Lakes and forested areas surrounding Collierville, Tennessee provide several primitive tent camping options within a short drive. Tent-only campgrounds like Elmers Hill at Sardis Lake offer dedicated spaces for tent campers without RV accommodations. Beach Point on Sardis Lake features walk-in tent sites with lake views, while Kellys Crossing Campground near Arkabutla Lake provides more secluded primitive tent camping experiences. Holly Springs National Forest, approximately 45 minutes southeast of Collierville, contains several tent-friendly campgrounds including Puskus Lake and Cox Lake.
Most tent campsites in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of maintenance. Walk-in tent sites at Beach Point require campers to park in a designated lot and carry equipment to their site, offering more privacy than drive-up locations. Picnic tables and fire rings are standard at most established sites, though campers should verify current fire regulations before visits. Toilet facilities range from flush toilets at Beach Point to vault toilets at more remote locations, with many campers noting the need to bring personal toilet paper. Water access varies significantly between campgrounds, with drinking water available at some locations like Elmers Hill but absent at others like Graham Lake and Cox Lake.
Tent camping experiences near Collierville benefit from lakeside settings that provide both scenic views and recreational opportunities. According to reviews, Beach Point offers "quiet and peaceful" tent-only camping with "large lots" and lake views, though insects can be problematic in warmer months. At Puskus Lake in Holly Springs National Forest, campers noted the campground is "in the middle of Holly Springs National Forest on Puskus Lake" with "camping spaces that have a good amount of room." Weekday visits typically offer greater solitude, while weekend occupancy increases significantly at popular locations. Backcountry tent camping options exist for those seeking deeper seclusion, particularly in less developed areas of Holly Springs National Forest where primitive tent camping requires self-sufficiency.
"This is an off the beaten path area for standard recreation. It’s technically a boat ramp that accesses Arkabutla Lake with picnic and camping areas nearby."
"One bathroom away from the sites in the "day use" area. Mostly fisherman. The lake has motor oil/ fuel running on the surface. The docks nice, wide with bench seating."
"We’ve frequented this small space since childhood. It’s very well remote off of HWY 30 in the Holly Springs National Forest."
$8 / night
"We reserved campsites 13 and 14, at the far end, behind the restrooms. You have to park in the parking lot and carry your stuff to the site."
"Cars stay in the parking lot, and you walk up to your site. Pretty basic. Running water, flushable toilets, no showers. Quiet area. Early march, it was raining and I was the only one there"
"No hookups. Nothing. But, it is a free campground so what can you say. It’s rather nice there. This is a very small campground with about 5 spots."
"Nice little spot with about 8 tent sites. No hookups of any kind for campers. Bathrooms are currently closed, but we’re nice when we stayed there, but old. Drinking water is available."
TravelerSuper quiet, not equipped for many activities. Some covered picnic tables interspersed. Outdoor cooking allowed unless there is a fire ban. One small commercial washer and two dryers available. Water and electric 50 amp at each site. Dump station. Showers and rest rooms are nice. Great overnight for travelers and good price, $25. Propane available. Ok stay if visiting casino.
GuideLet me start by saying that the Rangers who run this place are top notch folks. The head Ranger stopped in a couple times every day to ask if we needed anything and to inquire about our opinion of the new site (more on this later). The facilities were well maintained, and a pleasant surprise for such a small state park.
So, we stayed on site #3. According to the head Ranger, we were the first to camp on this site since its renovation. Previously it had been a tent pad, but was now a concrete pad with a new 50A post and new water hydrant. Online, it lists the site as being 40’ long and 15’ wide. What they don’t tell you is that only the pad is this size. I had another 30’+ of gravel to park on in front of the pad. It was large enough for the biggest of fifth wheels with slides on both sides. There are now 11 total sites like this in the park thanks to recent renovations. All seemed very level. Site #3 and it’s neighbor #2 seemed perfectly level laterally, but required dropping the nose quite a bit to get level longitudinally. I still believe any length RV could pull it off easily. Each concrete site had a charcoal grill with adjustable height grates, a lantern pole, a fire pit with grill grate, and a picnic table that is bolted down (this might be my only nitpick complaint, as I like to move my picnic tables under the awning and on top of my mat... but I understand why it’s done.). The two bath houses are basically single occupancy Men and Women side facilities, but are almost brand new and heated for winter use. The Ranger said they added to accompanying porta potties for extra toilets until they can add an extra stall on each side to the buildings.
There is no playground in the campground, but a short drive into the park gets you to a very nice picnic area with a playground that looks as new as the bath houses and RV pads. Drive a bit further and you can visit the museum dedicated to the Fort after which the park is named and the men who died there. Get a map and hike the well marked trail to see a recreated portion of the fort (yes, it well marked with colored flashes and signs). Along the drive you will also find a scenic overlook of the Mississippi River and a small lake you can fish in. Canoe, Kayak, and Paddle Boat rentals are available at the museum.
