142 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping opportunities around Bumpus Mills, Tennessee center on Lake Barkley and nearby waterways, with several established campgrounds and primitive options. The area includes Bumpus Mills Campground with electric and water hookups for tents and RVs, while Neville Bay provides dispersed camping alternatives with minimal facilities. Gatlin Point Self-Service Campground offers primitive tent and RV sites within Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, where camping options range from basic to developed facilities along the shoreline.
Road quality varies throughout the region, with several campgrounds requiring travel on gravel or winding roads. Most primitive sites have limited amenities, often providing only vault toilets and fire rings. "The road going back there is gravel. We went with our 30 ft travel trailer. There is no hook ups. Can run generator until 11pm," noted a Neville Bay visitor. Cell service can be unreliable in more remote areas, with several reviewers mentioning poor to no signal at certain campgrounds. Seasonal considerations include potential flooding at some sites after heavy rain, particularly at lower elevations near the water, and several campgrounds have limited or no operations during winter months.
Waterfront access stands out as a defining feature of camping in this area, with numerous sites offering direct lake views and boat access. The small, quieter campgrounds appeal to those seeking peaceful retreats rather than large resort-style experiences. A camper at Bumpus Mills mentioned, "If you want a small affordable campground this is your place," while noting the beautiful sunsets over the water. Multiple reviewers highlight fishing opportunities as a primary attraction. Several campgrounds provide concrete picnic tables and fire rings, though amenities vary widely between established and primitive sites. Wildlife sightings, including wild turkeys, are commonly reported by visitors staying at campgrounds throughout the area, adding to the natural experience of camping in this region.
"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."
"Bumpus Mills Campground is my kinda place. Outside Bumpus Mill , Tn , back in the woods and small. The campground host was professional, informative and hospitable."
"Great little campground close to the Bumpus Mills Marina. Electric and water hookups with dump site at the entry/exit."
from $28 - $30 / night
Check Availability"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!"
from $5 - $12 / night
Check Availability"Mostly flat near the water and lots of sites to camp. We really enjoyed our spot in the shade on a hot summer weekend."
"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."
"the staff was helpful and friendly. the park had a great beach area. make sure you have extension cords and hoses as the utilities are positioned in between two sites. i only gave it 4 stars because of"
"Although this is a remote campground, it is situated in a State RESORT park, so it is more like glamping."
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful campsite, fishing close by"
"Beautiful,quiet, fishing close by, bathroom, fire pit, picnic table"
from $10 / night
Check Availability"Located at Land Between the Lakes at the south end. This campground has about 18 sites. You can can camp near the water or back in the woods."
"There is a natural boat launch into Bards Lake. A single Vault toilet and Dumpster as well."
"Each loop has its own restroom/shower house and all are near the lake( some closer then others) canoe rental or bring your own, basketball court and playground as well as swimming area."
"Access to Barkley or Energy Lake. Boat or bank fishing with a fishing pier and parking lots big enough for boat trailers. Quiet and tucked back from everything else."
"About half the sites are on the left hand side when you drive in and you can pick from sites tucked back in the woods a bit or sites nearer the water."
"Nearly empty, but we’ll kept camp. Best sunsets!!! Lake is beautiful. Many many lakeside spots. Lots of room."
from $10 / night
Check Availability
ScoutI live within an hour of this campground, and saw a one night opening with good weather, so trying it out. Every site is level concrete, and has a view of the river. Each site (15 total) has power and water. One dump station in campground. Bath house is good and clean. Best part, with my American the beautiful pass, its only $11 night.
ScoutTHEY WILL STATE YOU DIDN'T STAY HERE IF YOU LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW! The river is beautiful along with all the wildlife.(Wild turkeys, cows, horses, deer, donkeys and goats) Pizza and cookies at the store are fantastic. The girls work very hard in the office and are always cheerful and helpful. Location gets a 3 only because it's really in the middle of nowhere. Not necessarily a bad thing! Now for the actual bad. I lived here over a year and things changed so much and its the main reason we just left. Incessant dog barking with no consequences. Way too much dog feces in the park which could so easily be fixed with a cheap camera and lights. Suppose to be gun and drug free. Neither are even close to true. Rules are not enforced at all! Needs new management. When you make a special trip to the office to inform management that there is water pouring out of bottom of rv that the people aren't there and it takes 7 hours for them to walk over and shut the water off?? And these was damage to rv. Fact! Loose dogs running around scaring guests, ripping into garbage, bothering guests kids and dogs. 10 year rule? 20 year rule? Freezers outside campers? This place could be a 5 star with better management and not a family running it like it's their own property. No Christmas or Halloween decorations? Lastly there's a bad review left a few months ago that I was accused of leaving called into the office and ordered to remove by management
GuidePristine campsites with steamy hot showers! What more could you want?! One bar with mint mobile but starlink works no problem! No sewer hook up at all sites but no matter! There’s a dump site! The lake is beautiful and quiet with a swimming area! Definitely a must stay!
