Meriwether Lewis Campground, Milepost 385.9 — Natchez Trace Parkway
It's free to camp.
The bathrooms have Flushing toilets. No showers. No electrical hookups. A mix of tent camping and RV's. No fees. 14-day limit. Nice place to stay and rest.
128 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Montgomery Bell State Park, located in Burns, Tennessee, serves as the primary camping destination in the area with over 100 established campsites. The campground accommodates various camping styles including tent camping, RV sites with full hookups, and cabins. Several sites back up to a small creek, providing water access and natural scenery. The park spans approximately 4,000 acres with additional recreation opportunities including hiking trails, fishing, and a golf course. Nearby alternatives include Piney River Resort in Bon Aqua, which features cabin accommodations and RV sites.
Road conditions within Montgomery Bell State Park are generally good, though some internal campground roads are described as narrow and aging. Most camping areas remain open year-round with full amenities. "Though the sites are close together, it is all very scenic alongside the creek," noted one visitor who stayed at the park. Campsite pads vary in levelness, with some requiring adjustments for larger RVs. The campground offers three bathhouses with laundry facilities at one location. Cell service is reliable with multiple carriers reporting good coverage. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly during summer months and fall weekends when the campground frequently reaches capacity.
Campers consistently mention the creek-side sites as preferred locations within Montgomery Bell State Park, with sites 80 and 81 receiving specific praise for "fabulous creek access." Sites vary significantly in size and privacy, with some reviewers noting close proximity between campsites, particularly during busy weekends. The tent camping area includes some sites with wooden platforms. Hiking trails throughout the park connect directly to the campground, with the Ore Trail highlighted as a worthwhile short hike that provides elevated views of the camping area. The park lodge, accessible from the campground, features restaurant facilities and lake views. Wildlife sightings, including snakes near the creek areas, have been reported by multiple visitors.
"Campground Review: Montgomery Bell State Park The Four Mile Campground is nestled in a hollow offering shade and creekage on one side plus several of the trailheads start nearby and you are close"
"It is a beautiful state park known as the"Queen of Tennessee's State Parks". There are 4,000 acres with mountain biking, fishing, hiking, picnic areas, kayaking/canoeing, and a golf course."
"I had plenty of space to roam around in the river even while visiting during a peak time."
"Not sure where to start as the pictures don't do justice to the location. We stayed late in November and absolutely loved it! Full hook-ups and blazing fast WiFi."
from $69 - $95 / night
Check Availability"The facilities were well cared for and there are some nice hiking paths nearby. I only stayed 1 night as I was passing through but I would highly recommend."
"The person behind us parked his truck between his rig and ours. In front was a fire ring on a 12' wide patch of grass."
"There is a walking trail, swim area, and Cheatham dam is close by. There are a few play grounds on the property. Do not come here if you want to do anything outside of camping."
"We hiked the Bicentennial Trail (13.3 miles long from start to finish) which was also shaded and with geocaches. We went with our 2 dogs and 2 kids."
from $28 - $32 / night
Check Availability"Easy access to the River. Absolutely beautiful mornings with the fog over the water to look at while you sip your coffee. The sites are spaced well apart. No bad sites here."
"There are several recreation areas nearby to enjoy in addition to Harpeth."
from $26 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Nashville north koa was a nice campground with a proximity to Nashville but away from the bustle. We stayed for a week and enjoyed ourselves."
"The shuttle runs on scheduled and communication around expectations was very clear. Firewood at the KOA was pretty expensive. We paid$10/bundle, and the wood available on our visit was cedar."
"Lock A campground located near Ashland City,TN on the Cumberland River. It’s located a little bit upriver from the Cheatham lock and dam. We were just a little bit off of the river in site 36."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"That’s probably not something I would have said before visiting the Meriwether Lewis Campground near Hohenwald, Tennessee. This campground is amazing."
"I did not expect to find something like this in Tennessee! Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised. It is a cute little campground with clean bathrooms nearby."
The bathrooms have Flushing toilets. No showers. No electrical hookups. A mix of tent camping and RV's. No fees. 14-day limit. Nice place to stay and rest.
We had such a nice stay. From the moment we arrived, we felt comfortable and welcomed. The staff were genuinely friendly and helpful, and the whole campground had a really nice, relaxed feel to it.
Our site was spacious and easy to get into, and we really appreciated how clean and well cared for everything was. After spending the day exploring Nashville, it was nice to come back to the campground, slow down and just enjoy the evening.
The location worked out great for us too. We were close enough to enjoy everything Nashville has to offer, but when we came back to the RV, it felt like we could get away from all the activity and relax.
One of the things we enjoy about RV travel is finding places that you actually look forward to coming back to at the end of the day, and this was definitely one of those places. We made some great memories here and would absolutely stay again the next time we’re in Nashville!
We came here for our shake out of our new trailer as it’s only about 20 min from home and we could still go to work. We will probably come back when we just want to “get out of the house” for a few days.
The place is beautiful and if you want to be in the middle of nowhere, this is it! The grounds are easily walkable with a lot of open spaces. Saw a lot of wildlife so come in slow so you don’t hit a deer.
Do NOT come in from South Mount Juliet road. The turn onto Couchville Pike is tight for cars, let alone pulling a camper. Come in off of I-840 and you will be fine.
We got decent wifi and I did a video call without lag. Full hookups (50amp)
No on site staff that we saw other than grounds crew.
