Western Tennessee's camping areas around Bolivar lie within the coastal plain region at an elevation averaging 400-500 feet. The terrain features gentle rolling hills with deciduous forests dominated by oak, hickory, and pine trees. Weather conditions vary dramatically between seasons, with summer humidity indexes regularly exceeding 80% and winter temperatures occasionally dropping below freezing.
What to do
Geocaching opportunities: Chickasaw State Park offers several geocaching locations throughout its grounds. "This park has camping, hiking trails, horse back riding and geocaching just to name a few things to do here," notes Amanda F. in her review of Chickasaw State Park Campground.
Swimming options: Some swimming areas require attention to water quality and cleanliness. At Pickwick Landing State Park, visitors have access to "a real pool, not just a lake" as an alternative to lake swimming. The park provides multiple water recreation options with "good views of river," according to James B., who adds that "the park staff is very active and have lots of activities planned year round."
Historical exploration: Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park offers unique archaeological exploration with Native American mounds. "Visit the BIG mound, it is a lot of steps but has the most amazing view of the entire park and will make you realize just how tall it really is when you get to the top!" recommends reviewer Crystal C.
What campers like
Peaceful camping atmosphere: Several campgrounds in the area offer quiet settings removed from urban noise. As Nancy N. describes Chickasaw State Park Campground, "It is a quiet park with hiking, biking, horseback riding, boating, swimming, and much more. One of our favorite state parks."
Educational opportunities: Wildlife observation and rehabilitation centers provide educational experiences. Shana D. recommends, "Be sure to check out the wildlife rehab near the front office" at Pickwick Landing State Park, which also features "a nice lodge with restaurant."
Dark skies for stargazing: Big Hill Pond State Park Campground offers exceptional stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. Shana D. notes, "Bonus tip: This is a dark sky area, so come during the new moon phase for views of the Milky Way!"
What you should know
Campsite features vary widely: Many sites in the region have undergone recent upgrades with varying levels of improvement. Jennifer K. observed about Chickasaw, "This campground was renovated over the last year and there appears to be a few things left to be done but overall a nice, pleasant escape from town. Be prepared to have a drive to town for provisions & restaurants."
Reservation requirements: Campgrounds like Serendipity Resort require advance planning and online booking. As one visitor reported, "We were told that we would have to do that online, and that they couldn't guarantee the site we wanted."
Seasonal operation limitations: Some private campgrounds have limited seasonal availability. Country View RV Park offers convenient access when traveling through the area: "It's in a field so no frills. Dispersed campers look like they live there. It was a quick trip off 40 to get there and it was quiet and spacious. Good for an overnight rest," according to Julie F.
Tips for camping with families
Activities for children: Serendipity Resort offers extensive water recreation facilities. Nathan B. reports, "My kids used the water park. They had a blast on the jumpers and got very wore out. The water park is a $20 charge a piece on the first day and goes down to $10 a day for the rest of your stay."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Big Hill Pond State Park provides easy access to nature observation. "The newly renovated camping spots have a nice big table and fire pit. The camp spot has a bunch of trails and a lake nearby," shares Brian T.
Playground accessibility: Pickwick Landing State Park features recently updated facilities for children. Nickie F. mentions, "Nice new bathhouse and playground area," adding that the campground is "nice & clean with recent updates."
Tips from RVers
Site levelness challenges: RVers should be prepared for uneven sites at some locations. At Pickwick Landing, one reviewer states, "The campsites are terribly unlevel. I can honestly say that is the only negative. The campground is very shady & they just improved the bathhouse."
Cell service considerations: Joy-O RV Park provides decent connectivity despite being a simple facility. Don L. notes, "We stayed in site 11 which was AAA and level at the top. Only negatives were a steep incline to back into site, no cell service and pay as you go park WiFi."
Campground layout variations: Chickasaw State Park has distinct camping areas with different advantages. Gary P. explains, "There are two campground loops. One for trailers/RV's, they call it, and the Wrangler, equesterian. The trailer/RV loop is on the side of a hill...Very, very tight. Good thing for us it was booked up and we ended up in the wrangler loop. A nice flat area more suited to larger rigs."
