132 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Erin, Tennessee spans a range of options in a region situated between Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and Montgomery Bell State Park. Primitive tent camping is available at Stewart State Forest, while developed campgrounds with full amenities can be found at Piney Campground and Montgomery Bell State Park Campground. Many locations offer cabin accommodations alongside traditional camping, with Paris Landing State Park and Piney Campground providing lakeside sites popular for water activities. Several campgrounds feature both tent and RV hookups, with some locations like RJourney Clarksville RV Resort specializing exclusively in RV camping with full utility connections.
Road conditions and seasonal considerations vary throughout the region, with many primitive sites requiring travel on gravel or dirt roads. The area experiences typical Tennessee weather patterns with hot, humid summers and mild winters, making spring and fall particularly popular for camping. Montgomery Bell State Park and Paris Landing remain open year-round, while Piney Campground operates seasonally from March through November. Cell service can be spotty in more remote areas like Stewart State Forest, where no facilities or running water are available. A camper noted, "If you are looking for an out-of-the-main-drag area to go camping, try this place. There is no water, so bring plenty. Plenty of firewood available."
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw for visitors to the area, with multiple campgrounds offering access to Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, or smaller bodies of water. Piney Campground features numerous waterfront sites that receive consistently high ratings from campers. According to one visitor, "We haul our jet ski and camp right by the water. This place has a lot of amenities, including a 'beach' boat ramp, courtesy dock, fishing pier and bathhouses." Sites near water tend to fill quickly during peak season, especially on weekends. For those seeking more solitude, primitive camping at Stewart State Forest provides a quieter experience, though hunters frequently use the area during deer and turkey seasons. The mix of developed campgrounds and more rustic options accommodates various camping preferences throughout the region.
"Campground Review: Montgomery Bell State Park The Four Mile Campground is nestled in a hollow offering shade and creekage on one side plus several of the trailheads start nearby and you are close"
"It is a beautiful state park known as the"Queen of Tennessee's State Parks". There are 4,000 acres with mountain biking, fishing, hiking, picnic areas, kayaking/canoeing, and a golf course."
"Great easy drive from middle Tennessee with tons of great amenities and staff."
"One great thing about here is the beautiful lake nearby! My family and I spent our entire day here and had an absolute blast. The lake front views are incredible."
"The closest store is about 5 miles away near Tennessee Ridge. There are marked trails throughout the area."
"Close to marina. You can rent boats there. Has separate access to swimming area, you don't have to try to cross the boa busy highway. Nice restaurants just up road."
"Close to the marina it's a hard walk uphill both ways to the bathroom but they are very nice and well kept. Big open areas for children to play overall very good state park campground"
from $40 - $600 / night
Check Availability"My only complaint is that from the sites located on the water, the bathhouse is quite a hike. Kids ride bicycles all over the park and I feel the place is pretty secure."
from $35 / night
"Boswell Landing is a quiet spot of the park with gorgeous views of Kentucky Lake where you can pull up a chair (or tent!) and relax."
"Well maintained road to get here and pretty close to a modern campground with a small store. We'll be coming back here again!"
from $5 - $12 / night
Check Availability"I had plenty of space to roam around in the river even while visiting during a peak time."
"Not sure where to start as the pictures don't do justice to the location. We stayed late in November and absolutely loved it! Full hook-ups and blazing fast WiFi."
from $69 - $95 / night
Check Availability"Piney Campground is part of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. It is wildly popular among locals and travelers alike."
"While quiet hours were observed, there was a lot of music, celebrating a Tennessee win with a golf cart parade and victorious choral singing of Rocky Top right up until 11pm."
