Cabins near Columbia, Tennessee offer overnight lodging options ranging from basic shelters to fully equipped cottages. Situated in Tennessee's Central Basin region at approximately 640 feet elevation, the area features a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. Most cabin facilities in this region remain open year-round with peak reservation periods occurring May through October.
What to do
Hiking trails: Henry Horton State Park Campground provides access to riverside paths with varying difficulty levels. "The backcountry campsites are just a short trek from the camp store, the hike itself follows the river. We only saw one other couple and no one else was staying at the second site so it was such a secluded weekend," noted Amanda C. about the beginner-friendly trails.
Swimming and wading: The clear waters at Piney River Resort create natural swimming areas during summer months. "We swam and waded in the (very clean) river and watched kids jumping off of the rock ledge," shared Susan & Kevin W. The resort offers designated swimming spots with varying depths suitable for different ages.
Kayaking opportunities: Big Swan Creek at Fall Hollow Resort provides paddling options for visitors bringing personal watercraft. "Bring a kayak, many portions of the Big Swan are ideal for some kayaking and this is a perfect spot to launch. You can list the more shallow areas or deeper depending on which primitive campsite you are choosing," recommends Crystal C.
What campers like
Shade coverage: Most cabin rentals and campsites feature tree canopies for summer comfort. "We ended up booking another site to stay another couple of days because we loved it so much. I vistited in the off season (Nov 24) - the bathrooms were clean, the sites were quiet and it was beautiful. Some sites are level, some aren't," shared Ashley F. about her stay at Henry Horton State Park Campground.
Quiet environment: Campers consistently mention the peaceful atmosphere at established campgrounds. "Very peaceful campground right on the river! Staff was very helpful. We stayed at a site with a pavilion right on the river and it was great! Our girls enjoyed swimming, fishing, and kayaking," wrote Ashlee B. about her experience at Piney River Resort.
Riverside locations: Premium cabin sites position visitors directly alongside waterways. "I stay in the creek side primitive tent sites and they are awesome. They are spaced well enough to where you don't really have neighbors and are secluded enough to get your fix," noted Brandon about Fall Hollow Resort, which offers cabin accommodations along the water.
What you should know
Access challenges: Some locations require navigating narrow roads. "The drive in from the highway was very scary on narrow, windy roads with dropoffs on the side. We took the staff recommended route in and Co-Pilot's route out and both were scary in our Class A towing a car hauler," cautioned Pat&Amanda D. about reaching Piney River Resort.
Reservation timing: Booking early remains essential during peak seasons. "Make your reservations early!! Beautiful area lakes, groomed trails, nice hosts - highly recommend," advised Andrea R. about planning stays at Montgomery Bell State Park Campground.
Site variations: Level differences between cabins and sites affect setup ease. "Our pull through patio site was $120/nt, and that was during early spring time. Is it worth it? Maybe during the summer as the pool is quite nice and there are plenty of activities," reported David S. about premium cabin pricing at Nashville KOA Resort.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Families benefit from campgrounds with designated recreation areas. "We loved our stay at HHSP. Check-in was a breeze, setup was simple with a level site, and everyone there, from the park rangers to the camp store staff to the campground hosts, was friendly and helpful. Plenty of places for the kiddos to ride their bikes," shared Laur H. about David Crockett State Park Campground.
Space considerations: Sites vary significantly in size and layout between campgrounds. "The sites all seem to be well shaded and spaced sufficiently apart. Travel to and from the park is on good roads. Chapel Hill, just to the north, offers all you might need with a hardware store, Dollar General, walk in clinic and restaurants," noted Randy C. about Henry Horton State Park.
Seasonal planning: Off-season visits offer reduced crowding at family destinations. "Great December sleep in go as we headed south. Clean campground and beautiful scenery...will return outside winter season," commented Joe N. about winter camping options.
Tips from RVers
Utility placement: Full-hookup cabin and RV sites have varying connection configurations. "The utilities are more to the front of the site with two sewer connections. We had decent water pressure. This campground has a lot of mature trees that would make satellite iffy depending on the site," reported MickandKarla W. about their stay at Nashville KOA Resort.
Site improvements: Ongoing development affects site quality at established campgrounds. "Many improvements have been made since last year. The pull thru sites have been widened and are more accommodating for larger RVs. They are working on adding a few more pull thru sites as well. The sites are gravel and mostly level," noted Jessica L. about changes at Campers RV Park.
Connectivity options: Cell signal varies significantly between cabin locations. "We got 4 bars on Verizon and used our MiFi versus Starlink for our overnight stay. The KOA WiFi was very good when we tried it," added MickandKarla W. about technology access during their Nashville cabin stay.