I called today (a week and a half in advance) for a reservation that I had booked recently. Our driving plans changed and I wanted to cancel and receive a refund. I was informed they have a 14 day policy. Apparently it is their policy, nothing was emailed or texted to me or verbally given. However if I don’t “ask,” it is apparently my problem. Okay touché. And well I realize this may be their policy, 14 days is ridiculous. They offered me a “camp credit and it’s good for 1 year.” 🤣😮💨 I told her we live in Arizona. And she says “okay.” Not even effort for a partial refund. Beware of the terrible customer service. This is completely unprofessional.
Only here for an overnight but would definitely recommend. Huge sites. Very quiet. Clean campground. Host was very friendly.
Reserved spot #19 for 1 night. The stay was very peaceful with friendly staff! The site itself was a bit rocky but that should be expected for primitive. A firepit and grill was provided with a less than 20 ft walk to the water through the trees. Would definitely book again for the price and convenience!!🤙
The grounds are laid out along a loop. The first ten spaces are lake side and have water and power. The rest of the sites are less developed. There is a boat ramp. There is a toilet house in the rustic area and a shower house near the developed sites. There is a dump station. Suburban development along the access road provides convenient retail.
Gorgeous views, rest of the campground was fairly clean. But the bathrooms....it was very evident they hadn't been cleaned in a very long time. All they did was refill toilet paper. There was dirty brown liquid stains dripping off the walls of all restrooms, dead bugs everywhere and even more in the cobwebs in every corner that could easily be swept out daily. Dirty than a gas station bathroom. Because we tent camp I would not stay here again which is unfortunate because the lake views were very pretty.
Campground is clean, pads are paved, fire ring and a grill on every site. Clean bathroom and showers. Many sites have view of Percy Priest Lake. Swimming area and playground for kids.
Montgomery Bell State Park serves as the primary camping destination near Burns, Tennessee, with additional options available within a 40-mile radius. The region features rolling hills with elevations between 450-650 feet and mixed hardwood forests typical of Middle Tennessee. Summer temperatures often reach 90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions between 50-75°F with occasional thunderstorms.
Hiking historic trails: Montgomery Bell State Park features hiking opportunities connecting directly to camping areas. "We visited here with a church group because it is the founding place of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. It is beautiful, peaceful and serene," notes Alicia B. about Montgomery Bell State Park.
River activities: The Piney River offers excellent water recreation options. "Kayaking the piney river is a must. They are working on adding amenities, playground, etc," says dawn C. about Piney River Resort. The clear water is popular for swimming during summer months.
Barge watching: Sites along the Cumberland River provide unique entertainment. "It's pretty cool watching the big barges move up and down the river during the day, but at night it's a little loud," reports Guy M. at Lock A Campground. Some sites offer direct views of commercial river traffic.
Creek-side camping: Water access remains a top draw for many campers. "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," explains Tammy P. about Lock A.
Spacious sites: Some campgrounds offer more room between sites than others. "The campground has tons of activities and good hiking trails. If you want some good catfish. Go visit the catfish kitchen just down the road from the park," adds Tammy P. about Montgomery Bell State Park.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities receive consistent praise. "The facilities were maintained and the staff was extremely helpful," notes Lexi S. about the tent camping area at Montgomery Bell State Park, though she mentions these sites are "not quiet as secluded and quiet as we would have liked."
Reservation planning: Popular sites fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. "Make your reservations early!! Beautiful area lakes, groomed trails, nice hosts," advises Andrea R. about Montgomery Bell State Park, mentioning that showers were the "only reason for the missed star in rating."
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds can be challenging. "The drive in from the highway was very scary on narrow, windy roads with dropoffs on the side," warns Pat&Amanda D. about Piney River RV Resort, adding they took "the staff recommended route in and Co-Pilot's route out and both were scary in our Class A towing a car hauler."
Campground noise: Traffic noise affects some camping areas. "We pitched our tent on comfortable ground and were serenaded by the sounds of trucks coming down the bridge overhead with their jakes on at night. Bring earplugs if you are in a tent," suggests Lauriena R. about Harpeth River Bridge Campground.
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "With a great pavilion, Vb court, ball diamond, and playground, the far side of the camp is perfect for families, groups, and events," notes Stæven F. about Montgomery Bell State Park, recommending sites 1-8 with "#1+2 right next to the creek and the most updated bathrooms."
Water recreation: Rivers and creeks provide natural entertainment for children. "We took our 3 young kids during monsoon season and the staff where amazing and getting the kids out and into nature!" shares Amy P. about Montgomery Bell State Park Campground.
Historic sites: Educational opportunities abound for families. "Great family friendly park with lots of hiking and historical sites. There is a beautiful waterfall and an adorable old church," mentions Faith S. about Montgomery Bell State Park.
Site selection: RV sites vary significantly in levelness and accessibility. "The site I had was a little awkward backing into and the water hookup was on the wrong side for my camper," notes Nathan R. about Montgomery Bell State Park, despite giving the facilities a 5-star rating.
Hookup considerations: Full-service sites are available at select campgrounds. "We were just a little bit off of the river in site 36. The electricity was 50/30 and the power pole looked new. The site was within a quarter inch of level and was a concrete pad," shares Guy M. about Lock A campground.
Size restrictions: Some of the best places to camp near Burns, Tennessee have limitations for larger rigs. "We had a site up on hill farther from the river (which was lovely) but we couldn't get level and couldn't put our slides out," warns Pat&Amanda D., recommending Piney River Resort for "smaller RVs" only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Burns, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Burns, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 128 campgrounds and RV parks near Burns, TN and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Burns, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Burns, TN is Montgomery Bell State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 64 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Burns, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Burns, TN.
What parks are near Burns, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Burns, TN that allow camping, notably J Percy Priest Lake and Old Hickory Lake.
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