a lot of easy walkable entry areas into the bay or inlet area.  Forrest service checks in with dispersed campers often, so staying longer than the time allowed is usually not an option, but there are also other really nice dispersed areas near by to move to,

  Read More
• 

  Ai-Ai T.

  Guide

  Aug. 26, 2024

  Demumber's Bay

  Extreme bug activity - late August

  Pulled in around dusk and there was a deserted camper there, about 4 pull in sites for rooftop campers. The bugs were insane and 40 must’ve flown into my car when i opened the door for a split second. Other than that, good stop for dispersed campers. Bathrooms were vault.

• M

  Micheal

  Scout

  Jan. 11, 2021

  Neville Bay

  Great little camp ground

  Nice little are to camp at . Well suited for tents . Most of the area isn’t very level . The road going back there is gravel . We went with our 30 ft travel trailer . There is no hook ups . Can run generator until 11pm

• 

  Shelly S.

  Legend

  Aug. 26, 2017

  Barge Island Public Use Area at Birmingham Point

  Functionality

  Barge Island is boat-ramp and that is all. At the end of Barge Island Rd, to the left, next to Birmingham Point Campground (privately owned) it is functional, has a porta pot, parking and a small dock.

  The sign on the way in has a tent camping symbol but I saw no evidence that anyone has ever camped in the thin strip of grass on each side of the road. It is feasible that you could though.

  If you continue straight on Barge Island Rd it turns to gravel and you end up on a small gravel beach area, good for fishing.

• J

  Jordan

  Traveler

  Jul. 30, 2021

  Neville Bay

  Nice quite primitive camping

  Mostly flat near the water and lots of sites to camp. We really enjoyed our spot in the shade on a hot summer weekend.

• s

  sean

  Traveler

  Mar. 28, 2024

  LBL FS154 - Dispersed

  Several Nice Spots

  I stayed at two difderent spots in March 2024. You might need 4wd; it had rained all day before I got here and there were some rough/sloppy patches in the road. The pit toilt at the entrance is about a 10-12 minute drive away. Both spots had fire pits

• 

  Staci R.

  Legend

  Sep. 2, 2022

  Demumber's Bay

  Basic Campground - Pack in all you need (except toilet!)

  Denumbers is considered a back country campground in Land Between the Lakes. The road going back into the campground is paved, and the roads in the campground are compacted gravel. This is a well maintained campground whose only amenity is a vault toilet, and trash dumpster. The views of the lake are amazing, and this is a quiet area that allows for easy kayaking or other small water craft. There is a boat ramp, and zero entry areas into the water for launching. 

  A Dispersed Camping (Basic Camping) permit is required to camp here and you must purchase these at any of the three Visitor's Centers PRIOR to coming out! I've been told (by LBL LEO) that if you arrive after the centers are closed, but go get the permit first thing in the morning when they open, you will be good...

  Read More
• 

  Kari M.

  Guide

  Sep. 26, 2023

  Demumber's Bay

  Multiple Great Spots!

  This road is a paved Forest road that leads to a boat ramp. There are multiple dispersed camping spots available along the way (closer to the bay mostly). There are a couple on the water and some in the woods close by. They have fire rings made by stones from previous campers. Just make sure you get a permit for the few that have the requirement. They have a sign once you get to that area by the boat ramp.