"If only Clarksville wasn’t so close to the highway... great location, much shade, good distance between rigs, level gravel pads... great public areas, very hospitable staff.... just a bit noisy from the"
"This campground is located real close to I24. You can see & hear it. Know that before you book. That aside, it’s a nice campground."
from $49 - $75 / night
Check Availability
ScoutVery clean campground, water is not for swimming though! And people who are keeping it going are super nice. Wanted to extend but they only have 14 sites and it was booked :/
Traveler** Daniel F did not stay at the same campground his photos are not of the same place and site 907 doesn’t exist** Most of the campground is seasonal. The non seasonal spots are very close. Our awning was inches away from the slide out of the camper next to us. The biggest reason I wouldn’t come back were the 2 dogs in the permit house up front. The people would let them out at 6am (11pm to 7am quiet time) and leave them out to bark non stop for at least an hour. All available spots are in the front of the campground by the barking dogs.
ScoutWe tent camp, but like electricity, however the pads are concrete and can not get stakes in ground. Did not know it was okay to put tent up off pad in grass until we called a park ranger. By this time we was frustrated because we had already put tent up.
TravelerThis site was a challenge to pull into but once in, we enjoyed the site and booked an additional night.
GuideNice spot but a little crowded for my tastes.
ScoutThis campground is nice. Pool and indoor park is great for the kids. But this place is really really quiet. Not bad but we were scared to make a sound.
TravelerGood fishing, fire pit, gravel road in, peaceful
ScoutTL;DR: Great large backwoods site at LBL with lake access, north-facing shoreline for Starlink, and workable cell service. The access road is rough rutted gravel with a steep final descent on loose gravel— serious terrain for tow vehicles, with a washout at the bottom and no easy bailout once you're committed. Have your dispersed camping pass ready for Rangers. The site has a broken glass and nail problem from careless users, and human waste is bad on the hillside above camp. Go prepared, and pack out your garbage/waste.
This is one of my go-to backwoods spots at LBL. It's a large site with lake access and surprisingly decent cell service, and the shoreline faces north making it a solid placement for a Starlink antenna. Turkey Bay OHV Area sits across the bay, but noise from over there is rarely an issue.
Getting in is another story. The road is rough rutted gravel the whole way, and the final hundred feet drops at a decent grade, and on loose gravel at that. Stop at the top of the ridge before you commit. You can see down into the site from there and tell whether it's occupied, and turning around at the top is far better than driving into someone's camp. Know your rig before you start down— if you're towing, that final pitch is a one-way commitment. You'll be turning around at the bottom on the shore. There's also a washout on the right side of the approach at the bottom, a good 18 inches deep in spots, so make sure you have the clearance before you cross it. Once down, you can continue straight to the shore and make a wide turn, or do a three-point turn at the base of the hill if the water is up or conditions are muddy.
Rangers patrol the area, so have your dispersed camping pass ready, and there is frequent traffic because it is a popular place. We have had people roll up on us at 2AM before which is disconcerting. Wildlife-wise, raccoons and coyotes are regulars. Keep your food secured.
A few things to know before you set up camp. There's a significant amount of broken glass scattered around the tent area, so watch your footing and check the ground carefully before pitching. On the banks near old fire rings, people have burned pallets and construction scraps, which means nails in the driveable areas— something to think about if you're towing or running tires you'd like to keep.
Finally, human waste is a real problem here. The surrounding forest gets used as an open latrine, paper and all. It's especially bad on and around the flat-topped rise up the hill— what looks like the remains of an old roadbed or possibly a home site. Last time I was there, nearly every tree around the perimeter had waste at the base of it. We use a chemical toilet and dump it at the dump station on the way out. Pack it out or bury it properly and be part of the solution.
It's a great spot that gets treated poorly by some users. Go in prepared and leave it better than you found it.
TravelerMy husband and I stopped here for a couple nights on our way across the country. Super easy after hours check-in process with such wonderful staff! Everyone we came across was so kind and helpful. There's tons to do at this site and it seems like it would be wonderful for families. We ate dinner at their tex mex restaurant on the dock and had some margaritas, which was very welcome after a long drive. During the day we did some fishing and enjoyed the beautiful views. The wifi worked great and we ended up with a great amount of channels with their cable. Would definitely recommend this site to anyone passing through!
