Best Tent Camping near Henderson, TN

Two of us with two small tents spent one night passing through on motorcycles. We have been camping on these trips for well over a decade. Although Ann, the proprietor seemed very nice and welcoming over the phone, it became obvious upon our arrival that we should have asked some basic questions. Since the tent camping area had no picnic tables nor shade with very tall grass and weeds, we went with an RV site. She would NOT allow two tents on a single RV site. When we asked why, Ann just said"those are the rules" and continued telling us about her trip to Greece. Not to interrupt her, I waited and then asked again why the one tent per RV site. This time, her answer was that we don't have to stay there if we don't want to. Tired from a day on the road, we stayed and paid the$60.00 instead of the$44.00 that the TWO tents sites would have cost. At least we had a table, water, and power(did not test it) if needed. For RVs, the price is right no matter how big your rig is. Just don't mind the completely run down facilities and the gross showers that were air conditioned only from about 4 pm until 9 pm. They have a pool!

My wife grew up going to Chickasaw State Park as a child and when she wanted to go back with our family we couldn’t get inside because the state of Tennessee was totally redoing the campground. They closed it for one year. When it was reopened, we booked a trip with some friends to see what all had been done. This park was already an outstanding campground, but the addition of sewer in many of the sites and updated hiking trails, ADA access, and the newly updated bridge across the lake were breathtaking.

We stayed in the primary campground area and had access to sewer 30/50 amp and water. There is a horse camp with newly added 30A electric and newly paved pads. There are tent camp sites on the other side of the lake that are beautiful if that’s your thing. There are several hiking trails and a nature center with owls and a falcon. In warmer months, there is a marina with boat, canoe, kayak rentals and a swimming area that were all being updated. There is also a restaurant in the park, but i was closed for a complete renovation as well. The playground is new for parents interested. The dump station is easily accessible.

If you are looking for a beautiful spot in West TN with full hookups and plenty of activities for the family, Chickasaw State Park is outstanding. We will definitely be back!

This is a great place to go RV camping, tent camping or even wrangler camping. It is a quiet park with hiking, biking, horseback riding, boating, swimming, and much more. One of our favorite state parks.

Quiet, near shopping, family oriented, Pet friendly, boat launch, shore fishing, store, pull through sites, friendly helpful staff, tent sites, great place to camp.

A nice campground with blacktop sites. Campground is hilly but most sites are fairly flat. Very nice hot showers. They also have tent camping, cabins, and camping with your horse. Small lake within walking distance to the RV campground. Camp store, gym, small amphitheater. Wifi was a free signup for 3 days but was too slow to be useful.

The Shiloh Military Park nearby kept us busy for a whole day and we spent the evening swimming (real pool, not just a lake) and grilling and campfire at this campground. We loved this tent site among the trees along the lake (I think it was site # teen-something). It wasn’t crowded in June which was a nice surprise.

We tent camped in the Cub Lake loop, campsite 2, site 2. The restrooms was incredibly out of date. Loop 1 looked like all the sites were on an incline falling down a hill. Loop 2, our site was flat but some others in this loop were on an incline. All sites, restrooms and the park overall looked dilapidated and like it needs some TLC. There were water pumps though. Would not stay here again.

Shaded, private showers, water and electric hookups, tent friendly, and wildlife-fanatic friendly. Though it is his and gets sweaty at night so bring a fan and appropriate sleeping gear if you'll be tent camping. The grounds are well shaded and comfortable so you don't cook during the day. At night you can indulge in the rich atmosphere of southern cicadas and crickets backdropping owls and coyotes (don't worry! Coyotes are scared of people, they just sound a little jarring when you first hear them yipping). Really nice playground next to the bathrooms.

My two kids tent camped while my parents had their pop up! It was a nice site. There were enough trees that my brother in law was able to set up his hammock system. The site was well kept. There were hardly any blood sucking bugs and no wildlife for protect our stuff from. I think part of that is this site had flooded and rebuilt recently. The staff was very friendly and the area near the dam was really neat. The site is also very close to Pickwick State Park.

Site 1 was on it own little peninsula with cypress tree, flat ground, and nice views. The whole primitive/tent campground was nice, with all site being on or viewing the water. Clean and nice to walk around. The primitive section js also the boat ramp area and doesn’t have running water facilities

After picking up a brochure in Memphis I made it a point to come to this campground because it looked so inviting with a quaint lake with swimming beach and tent sites nestled right into the woods along the waters.

