Best Tent Camping near Burns, TN

The Tennessee backcountry surrounding Burns offers several tent camping opportunities with primitive and established sites within a short drive. Bells Bend Park provides primitive tent sites with minimal amenities, while Long Hunter State Park Campground offers tent-specific areas along Percy Priest Lake about 30 miles east of Burns. Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park maintains primitive tent sites with lake access approximately 45 minutes west of Burns on Kentucky Lake.

Tent campers should note that most sites near Burns require bringing all necessary supplies. Bells Bend Park features ten pack-in, pack-out tent sites with firewood provided but no drive-up access. Portable toilets are available at parking areas, with flush toilets at the outdoor center. Most tent sites throughout the region lack electric hookups and running water. At Long Hunter State Park, primitive tent sites have drinking water nearby but no showers or toilets. Fires are generally permitted at established sites, though seasonal restrictions may apply during dry periods.

The tent camping experience in this region offers varied terrain and quiet settings. A review mentioned that Bells Bend Park has "beautiful views of the park" despite its primitive setup. Tennessee state forests like Stewart State Forest provide dispersed tent camping options with minimal development. These areas feature gravel, dirt, and grass roads winding through wooded terrain. Tennessee parks typically maintain good separation between tent sites, allowing for more privacy than developed RV campgrounds. Tent campers at Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park enjoy waterfront sites, with one camper noting these are "right along the River banks, so you get the best views." For backcountry camping enthusiasts, several parks maintain shelters along hiking trails, including marked 10-20 mile routes at Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park with lake views and primitive backcountry tent sites.

Best Tent Sites Near Burns, Tennessee (23)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Burns, TN

509 Reviews of 23 Burns Campgrounds


  • Vince B.
    Mar. 31, 2021

    Gatlin Point

    A Good Boondocking Spot!

    About four miles of winding hills off the paved road. Cleared and not too rough. The site has 18 designed spots, all tiered into the wooded hillside. There is a natural boat launch into Bards Lake. A single Vault toilet and Dumpster as well. The gravel camping pads are reasonably level, each with a concrete picnic table and large fire ring with grate.The hillside spots were designed for tent camping and are tight. No campers larger than 20' will fit on the hillside, however the bottom four spaces will accommodate a class A rig. A fork at the top of the hill provides a space for small campers to turn around if needed. Space number 16 has poor drainage. The area is very shady, a nice deep woods feeling. Firewood must be deadfall or bring your own "bug free" wood. The welcome center at the entrance has fresh and "potable" water, and a blackwater dump. The center also has maps, sodas, candy, etc. Great area to hike, the weird history of the area can be seen everywhere. Hundreds of very old cemeteries and homestead ruins... Att signal was two bars at all times. Overall, a big thumbs up!!!

  • David B.
    Oct. 8, 2018

    Gatlin Point

    Five miles off paved roads and no electricity or running water.

    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. The sites have concrete picnic tables, fire rings and gravel for parking and to set up your site. As m motioned, no electricity or running water. Nearest water point is about five miles away at the South welcome center. Vault toilet (one seat). Sites are close but not crowded. There is a small no wake lake next to the site and lake Barkley is 50 yards away. There is also a boat ramp into Lake Barkley a quarter mile away. This is a great site for relaxing and fishing.

  • B
    Jun. 8, 2020

    Lakefront Campground — Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park

    Well kept

    The tent sites were well kept. They are gravel pads with a grill and fire ring. They are right on the water with easy access to put in a kayak. And close to a boat ramp if bringing a boat. It’s shaded. The bath house is a bit of a walk and they have restrooms only, no showers.

  • Greg S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2025

    Anderson Road Campground

    4.5 stars

    Stopped for one afternoon and night on our way through. Driving in through da hood you get a questionable feeling but, once through the gate and checked in this is a fantastic little campground! We picked an awesome site- number 8 is a huge pull through with water and electric, a grill, prep table, picnic table, and fire ring with grill. The site has its own path and private lake access. The lake is rocky here but we had no trouble walking in and swimming with our Crocs on. All sites in this small loop campground are great and very large. There is some erosion and there was some trash near the lake that we gladly cleaned up. Overall a fantastic place to camp.

