Dog-Friendly Camping near Arlington, TN

Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park spans 13,000 acres of hardwood bottomland near the Mississippi River just north of Arlington, Tennessee. Located within 20-30 minutes of Memphis, the park features terrain with significant elevation changes unusual for the region, with hiking trails spanning 20+ miles across varying difficulties. Winter camping offers reduced mosquito activity while summer requires substantial insect protection.

What to do

Outdoor activities at Shelby Farms Park: Arlington visitors staying at Agricenter RV Park gain access to extensive recreation options. "Located at the Agricenter. Squeeze in! Drive Thru sites. There is a Farmers Market on site. Picked up some fruits and plants before heading out," notes Laurie.

Fishing opportunities: Tom Sawyer's RV Park offers direct Mississippi River access with opportunities to observe river traffic. "Tugboats pushed barges against the current at a slower than walking pace. Trees with root balls intact floated downstream. The distant banks of the Tennessee side showed their sandy promontory," explains Greg S.

Evening wildlife viewing: SK Campground provides a natural setting for wildlife observation. "It has a pond in the rear with fishing allowed. 🦌 🦌 deer come out in the evening. Can see the stars 🌟 at 🌙 night," shares Shay A.

What campers like

Private, spacious sites: First-time campers often appreciate the layout at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park. "I was a first time camper and didn't know what to expect. I can say that it was very serene and relaxing. Areas are very clean kid friendly playgrounds. Each space was far enough but not but also in proximity to each other for those who afraid to camp out somewhere totally alone," writes Nicole.

Historic exploration: Fort Pillow Historic State Park Campground offers both camping and educational opportunities. "They have about a dozen RV sites plus another 20 tent sites. Facilities are very nice and include showers. The historic site of Ft Pillow from the Civil war is on one of the hiking trails. The trails also go along the Mississippi river and provide some beautiful views," explains Rick P.

Convenient location: Proximity to Memphis attractions makes certain campgrounds popular. "This campground is right on the Mississippi River, only problem is if the river is over its banks, then the campground is closed. The drive into the campground can seem a little sketchy, but once you get to your spot on the river it is a great hidden gem," notes Christine U.

What you should know

Seasonal insect issues: Meeman-Shelby can be challenging during warmer months. "Unless you are in love with mosquitos you may want to stay away from here in the summer, other than that it's a pretty nice place to escape for the weekend. We spent most of our time hiking around on the trail system within the park and fishing a little bit," advises Andrew S.

Neighborhood considerations: T.O. Fuller State Park Campground provides access to Memphis but requires route planning. "TO fuller state park is expansive and has a state park feel to it. The campground is secluded and has 35-38 campsites. All campsites have 30/50 amp electric, water, picnic table, fire ring and trash hooks," explains Ryan S.

Limited privacy at some sites: Campground layouts vary significantly. "The sites are extremely close together and there is absolutely no privacy. We chose an ADA site because my husband is a wheelchair user, but the grassy patch next to the cement was a hill. There was also zero shade and A LOT of bugs-we got eaten alive," warns Dana B. about Fort Pillow.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Parks with dedicated play areas provide recreation options. "Each site had a bbq grill and fire ring in addition to a picnic table and was well shaded. I felt like the sites along this side of the road were a little more spacious than the other side of the road which were a little more close together," notes Crystal C.

Swimming options: Seasonal pool access can be valuable for pet-friendly camping near Arlington, Tennessee. "We were able to hike and enjoyed it. The visitor center staff and Park Rangers were all helpful and very friendly. The visitor center has a number of state park items for purchase," shares Ryan S.

Educational programming: Ranger-led activities enhance family experiences at pet-accommodating parks. "Ranger Tyson informed us that they were doing a night hike to the Fort and they would be serving Gumbo for dinner around the campfire at the Fort. Sign me up! It was one of the fee based activities, but for $5 per person, it was totally worth it!" reports Shana D.

Tips from RVers

Site selection strategy: Graceland RV Park & Campground provides specific amenities for RVers. "Sites are gravel. Campground can accommodate all sizes of rvs. Dogs welcome. Bathrooms are clean and functional, just need a bit of cosmetic updating. Laundry on site. Area on north side of campground for tents and small rvs with electric and water only," explains Renee H.

Free laundry amenities: Tom Sawyer's RV Park offers uncommon conveniences. "Nice size spaces with square table and benches, concrete pad, grass area view of the River (#91), across from bathhouse and laundry on the end of the row. Very accommodating manager made this stop a breeze!" shares Sue S.

Limited pull-through availability: RV sites require planning at Meeman-Shelby. "The campground itself is tucked away deep into the Meeman Shelby State Forest and offers a pleasant amount solitude even though the sites are fairly close together. We watched an super long RV struggle to back into their site, so I wouldn't recommend this campground to RVs that require pull through sites," cautions Daniel L.