TravelerStayed at Taylor Bay on a trip up to see the Elk & Bison Prairie (very close, perfect for going during their peak activity time). I usually prefer to camp at a site with a water spigot, so it was a change not having one. Pack in plenty of water for drinking and rinsing plates. Can't bring in any wood from outside Land Between Lakes, but you're able to use anything dead or downed around the area. I drove through a couple nearby campsites and picked up some dead wood off the side of the road and we were plenty set. Standard racoon business, they're there and they want your stuff. Drive-in sites were helpful for storing food in the car overnight, but I'd recommend a bear bag contraption of sorts to avoid racoons getting in your trash. Ticks were a bit present, but that's mostly the season and this particular year's high. One bathroom situated in the center of the site, no light inside so bring a flashlight! Lots of TP inside which was appreciated. For tent campers, I recommend staying back in the shadier campsites away from the lake. Most of the sunnier, lake-front sites were already claimed by RVs, but the back sites were more private for chatting/changing in a tent or staying up late without the sound insulation of RV walls. Great lake with a soft silt bottom (and lots of rocks to stand on if you hate that), friendly fellow campers. My friends had never camped before and had a fantastic time. I'd stay again-- just bring more water!
GuideGot down here. If you’re on a Harley, don’t do that. Besides that it’s super secluded and right on the water. Not too many bugs.
ScoutDuncan Lake is a small inland Lake located in the Kentucky portion of LBL. The campsite area is located at the end then up around the corner of the first of two access roads to the lake. There is a small boat ramp not far from the site. It is close enough to carry kayaks back and forth. The lake is small and shallow except near the outlet. Great for paddling around and doing some fishing. We have seen bald eagles both times we camped. There is also a beaver community on the lake, they might give you a tail slap on the water if you get to close.
There are enough level spots to accommodate 3 or 4 tents. There is a stone fire ring and that is abut it.
It is a popular bird watching area and both times we camped there were people that used the lake each time. The boat ramp is just far enough away from the camp site that it really didn't affect us at all. If there is a breeze it sounds really nice as it blows through the tall pines.
We generally bring our bikes and do a loop from the camp to the Nature centre and back.
The Lake is closed from Nov. 1 through March 15 to protect wintering waterfowl. no camping or access at all.
There is no cell service but there is a clear view for a starlink setup.
GuideNicely laid out sites that are expansive and well kept. Great views of the lake.
ScoutAwesome campsite rented a cabin we brought are dogs so we had to find a location that excepted pets and they were the ones who were friendly and awsome definitely recommend if u want a place to go this is the place
LegendBefore arrival, we received a helpful confirmation email with clear directions for entering the campground, although the turn was easy with our 40-foot fifth wheel. Check-in was exceptionally friendly—we were even welcomed by a fellow Brinkley owner—and escorted to pull-through Site A6 with full hookups. The utilities were easy to reach, and water pressure was good. We were pleasantly surprised to learn we could park our truck anywhere, even on the grass. Starlink would be questionable because of the mature trees, but the campground's Wi-Fi was better than most we have experienced at around 50 Mbps download and 24 Mbps upload. We had two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile, while our T-Mobile Home Internet work well. The upper A-loop pull-through sites are fairly level but somewhat close together. The terraced B, C, and D loops could be more challenging for larger rigs to maneuver, level, and exit. The campground also offers a fishing pond, cabins, tent sites, and a fenced dog park. Overall, this is a clean, well-maintained KOA Journey with friendly staff that worked very well for our overnight stay, and we would stay here again.
Camping spots near Bumpus Mills, Tennessee cluster around Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with the terrain characterized by wooded hillsides and limestone outcroppings. The area sits at approximately 400 feet elevation with seasonal temperature variations ranging from summer highs in the 90s to winter lows that occasionally drop below freezing. Cell service remains spotty throughout many camping areas, with signal strength decreasing substantially in more remote locations.
Kayak peaceful coves: Boswell Landing Campground offers excellent paddling opportunities with minimal boat traffic in certain areas. "We were 100ft. From the lake and had so many trees to use for our hammocks. One of the best camping sites I've had in a long time!" according to Brooklyn L., who appreciated the campground's proximity to water.