I drove about an hour and a half to the site passing though a few small towns along the way, but nothing major in way of traffic. It was a pleasant drive with great views of the lands of Tennessee.

When I arrived at around 4:45 the office was already closed which made for a little confusion with getting my site. There was a sign posted about after hours arrivals and to report to the stables where there was a small store. I went there and no one was there either and it then had an additional sign to go to the swimming beach for the concessions area there. Again, no one was there! I found this a little unsettling that even when I was given a basic instruction there was no follow through on the part of the park staff to be in those areas, but I did chalk it up to it being a weekday and perhaps things were run a bit differently.

I followed signs to the tent camping area to see if there were sites available and indeed found there to be no one at the site so I had the entire side of camp to make my selection. The sites were two levels with the upper level being a pull out for your car and the lower being the area with a tent pad and picnic table.

I selected a water facing site without any additional amenities and began to settle in. The bathroom was just up the hill about 50 feet so I checked it out to get a feel of the amenities and was very pleased to find showers and flush toilets. Though I did think it to be a bit strange that despite being the only one at the camp on this side there were wet footprints and it was humid as though someone had just taken a shower.

I went on to set up my tent and after locking up my car took a brief walk across one of the two walking bridges which span the lake. I had taken my Midland radio I am testing on this trip with me and began to scan the channels as I walked because of some pretty crazy clouds that looked like they were coming in. Sure enough a siren blasted through and warned a tornado just south by a ways.

A little rattled I quickly returned to camp, only to find that the wet footprints which I had discovered had an owner who was more than a little sketchy. A car parked just beside the restroom with a man and a woman seemed to be facing my tent watching it. When I came closer to my car, the man exited and started speaking to me. Something didn’t seem right about this person and knowing that the storm was coming, I quickly started disassembling my camp while he continued speaking and began to ask very odd questions like “was I camping alone”.

I don’t know if this is exactly what people want to hear when they read a campground review, but this is the reality of what happens sometimes. I have never been so thankful for a storm because after hearing the man speak and talk about how he “checks up on campers” because he is a local and seeing him try to look into my car while speaking to me without seeming obvious I would have NEVER stayed at this campground. The storm just gave me a good excuse to leave quickly, and because of that I was thankful.

The campground itself was really nice and if I was with a party of people I would give it another shot, maybe even perhaps when it was a busy weekend with other people. But under no circumstances would I return here alone.

On the way back from Pickett State Park, to Texas, we decided to stay at the Wrangler site again. This time, I picked a new pad (56) and again, it was dark, quiet and beautiful. This park is huge, with TONS of site choices available. The tent sites seemed full, but we prefer less people. The updated photo below. We had to book through recreation.gov app, which was easy enough, but misleading on what sites are booked and not booked. Would absolutely return to this beautiful State Park.

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Parkers Crossroads RV Park and Campground, and I must say that it exceeded all my expectations. The location is conveniently situated halfway between Nashville and Memphis at I-40 on Exit 108, making it easily accessible. The sites are spacious and situated on 18 acres of picturesque rolling Tennessee Farmland, making it an ideal place to unwind and enjoy nature. The amenities offered are exceptional, with all the necessary hookups available for both RV and tent camping. I particularly loved the market, which offered a wide variety of supplies to make my stay comfortable. The staff used to be pleasant and accommodating, making my trip all the greater enjoyable. If you are planning a day out to the area, I pretty endorse you visit this gorgeous campground. You may not be disappointed!

This park is smack in the middle of Memphis, Huntsville, and Nashville so it can get pretty crowded. It is very large though, with a full golf course, hotels, cabins, RV/tent camping, sports, kids programs, swimming, fishing, boating, etc. We went here for a family reunion, which was a great venue for that. There is good birding but the trails are very short, so if you are looking for hiking this is not the best place to go, though it is very pretty.

Yay: Campground is wooded and shady, clean but bustling.

Nay: There’s a conference center, so if there’s an event going on then, it will be extremely busy.

Surprise: There are a lot of roads in the park that would be great for biking.