For those wishing for a more rustic camping experience, the primitive sites here are among the best I have ever seen. Ever site is level, and graveled with smooth pea gravel. They all have the same fire pit, grill, and table as the RV sites. Some Require a bit of a walk from your parking spot, but you will well rewarded with some isolation. The only down side for some is that these sites have no on site water and only a few offer an electric post. There are community hydrants around the park for filling up bottle or tanks.
My personal favorite spot for primitive tent camping would have been site number 27. It is accessed via a short gravel road off the main paved road and past site 26. While it is a haul to get water, it is almost completely isolated from the rest of the campground and you can drive rite up to it with no walking. It has low ground on three sides. One side is the road leading into the park, but traffic here is light and it shouldnt be an issue.
Speaking of roads, this place is kind of out in the middle of nowhere, and the roads in can be narrow when meeting oncoming traffic. It’s not terrible but can make you a bit nervous when you meet another RV heading the other way.
All in all, I would say this park is a gem of a find since the remodeling of the RV sites and a solid 7/10 for those primitive tent campers. My only knock is the lack of a playground for those with kids. If you are empty nesters or young adults or just generally travel without kids, this is a solid 10/10 kind of place.
RangerJust so beautiful. Trails were well marked but not for faint of heart. Campsites were pretty close together and bathrooms not too great. Little black bugs swarmed on warm nights right a dusk for an hour. There’s an airport nearby and planes were constantly flying over one of the nights. We were the only tent there. Tent pads aren’t clearly marked but plenty of level ground to set up. Lake was gorgeous too, I was literally the only one out there.
ScoutFound this campsite on the Dyrt and was pleasantly surprised with the location and family friendly atmosphere. Right on the River but not swimable water. In an industrial park but felt very safe. Just a few minutes from the interstate.
The tent site is just a primitive grassy group area but had tons of shade from giant oak trees and is right next to the bathhouse.
Laundry is free on the second story of the bathhouse which was a wonderful treat.
The bathrooms weren’t awful but could use some TLC.
Tent sites do not get picnic tables. No fire rings.
Overall a decent night’s stay - whatever you do don’t forget your bug spray!
LegendWe arrived just before sunset in late November (dang Daylight Savings time) so quickly got to our site and set up. Did not see anyone to check in but had reservations as now are required at all CoE campgrounds (a ranger drove through the next morning). The water level looked to be very low, but we still had a nice view at the end of the loop.
Sites are FHU and other amenities include a large concrete picnic table, lantern hook, fire pit, BBQ grill, and food prep table. Sites are paved, generous in size, and spaced a very decent distance apart from each other; even though all the leaves had fallen and there were other campers in our loop, I did not feel a lack of privacy.
The restrooms were clean and although there were paper towels, the soap dispensers were empty (my only beef with this campground)! The showers looked to be reasonable, but it was below freezing the next morning, so I didn’t try them out. There was also what appeared to be a utility sink in the bathroom but no shelves or other place to stage dishes.
I can only assume that water sports are in-season and not sure about other recreational activities. Because the ground was frozen the next morning, I was able to walk down to the water and get some great photos of the sunrise and birds.
This was just an overnight stay for us but for $12 (with the Golden Access Pass), it is a real bargain and the reason we often seek out Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds.
LegendThis was one of the first state parks in Tennessee I visited on my trip through the state. Despite being an older feeling camp it offered many unique features and options for keeping myself entertained. (Check Out Their Website)
When it came to camping not only were there tent sites but also cabins which had a very rustic feel. I opted for a tent site which ran $25 and had full electrical hookups (site 40), a big perk for charging my devices at the end of a busy day. My site had a bbq grill and fire ring in addition to a picnic table and was well shaded. I felt like the sites along this side of the road were a little more spacious than the other side of the road which were a little more close together.
I was about half way down the loop and a short distance from the restroom and showers which were in decent shape but nothing super special. The water pressure here was good for showering.
My favorite thing about this camp was the outdoor activities which seemed to be everywhere. I hiked both the Woodland and Pioneer Springs trails (MAP), each about 4 miles and along the way enjoyed just taking in the outdoors. I will say that if you do any trails in late summer here you will need mosquito spray because they come in droves.
You can travel to the boat ramp and marina and rent boats there or bring your own to take advantage of the lake which winds through various types of vegetation and allows you to see the lake in a way you cannot from the shore line. I most enjoyed taking out a kayak and exploring the swampy feeling area, though I will say being so close to the Mississippi River I was afraid of what I might find lurking in the water.
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TIPS:
GuideMy husband and I chose this campground because it was in our “Best in Tent Camping Tennessee” guidebook. Not my favorite. The sites are extremely close together and there is absolutely no privacy. We chose an ADA site because my husband is a wheelchair user, but the grassy patch next to the cement was a hill (which made tent camping + wheelchair interesting). There was also zero shade and A LOT of bugs-we got eaten alive. I would only recommend this site for RV users who don’t plan to spend much time outside their rig (or, are camping in cooler months), and don’t care about privacy.