Visit historical sites: Within walking distance of Gatlin Point Campground, campers can explore Buchanan Cemetery and Fort Henry. Jessica L. notes, "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."
Wildlife viewing: Energy Lake offers excellent wildlife spotting opportunities, especially early morning. "I saw a doe with a spotted fawn nursing on my first trip onto the water," shares Nichole M., highlighting the natural experiences available at Energy Lake Campground.
Basketball and volleyball: For those needing activity options beyond water sports, Piney Campground provides multiple recreational facilities. Chris R. mentions, "There is a pavilion and basketball court plus several playgrounds throughout. Well maintained, friendly staff."
Quiet camping atmosphere: Many campers appreciate the peaceful environment at Neville Bay. Jordan notes, "Mostly flat near the water and lots of sites to camp. We really enjoyed our spot in the shade on a hot summer weekend."
Hammock-friendly trees: Several campgrounds feature mature trees perfect for hammock camping. At Redd Hollow, Kirstin A. found that "We prefer areas that feel more secluded and provide enough space between sites so our dogs don't lose their minds at every sound/person. This place surprisingly has some beautiful sites and most of them are pretty far apart!"
Sunset views: Many waterfront sites provide exceptional sunset viewing opportunities. At Bumpus Mills, Beth LeVar L. reports, "The sunsets were fabulous!" which provides a natural evening entertainment option.
Varied terrain options: Ginger Bay offers unique camping terrain with interesting natural features. Juli G. describes it as an "Incredible back country campsite, for use with dispersed camping permit. Right on the water, no other people for 2 days!"
Road conditions vary significantly: Many campers report challenging access roads to the more remote sites. At Ginger Bay, GoWhereYouAreDraw N. warns, "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."
Bathroom facilities are minimal: Most primitive sites offer only vault toilets with no running water. Brooklyn L. at Boswell Landing noted, "There is single toilet facility for all of the sites, this toilet was the cleanest public camping toilet I've ever seen."
Permits required: For camping in Land Between the Lakes areas, permits must be purchased. Kelsey R. explains, "All you need to camp here is a camping permit from Land Between the Lakes which is 30 dollars online. If you have a Kentucky resident sportsmans licence this permit is included in that!"
Site leveling challenges: Many camping pads require leveling equipment. At Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Cheyanne S. advises, "Bring quite a bit of leveling materials as the sites are very unlevel. 1 dump station and an older but usable bath house."
Choose established campgrounds for facilities: Families should consider campgrounds with more amenities. At Piney Campground, Felecia E. points out, "This campground is a very nice place to stay. There are lots of things to do and places to see. The campsites are varied with electric, water and sewer hookups. Or basic sites for tent camping."
Shallow water access: For safer swimming with children, certain areas offer gradual water entry. Chris R. shares about Piney Campground, "Water was warm and calm being off the main lake. Piney cove is pretty shallow and we could walk out into the water a good 30-40ft before getting too deep."
Wildlife education opportunities: Multiple campgrounds offer wildlife sightings that engage children. At Gatlin Point Self-Service Campground, Marcella mentions, "Beautiful campsite, fishing close by," providing natural learning experiences.
Playgrounds available: Several established campgrounds maintain playgrounds. Energy Lake Campground offers recreational facilities according to Erin R., though "the playground is old with just a metal slide and swings" – good to know for families with young children.
Generator restrictions: Respect generator quiet hours at campgrounds that permit them. Michael at Neville Bay notes, "There is no hook ups. Can run generator until 11pm," which is important for planning power needs.
Extension cords needed: Due to site layouts at some campgrounds, extra-long power cords may be necessary. Holly S. at Lake Barkley State Resort Park advises, "electric far from pads - bring extension cord."
Size restrictions: Many primitive campgrounds have limited space for larger RVs. David B. explains about Gatlin Point, "Located at Land Between the Lakes at the south end. This campground has about 18 sites. You can camp near the water or back in the woods. The sites have concrete picnic tables, fire rings and gravel for parking and to set up your site."
Turning radius considerations: Tight campground roads can pose challenges. At Bumpus Mills, Jody A. recommends, "The roads are NARROW and tree-lined, so I don't recommend any rig over 30'."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Bumpus Mills, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Bumpus Mills, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 142 campgrounds and RV parks near Bumpus Mills, TN and 9 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Bumpus Mills, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bumpus Mills, TN is Piney Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 26 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bumpus Mills, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Bumpus Mills, TN.
What parks are near Bumpus Mills, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Bumpus Mills, TN that allow camping, notably Barkley Lake and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
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