  • D
    Oct. 18, 2022

    Lock A

    Great place to camp for $

    While the facilities are limited, we enjoyed being here. We were in site 25 with the river right behind us. 50A power and water, dump on the way out. Concrete pad, level, picnic table, fire ring and a trash can at every site. The road in is small and winding, nighttime driving is difficult. Senior pass got us in for just $12 a night. Boat ramp close by. Would certainly stay here again.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2018

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    When you think FREE you probably don't think of sites THIS NICE!

    For My FULL VIDEO Of My Experience At This Campground CLICK HERE

    Following the winding a scenic Natchez Trace you begin to climb higher and higher into the beauty of the mountains. When I was making this trip in late August, I could already see the shifting of the leave in its most early stages and I could only imagine what it would be like only a month later.

    As I entered the park and followed the signs toward the campground I was very eager to see what this FREE site had to offer. I had discovered this site when searching youtube for things to do and someone suggested camping here because of the historic landmark in the park. After further research I discovered it was a pretty decently sized campground with semi primitive camping.

    I arrived at the camping loops and discovered two loops of camping each with differing sizes of spaces, some designed for pull through style RV parking and some for back in car parking. Spaces were large and while there were several people staying here it did not seem overly crowded.

    The first loop was much further from the restroom than the second, which also housed the campground host in his RV just as you entered the loop. He was welcoming with a smile and wave and I just felt like this was going to be a nice place to stay for the night.

    You can stay for up to 14 days at this location and I could easily see this being one of those stops you wouldn’t necessarily want to leave in a hurry because it was so peaceful. There were numerous hiking trails and a well landscaped creek area which made for a great place to come for day use as well.

    My site was pretty typical in that it had a fire ring and picnic table. The ground was semi level and very rough so camping in a tent I was happy to have brought a little padding. The restrooms were very nice and had both flush toilets and drinking water. They were well lit and for a minute when I walked in I wondered how on earth this was a free site because they were so nice.

    All was great until about 8 p.m. when some people pulled in after dark and weren’t quite sure how to set up their tent and were pretty loudly disagreeing with one another in debate of how to do so. But after they finally figured that out about an hour later the night was again left to the sounds of the cicadas and frogs.

    TIPS

    • If you are tent camping bring some kind of cushion on pad for your floor otherwise it will be a rough evening on the ground.
    • Bug spray is a must, the mosquitoes are thick here because of all the moisture of the forest and ticks can also be a problem during certain months.
    • Don’t tell all your friends, they will take over your secret little camping spot after they find out just how amazing this site really is!! (lol)
  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 10, 2025

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    The best in free camping!

    This place is a gem! You can stay for 14 days each year because, let's face it, it's too nice for them to let people hog it. Free water in various places, garbage cans by your site, numbered sites, paved driveways and parking spaces, manicured and litter-controlled park, and a bathroom building with multiple flush toilets for each sex and sinks with running water! These are in at least two places. Picnic tables and fire rings with lift-off on a hinge grates.

  • Devin R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2024

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    Hey, It’s Free

    I was really looking forward to this place on my way to Arkansas. However, as soon as I turned into the camping area I was “greeted” by not one but TWO off leash dogs barking and running toward my van (they were not together). Fortunately, I took vinegar spray with me when I took my dog for a walk. It was a useful deterrent when one of the loose dogs ran at us. I yelled to put the dog on leash but of course nobody emerged from the van. On the return trip I made sure to have my spray and body pointed straight toward the dog who was just waiting for me to turn around so he could attack again. If you want a flat spot, a pull through spot, or one that you can’t smell the toilets, get there early! I got there around noon and maybe 15 people were there. By sundown most spots were taken…on a Tuesday. Restrooms toward the entrance were nice with running water and flush toilets.

  • CC C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2021

    Nashville I-24 Campground

    Lovely stay

    We are RTT campers and chose this place on a whim as the rest of the local tent camping spots closed on October 1st. We were lucky to find they had space available. However, it should be noted that this is more of an RV campground, the traditional tent sites are right by the gate and not very private. The RV slot we were given backed up to a green space that has grazing deer from time to time. The site did not have a fire ring or a picnic table and was a little far from the bathrooms, but it did have power and water available. That being said the bathrooms were extremely tidy, well heated, and the water pressure in the showers was amazing! The other RV’ers were super friendly and the staff was very helpful in our stay and responsive to our request for availability.


