Best Tent Camping near Ashland City, TN
Public lands surrounding Ashland City, Tennessee offer several tent camping options within a short drive of town. Bells Bend Park, located west of Nashville, provides primitive tent-only campsites in a wooded setting with farmland views. Long Hunter State Park Campground, approximately 30 miles east of Ashland City, features walk-in tent sites along the shoreline of J. Percy Priest Lake. Camp Nashville Highland Rim offers tent campsites in a more developed setting with basic amenities while maintaining a natural environment.
Most tent campgrounds in the region require advance reservations and operate on a pack-in, pack-out basis for trash management. Bells Bend Park features 10 walk-in tent sites with provided firewood but no drive-up access. Campers must carry all gear from the parking area to their site. A porta-potty is available in the parking lot, with flushing toilets at the outdoor center requiring a short hike. Long Hunter State Park's primitive tent sites are accessible via a 6-mile hike, making water filtration equipment essential for longer stays. Insect repellent is strongly recommended during warm months, as ticks are prevalent throughout the area, particularly near fire rings and wooded areas.
The tent camping experience varies significantly by location and season. According to reviews, Long Hunter State Park offers waterfront tent sites with flat rocks for relaxing and water filtration opportunities, though one camper noted it had "the most ticks any of us had seen" and recommended bringing "lots of DEET bug spray." Wildlife viewing is common at most sites, with deer, turkey, and squirrels frequently observed. Bells Bend Park campers appreciate the contrast of woodland camping with open sky views. A visitor described the park as "primitive camping in the trees on a hill" with "farmland with spots of woodland" creating a unique backcountry tent camping experience despite being relatively close to Nashville.