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Best Campgrounds near Bolivar, TN

195 Reviews

State parks and forests surrounding Bolivar, Tennessee feature a range of camping experiences within an hour's drive. Chickasaw State Park Campground, located in Henderson, stands out with its recently renovated facilities, lakeside tent sites, and dedicated horse camping areas. Big Hill Pond State Park in Pocahontas offers more primitive camping experiences with excellent hiking trails and a fire tower. Pickwick Landing State Park provides waterfront options with cabin rentals that overlook the Tennessee River. The camping landscape includes everything from basic tent sites to full-hookup RV spots, with several campgrounds offering boat-in access for water enthusiasts.

Reservations are essential at most established campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer months and holiday weekends. Cell service varies significantly between locations, with Chickasaw State Park noted for limited connectivity. As one camper advised, "Do not trust your GPS to get here. Make sure you have plenty of gas before leaving any town." Many campgrounds have undergone recent renovations, with Chickasaw adding sewer hookups and updated hiking trails. Weather considerations include potential severe storms during spring and summer, with tornado warnings occasionally disrupting camping plans. Most state parks remain open year-round, while private campgrounds like Thousand Trails Cherokee Landing operate seasonally from April to October.

Campers consistently highlight water access as a key feature of the region's best sites. At Chickasaw State Park, the tent camping area offers superior water proximity compared to the RV section. According to one visitor, "The tent area campground is very accessible to the water and bridge. The horse trailer campground is also close to the water." Dark skies are another regional attraction, with Big Hill Pond State Park recommended for stargazing: "This is a dark sky area, so come during the new moon phase for views of the Milky Way." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with raccoons frequently visiting campsites and birds of prey on display at Chickasaw's nature center. Bathhouse quality varies widely between campgrounds, with some facilities receiving recent upgrades while others remain more rustic.

Best Camping Sites Near Bolivar, Tennessee (43)

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Recent Camping Photos near Bolivar, TN

43 Photos of 43 Bolivar Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Bolivar, TN

195 Reviews of 43 Bolivar Campgrounds

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 11, 2026

    Dispersed Camp Site #MSL-02

    Good place for free

    Once you turn off the main road it’s a dirt road with some ruts. It was wet when I came through a few mud puddles nothing serious. There are some good hills, although I didn’t have to put my truck in 4x4 I would suggest nothing less than a Subaru get back here!
    There was a large opening at the end of the trail…even though onX offroad says there’s dispersed camping along this road there was 1 maybe 2 spots to just pull off and park! There’s the Chewalla Lake nearby! All in all not a terrible place for passing through or if you have multiple rigs needing space!

  • T
    Dec. 13, 2025

    Botel Campground

    Good boating and fishing campground

    If you are a fisherman(park has private boat ramp) this is a great campground for a good price, it sits directly on the Tennessee river. You see barges all throughout the day moving up and down the river. They upkeep the grounds well. They have a golf cart lead you to your spot and answer any questions and address any concerns you may have getting settled in. Several grassy areas for your dog and 2 playgrounds for the kids. We stayed here in the fall thru December so didn’t use the pool but looked nice the showers and laundry were nice and kept up. The staff is friendly and helpful. Two not so great points and both are out of the owners control. There is a paper plant across the river and paper plants=extreme sewer smell worse in the morning and when the wind blows from the south. Secondly dog poop. Numerous people did not pick up their dog poop regularly. I did speak with the office and they were addressing this issue with the individuals so hopefully they get that under control. Would recommend and come back.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Wall Doxey State Park Campground

    Pricey but ok for an overnight

    Heavily wooded campground with large sites well spaced. Concrete pads for your camper rig but watch your step. Lots of erosion around the edges. Sites do have electric and water service. I thought prices were a little high. With registration fee and taxes my two nights stay was about $70.

  • J
    Sep. 8, 2025

    country view rv park

    Close to Rt 40

    They have huge back in spots mostly level even though it’s gravel. 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.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Bruton Branch Recreation Area Campground — Pickwick Landing State Park

    Bruton Branch Recreation Area

    The scenery is beautiful. Plenty of fish activity with multiple campsites on the water with a steady breeze. No Potable Water sites. Bathrooms do get cleaned in the morning. Using Verizon and AT&T, service is great averaging between 3-4 bars. Spoke with some of the Rangers. Renovation plans are in place coming January 2026 to make this campground gated with PIN access for paying campers and will be adding RV parking. There is currently an issue with individuals driving to the campsites throughout the day and night utilizing the park’s amenities without paying. First night at least 5 vehicles drove in and took control of the bathrooms/showers for hours throughout the night. One came out and started, what sounded like, a chainsaw. My belief was to intimidate us given we were the only paying campers and we looked at their direction due to the noise they were making. Constant yelling and argumentative behavior among the individuals. It takes the Rangers 20-30 minutes to arrive if called so you have to ride out the uninvited guests and hope they leave you be. The Rangers themselves, are very polite and they were honest about the issue. However with how much ground they have to cover with limited staff and resources they can’t control the situation until the renovations begin. My advice, if you want to avoid potential conflict and harassment wait till the park renovates.

  • Goldy M.
    Aug. 2, 2025

    Serendipity Resort

    Warning to Blue Oval Families& Traveling Workers– AVOID Serendipity RV Park

    We were long-term tenants at Serendipity RV Park for over two years, paying$950/month. My husband works for Blue Oval, and we want to warn others: this park does not respect or value loyal tenants. On July 8, 2025, a Serendipity employee ran a mower into our RV, damaging our slide-out. Instead of taking responsibility, they brought in Ralph’s Mobile RV Repair—a contractor who showed up without notice and“repaired” it using silicone instead of 2 sided adhesive, it look horrible, he smearing silicone everywhere, and bent up parts of the trim that had not even were not even originally damaged. We documented everything, expressed our concerns immediately. Ralph returned later, didn’t even remove the old silicone, and caked more on top. When we pushed back, he became aggressive and confrontational—at one point suggesting he could“meet” my husband somewhere. Serendipity never inspected the work. Edward, who’s on-site daily, never once came to speak to us. Instead, we got a dismissive text saying they were“satisfied” with the work and that we should“file it on our insurance.” The damage was caused by their own employee—yet they refuse to make it right. On top of that:• They’ve overcharged our card multiple occasions and add illegal card processing fees.• in addition to the$950/monthly space rent, they have installed meters to charge electric ON TOP of the$950(they want MORE money but do not even maintain our lawns properly)• The park is poorly maintained. Grass gets a foot tall before it’s mowed, and employees recklessly use riding mowers near RVs. We were respectful, always paid on time, and expected to be treated fairly. Instead, we’ve dealt with poor repairs, price gouging, and total disregard. If you’re a Blue Oval worker or traveling family, do yourself a favor—avoid Serendipity and Ralph’s RV Repair. You deserve better.

  • Sherry P.
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Serendipity Resort

    Trashy, unkept, rude staff, overpriced, no respect for guests

    My husband and I have always loved Serendipity and looked forward to visiting for the last several years.  That has definitely changed with the latest owners.  The girls in the office have smart mouths and zero customer service skills.  The grounds look awful, grown up grass everywhere.  It appears they only mow about 25%.  Food is poor and overpriced.  Ron and Daphne are truly missed.  There is no personality to Serendipity anymore.  It used to be a nice resort style rv park now it ranks as bottom of the barrel.  Just sad.

Guide to Bolivar

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."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Bolivar, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Bolivar, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 43 campgrounds and RV parks near Bolivar, TN and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

Which is the most popular campground near Bolivar, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bolivar, TN is Chickasaw State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 36 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bolivar, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Bolivar, TN.

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