Josh E.
Traveler
TravelerLand between The Lakes Bards Lake Tharp Road
Love this camp site. Perfect for tent camping
Good fishing, fire pit, gravel road in, peaceful
Best Campgrounds near Buchanan, TN
Buchanan, Tennessee serves as a gateway to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, with multiple campgrounds offering access to Kentucky Lake and the Tennessee River. Paris Landing State Park Campground provides developed sites with electric and water hookups, while Eagles Nest RV Park and Little Eagle RV Park cater primarily to recreational vehicles. The area features a mix of accommodation types including tent camping, RV sites, cabins, and glamping options, with many campgrounds situated along the shoreline for direct water access.
Seasonal considerations affect camping availability throughout the region, with several campgrounds like Paris Landing-Kentucky Lake KOA operating from March through October. Summer months bring higher temperatures and increased visitor traffic, particularly at waterfront locations. Most developed campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak season and holiday weekends. Primitive camping areas like Ginger Bay offer more secluded options but have limited amenities and sometimes challenging access. As noted in one review, "Watch those ruts... If you are not in a 4 wheel drive you might want to investigate the road before using it, there were several deep ruts."
Waterfront camping represents the primary draw for visitors to the Buchanan area, with Kentucky Lake and the Tennessee River providing opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming. Piney Campground receives consistently high ratings for its lake access and family-friendly amenities. "Beautiful views of Kentucky Lake/Tennessee River, nice campground store," wrote one camper about Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. Campgrounds vary significantly in their amenity offerings, from basic sites with just fire rings and picnic tables to fully developed facilities with showers, camp stores, and recreation areas. Many campers appreciate the region's relative quiet compared to more heavily trafficked recreation areas, though some note that holiday weekends can bring increased activity, especially at the more developed campgrounds near the water.
Best Camping Sites Near Buchanan, Tennessee (145)
1. Piney Campground
26 ReviewsBuchanan, TN8 milesWebsite+1 (931) 232-5331"Great easy drive from middle Tennessee with tons of great amenities and staff."
"One great thing about here is the beautiful lake nearby! My family and I spent our entire day here and had an absolute blast. The lake front views are incredible."
2. Paris Landing State Park Campground
14 ReviewsBuchanan, TN7 milesWebsite+1 (731) 641-4465"Close to marina. You can rent boats there. Has separate access to swimming area, you don't have to try to cross the boa busy highway. Nice restaurants just up road."
"Close to the marina it's a hard walk uphill both ways to the bathroom but they are very nice and well kept. Big open areas for children to play overall very good state park campground"
3. Boswell Landing Campground
11 ReviewsNew Concord, KY12 milesWebsite$5 - $12 / night
"Boswell Landing is a quiet spot of the park with gorgeous views of Kentucky Lake where you can pull up a chair (or tent!) and relax."
"Well maintained road to get here and pretty close to a modern campground with a small store. We'll be coming back here again!"
4. Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area Piney Campground
8 ReviewsNew Concord, KY10 milesWebsite+1 (270) 924-2000"Piney Campground is part of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. It is wildly popular among locals and travelers alike."
"While quiet hours were observed, there was a lot of music, celebrating a Tennessee win with a golf cart parade and victorious choral singing of Rocky Top right up until 11pm."
5. Paris Landing-Kentucky Lake KOA
4 ReviewsBuchanan, TN5 milesWebsite+1 (731) 642-6895$50 - $75 / night
"Close to fishing."
"A spectacular secluded location with great pull thru sites. Shaded. Lots of activities and possibilities for the whole family. Great patio sites as well."
6. Eagles Nest RV Park
4 ReviewsBuchanan, TN5 milesWebsite+1 (731) 388-0179$12 - $50 / night
"Eagle’s Nest RV Park is a hidden gem right next to Kentucky Lake and Paris Landing. It has all concrete pads with full service utility kiosks."
