Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Natchez Trace Parkway, TN has a lot to offer. Natchez Trace Parkway is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
"Multiple spots to set up camp with concrete tables at each."
"Good location and easy to get to. We have been camping here for years good spot for fishing kayaking and just good family time. They have on site porta potties and picnic tables."
$10 / night
"Southport Saltpeter Cave is a historic cave located 12 miles south of Columbia TN. We offer cave tours, primitive camping, hiking, and exploring."
LegendPROS
We were able to reserve 368 days prior to arrival
Very friendly and helpful check-in clerk
Fantastic view of the lake from site 45
Mostly quiet except for campground party animals until 3am!
Concrete parking pad
BBQ grill
Fire ring constructed of concrete pavers
Coin-operated washers/dryers in shower/toilet facility
Small playground, pool and mini-golf course
Good jumping off point for Shiloh Battlefield
CONS
Campsite 45 was full of litter…cigarettes butts, bones, bottle caps, pieces of chalk, straws, melted soda bottles…just nasty
Fire ring made of concrete pavers full of ash and trash upon arrival…again nasty Pedestal BBQ grill full of trash and ash upon arrival…more nastiness
Campers ignored basic rules/courtesy/respect such as keeping dogs on leash and walking through occupied campsites at anytime. One camper walking through our site complained to us our chairs on our site were in THEIR way.
No senior discount
Narrow site
Site 45 not level
Site 45 mostly fun sun
Basically we didn't experience any of the campground rules being enforced so obviously there is no management oversight at this State Park
Never saw a park ranger drive through the campground (Saturday-Monday)
Never saw a camp host or a campsite for a camp host
Campground quiet hours not enforced
Posted "No Swimming” from campsites along lake, but that didn’t stop a sole and no one enforced it
Concrete picnic table at end of parking pad, so at the bumper of the camper
Sites very close to each other with no vegetation between sites, so no privacy what so ever
Street lights throughout campground, so not dark sky friendly
Small playground, pool and mini-golf course not walkable from campground
Trash dumpsters outside of campground…not walkable
Twisty, steep and narrow roadway into campsite...not for novice rig drivers
Due to short campsites, tow vehicles had to be creative with parking, sometimes blocking most of the campground road, again no enforcement efforts
No WiFi
1 bar Verizon
LegendFor My FULL VIDEO Of My Experience At This Campground CLICK HERE
Following the winding a scenic Natchez Trace you begin to climb higher and higher into the beauty of the mountains. When I was making this trip in late August, I could already see the shifting of the leave in its most early stages and I could only imagine what it would be like only a month later.
As I entered the park and followed the signs toward the campground I was very eager to see what this FREE site had to offer. I had discovered this site when searching youtube for things to do and someone suggested camping here because of the historic landmark in the park. After further research I discovered it was a pretty decently sized campground with semi primitive camping.
I arrived at the camping loops and discovered two loops of camping each with differing sizes of spaces, some designed for pull through style RV parking and some for back in car parking. Spaces were large and while there were several people staying here it did not seem overly crowded.
The first loop was much further from the restroom than the second, which also housed the campground host in his RV just as you entered the loop. He was welcoming with a smile and wave and I just felt like this was going to be a nice place to stay for the night.
You can stay for up to 14 days at this location and I could easily see this being one of those stops you wouldn’t necessarily want to leave in a hurry because it was so peaceful. There were numerous hiking trails and a well landscaped creek area which made for a great place to come for day use as well.
My site was pretty typical in that it had a fire ring and picnic table. The ground was semi level and very rough so camping in a tent I was happy to have brought a little padding. The restrooms were very nice and had both flush toilets and drinking water. They were well lit and for a minute when I walked in I wondered how on earth this was a free site because they were so nice.
All was great until about 8 p.m. when some people pulled in after dark and weren’t quite sure how to set up their tent and were pretty loudly disagreeing with one another in debate of how to do so. But after they finally figured that out about an hour later the night was again left to the sounds of the cicadas and frogs.
TIPS
TravelerThis place is a gem! You can stay for 14 days each year because, let's face it, it's too nice for them to let people hog it. Free water in various places, garbage cans by your site, numbered sites, paved driveways and parking spaces, manicured and litter-controlled park, and a bathroom building with multiple flush toilets for each sex and sinks with running water! These are in at least two places. Picnic tables and fire rings with lift-off on a hinge grates.
GuideI was really looking forward to this place on my way to Arkansas. However, as soon as I turned into the camping area I was “greeted” by not one but TWO off leash dogs barking and running toward my van (they were not together). Fortunately, I took vinegar spray with me when I took my dog for a walk. It was a useful deterrent when one of the loose dogs ran at us. I yelled to put the dog on leash but of course nobody emerged from the van. On the return trip I made sure to have my spray and body pointed straight toward the dog who was just waiting for me to turn around so he could attack again. If you want a flat spot, a pull through spot, or one that you can’t smell the toilets, get there early! I got there around noon and maybe 15 people were there. By sundown most spots were taken…on a Tuesday. Restrooms toward the entrance were nice with running water and flush toilets.
TravelerPros:
Excellent WiFi. Not free but inexpensive and worth the price. You can actually stream with it. Very clean Friendly staff Lots of activities in park, and many more along the nearby Natchez Trace Parkway.
Cons: Game room has seen better days. Not very many sites with sewer. Some sites look really old.
Overall worth a stop, even the few cons don't take away from how great the campground is.
GuideThe campground is quite large with lots of things to explore. A lot of the roads, especially around the campsites were in need of repair. I had full hookup with 30 amp service, though not all of the sites have sewer. All of the lakeside sites are taken up by resident campers (of which there are a lot). I had absolutely no cell service through Verizon and my T-Mobile 5g internet had no reception either (even with a booster). Luckily, I was able to rely on my Starlink. A lot of the buildings looked like they had seen better days, but were maintained as well as they could be. Staff were nice and pleasant. Meriwether Lewis death/gravesite was nearby and interesting to check out. Not a whole lot else to do in the area. There is a low bridge (11ft) that you need to pass under to get onto the Natchez Trace Parkway. If you can’t fit, you have to take Napier road north several miles. There is a wal-mart in town about 20 or so minutes away.
ScoutWe took our three kids tent camping overnight and we had a great time! All roads and campsites are paved so the kids all road bikes easily! No electric at sites but there are water spigots periodically placed through the campground. Bathrooms were very clean. No showers. Overall we were very happy!
TravelerShaded, 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.
ScoutWe really enjoyed our stay at Natchez Trace Campground. It's a great location for some hiking and sight seeing along the Natchez Trace Parkway. It's very remote and little to no cell signal. While we were there, they were installing a brand new Wi-Fi system to cover the entire Campground. The staff was really nice. We were showing up a little after they closed and they hung around for us. They also warned us about a low bridge on the way in and how to avoid it.
Tent camping near Natchez Trace Parkway in Tennessee offers a blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape into the wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Natchez Trace Parkway?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Natchez Trace Parkway is Second Creek Rec Area with a 3.8-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Natchez Trace Parkway?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 tent camping locations near Natchez Trace Parkway, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