The bathhouse felt like a sauna-zero ventilation.
As a an aside the restroom at the visitor’s center is not wheelchair accessible.
TravelerVery clean restrooms and shower areas. Site had grill, fire ring, and picnic table. Water and electric hookup
GuideWe were passing through Memphis and stayed overnight at Fort Pillow. The staff in the office were not super friendly or helpful. I had to ask for everything, like a campsite map to my site, a trail map, and buying firewood. Nothing was offered, so definitely ask. The layout is also backwards. You have to drive all the way to the back of the park to get to the museum visitors center. I am sure there is a practical reason for this, but it wasn’t fully transparent. I always check in to campsite to introduce myself and get a lay of campsite from the people who work there. They just were not very social or helpful.
We stayed in campsite 4 which is more or less a walk-in type site. You park and then have to haul your gear about 15 yards to your site. The privacy and cliff side campsite is worth it, but there again was no one warning. We were only staying one night and the site was a little impractical for our needs. If you are staying 2-3 nights then grab campsite 4, in the winter months after the leaves have fallen this site would be stunning. It is basically a private overlook to the Mississippi. Only thing that would’ve made this campsite perfect would be running water. Instead you have to walk to the bath house to snag water.
Amenities:
There was electrical hookup at site but no water. (Was not able to locate communal water) Bath house cleaned daily and was a private set room style. Tent pad and campsite is pebbles to allow for moisture/bring long stakes or expect to not to be able to stake in your tent.
Tent camping near Collierville, Tennessee offers primitive outdoor experiences within a 45-60 minute drive radius. Most camping areas provide basic facilities with limited amenities, particularly during off-seasons when some services may be reduced or unavailable. Winter temperatures in the region typically range from 30-50°F, while summer months can reach 90°F with high humidity levels.
Fishing opportunities: Cox Lake in Holly Springs National Forest provides accessible bank fishing. "Great little fishing lake," notes a visitor, though campers should be prepared for some litter in the area.
Kayaking and paddling: Puskus Lake offers calm waters ideal for beginners. One camper mentioned, "Fun little quick trip to paddle around in kayak, fish & enjoy great meal over grill." The lake features docks that are "nice, wide with bench seating" according to another review.
Hiking exploration: While limited in scope, Puskus Lake has accessible trails. A reviewer notes, "There are 2 trails you can walk on around the campsite but they only equal about 5 miles and are not maintained very well in some areas although they are flat and easy to explore."
Solitude and quiet: Beach Point on Sardis Lake provides peaceful camping experiences. A visitor mentioned, "We were the only ones there in early January so was easy to park as close as possible to a spot." Weekday visits typically offer the greatest seclusion.
Lake views: Hays Crossing campground offers scenic vistas across the water. As one camper described, "The view is great. You can see out across the lake. There is plenty of space to hike and explore."
Budget-friendly options: Many sites require minimal fees or are occasionally free. At Graham Lake, one camper noted, "It is a free campground so what can you say. It's rather nice there. This is a very small campground with about 5 spots."
Facility conditions vary significantly: Pleasant Hill Campground has received reports of neglect. One visitor described, "The campsites are overgrown or sunken. Looks like no one has camped here or taken care of the property in years."
Bathroom situations: Most locations have basic toilets without amenities. A camper at Graham Lake advised, "Bathrooms are there but bring your own paper."
Road accessibility challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult access routes. At Hays Crossing, a reviewer warned, "The roads in are horrible. There are people riding off road vehicles in the lake bottoms quite often."
Site selection priority: Elmers Hill offers dedicated tent-only sites good for families. A visitor noted, "This place is a gem if you're a tent camper... Nice little spot with about 8 tent sites."
Bug protection essential: Insects can be problematic, especially near the water. A camper at Beach Point warned, "The flies!! They were so so bad! And bighty!! My poor dogs were covered in flies, as were we."
Safety awareness: At some locations, unexpected visitors may occur. One solo camper at Puskus Lake reported, "People stayed quiet with the exception of a 12:30am arrival man who walked onto my site right up to my tent to I guess see if anyone was there??"
Size restrictions: Most sites have limited space for larger vehicles. At Kellys Crossing, a visitor clarified, "This is more of a boat ramp than a campground. There are a couple of picnic tables with an few areas to set up tents."
Boondocking potential: Graham Lake works for self-contained camping without hookups. According to one RVer, "Large rigs are a no go I would think, as access can be tight. If you're in a small to medium travel trailer or a tent, this could work out."
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds have different accessibility depending on water levels and seasonal closures. A camper at Elmers Hill noted, "We have camped here once, but most of the time it is closed. I am not sure why."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Collierville, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Collierville, TN is Kellys Crossing Campground with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Collierville, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Collierville, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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