Camping sites near Erin, Tennessee offer diverse options between the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers at elevations averaging 400-500 feet. The region's clay and limestone soil creates unique drainage conditions affecting campsite quality after rainfall. Spring temperatures average 65-75°F during the day and 45-55°F at night, making it a popular camping season.
Kayaking on Piney River: The crystal clear waters at Piney River Resort provide excellent kayaking opportunities about 40 miles south of Erin. "We sat in beach chairs and let the current wash over us. The swimming hole was great! We loved watching the younger crowd jump off the cliff into the water. Fishing and kayaking too!" notes Elizabeth S.
Historical exploration: Visit Fort Donelson National Historic Site near camping areas. "Beautiful area with plenty to do and history to discover," mentions Shelly S. about Dover campgrounds, which provide convenient access to Civil War historical sites.
Lakeside recreation: Kentucky Lake offers swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities at multiple access points. "We took two different weekends at Piney Campground and both times were able to get waterside spots and drop the kayaks right in at the campsite," shares Jody A., highlighting the water accessibility.
Waterfront camping spots: Campers consistently praise the lakeside sites at Boswell Landing Campground. "This site is amazing! We were able to spread out our tents for a group site and we had the perfect set up! We were 100ft. From the lake and had so many trees to use for our hammocks," reports Brooklyn L.
Family-friendly amenities: Montgomery Bell State Park gets high marks for its family features. "With a great pavilion, Vb court, ball diamond, and playground, the far side of the camp is perfect for families, groups, and events. Our fave sites are 1-8, with #1+2 right next to the creek and the most updated bathrooms," shares Stæven F.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms stand out in camper reviews. "Restrooms and showers were clean. It was very active during one of the last weekends of the season. While quiet hours were observed, there was a lot of music, celebrating a Tennessee win with a golf cart parade and victorious choral singing of Rocky Top right up until 11pm," notes Alisha R. about Land Between The Lakes.
Primitive camping challenges: Stewart State Forest offers true primitive camping. "There is no water, so bring plenty. There is a spring, however you have to know where it is. Plenty of firewood available," advises Douglas K. at Stewart State Forest.
Site selection timing: Waterfront sites book quickly, especially during peak seasons. "The best spots book up quickly, especially for long weekends so reserve EARLY if you want a specific date," recommends Jody A. about Piney Campground.
Road conditions: Some campgrounds require navigating challenging 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," warns Pat&Amanda D. about Piney River Resort.
Playground access considerations: When booking sites near playgrounds, consider traffic patterns. "If you don't want kiddos walking through your campsite to get to the playground, you may want to choose a higher number," advises Stæven F. at Montgomery Bell State Park.
Water safety planning: Many campsites offer water access with varying depths. "Piney cove is pretty shallow and we could walk out into the water a good 30-40ft before getting too deep. Bottom is soft mud," explains Chris R. at Piney Campground.
Weather preparedness: Pack for temperature fluctuations, especially in spring and fall. "We took our 3 young kids during monsoon season and the staff where amazing and getting the kids out and into nature!" shares Amy P. about Montgomery Bell State Park Campground.
Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds have uneven sites requiring preparation. "The site I had was a little awkward backing into and the water hookup was on the wrong side for my camper. Nice facilities," reports Nathan R. about Montgomery Bell State Park.
Easy access options: For overnight stays, seek pull-through sites. "Stopped just for the night as we passed through. Easy access to interstate. Pull through sites were long enough for our truck & camper so we didn't have to unhitch for one night," recommends Roy T. at RJourney Clarksville RV Resort.
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some camping experiences. "If only Clarksville wasn't so close to the highway... great location, much shade, good distance between rigs, level gravel pads... just a bit noisy from the proximity to highway," notes Glenn F. about RJourney Clarksville RV Resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Erin, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Erin, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 132 campgrounds and RV parks near Erin, TN and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Erin, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Erin, TN is Montgomery Bell State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 64 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Erin, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Erin, TN.
What parks are near Erin, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Erin, TN that allow camping, notably Barkley Lake and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
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