22 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Several tent camping options surround Gladeville, Tennessee, ranging from primitive walk-in tent sites along Percy Priest Lake to reservation-only tent campsites in secluded parkland. Long Hunter State Park Primitive Campsites offer secluded walk-in tent sites along Percy Priest Lake, while Laguardo Recreation Area provides additional tent camping with boat-in and walk-in access for campers seeking waterfront sites.
Primitive tent setups at Long Hunter State Park require carrying all essentials on a hiking trail to reach the campsites. Fire rings are available at designated sites, but campers must practice proper waste disposal with pack-in, pack-out principles. According to one visitor, "Long Hunter State Park Primitive Campsites are my kinda camping. If you enjoy carrying all your essentials on your back and sucking your water through a filtered straw then this is the camping/backpacking park for you!" Water access is available directly from the lake, though filtering is necessary. Seasonal considerations include summer tick activity, with several campers reporting significant tick presence in warmer months.
Tent campsites vary significantly across locations near Gladeville. Sites at Long Hunter State Park provide waterfront access with swimming opportunities directly from camp. One camper noted that Primitive Campsite 1 "has 3 long log benches and a grill. It is located directly by the water, so you have a water filtration source at your finger tips." Wildlife viewing is common throughout the area with frequent deer sightings at several campgrounds. Tent sites at Bells Bend Park offer a more secluded experience with 10 primitive tent sites available by reservation. These walk-in only sites provide a natural setting with firewood provided, though no vehicle access is available to the individual campsites. The area offers minimal light pollution for stargazing opportunities while maintaining reasonable proximity to Nashville.
"There is a flat trail next to the lake that my two year old loves to run up and down, playgrounds, and a story trail."
"We stayed right on the water & one of the trails, it was so beautiful."
"Primitive campsite 1 has 3 long log benches and a grill. It is located directly by the water, so you have a water filtration source at your finger tips."
"Long Hunter State Park Primitive Campsites are my kinda camping."
"Stayed overnight at the boat ramp in a large quiet lot next to the reservoir surrounded by trees. A few cars were in the lot in the morning but I didn’t hear a sound. There are no services here."
"Easy to get to, ample room between campers, close to local shopping."
from $45 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $85 - $120 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $112 - $160 / night
"Another backside primitive campsite at Mammoth Cave National Forest, Ky. A lot of people don’t realize the extensive trail system of Mammoth Cave."
"Despite this campsite being surrounded by the Green River on 3 sides, water is hard to come by here, and hiking it in may be your best bet."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"Old Hickory Beach Day Use Area is not what I would consider a hidden gem..that being said if you like swimming in lake water this is a nice enough area."
from $75 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $50 / night
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TravelerThe waterfalls are beautiful and relaxing. You can hike the high-easier trail (but tree roots are present) or the lower-harder trails and be a unprofessional rock climber right down to the falls. 2.5 mile hike if you go all the way around. We spent over 2.5 hours here. Bonus is that if you are not camping here... you can use the very very clean showers for $5!
GuideGreat bunch of people working there helped me out alot Sites were very tight I had to switch mine to just fit my camper 38 ft . The staff switched me to another spot
TravelerNice campground, spaces are a little tight but not bad. Restrooms are clean.
TravelerOnly here for an overnight but would definitely recommend. Huge sites. Very quiet. Clean campground. Host was very friendly.
TravelerReserved spot #19 for 1 night. The stay was very peaceful with friendly staff! The site itself was a bit rocky but that should be expected for primitive. A firepit and grill was provided with a less than 20 ft walk to the water through the trees. Would definitely book again for the price and convenience!!🤙
ScoutThe grounds are laid out along a loop. The first ten spaces are lake side and have water and power. The rest of the sites are less developed. There is a boat ramp. There is a toilet house in the rustic area and a shower house near the developed sites. There is a dump station. Suburban development along the access road provides convenient retail.
GuideGorgeous views, rest of the campground was fairly clean. But the bathrooms....it was very evident they hadn't been cleaned in a very long time. All they did was refill toilet paper. There was dirty brown liquid stains dripping off the walls of all restrooms, dead bugs everywhere and even more in the cobwebs in every corner that could easily be swept out daily. Dirty than a gas station bathroom. Because we tent camp I would not stay here again which is unfortunate because the lake views were very pretty.