We brought our small Aliner camper here to primitive camp for the first time and we couldn’t have picked a better place! The campsites have been redone in the last couple of years. Fresh gravel and wooden railing. The bathhouse is clean and easy access from all campsites.

There is a small playground close to the entrance. Lots of hiking trails and a fire tower that you can climb! We love the boardwalk trail! Unfortunately, this is our second time to visit the park and the visitors center has been closed both times. Kayaks and fishing boats available for rent.

You can’t go wrong tent camping or bringing a small RV here!

Bonus tip: This is a dark sky area, so come during the new moon phase for views of the Milky Way!

My family and I took a little trip over fall break to tent camp. We stayed in the Cub Lake area in campground 2, which is their primitive campground. There were a few other campers already there in the campground, but we still felt very secluded which was nice. The campground itself is absolutely beautiful and there is plenty to do. Very family friendly as they have a few nice playgrounds for our little ones.

My one complaint, which turned out to be a pretty big hurdle, revolves around firewood. The check in time for campsites is 4 PM and we were there around that time. On the website when you book it mentions not bringing in any firewood from outside the park, which is understandable, but that wood is available inside. The camp store was closed the entire time we were there (We stayed Tuesday and Wednesday), and our campsite host was not available in the times listed either. We knocked on their RV door and called and left a message and never heard back, which left us trying to scramble and salvage dead drop wood for our fires.

It wasn’t far from the water, but the sites were pretty small, the grill was in the center which made it difficult to place tents safely, and was the site itself was also on a slight grade.

Word to the wise, do NOT purchase their firewood! No amount of lighter fluid, hell fire, or lava could get it to catch. It would only char. However, if you can find some sourgum wood laying around in the surrounding woods like we did, it will give the most entrancing fire you’ll ever see with ember that look like dancing glass.

Bathhouse was heated and cleaned regularly. Very nice!

Awesome bridge going over water that leads over to the cabin side of the park. The bridge had benches and covered shade to rest along the way which was really cool.

Small park in the tent campground that really needs updating, but the one on the cabin side (other side of bridge), was really big and nice. The kids loved playing on it, shooting hoops on the basketball court, and the volleyball court inspired us to invest in a camping volleyball for next time :)

**Campground Review: **

On Friday, August 23, 2019 my son Charlie and I camped at Chickasaw State Park to celebrate his ninth birthday. We couldn’t have found a better park than this one. It reminds me of the classic summer camps I saw on television as a kid: beautiful lake, horses, stables, paddle boats and canoes, and even a well maintained swimming hole. They even have three birds of prey on display for visitors to enjoy. From our arrival to the moment we left, the rangers and staff made us feel welcomed and safe. Ranger Brittany helped me find the perfect site and even checked in later to make sure that we were completely satisfied with the spot. Who wouldn’t be? The campsite was located right on Lake Placid in the middle of almost 15,000 acres of state forest. Each campsite in the tent campground had a new picnic table, a fire ring, access to potable water, and a grill. Our campsite, number 109, was located right next to a large handicapped parking spot that is big enough for a very large handicapped van. The parking spot was constructed on level ground with concrete. Campsite 109 was far away from the bathroom, but the trail to it was beautiful and made even the most hasty trip pleasant walking. Campsite 109 also had easy access to the pier which spans the width of the lake. My son and I enjoyed walking out into the middle of the lake and seeing the expanse of the Milky Way(what a treat!). There’s great firewood for sale at the stables for$6.00 a box. This is the best campfire wood I’ve ever purchased. It burned slow and steady leaving us enough to pass on to one of our neighbors the next morning. I would suggest spending at least two nights here. We only spent one, and my son and I didn’t want to leave. There’s so much we didn’t get to see and do at this park. This place is a real gem. I’ll guarantee that you will feel like you’re back at summer camp. By the way, don’t forget to bring a good lantern or flashlight with you: you will need it since many of the trails to the bathroom and out to the pier are very dark at night. This just helps you to see the stars better.

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**Product Review: **

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I have the opportunity to test some of the latest and coolest camping products on the market. On my camping trip to Chickasaw, my son and I tried out the Grub Stick Deluxe Kit. What a fun way to cook over a campfire! In my kit I received two telescopic poles which have well made attachments such as the Grub Cage, Grub Fork, Burg Cage, and Grub Tube that attach to the end of the telescopic poles. 

