Best Dispersed Camping near Dickson, TN

Recent Dispersed Reviews in Dickson

35 Reviews of 4 Dickson Campgrounds

• 

  Kevin C.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 28, 2024

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Beautiful and Free!!

  Came in on a Tuesday in late October and found about 10 campsites occupied, so lots to choose from. The campsite has two adjoining loop roads. The lower loop has a bathroom with flush toilets and sinks.

  The campground appears to be very well maintained. There is not much privacy between campsites as there are only a few trees and no shubbery between campsites.

  We met two other camping groups that were simply delightful Americans.

• 

  Devin R.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 18, 2024

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Hey, It’s Free

  I was really looking forward to this place on my way to Arkansas. However, as soon as I turned into the camping area I was “greeted” by not one but TWO off leash dogs barking and running toward my van (they were not together). Fortunately, I took vinegar spray with me when I took my dog for a walk. It was a useful deterrent when one of the loose dogs ran at us. I yelled to put the dog on leash but of course nobody emerged from the van. On the return trip I made sure to have my spray and body pointed straight toward the dog who was just waiting for me to turn around so he could attack again. If you want a flat spot, a pull through spot, or one that you can’t smell the toilets, get there early! I got there around noon and maybe 15 people were there. By sundown most spots were taken…on a Tuesday. Restrooms toward the entrance were nice with running water and flush toilets.

• 

  Jeff F.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 31, 2024

  Neville Bay

  Great basic campground

  Beautiful view. Vault toilet.well kept

• 

  James R.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 17, 2024

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Free site

  Nice first come free camping location just off the Trace. Grounds seem to be keep up on every time I’ve been there.

• 

  James R.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 20, 2024

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Free sites

  Nice location just off the Trace! Nice free getaway spot with plenty to do around.

• 

  Gary

  Scout

  

  Jul. 20, 2024

  Neville Bay

  Great!

  Great spot.

• N

  Nick K.

  Traveler

  

  Feb. 18, 2024

  Land between The Lakes Bards Lake Tharp Road

  Great little spot not too far off the beaten path

  Not free, but worthwhile for a small fee. My family and I loved spending time at this spot!

• T

  Tracy T.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 11, 2023

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  TN pit stop

  Got here early early morning, only 1 other slot was taken. Easy to find and park. Great mornings by the water.

• S

  Savannah G.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 4, 2023

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Super awesome spot!

  Super easy to find in the dark even! I enjoyed our overnight stay here. It was packed, felt super safe and just have a easy night. Recommend if you need just a quick little place to rest your head. Thanks Merriweather!

• 

  Michael W.

  Legend

  

  Mar. 22, 2023

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Great Free campground

  Came in for the night on stopover. All paved spots, flushing toilets with water spots Al around campground. Almost full when I got here at 3pm. So far quite.

• C

  Chris M.

  Traveler

  

  Jan. 24, 2023

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Nice and peaceful

  Nice campground, toilets were clean and has fresh water

• s

  samantha S.

  Traveler

  

  Jan. 17, 2023

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Meiwether Leiws Campground

  Clean, safe and an overall great place to stop on our way to Memphis. It wasn’t very busy since we were visiting in January. The bathrooms were open and clean!

• 

  TylerWende O.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 29, 2022

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  NPS Campground, free.

  Great sites for free! Plentiful, clean & convenient on the Natchez Trace.

• a

  angie H.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 7, 2022

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Great stay

  Really enjoyed our stay. Several trails to enjoy. Lots of history to learn. Two close waterfalls to hike to. Beautiful area. Will definitely be staying again!

• 

  Aspen H.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 22, 2022

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Cool spot

  Lots of Interpretation signs of the history of merriweather & Chris Columbus. Love to see it. Pleasant; more popping of a campground. Gets busy

• 

  Hannah W.

  Legend

  

  Mar. 22, 2022

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Very Impressed

  This is one of three free campgrounds that can be found along the Natchez Trace. After visiting all three, this one is by far the nicest. Located at the site of Meriwether Lewis’s death, this campground is steeped in history. There are many great hiking trails around this campground and there are amazing views. Be sure to drive down to the creek and check it out. There were 31 campsites. They are pretty close together and some of them are pretty far from the bathroom. Everything is in good condition and there are trash cans scattered throughout the campsites.

• 

  Brandon ..

  Guide

  

  Jan. 9, 2022

  Goose Island - J. Percy Priest Lake

  Great place to camp!

  This is a really great place to camp if you have a way to boat out to the island. We use a canoe since it’s only a quarter mile or so paddle. The only down side (at least when we were there) is the raccoons. They will come up really close at night begging for food. They’re harmless though.

