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Established Camping

Davis Pond Campsite

3 Reviews

Davis Pond Campsite in Tennessee is surrounded by forested terrain with a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees. Temperatures range from the 30s in winter to the 80s in summer. Nearby, visitors can explore the trails and natural beauty of South Cumberland State Park.

Description

TN State Fish & Wildlife

Prentice Cooper State Forest & Wildlife Management Area

Prentice Cooper State Forest is located in southeastern Tennessee, in Marion County. The forest is approximately 10 miles west of Chattanooga and is heavily utilized by the public. It is situated on the scenic Tennessee River Gorge. The property for Prentice Cooper was acquired by simple purchase between 1938 and 1944. The site was proclaimed a State Forest in 1945. Sixty-nine percent of the forest is in multiple-use regulated forests and the remainder is in conservation areas.

Camping is permitted at the Davis Pond Camping area on a first-come, first-served basis. These primitive campsites have no sanitation facilities.

Reservation Info

Campers at the Davis Pond Camping area are required to be in the campsite by sunset and must remain in the campsite until sunrise. No in-or-out privileges with the exception of emergency purposes.

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Location

Davis Pond Campsite is located in Tennessee

Coordinates

35.08151480661929 N
85.43061017025566 W

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Access

Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.

Connectivity

Presented by T-Mobile Satellite

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T-Mobile
No Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
AT&T
No Coverage

Site Types

Tent Sites
Dispersed
Group
Equestrian

Features

For Campers

Picnic Table
Phone Service
Toilets
Pets
Fires

Enjoy camping on government land. Limited or no services at this camping area.

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Contact

General Info

Drive Time

45 min from Chattanooga
1 hr 5 min from Cleveland
1 hr 50 min from Rome
2 hrs from Huntsville

Tessa B.

Scout

Reviewed Mar. 19, 2025

Awesome campspot

Okay. This spot is super neat! About 45 mins outside Chattanooga, it’s a beautiful drive. Last 7 miles are on a windy gravel road. The last 1/2 mile gets a little dicey and needs a vehicle with some clearance.

On arrival there is a huge meadow area. Tons of spots to pitch a tent or park vehicles. We used our truck tent and a fire pit and were super happy with the setup.

If you are coming with a group this is an awesome spot. We counted 5 fire pits but you could literally fill the meadow with dozens of tents easily.

I took off a star because the bathroom looks like an actual third world country, covered in trash and bugs and who knows what else. I didn’t stay long to look at it in detail. It was very rudimentary and disgusting. I don’t know if anyone even manages it. That’s how bad it was. I guess that’s what you get from no camp fees.

Overall we really loved our stay here!! Very quiet and peaceful. The little pond is a breeding ground for lots of bugs, but it’s peaceful and pretty to look at. Not many fish biting this time of year. We did see a couple go out on an inflatable boat.

This is what camping should be!! Free, first come first serve, with some fire pits and picnic tables and plenty of room to pitch a tent.

Come check it out!

Month of VisitMarch

Josh W.

Guide

Reviewed Jan. 28, 2023

Basic/small....good overnight

Only spots for two, luckily one area was available upon my arrival. A couple was there already. The two spaces are kinda tight so I asked if I would be imposing staying the night and clearing out in the morning. Thankfully the couple had no problem

Month of VisitJanuary

William S.

Ranger

Reviewed Sep. 27, 2021

Away from it all

Down a long and winding (and dusty) gravel road into the WMA is the Davis Pond camp site, a real gem with shady trees and a fishing pond.

This lightly developed site has two picnic tables, and two lantern posts near the tables. However, it can easily accommodate many more campers in the space and has multiple dirt-and-rock fire pits.

While there is a two-station pit toilet, it's a bit of a horror show with a lot of trash accumulating in the structure. Another downside, after I set up my tent I noticed that some hornets were flying into a nearby dead tree. I quickly moved to another spot but luckily noticed it before it got dark.

There's a gravel parking lot with a trail map and sign in sheet right next to the camping area.

In addition to the multiple trails (for hiking, ATVs, and horses) closer to the entrance to the WMA (and far from the camp) is a shooting range.

Month of VisitSeptember

(6) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the elevation of Davis Pond Campsite?

Davis Pond Campsite is located at 1901 feet.

Are fires allowed at Davis Pond Campsite?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Davis Pond Campsite, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Does Davis Pond Campsite have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Davis Pond Campsite does not have wifi.

Is there cell phone reception at Davis Pond Campsite?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is no coverage for AT&T, no coverage for T-Mobile, and some coverage for Verizon.

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