"Eagle’s Nest RV Park is a little slice of heaven located just 1500 feet from Kentucky Lake and 10 minutes from Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area."
7. Little Eagle RV Park
2 ReviewsBuchanan, TN6 milesWebsite+1 (731) 642-4669"Nice because it’s on the lake. Close to local store**"
8. Ginger Bay Basic Camping Area
8 ReviewsBarkley Lake, KY16 milesWebsite"Ranger Review: Matador Droplet at Ginger Bay Land Between the Lakes, Ky. Campground Review:We visited Ginger Bay boat ramp and dispersed camping area while at Land Between the Lakes(LBL) , Ky."
"I don’t recommend a pull behind trailer as the road is so rough you wont get a camper up it. The sites are just a clearing in the trees so there is no place to park a rig."
9. Buchanan Resort
2 ReviewsBuchanan, TN6 milesWebsite+1 (731) 642-2828"Buchanan Resort is a well maintained resort with access to many amenities like a restaurant, pool, playground, pavilion, and store. The docks are easily accessible being close to the lots."
10. Mansard Island Resort and Marina
1 ReviewBuchanan, TN6 milesWebsite+1 (731) 642-5590"Mansard has many positives but the big drawback is the scenery. At the time of visiting the area, the grounds were not well maintained."
Recent Camping Photos near Buchanan, TN
150 Photos of 145 Buchanan Campgrounds
Tanya A.
Paris Landing-Kentucky Lake KOA
Erich H.
Eagles Nest RV Park
Sara C.
Paris Landing State Park Campground
Leona M.
Piney Campground
Melissa C.
Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area Piney Campground
Jordan
Boswell Landing Campground
Hans N.
Water's Edge RV Park & Marina
Adrian P.
Ginger Bay Basic Camping Area
David B.
Gatlin Point
Marcella
Gatlin Point Self-Service Campground
Jordan
Neville Bay
Kelsey R.
Redd Hollow
Recent Reviews near Buchanan, TN
644 Reviews of 145 Buchanan Campgrounds
Ryan B.
ScoutRailroader Rv Park
Clean , full service rv park.
Clean full service rv park, free showers and laundry. Backs up to a disc golf course and nature trail.
- DDe L.Traveler
Pisgah Bay - DFWR
Cool views
Bathroom is mid. Showers are 20 minutes away and $5.
Great for tent camping. Really quiet and nice views
Jacqueline G.
GuideDemumber's Bay
Beautiful spot
Really great spot! Big rig friendly and pet friendly. There are lots of ticks and mosquitoes so make sure your furry friends are protected. You can park on the few paved spots on the top of the hill or the huge grassy area by the lake. Easy kayak launch for a day on the water! You do need a permit for parking and the ranger does stop by on weekends to check so just get one. It’s super cheap for what you get. Bathroom and dumpster on site too. There’s a bunch of attractions in Land Between the Lakes within a 10-20 minute drive. It’s a really cool place. Totally worth it to stay a few days.
Rayzor R.ScoutForest Service Rd 343
LBL Lakeside Backwoods — Great Site, Rough Road
TL;DR: Great large backwoods site at LBL with lake access, north-facing shoreline for Starlink, and workable cell service. The access road is rough rutted gravel with a steep final descent on loose gravel— serious terrain for tow vehicles, with a washout at the bottom and no easy bailout once you're committed. Have your dispersed camping pass ready for Rangers. The site has a broken glass and nail problem from careless users, and human waste is bad on the hillside above camp. Go prepared, and pack out your garbage/waste.
This is one of my go-to backwoods spots at LBL. It's a large site with lake access and surprisingly decent cell service, and the shoreline faces north making it a solid placement for a Starlink antenna. Turkey Bay OHV Area sits across the bay, but noise from over there is rarely an issue.