ScoutEasy access and paved, back in spaces. Multiple hiking trails. Decent store at check-in. Little to do without car. Must drive to the old stone fort. Slow T-Mobile service.
ScoutCampground is clean, pads are paved, fire ring and a grill on every site. Clean bathroom and showers. Many sites have view of Percy Priest Lake. Swimming area and playground for kids.
Percy Priest Lake provides several tent campsites near Gladeville, Tennessee with varying levels of access. Most sites sit on elevated terrain with oak-hickory forests and limestone outcroppings. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with high humidity, making water access important for campers during peak months.
Swimming access: Long Hunter State Park Campground offers direct water access at multiple sites. "My fave thing here was the trails. There are some really great wooded trails you can take. I saw so many deer and turkeys I finally quit taking pics of them," notes camper DrDavid P.
Wildlife viewing: The primitive camping areas surrounding Gladeville feature abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. "One great thing about this campground is that there is wildlife everywhere. We saw so many Whitetail Deer, it was amazing. They would just come into the campground, feed and walk around," reports Melani T. about camping at Lone Branch.
Kayaking: Laguardo recreation area provides boat-in camping options and water sports. A visitor noted, "I've only been here kayaking but it's nice and clean," making it ideal for paddlers seeking water-based camping.
Backpacking practice: First-time backpackers appreciate Long Hunter State Park for skills development. "Pack distribution and what you need, no major climbs. This is a good trail to try out your skills before attempting a more challenging trip," explains Shelly S.
Island camping: Cook - J. Percy Priest Reservoir offers unique boat-in island camping opportunities. Camper Charlotte B. reports, "Boated in and camped on an island," though she cautions about potential noise from other campers.
Trail accessibility: Multiple trail options exist for various skill levels. At Turnhole Backcountry Campsite, one camper explains, "Turnhole Campsite is a short or long hike from the Maple Springs parking area. Sal Hollow Trail would be the long trail, twisty, turny and moderately challenging. Buffalo Trail is a straight hike in."
Limited facilities: Most primitive tent sites require self-sufficiency. At Turnhole Backcountry Campsite, "water is hard to come by here, and hiking it in may be your best bet. The river is at least 1/2 mile away, through extremely dense brush, and the banks are not easy to access."
Ferry access considerations: Some areas require monitoring transportation access. For Turnhole, "The Green River Ferry seems to be non-operational a lot. Call the hotline the day of your drive in to see which route you should take: 270-758-2166."
Campsite amenities: Smith Springs provides basic amenities for campers. "The camping is normal. Nothing special, but perfectly adequate. All you need and nothing more. The spots are beautiful though. Right on the water," reports DrDavid P.
Kid-friendly sites: Families report successful trips with younger campers. Sasha R. mentions taking "a young Girl Scout Troop just to reach our Campsite it was beyond worth it!" at Long Hunter State Park despite the 6-mile hike.
Navigation challenges: Some recreation areas require careful planning. At Nat Caldwell Park, a visitor notes it "was not what I expected. It is a very small recreation area, no boat ramp, no facilities except a porta pot (it was clean) and a pavilion with nice size grill."
Accessible trails: Look for paved paths for kids and those needing more accessible options. One camper at Long Hunter State Park notes, "There's also a really nice paved trail around the lake for the kids or handicapped folks."
City proximity camping: Camp Nashville Highland Rim provides tent camping with city access options. Jake C. explains, "At Camp Nashville, you can make day trips to the city and come back to your cozy campsite after a day exploring the city!"
Parking considerations: Many tent campsites near Gladeville have limited vehicle access. At Long Hunter State Park, all supplies must be carried in on hiking trails to reach primitive sites, requiring careful planning for equipment.
Local shopping access: Some campgrounds offer proximity to supplies. At J. Percy Priest Lake, James C. appreciates the grounds are "Easy to get to, ample room between campers, close to local shopping."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Gladeville, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Gladeville, TN is Bledsoe Creek State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Gladeville, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Gladeville, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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