Best Tent Camping near Hendersonville, TN
Tent campgrounds surround Old Hickory Lake and J. Percy Priest Lake near Hendersonville, Tennessee, offering settings from state park primitive sites to backcountry areas. Long Hunter State Park Campground provides primitive campsites for tent campers, while nearby Bells Bend Park offers walk-in tent sites just 10-15 miles from Hendersonville in a natural riverside setting.
Most tent-only campsites in the Hendersonville area feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal development. Fire rings are standard at locations like Long Hunter State Park, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. Drinking water availability varies significantly between campgrounds, with many primitive sites requiring campers to filter water from nearby lakes or streams. Several campgrounds, including Camp Nashville Highland Rim, provide toilet facilities, though primitive backcountry sites generally operate on pack-in, pack-out principles. Reservations are recommended at established tent campgrounds, especially during summer weekends when sites fill quickly.
The region's tent camping areas offer substantial tree cover, providing welcome shade during Tennessee's hot summer months. Waterfront tent sites at Long Hunter State Park Campground provide direct lake access, though campers should come prepared for insects. A visitor commented, "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 fingertips." Wildlife encounters are common at tent campgrounds throughout the area, with deer frequently spotted at dawn and dusk. Bells Bend Park tent sites provide a more secluded experience with seasonal night sky viewing opportunities on clear nights. According to one camper, "Bells Bend Park is close to the city but nature all around. Farmland with spots of woodland. Primitive camping, in the trees on a hill."