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Old Mill Camp and General Store allows pets at all sites, offering tent, RV, and cabin camping directly across from Cummins Falls State Park. Pet owners appreciate the well-maintained grounds with shaded sites that provide ample space for dogs. The campground features clean facilities and spacious campsites with fire rings and picnic tables, allowing campers to enjoy outdoor time with their four-legged companions. Tent sites are well-spaced with established trees providing shade, while RV sites include water, electric, and sewer hookups. Pets must remain leashed throughout the campground. The immaculate bathhouse and shower facilities receive consistently positive reviews from campers traveling with animals.
Hiking trails at nearby Cummins Falls State Park provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs and their owners, though pets should be prepared for creek crossings that can be knee-deep depending on water levels. The campground's proximity to the state park makes it ideal for morning walks before the park gets crowded. Belle and Beau Acres offers a more primitive camping experience for pet owners seeking privacy, with spacious, secluded sites spread across wooded areas and open fields. The property features a small stream where dogs can wade and cool off during warmer months. Edgar Evins State Park and Fall Creek Falls State Park also welcome pets at their campgrounds, providing additional options for camping with dogs in the greater Cookeville area.
"I'm from New England and relocated to Tennessee in 2016. The first time I went camping at Edgar Evans, I had no idea what was going on!"
"The park is a gorgeous property with a lake and hiking trails. There are ADA sights. The hills are steep and some of the sights have angle ramps."
"This property is clean, quiet, family and pet friendly. Each tent and RV stall has its own picnic table and fire pit, spacing out each stall so it has fair privacy."
"Just getting in from a fun weekend at Old Mill Camp in Cookeville, TN."
"It was okay, but not good for anyone who cannot handle a lot of stairs. 2) There was a lot of boat traffic on the lake, even late into the night."
"Which means there are different rules then most state parks, one of which is only 2 dogs per site allowed. 2nd the layout is more tent friendly (to me) with walk in sites with some nice views."
from $24 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Rock Island State Park is situated in the middle of Tennessee. The park itself is surrounded by beautiful forest and some pretty great and easy hiking trails. The falls themselves are a sight to see."
"Off I24 near Murfreesboro, Tn and a leisurely drive through the Tennessee countryside. Small towns, pickups and cows. Watch for stop signs, I almost missed one while looking at the scenery."
"I seek off the beaten path places, and this campground is a gem."
"The dogs enjoyed the huge field next to the sites and we enjoyed hiking the trails (and taking in the spectacular views of the Plateau)! We will be back!"
from $29 - $144 / night
Check Availability"Our site was surrounded by trees and felt very private."
"The Tennessee countryside is an enjoyable backdrop to this meandering road trip and you are very close to several other excellent Tennessee SPs."
from $8 - $32 / night
Check Availability"Off the beaten path and quiet piece of Tennessee that we needed."
"Woke up to 2 jakes walking through our campsite below our rooftop tent. Property is back away from any houses and extremely peaceful."
from $40 / night
Check Availability"Snuggle deep in Ragland bottom Tennessee this nice Corps of Engineer campground is nestled. The campground is very well-kept. With plenty of room on the camping pads for all types and sizes of RVs."
"one is only 2 dogs allowed in day use/campground) The day use area has a fee which is included in you campground fee if your staying for a few days."
from $24 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Lots to do here with hiking trails, mountain bike trails, beach, playground, boat launch, and all the lake activities."
"Dog friendly, but not at the swimming area. Overall it was a great place to go. Out of the way quiet and the lake was beautiful."
from $25 - $100 / night
Check Availability"It sits adjacent to a catfish farm where you can fish and eat all in the same breath. The sites have electrical, water, and sewer so they are meant for the long haul camper."
GuideLots of green grass. The dog park is very well kept. There is a road close by but not a major freeway. It’s one of the quieter KOA’s I have stayed at. Pool is small but very clean. The store is well stocked and you can get hand dipped ice cream.
TravelerThis property is clean, quiet, family and pet friendly. Each tent and RV stall has its own picnic table and fire pit, spacing out each stall so it has fair privacy. If you don't care to grill or have a sandwich or ice cream at the general store on site the friendly owner will tell you where to eat in town (Cookeville). The entrance to the state park is across the street from the general store. All of the facilities you need are here, but I do have one critique, that is the smart light in the Women's restroom turns off after 20 seconds, I think it would be better to set it to 5 minutes. Otherwise it was a perfect stay.
