Best Tent Camping near Harrison, TN
Tent campgrounds near Harrison, Tennessee offer a mix of primitive sites and established camping areas within the surrounding landscape of Prentice Cooper State Forest, Savage Gulf State Park, and the Cumberland Trail system. Lockhart's Arch Shelter provides a backcountry option for tent campers 1.8 miles from the southern terminus of the Cumberland Trail, while Davis Pond Campsite offers a more accessible tent camping experience within a wildlife management area. Hunter's Check Station Campground in Prentice Cooper State Forest provides basic tent sites with toilet facilities.
Most tent campsites in the region require various levels of hiking effort to reach, ranging from short walk-ins to multi-mile hikes on moderate terrain. Davis Pond Campsite features dirt camping surfaces with established fire rings and picnic tables, though the access road requires some vehicle clearance. Tent pads are generally unprepared forest floor with minimal grading. Several primitive camping areas like those along the Big Frog trail system have limited or no water sources nearby, requiring campers to pack in adequate supplies. Vault toilets are available at some sites like Hunter's Check Station, though maintenance varies considerably, with one camper noting the Davis Pond facilities were "covered in trash and bugs."
The tent camping experience around Harrison provides access to notable natural features including waterfalls, ridge views, and hiking trails. Many sites offer shade coverage and multiple established fire rings. Davis Pond provides a meadow setting with a small fishing pond, while forest-based sites like those in Big Frog Area offer denser tree cover. Tent-specific areas typically offer greater seclusion than developed campgrounds. Primitive campsites along trails like Big Frog and Laurel Snow provide strategic overnight locations for longer hikes. According to one review, the Lockhart's Arch shelter is "very small, covered on three sides, with enough room to fit 2-3 adults" with space for "one or two small backpacking tents if you prefer your tent to the shelter."






