Getting in is another story. The road is rough rutted gravel the whole way, and the final hundred feet drops at a decent grade, and on loose gravel at that. Stop at the top of the ridge before you commit. You can see down into the site from there and tell whether it's occupied, and turning around at the top is far better than driving into someone's camp. Know your rig before you start down— if you're towing, that final pitch is a one-way commitment. You'll be turning around at the bottom on the shore. There's also a washout on the right side of the approach at the bottom, a good 18 inches deep in spots, so make sure you have the clearance before you cross it. Once down, you can continue straight to the shore and make a wide turn, or do a three-point turn at the base of the hill if the water is up or conditions are muddy.
Rangers patrol the area, so have your dispersed camping pass ready, and there is frequent traffic because it is a popular place. We have had people roll up on us at 2AM before which is disconcerting. Wildlife-wise, raccoons and coyotes are regulars. Keep your food secured.
A few things to know before you set up camp. There's a significant amount of broken glass scattered around the tent area, so watch your footing and check the ground carefully before pitching. On the banks near old fire rings, people have burned pallets and construction scraps, which means nails in the driveable areas— something to think about if you're towing or running tires you'd like to keep.
Finally, human waste is a real problem here. The surrounding forest gets used as an open latrine, paper and all. It's especially bad on and around the flat-topped rise up the hill— what looks like the remains of an old roadbed or possibly a home site. Last time I was there, nearly every tree around the perimeter had waste at the base of it. We use a chemical toilet and dump it at the dump station on the way out. Pack it out or bury it properly and be part of the solution.
It's a great spot that gets treated poorly by some users. Go in prepared and leave it better than you found it.
Dañiel F.TravelerLakeside Campground and Marina
Beautiful clean park with great amenities and helpful staff!
My husband and I stopped here for a couple nights on our way across the country. Super easy after hours check-in process with such wonderful staff! Everyone we came across was so kind and helpful. There's tons to do at this site and it seems like it would be wonderful for families. We ate dinner at their tex mex restaurant on the dock and had some margaritas, which was very welcome after a long drive. During the day we did some fishing and enjoyed the beautiful views. The wifi worked great and we ended up with a great amount of channels with their cable. Would definitely recommend this site to anyone passing through!
- AAndrew H.Guide
Canal Campground- Lake Barkley COE
Nice quiet campground
I stayed in the primitive area but it did have water and electric at the campsite and it’s close to the bathroom. There are showers there too
- DDustinScout
Canal Campground- Lake Barkley COE
Great spot
Camped here a few nights in late March/early April. Stayed at site 77, which was next to the lake with great views. Staff was friendly and the facilities were clean. Close to Grand Rivers, which has a grocery store and some restaurants. Would camp here again.
- RRichard J.Scout
H & H Campground
Richard
Real Nice & Quite Pull through sites Water / sewer 60 & 30 amp electric Fresh water Faur price
Guide to Buchanan
Camping near Buchanan, Tennessee centers around Kentucky Lake with over 2,300 miles of shoreline and depths reaching 70 feet in the main channel. The area receives approximately 53 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush surroundings for campers throughout the spring and summer months. Winter camping offers fewer crowds but temperatures can drop below freezing between December and February.
What to do
Boating and fishing access: At Boswell Landing Campground, visitors can launch directly from the campground. "This site is amazing! We were able to spread out our tents for a group site and we had the perfect set up! We were 100ft. From the lake and had so many trees to use for our hammocks," notes Brooklyn L.
Historical sites exploration: Fort Donelson National Historic Site sits 15 miles from Buchanan camping areas. "Boswell Landing is a quiet spot of the park with gorgeous views of Kentucky Lake where you can pull up a chair (or tent!) and relax... within walking distance of the campground, down the paved road are a few notable things: Buchanan Cemetery, which is a civil war cemetery, and the site of Fort Henry," explains Jessica L.
Basketball and recreation: Piney Campground offers multiple sport facilities. "A pavilion and basketball court plus several playgrounds throughout. Well maintained, friendly staff," says Shelly S. The campground provides organized activities during peak season weekends.
