Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Covington, TN

Fort Pillow Historic State Park and Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park are located about 30-40 minutes from Covington, Tennessee. These campgrounds sit within the Mississippi River valley region at elevations between 300-400 feet. Seasonal temperatures range from winter lows near freezing to summer highs in the 90s with high humidity. Mosquitoes are common at most campgrounds from late spring through early fall due to the region's wetlands and proximity to the Mississippi River.

What to do

Explore Civil War history: Fort Pillow Historic State Park features hiking trails that lead to historic fortifications. "The historic site of Ft Pillow from the Civil war is on one of the hiking trails. The trails also go along the Mississippi river and provide some beautiful views," notes Rick P. about Fort Pillow Historic State Park Campground.

Participate in ranger programs: Parks offer educational activities throughout the camping season. "Ranger Tyson informed us that they were doing a night hike to the Fort and they would be serving Gumbo for dinner around the campfire at the Fort. Sign me up! It was one of the fee based activities, but for $5 per person, it was totally worth it!" shares Shana D. about her experience at Fort Pillow.

Fish on nearby lakes: Several parks maintain fishing lakes with boat access. A camper at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park mentions, "There are a variety of hiking/biking trails, update playground, lake with rental kayaks, canoes, boats (in season)." The park's lake system offers opportunities for catching bass, crappie and catfish.

What campers like

Secluded forest camping: Many campgrounds in the area feature heavily wooded sites. Richard notes about Meeman-Shelby Forest: "This park has tons of trees. Every site feels like it was cut right out of the trees. They are all RV sites with electric and water but I pitched a tent with no problem."

Close proximity to Memphis: Campers appreciate being able to visit urban attractions while staying in more natural settings. "You really can't go wrong with Meeman-Shelby. It is so damn close to Memphis that while you won't feel like you are near an urban center, you benefit from its proximity," explains Daniel L. This dog-friendly campground near Covington provides easy access to Memphis attractions.

Wildlife viewing: The region's natural areas host diverse wildlife. At SK Campground, "It has a pond in the rear with fishing allowed. 🦌 🦌 deer come out in the evening. Can see the stars 🌟 at 🌙 night," according to Shay A. Several campgrounds in the area report regular deer sightings at dawn and dusk.

What you should know

Variable site conditions: Campsite quality differs significantly across the region's parks. One camper at T.O. Fuller State Park Campground reports: "The sites are all mixed together. You have a handful of RV sites with 50 amp, a couple of 30 amp sites and then lots of tent sites that have 20 amp or no power at all."

Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be particularly troublesome during warmer months. Andrew S. warns about Meeman-Shelby: "Unless you are in love with mosquitos you may want to stay away from here in the summer... I'm from the south so mosquitos are pretty much the norm for summer, so they didn't deter us."

Seasonal bathroom conditions: Bathhouse facilities vary widely in comfort level throughout the year. One camper noted: "The bathhouse felt like a sauna-zero ventilation." Consider your tolerance for primitive facilities when booking during summer months at some of the pet-friendly campgrounds near Covington.

Tips for camping with families

Look for updated play areas: Several parks have renovated their children's facilities. Ryan S. notes about Agricenter RV Park: "This park is in a part of Shelby Farms Park which is a 4,500 acres of lakes, bike and running trails, playgrounds and so much more."

Consider primitive sites for privacy: Some campgrounds offer more secluded options. "The primitive sites (there are three) are on a separate and I maintained road off of the campsite loop. Spacious sites, but if the weather is wet, it can be a bit iffy getting to them in a low clearance vehicle," advises Jason J. about Meeman-Shelby Forest.

Check for group sites: Larger family gatherings benefit from dedicated group areas. At Fort Pillow, one camper enthuses: "We stayed in the group site that will hold up to 200 people for Halloween and it was perfect. The group site is away from all the other sites so you have plenty of room for children of all ages to run around and play without disturbing other campers."

Tips from RVers

Site selection matters for shade: Many campers report significant differences between sites at the same campground. "We were fortunate to get a very shaded site that was very private. It is a nice park to bike around as the scenery is spectacular!" reports Sara S. about Tom Sawyer's RV Park.

Full hookups limited: RVers should confirm utility availability before booking. "All sites with water, 30A, fire ring, grill and picnic table... no sewer at any sites," reports Ryan S. about Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, one of several dog-accommodating campgrounds in the region.

River conditions affect availability: Riverside campgrounds may close during high water periods. Christine U. notes about Tom Sawyer's: "This campground is right on the Mississippi River, only problem is if the river is over its banks, then the campground is closed. We had to keep checking to see if the river was down, campground was cleaned up and open."