• 

  Joey S.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 8, 2021

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Historic

  Walk down the Natchez Trace, visit the grave of Meriwether Lewis, all around a good visit. No electric, first come first served free campground, show up early and you're good to go. Beautiful park to stay

• b

  bri

  Guide

  

  Aug. 27, 2021

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Free Rainforest

  20 minutes from town. Cell phone service. Regular bathrooms with running water. There are water fountains and water pumps. Fire pits and tables at each site.

  Watch out for poision ivy and posion oak!

  Plenty to do. Trails to walk and some waterfalls. As much as it rained here we were disappointed with the springs and waterfalls. Place stayed very wet. Take a drive down Natchez parkway things to do both directions.

  Town is 13 miles away ( easiest route is not taking the left to the parkway but go straight and you will see the sign saying turn right to Hohenwald. Town includes walmart, fast food, gas and dollar general, one laundromat, library. There is a brand new dollar general. We also discovered an elephant 🐘 sanctuary but it is not open to the public. Watch out for snakes.

• b

  bri

  Guide

  

  Aug. 14, 2021

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  A priceless jewel

  Amazing Clean Safe Free Family friendly Plenty of trails and nature to explore

• J

  Jordan

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 30, 2021

  Neville Bay

  Nice quite primitive camping

  Mostly flat near the water and lots of sites to camp. We really enjoyed our spot in the shade on a hot summer weekend.

• H

  Hannah L.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 30, 2021

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Awesome free camping

  Boondocked here for the night.. got way more than expected! It was extremely clean. Flat, paved campsites with firepits, picnic tables, and trash cans. No water or bathrooms but a great little stop over for our trip west.

• 

  River R.

  Traveler

  

  May. 10, 2021

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  It's Freeeeeeeeee!

  It's Free! It's opened up now and it's free! And nicer than I expected. All the sites are paved with large fire rings and picnic tables. Trash cans are pretty much everywhere. There are back in and pull through sites. Most of the sites aren't very level so plan for that. There are bathrooms down the road but only open from sunrise to sunset. Oh and did I mention it's free?!

• 

  Kristina D.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 25, 2021

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  It’s open!

  Great place and it’s FREE! Bathrooms and trash cans. This is dry camping - no electric/dump. Water at bathrooms

• 

  Jason W.

  Ranger

  

  Apr. 10, 2021

  Neville Bay

  Neville Bay is A-OK

  Ok, that's cheesy but true. Several groups there when we went. Very clean, well maintained primitive campground on the south end of LBL. Four stars, for what it is. If there was electric and water it would be a solid 5. Secluded but still accessible.

• 

  Jeremy A.

  Ranger

  

  Mar. 11, 2021

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Great rest stop along the Natchez Trace

  One of three first come first serve free camps on the Trace. Potable water and flush toilets, fire rings and tables, pull through and back in sites. There’s relative privacy, though that’s largely dependent on seasonal deciduous canopy. The campground sits next to a creek cascade and some hiking trails, including part of the old Trace. The Trace today is a far cry from the early days of interstate travel with sunken roads, mud bogs, and bandits. The two-lane is closed to commercial traffic, making this a fun alternative route for a leisurely paced road trip.

  Hohenwald, the “High Forest”, holds an Oktoberfest heritage festival and craft fair highlighting the Swiss-German Community that was established here, which is an excellent opportunity to get a feel for the local culture. It was in nearby Grinder House on the night of October 11,1809 that the tragic last chapter in the life of Meriwether Lewis unfolded. Following the Corps of Discovery Expedition, Lewis had been appointed second governor of the Louisiana Territory, and turned his hand to expanding the road networks, negotiating treaties between Native American nations and managing the encroaching settlers moving west. In response to political infighting over his policies, including an expedition to return a Mandan chief to his people, the War Department refused to reimburse him for debts incurred in office, threatening personal financial ruin. The state of the mail led Washington to believe him incommunicado and, on the brink of insolvency, he set out to the Capitol with receipts to make his case. Rather than continuing by boat via New Orleans, Lewis elected to travel the Trace. After finishing a meal at the roadhouse and retiring to his room, shots rang out, and Lewis was discovered by the innkeeper’s family shortly before he passed away. Over a century of dispute followed, with competing narratives of suicide, robbery, and even assassination. His gravesite was lost among the final resting places of the pioneer cemetery, and a monument to one of the great explorers was later erected in his honor.

• M

  Micheal

  Scout

  

  Jan. 11, 2021

  Neville Bay

  Great little camp ground

  Nice little are to camp at . Well suited for tents . Most of the area isn’t very level . The road going back there is gravel . We went with our 30 ft travel trailer . There is no hook ups . Can run generator until 11pm