RangerWe were in primitive site I and it was a perfect spot to camp on a hot day. The sun never touched our tent. They offer kayak rentals and they are good sturdy ones at a reasonable rate. There is no swimming but we enjoyed fishing. They have A honey locus tree on one of the trails which was cool. I had never seen one. They are pet friendly and pets are allowed leashes on all the hiking trails. The animals are not scared of humans or dogs. We had squirrels, birds, deer and turkey join us at our camp site.
GuideWe visited here during the summer. I really enjoyed our stay. A couple of things caught a us by surprise.. 1) The steps down to our campsite. Some of the campsites towards the back of the campground have a good amount of stairs. It was okay, but not good for anyone who cannot handle a lot of stairs. 2) There was a lot of boat traffic on the lake, even late into the night. I’m not sure if it is always like this or because there is a marina near by the campground. We could reach the edge of the lake from our campsite and launched out kayaks from there. The boats made it a little difficult to kayak the lake, but some kayakers towards the front of the campground at the day beach seemed to do okay. There’s a small hiking trail in the park also called the “lost spring trail” not much of a spring to see, but a couple of lookout points. Must not be much traffic through the trail anymore, the lookouts were a little overgrown. Overall the campground was nice, lots of access to the water if you like to fish and some very beautiful views. Pet friendly! Clean!
RangerIt was ok for an overnight spot when all else was full. We went during the rain, lots of pot holes and water puddles everywhere. Mostly full time residents, lots of pets with no real place to walk them. Grass is minimal. Staff was very friendly and helped us out. Would stay again for one night, but not a go to. Little overpriced, but expected as right off interstate and close to major city.
TravelerWas the best state park I’ve stayed at to date! Very safe, quiet/peaceful, family friendly, pet friendly, bath houses were clean, full hookups, pool was clean ($6/person entry fee)
LegendJust getting in from a fun weekend at Old Mill Camp in Cookeville, TN. Old Mill is a private campground directly across the street from the entrance to Cummins Falls State Park (the park is a day Park only and has no camping on site). Wide open sites with plenty of well established trees to provide shade. New, modern bathhouse. Hiking to the falls is adventurous requiring two creek crossings (that can be up to knee deep or more depending on where you cross) and some bouldering, but once you get to the falls it’s amazing. The area is right on the Upper Cumberland Wine Trail so lots of impressive wineries nearby. There is also 4 breweries (a fifth opens the end of Oct 2018) in the area. Oh, and you have to visit Ralph’s Donut Shop in downtown Cookeville! We’d really like to go back in warmer weather to take advantage of the many swimming holes on the hike to the falls and be able to play in the falls.
TravelerThere is so much traffic at all times day and night. It gets pretty aggregating other than that they clean the Porta John a cpl times a week it's pet friendly and you can hang stuff from trees and lines
TravelerI'm from New England and relocated to Tennessee in 2016. The first time I went camping at Edgar Evans, I had no idea what was going on! All I saw was platforms, and what I considered 'normal' camping sites were labeled 'primitive' sites. I was in total awe. I didn't know how it was going to work with a tent, but my boyfriend showed me that all you need to do is bring nails to hammer down and secure your tent to the wooden platform. Where as I was at first turned off by the platform, there are a few pluses:
-It rains A LOT in Tennessee. When I used to camp up north, we got flooded out during heavy rains, as we were camping directly on the ground. The platform keeps you elevated, so digging a trench around your tent is a non-issue.
-If you get a waterfront site (HIGHLY recommended), the views are gorgeous. I'd say go for the sites in the lower 40s - they're super close to a bathhouse and a few paths that will bring you down to the edge of some gorgeous cliffs, giving you the best view in the site. If you go in the other direction, you'll be looking at a community of house boats, which kinda blew my mind, as clusters of houseboats aren't really a thing up north, either.
-You can comfortably fit two tents on a platform; three is pushing it, but we've seen people pack around four in (which I don't think you're actually supposed to do).
-Something else I've noticed in TN - virtually all camping takes place at State Parks, and Edgar Evans is one of the few that actually offers wooden platforms and primitive sites. Most of them offer concrete platforms for RVs and smaller trailers, making it difficult to camp with a tent.
The sites in the lower 40s also offer more level ground for the fire pits. Some sites have a really steep drop off, which make it difficult to place chairs and sit and relax without being a little wobbly.
There's also a pretty big trail system to explore, and it seems like you might need to set aside an entire day to do the loop in its entirety - we're still planning on doing that! I find that I get more immersed in relaxation mode when I'm there instead of active hiking mode - taking a chair down to the cliffs and sitting by the water with a book makes for some beautiful downtime!
