Long Hunter State Park Campground, near Hermitage, Tennessee, is a fantastic spot for those who love the great outdoors and don’t mind a little adventure. This place is all about primitive camping, so you can expect a more rustic experience with tent sites right by the water, perfect for swimming and soaking up the sun.

The campground is known for its beautiful surroundings, with well-kept grounds and scenic trails that are great for hiking. Visitors have raved about the wildlife, with sightings of deer and turkeys being common. One camper even mentioned, “I saw so many deer and turkeys I finally quit taking pics of them.” Just be prepared for some ticks; a little DEET goes a long way here.

If you’re up for a hike, the trails offer a mix of wooded paths and paved routes, making it accessible for everyone. The lake access is a big hit, and many campers enjoy lounging on the flat rocks by the water. Just remember to pack in what you need, as amenities are limited—no drinking water or showers here, so come ready to rough it a bit. 

Whether you’re looking to relax by the lake or explore the trails, Long Hunter State Park Campground has a lot to offer for those willing to embrace the simplicity of nature.

Backcountry Camping- Reservation Required

Long Hunter has 2 primitive campsites for tent camping only, each site has a designated fire ring. Both sites are wooded, offering shade, they are located on the shoreline of J.Percy Priest Lake.

A 6-mile hike is required to reach the sites, beginning at the parking lot, using the Day Loop/Volunteer Trailhead. Backpacking equipment is strongly suggested.  There is no running water, electricity, restrooms or heated showers available. Water must be filtered from natural sources or carried in. The campsites are open year-round. Campsite capacity ranges from 8-10 persons.
What to Know Before You Go

    Reservations are required for ALL backcountry camping.
    Your reservation receipt is your permit.
    A copy of the camping receipt MUST on your person, during your overnight stay. 
    A copy of the camping receipt or a piece of paper with the name associated with the reservation MUST be placed in the dash of each vehicle that is to be parked overnight at the trail head.
    No hiking on trails after dark. Please allow enough time to reach your destination in daylight.
    The last permit issued will be 2-3 hours before sunset

Pet Policy

Leashed pets are allowed on this site.

Long Hunter State Park Campground

The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near J Percy Priest Lake. J Percy Priest Lake is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

J Percy Priest Lake

The Best Camping Near J Percy Priest Lake, Tennessee

**Long Hunter State Park Primitive Campsites** are my kinda camping.

If you enjoy carrying all your essentials on your back and sucking your water through a filtered straw then this is the camping/backpacking park for you! Actually though excellent practice run on your primitive skills. Pack distribution and what you need, no major climbs. This is a good trail to try out your skills before attempting a more challenging trip.

Basic Tennessee woodland and animals. I liked this area much more then the main park.

Walkin trail

Even though 6 miles is quite the hike for a young Girl Scout Troop just to reach our Campsite it was beyond worth it!

Beautiful and well maintained! 

I made a tour of campgrounds and lake recreation spots near Nashville TN during an extended trip where I had to be there to keynote some conferences. This spot was among my favorites.

Camping- The camping is normal. Nothing special, but perfectly adequate. All you need and nothing more. The spots are beautiful though. Right on the water.

Grounds- The grounds here were very well kept.

My fave thing here was the trails. There are some really great wooded trails you can take. I saw so many deer and turkeys I finally quit taking pics of them. There's also a really nice paved trail around the lake for the kids or handicapped folks. I saw some great wildlife here too. Be sure to check out my video of the monster snapping turtle that probably wanted to eat me.

There are also some really neat cliff areas on the lake. If you're brave enough and don't mind bending the rules, it's a pretty cool climb down.

My Kind of Place- Animals, Water, and Trails

There are lots of rules and lots of signs!  The park is spread out into 2 areas and you can swim in one but not in the other.  There are great places to run and hike.  Its large and a bit confusing but once we found the spots we wanted it was fun.

Who doesn’t love a lake?!?

our family loves this park! we go there often. one of our favorites in Tennessee!

love it

great place to camp both RV and primitive!

beautiful

Primitive campsite 1 has 3 long log benches and a grill. It is located directly by the water, so you have a water filtration source at your finger tips. It is a great swimming spot with flat rocks to hang out on. However, it was the most ticks any of us had seen, including tiny seed ticks. We left with multiple bites, and were constantly picking them off each other  and our gear. They seemed to be worst around the fire pit, so we couldn’t sit around and enjoy the fire. We ended up sitting in camping chairs instead of using the logs for the this reason. 

I would bring LOTS of DEET bug spray.

Photos of Long Hunter State Park Campground

Real photos from real campers