Camping areas near Rickman, Tennessee span the northern Cumberland Plateau region at elevations between 1,000-1,500 feet. The terrain features densely wooded areas with limestone formations and multiple waterways including Dale Hollow Lake. Weather patterns bring average summer temperatures of 85°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, while fall camping season extends through late October with cooler nighttime temperatures.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: Fall Creek Falls State Park offers numerous waterfall trails suitable for various skill levels. "One of the best hiking parks I've ever been to. Miles and miles of trails; short, long, loops, overnights. This place has it all. Make sure you do three things while you're there: hike to the bottom of the big waterfall (Fall Creek Falls), swim in the cascades next to the nature center, and stand on the edge of the bluff at Buzzard's Roost," shares Myke C. from Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground.
Equestrian trails: The KAT (Kentucky-Tennessee-Virginia) trail system connects multiple horse campgrounds near Rickman. "We stayed here on a KAT section 2 trip. Super friendly and helpful staff. They had campsites, covered wagons, and cabins. They had a small camp store and sold firewood," notes Pam B. about her experience at True West Campground & Stables.
Primitive camping adventures: Dale Hollow Lake offers boat-in and hike-in primitive sites around the shoreline. "We took a pontoon boat out to Kemper Flats on Dale Hollow lake for a few days relaxing fishing. Primitive site, island with a porta toilet. Camp right on the side of the lake, very quiet and peaceful," explains Andy K. from Dale Hollow Lake - Primitive Camping.
What campers like
Private site layouts: The unique arrangement of campsites at Dale Hollow State Resort Park creates small camping communities. "The sites are laid out like 8 spokes in a wheel, with plenty of space between sites. The facilities are kept clean. The staff is very helpful, nice and friendly," reports Greg F. from Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park.
Clean facilities: Bandy Creek Campground maintains exceptionally clean restrooms and shower facilities. "The restrooms were immaculate! Seriously the cleanest campground restrooms I believe I've seen. Ours had a filtered water bottle fill up fountain too," writes Lori H. about her stay at Bandy Creek.
Dark skies for stargazing: Many campgrounds in the region offer minimal light pollution for astronomy enthusiasts. "Very dark at night time, especially with little moon, the stars were jaw dropping," reports Joseph M. about his experience at Fall Creek Falls.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Most equestrian campgrounds operate seasonally from spring through fall. "Grounds are well kept. They worked non-stop our entire stay. The bathrooms were well attended to also. Cleaned regularly and well stocked. The showers were nice," notes Jovee S. about True West Campground & Stables.
Campsite selection: Choosing the right campground loop makes a significant difference in experience. "Campsites are on loops off the main loop/road. It puts 7-8 sites in a circle so it's possible for families to rent multiple sites in same loop. Plenty of room for kids to play and also has a swimming pool!" explains Kenny P. about Dale Hollow State Resort Park.
Water access considerations: Not all waterfront campsites have easy water access. "Despite this campsite being surrounded by the Green River on 3 sides, water is hard to come by here, and hiking it in may be your best bet. The river is at least 1/2 mile away, through extremely dense brush, and the banks are not easy to access, if accessible at all," warns Mandy C. about Turnhole Backcountry Campsite.
Tips for camping with families
Novice-friendly options: Some campgrounds specifically cater to new camping families with updated amenities. "We love to camp at Fall Creek Falls State Park and think this would be a great park for novice campers due to the fact that the facilities are very nice. Modern bathhouses located in each camping area, swimming pool, golf course and restaurant make roughing it easier for those who need more comfort while camping," recommends Sandra V. from Bandy Creek Campground.
Age-appropriate trail selection: Consider children's ages when selecting hiking trails. "There's tons to do from hiking, to swimming, waterfall gazing, rock climbing, ziplining, and much more. The park itself has a scenic loop drive of the gorge, multiple waterfalls to visit, miles on end of hiking trails in which some cross rope bridges, awesome swimming holes, and even an olympic pool with diving boards and a snack shack for the kiddos," explains Brandie D. from Fall Creek Falls State Park.
Play areas and recreation: Look for campgrounds with dedicated play spaces for children. "There is a great trail that connects the campgrounds with the Woodland Trail. Once you've parked at the campground, there's no need to get in your car until you leave!" notes Rebecca P. from Fall Creek Falls State Park.
Tips for RVers
Site length considerations: Check campsite length restrictions when bringing larger RVs. "The sites were a bit short and we couldn't park our tow vehicle in front of our 17' camper. So large campers beware. There are limited parking spots near the shower house," cautions Chelsea D. about Bandy Creek Campground.
Hookup locations: Water hookup placements can vary significantly at campgrounds. "I also wish they would have mentioned the length to water hookup. We ended up having to go buy a longer water hose bc the hookup was more than 30 foot away. We now keep a 50 foot hose, but didn't realize at the time there was actually hookups that far away," advises Beth H. from Dale Hollow State Resort Park.
Site leveling preparation: Bring adequate leveling equipment for uneven terrain. "Pay attention to grades of sites when booking, you might need extra supports to level out. Arrived in the dark, do not recommend as there are not much lighting to see especially if the sites is tight with others. Upgraded dump station all asphalt with 6 dumps," recommends Richard F. from Great Meadows Campground.