All of this being said, this is our favorite spot! We've come here at least twice, if not three times a year since I've moved down here. The staff is friendly and helpful, the campers are friendly, and there's usually lots of adorable dogs around to pet lol! Definitely love this place!
Located in the Highland Rim region of Tennessee at 1,140 feet elevation, Cookeville serves as a central base for campers exploring the Cumberland Plateau. The area experiences four distinct seasons with mild winters and warm, humid summers. Waterfall-rich state parks surround the city, creating excellent opportunities for dog-friendly camping excursions within short driving distances of town.
Waterfall hunting: Three main falls at Fall Creek Falls State Park can be accessed via moderate hiking trails ranging from 0.5 to 4 miles round trip. "So many trails, so little time. One of the best hiking parks I've ever been to. Miles and miles of trails; short, long, loops, overnights. This place has it all," notes Myke C. For the most scenic experience, arrive before 9 AM to avoid crowds during summer months.
Kayaking: Center Hill Lake at Floating Mill Campground offers protected coves for beginners and open water for experienced paddlers. The campground provides direct water access from many sites. "The tent sites were really nice. I love how close you are to the water. It also includes two swim areas which is nice. Canoe the Caney is a few minute drive from the campground which is great if you like canoeing," says Haley B.
Swimming: Rock formations at Twin Falls provide natural swimming areas with varying depths. Water temperatures range from 65-75°F depending on seasonal rainfall. The unique geography creates both calm pools and swifter sections. "Beautiful surroundings. Great hikes and random places to jump into the water," reports Alicia F.
Platform camping: Edgar Evins State Park features elevated wooden platforms that protect tents from ground moisture and wildlife. "We love the platform sites that are so spacious and private. Easy access to dump station and bath houses. Almost all sites have view of water. It was very peaceful and quiet," says Betheny. Platform sites require additional tie-downs rather than standard tent stakes.
Lake views: Waterfront sites at campgrounds around Center Hill Lake provide direct access for fishing and swimming. "Mostly flat campground with great water views about everywhere. Private beach access and some playground areas," explains Chris W. Sites along the water perimeters typically cost $5-10 more per night but offer superior views and easier lake access.
Private camping: Belle and Beau Acres offers secluded, primitive sites on 40 acres with both wooded and open field options. "Belle and Beau Acres is the perfect spot for a private getaway. You have your choice of sites, either in the heavily wooded timber, in the field, or by the creek," notes Lori H. Sites are positioned to maintain privacy while allowing access to the small stream that crosses the property.
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds. "No WiFi, no antenna tv. Satellite can even be hard to get in some spots. This is negative only because of bad weather alerts," warns Larry S. Download offline maps and weather forecasts before arrival, particularly for areas on the eastern edge of the plateau.
Seasonal crowds: Summer weekends attract high visitor volumes at state parks. "If you want to do the hike which I highly encourage, go early almost right when the park opens. There are less people which makes the hike more enjoyable," advises Bobby D. Weekdays and non-summer months provide a more peaceful experience.
Storm awareness: Defeated Creek Campground** and other low-elevation sites can experience rapid water level changes after heavy rain. "Need to trim trees better to keep limbs from falling. Sunset scenery around mountains is beautiful in evenings," mentions Larry S. Monitor weather forecasts and have an evacuation plan during severe weather seasons.
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain dedicated play areas for children. "Very nice. Quiet and clean. Bath house is top notch with separate, personal shower rooms with keypad entry," notes David R. Most playgrounds are centrally located near bath houses for convenient supervision.
Educational programs: Ranger-led activities operate regularly during summer months. "Very informative pontoon boat tour with a Park Ranger. Great lunch at the marina too," shares Rosa B. Call ahead to confirm program schedules, as most require advance registration.
Water safety: Rock Island State Park** combines swimming areas with natural features for exploration. "The best hike is in the Twin Falls area but that is a 10-15 minute drive from the campground," advises Lee D. Water shoes are essential for children exploring creek beds and waterfall areas due to slippery rocks.
Leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region feature sloped sites requiring additional leveling equipment. "The sites are tiered and you will get a workout if you're walking from one level to the next," explains Shelly S. Bring extra leveling blocks as some sites require 3-4 inches of adjustment.
Size limitations: Most dog-friendly campgrounds near Cookeville accommodate medium-sized RVs but have limitations for larger rigs. "Pay attention to grades of sites when booking, you might need extra supports to level out," advises Richard F. Units over 35 feet should verify site suitability before booking, particularly at older state park campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Cookeville, TN is Edgar Evins State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 59 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 107 dog-friendly camping locations near Cookeville, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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