What campers like
Secluded waterfront sites: Ginger Bay Basic Camping Area offers primitive camping directly on the water. "Incredible back country campsite, for use with dispersed camping permit. Right on the water, no other people for 2 days!" reports Juli G. The area requires a dispersed camping permit available at LBL offices.
Shaded campsites: Mature hardwoods provide coverage at most established campgrounds. "All spots have lots of shade which is always a plus for summer camping! They have a very nice pool and pool area, huge laundromat, a fun gemmine for the kiddos!" writes Tanya A. about Paris Landing-Kentucky Lake KOA.
Wildlife viewing: Despite developed areas, wildlife remains abundant. "Nice campground. Clean, pet friendly. A lot of sites! Access to lakes. Saw a lot of wildlife for such a big campground with lots of people traffic," notes Shy-Anne W. about her stay at Piney Campground.
What you should know
Road conditions: Some primitive areas have challenging access. "You will end up on a dirt/gravel road with some interesting ruts and steps hills. Once you make it to the Ginger Bay area there are several side 'roads' that lead to camping spots," warns Shelly S.
Site reservation timing: Popular waterfront sites fill quickly, especially during summer. "The best spots book up quickly, especially for long weekends so reserve EARLY if you want a specific date," advises Jody A.
Campsite leveling challenges: Bring leveling blocks for some areas. "Paris Landing State Park has about 70 campsites, most with water and electric hookups, but it is not easy to fine a level site," notes Joel R. about Paris Landing State Park Campground.
Varying water levels: Kentucky Lake water levels fluctuate seasonally affecting shoreline access. "Piney cove is pretty shallow and we could walk out into the water a good 30-40ft before getting too deep. Bottom is soft mud," describes Chris R.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple playgrounds: Family-focused campgrounds offer play structures. "Big campground, with nice bathhouses, and boat ramp. Sites are a little close together but nice. A pavilion and basketball court plus several playgrounds throughout," shares Shelly S.
Swimming areas: Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area Piney Campground provides designated swimming zones. "Nice outpost store with most of the essentials including propane and firewood," adds Rob T. The swimming areas feature gradual entry points suitable for children.
Kid-friendly hiking: Short trails suitable for young hikers exist throughout the area. "Hikes nearby- this is something we always look forward to doing when we camp. We do our research ahead of time to find the best hikes for us. The hikes were great, and so much greenery and flowers!" Isabella H. reports.
Road safety awareness: "We took two different weekends at Piney Campground and both times were able to get waterside spots and drop the kayaks right in at the campsite. There are a LOT of kids around riding bikes (so be careful driving)," warns Jody A.
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Some campgrounds have limitations for larger vehicles. "Our back in site was to the left on a one way road that I had to turn around and go opposite way so we could get in," explains Todd M. about Paris Landing State Park.
Concrete pads advantage: Eagles Nest RV Park offers solid parking surfaces. "Eagle's Nest RV Park is a hidden gem right next to Kentucky Lake and Paris Landing. It has all concrete pads with full service utility kiosks. Each campsite has plenty of room and comes with its own patio and cable TV connection," describes Andy S.
Road noise considerations: Some sites experience traffic sounds. "The spot was nice, the park was lovely, but the road noise was bothersome. We were in a spot pretty far from the road but it was very noticeable," shares Sara C.
Power management: Check electrical connections before settling in. "Had water and electrical hook up but the 30 amp was fried. Luckily it also had 20 amp so power management was key," advises Todd M.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Buchanan, TN?
What camping is available near Buchanan, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Buchanan, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 145 campgrounds and RV parks near Buchanan, TN and 8 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Buchanan, TN?
Which is the most popular campground near Buchanan, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Buchanan, TN is Piney Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 26 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Buchanan, TN?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Buchanan, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Buchanan, TN.
What parks are near Buchanan, TN?
What parks are near Buchanan, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Buchanan, TN that allow camping, notably Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and Barkley Lake.
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