Guide to Burns

Dispersed camping options near Burns, Tennessee range from primitive tent sites to lakefront locations within 45 miles. The Cumberland River watershed creates varied terrain throughout the region, with elevations between 400-600 feet and seasonal temperature fluctuations that make spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. Winter camping remains viable with proper gear as overnight temperatures rarely drop below 20°F.

What to do

Hiking with lake views: Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park features marked trails spanning 10-20 miles with opportunities for wildlife viewing. A camper noted, "This is the BEST state park in West TN. It's quiet, depending on your camping neighbors, and just sitting on the banks watching the boats go by is peaceful."

Fishing at multiple locations: Long Hunter State Park Campground offers accessible fishing spots along Percy Priest Lake. According to one visitor, "It is a great swimming spot with flat rocks to hang out on." Campers should note seasonal fishing licenses are required, costing $34 for residents and $50+ for non-residents.

Nature programs and biking: Bells Bend Park combines primitive camping with educational opportunities. A reviewer mentioned, "The park offers a lot of programs to base your camping around. The trails are through farmland and bike friendly." Programs typically run on weekends from April through October.

What campers like

Waterfront camping: Many campers appreciate the direct water access at various sites. At Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park Group Campground, visitors enjoy watching boat traffic from their campsites along Kentucky Lake.

Privacy between sites: Stewart State Forest provides dispersed camping with significant distance between sites. One camper shared, "If you are looking for an out-of-the-main-drag area to go camping, try this place. We have been camping there for years."

Swimming opportunities: Lakefront sites throughout the region offer swimming options during warmer months. A camper at Long Hunter State Park noted it as "a great swimming spot with flat rocks to hang out on," though they warned about ticks during summer months.

What you should know

Bug preparation essential: Ticks can be problematic, particularly at Long Hunter State Park. One camper warned, "It was the most ticks any of us had seen, including tiny seed ticks. We left with multiple bites, and were constantly picking them off each other and our gear."

Water sources limited: Most primitive sites require bringing all water. At Stewart State Forest, a reviewer advised, "There is no water, so bring plenty. There is a spring, however you have to know where it is."

Fire restrictions vary: While many established sites permit fires, seasonal restrictions apply. At Southport Saltpeter Cave, fires are allowed but contained to designated rings with firewood available on-site.

Pack-in, pack-out requirements: Most primitive sites have no trash facilities. Bells Bend Park specifically requires campers to pack out all waste, though firewood is provided at the site.

Tips for camping with families

Cave exploration options: Southport Saltpeter Cave, located about an hour south of Burns, combines camping with educational cave tours. A visitor explained, "Enjoyed this rough camping trip and Spelunking with our Royal Ambassador boys (1st to 9th grade). Buddy gives a guided tour along with camping privilege's."

Shorter hiking options: For families with younger children, J. Percy Priest Reservoir offers less demanding trails. The area features "ample room between campers, close to local shopping" according to one reviewer, making it practical for families needing to restock supplies.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple locations offer chances to observe deer, turkeys, and other wildlife. Stewart State Forest features marked trails throughout the area where wildlife sightings are common during early morning and evening hours.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Most camping near Burns focuses on tent camping with minimal RV accommodations. Smith Springs offers some electric hookups but lacks water and sewer connections. A camper described it as "very calm relaxing park" with waterfront sites.

Accessibility considerations: Many forest roads have limited access for larger vehicles. Stewart State Forest has "plenty of gravel, dirt and grass roads" but campers note you should "make sure your gas tank is full" as services are limited, with the closest store about 5 miles away near Tennessee Ridge.

Dispersed tent camping near Burns requires proper preparation with essential supplies, particularly water and bug protection, but rewards campers with peaceful waterfront sites and diverse recreational opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Burns, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Burns, TN is Bells Bend Park with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Burns, TN?

TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near Burns, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.