Glamping accommodations near Allardt, Tennessee position visitors at the edge of the Cumberland Plateau, with elevations around 1,600-1,800 feet providing cooler summer temperatures than surrounding lowlands. The region sits adjacent to Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area's 125,000 acres of sandstone bluffs and forested gorges. Several campgrounds offer year-round access, with water activities generally available from April through October.
What to do
Trout fishing access points: Fish the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam at Kendall Campground, which provides specialized facilities for anglers. "The trout stream is beautiful and you can always see plenty of wildlife," notes camper Paula H. According to another visitor, facilities include "a snack bar/bait shop on site. The National Fish Hatchery is beside the campground, along with the Trout Stream, which is a really neat man-made stream and wetland."
Multi-day horseback adventures: Explore over 100 miles of riding trails at East Fork Stables, which welcomes both horse owners and non-equestrians. "Campground has Cabins, Bunk house, full hook-ups and primitive spots. There are stalls and tie lines with round pens and paddocks scattered around. Trail system is wonderful with all the views anyone could ask for," states Jason M.
Backcountry hiking options: Access multiple remote campsites and challenging trails at Frozen Head State Park, where elevations range from 1,340 to over 3,000 feet. "There are also many well kept backcountry sites with fire pits if you are backpacking. The surroundings are gorgeous: the foothills of the Appalachians and the hiking is superb and challenging," explains Jessica L.
What campers like
Peaceful waterfront camping: Lillydale Campground offers lakeside sites with direct water access. "We stayed at site #61 - the lake was literally steps away from our door, and it was a no wake zone. I felt completely comfortable with my kids swimming just off-shore next to our site," reports Megan C. Another camper notes the island section offers "nice sites all are lakeside, only drawback is that you have to park in the parking lot and use one of their carts to haul all your camping gear onto the island."
Clean facilities at state parks: Frozen Head State Park Campground maintains well-kept facilities despite rustic accommodations. "The campground is in close proximity to many of the trailheads. There is a nice bathhouse, but all the sites are rustic (non electric)," states Jessica L. Another visitor noticed, "Bathhouse is beautiful with cedar stalls. Lots to do with the hiking. Waterfalls were beautiful and everyone we talked to was super helpful and nice."
Free forest camping: Great Meadows Campground in Daniel Boone National Forest provides no-cost sites with basic amenities. "This is a beautiful secluded free campsite that I highly highly recommend. Swimming hole nearby and toilets, not very clean but they are there. Quiet and lovely," says Adelle C. The campground features two distinct sections: "There are two separate areas, the first loop on the right side of the road is called deer loop. Down the road, is Racoon loop which is on the left side of the road."
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Most campgrounds in the region have minimal or no cell service. At Blue Heron Campground, visitors should prepare for disconnection. Lillydale campers report "zero cell phone coverage" with T-Mobile, noting, "The lack of connectivity, although refreshing, was a little terrifying for me simply for lack of text and calling ability."
Seasonal facility limitations: Many campgrounds reduce services during off-season months. "Be advised that if you arrive after 4pm as per checking time posted on the website, the office will be closed," reports Richard A. about Cumberland Mountain State Park. At Frozen Head, "you need to bring your own water while there's a chance of frost."
Site-specific challenges: Some locations present unique difficulties. At Lillydale's island tent area, you must "park in the parking lot and use one of their carts to haul all your camping gear onto the island which can be quite a chore." Cumberland Mountain campers report "sites in my section were pretty steep as in on a big hill so us tenters get quite a workout going up to the bathhouse!"
Tips for camping with families
Lakeside swimming options: Several locations offer safe swimming areas for children. At Lillydale, sites in the no-wake zone allow "my kids swimming just off-shore next to our site." Holpps Pine Ridge Lake Campground provides "a roped off swimming area, although we swam near our campsite."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds feature regular animal sightings. Kendall Campground visitors report "daily deer visitors at our site" while Cumberland Mountain State Park has "a very aggressive raccoon that could open up coolers and throw off lids to every single site."
Kid-friendly amenities: Spacious Skies Belle Ridge offers several family features. "What really shined about this campground was the woodsy landscape - the sandy playground (though it was older and the volleyball net was down), the fishing lake, and the really cool swimming lake, which was surrounded by rock," notes Angela C. Another visitor adds, "We got a day use pass pass $5 per adult. Kids under 6 are free to get in so all my kids were free."
Tips from RVers
Power issues at some campgrounds: Check electrical connections carefully. At Deer Run RV Resort, one camper reported, "We put our surge protector on and the power at the site kept shorting out. We managed to get slides out then it shorted out." At Blue Heron Campground, a visitor warned, "My electrical post at Site 001 showed reverse polarity, so I had to move to site 004."
Limited dump stations: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. Great Meadows campers note the area has "no dump station or trash cans. So be prepared to pack your shit out." Plan your waste management accordingly.
Site leveling challenges: Some campsites require significant adjustment. At Deer Run, a visitor reported their "site was very un-level and could not get the camper to auto level." Cumberland Mountain campers should know that "some sites are not level but they have worked on many of them."
