Campsites near Brentwood, Tennessee provide convenient access to both lakeside and woodland camping experiences within an hour's drive. Percy Priest Lake serves as a primary destination with multiple camping options along its shoreline. The terrain around Brentwood varies from the relatively flat Cumberland River basin to the more rolling hills west of the city, creating diverse camping environments across the region.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Anderson Road Campground, the lake access makes fishing a primary activity. "Perfect for boaters and kayakers! Think how awesome it'd be to fish for supper right from the tent almost," notes reviewer DrDavid P. The campground provides both a boat ramp and more private spots to access the lake.
Water recreation: Four Corners RV Resort offers multiple water activities beyond swimming. One camper reports, "We paddle boarded, swam, and kayaked." The resort also provides equipment rentals: "They rent kayaks, paddle boards, and golf carts. There are three docks with kayak and jet ski slips."
Historic exploration: The founding location of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church can be visited at Montgomery Bell State Park. "We visited here with a church group because it is the founding place of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. It is beautiful, peaceful and serene," writes Alicia B. The park features "a beautiful waterfall and an adorable old church."
Music events: Some campgrounds host live entertainment. According to one reviewer at Nashville I-24 Campground, "They have a pool and a pavilion with live music every once in a while." This provides evening entertainment without traveling to Nashville.
What campers like
Spacious, lake-view sites: At Seven Points, campers appreciate the generous spacing between sites. "The campsites are level cement pads with large well spaced sites. If you can get a lake view it is wonderful," explains Tony D. Another camper highlights, "We love how it is secluded and clearly camping but minutes from shopping!"
Site privacy: Campers consistently mention site spacing as a significant plus. "These campsites are great - nice and spread out and tucked in the woods. Plus, the campsites closest to the lakes are right on the water or across the road from the water," notes Sara U. at Seven Points.
Clean facilities: Reviews frequently mention facility cleanliness. At Poole Knobs, a camper reports, "The facilities were well maintained and clean. Each site has a concrete picnic table, fire ring, and a moveable lantern hook." Another notes, "Great, spacious sites with concrete or wood picnic tables, fire pits and grills. Fairly level sites. Clean and well maintained."
Creek access: Some campgrounds offer creek settings instead of lake views. At Montgomery Bell State Park, Tammy P. shares, "We really enjoyed our spot by the creek. Children can wade in the creek all day, why parents enjoy sitting outside under all the shade trees."
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Many campgrounds close during winter months. Poole Knobs operates only from May 1 through October 31, while Anderson Road Campground runs from May 16 to September 30.
Insects: Mosquitoes can be problematic, especially at lakefront properties. One Four Corners RV Resort visitor warns, "MOSQUITOS! The first and last night we stayed the mosquitos were so bad we couldn't be outside. There were two nights in between that it was tolerable."
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially for premium sites. A Montgomery Bell camper advises, "Make your reservations early!! Beautiful area lakes, groomed trails, nice hosts - highly recommend."
Bathroom location: At some campgrounds, bathroom access can be challenging. A Elm Hill RV Resort visitor mentions, "The outer loop sites all have electric and water hookups, but the restrooms are all on the upper level where the primitive sites are. If you don't have your own bathroom, it's a bit of a hill to climb and there's only a couple spots to do it."
Air traffic noise: Several campgrounds mention airport proximity. One camper at Anderson Road Campground notes, "Campground is near the Nashville airport so air traffic can be heard."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water access: Families appreciate safe water play areas. At Montgomery Bell State Park, "Children can wade in the creek all day, why parents enjoy sitting outside under all the shade trees. The park has tons of activities and good hiking trails."
Playground amenities: Two Rivers Campground offers facilities specifically for children. One visitor noted it's "Great for families with kids" with a "playground" among other amenities. Another mentioned "Nice smaller campground with level sites, laundry, store, pool and live music."
Swimming options: Beyond lake swimming, some campgrounds provide pools. At Four Corners RV Resort, a camper reports, "The amenities were top notch and tons to do with kids." Another mentions, "Kids loved swimming in the pool."
Wildlife viewing: Introduce children to nature through animal sightings. A Four Corners visitor writes, "We had a very lovely sunset as we walked around park," while another enjoys "seeing the geese, their babies, the mallards, the sun rise, and the sun set on the water."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: At Nashville I-24 Campground, an RVer notes site configuration challenges: "Spots are good size, but gravel. Roads are wide but camp sites are on a berm so our truck angled down. This caused the hitch height to increase making it difficult to un/hitch."
Hookup placement: Utility connection locations vary by campground. At Nashville KOA Resort, one RVer reports, "The utilities are more to the front of the site with two sewer connections. We had decent water pressure."
Sewer connections: Connection quality differs between parks. A camper at Nashville I-24 Campground appreciated "probably the easiest sewer connection I've had at any campground, very low and easy to drain and flush my tanks."
Site length considerations: Some campgrounds have tight spacing for larger rigs. At Elm Hill RV Resort, a reviewer cautions, "Be very cautious of the site lengths. Some are extremely short and I'd say the measurements are nearly exact. Since our site backed up to a drop off, there was a small fence so no way to 'hang over' the pad a little for extra room."