We used the Burg Cage for supper and it made awesome burgers. They had that perfect campfire flavor. My son enjoyed getting to cook his own food rather than waiting for dad to cook it on the grill. The handles are very comfortable to hold, and they were just the right size for my son’s smaller hands. The whole time he was using it, I kept hearing wows. It’s great when a company makes a camping product that engages children in cooking. The Grub Stick does just that. 

The kit also came with special grips like the finger grabber and the hot pad to help open and close the cages and other attachments. You can really tell that the makers of the Grub Stick thought of everything when they were designing this. 

One of the things that was really fun was the Grub Cage. It left me wondering,“where have you been all my life?” Instead of building the S’more AFTER roasting the marshmallow on a stick, you build it in the cage and toast the whole thing. I think this is the way the S’more was always meant to be. Everything, including the graham crackers, oozes with sugary, toasty goodness. 

For breakfast, we used the Grub Tube and wrapped it with bacon and croissant rolls. It was as good as it sounds. As I was cooking, I kept thinking of other things that could be cooked over the fire using this kit. I’m excited to have it in my cooking kit now, and I see us using this quite often especially on those winter camping trips when we want to stay close to the fire. 

Overall, this is a great product for engaging kids in camping. The Grub Stick will allow my kids to come up with their own recipes, put them together on their own, and then try them out on the fire. They love being a part of the cooking part of camping, and the Grub Stick is the perfect tool for this. 

I did have an issue with one of the telescopic handles. After cooking three burgers, one of the telescopic handles broke. I contacted customer service, and they went above my expectations to not only replace it but to help me understand their product even more. Most people expect things to be returned with“no questions asked,” but this isn’t how Grub Stick operates. They asked for pictures and a description of the failure so they can make sure their product gets better and better. I wouldn’t hesitate at all to order more from this company. It’s great when people not only believe in their product but also stand by it and are always looking for ways to improve it. They sent a replacement immediately, and I can’t wait to get this back out in the field.

Overall: Small, shaded and quiet. Way off the beaten path near the Tennessee River. A drive to the nearby Lady’s Bluff Small Wild Area is worthwhile. 

Getting there: If you want to get away from the crowded I-40 Interstate and do not mind a 30 minute drive through the gently rolling hills and farmland of rural Tennessee this might be a good stop for you! Be sure to set your GPS before leaving I-40 because at least with ATT you will lose signal.  

Check in and staff: Online reservation was easy and the website has photos with a good listing by site of what is there, including whether or not there is a tent pad and the size of same. We needed to change sites at the last minute. The ranger was very kind and helpful. 

Amenities: power and water available at main campground but not all site:, spotty cell service with ATT. Does work on the hilltop of the main campground. Washer/dryer available in bath house. Camp store closed for remodeling and paving while we were there. 

Bathrooms: older but clean, well kept. Small, one shower. 

Site: partial shade, some reasonable separation between sites but some close together. Fellow campers were quiet and courteous. Picnic tables and fire pits clean and in good order.

Excellent campgrounds, for both tent and RV, and the lake felt amazing.

One of the nicest parks in West Tennessee but not for RV's over 26 feet.  Great hiking.

We like the rustic campground here! Nice new bathhouse and playground area. They sell firewood! I do wish the campground was on the river or had water views, but it’s close by, so that’s okay.

There is a nice lodge with restaurant. The cabins here are extremely nice! They have views of the Tennessee River. Be sure to check out the wildlife rehab near the front office.

There are a few stores and restaurants close by in case you want to go out to eat if need to make a trip to the store.

We love Tennessee State Parks!

Even though my campsite was between the bathhouse and the playground (tent area 93) it was a peaceful stay. Would stay again but maybe not that .

The tent spots are small and some are arranged strangely but it is beautiful. The park is well kept and clean and had things from volleyball to basketball to fishing... we will definitely return!

This park is extremely clean and well maintained. The primitive sites are right on the beautiful tennessee river. The park rangers are extremely helpful as well. Highly recommended

This was our first experience with Tennessee State Parks and found this park really nice! We stayed in site 11 which was AAA and level at the top. Only negatives were a steep incline to back into site, no cell service and pay as you go park WiFi. Overall a nice clean park!