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.
