Best Tent Camping near Holladay, TN

Tent camping opportunities near Holladay, Tennessee include several primitive options primarily concentrated in Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park, where multiple backcountry shelters provide rustic accommodations along hiking trails. Santa's Woods offers tent campers five sites scattered throughout forested terrain, while Stewart State Forest provides more remote tent camping experiences approximately 23 miles northwest of Holladay.

Most tent campgrounds in the area feature minimal amenities, requiring campers to be self-sufficient. Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park's backcountry shelters are accessible via hiking trails, with some sites positioned along the banks of Kentucky Lake. Fire pits are available at most locations, though water sources are limited or nonexistent. Stewart State Forest lacks developed facilities entirely, with no potable water or restrooms on site. Campers should pack in all necessary supplies, including sufficient water. Hunting seasons may impact camping experiences at Stewart State Forest, where orange safety gear is recommended during these periods.

The primitive nature of tent camping near Holladay creates opportunities for solitude and natural immersion. Kentucky Lake views enhance several backcountry tent sites at Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park, where wooden platforms provide stable tent foundations on sloped terrain. Stewart State Forest offers more adventurous camping along unmarked forest roads and clearings, with abundant firewood available from fallen timber. Santa's Woods invites tent campers to find their preferred spot among large trees and forest trails. A visitor to Stewart State Forest noted, "If you are looking for an out-of-the-main-drag area to go camping, try this place. There is a spring, however you have to know where it is." The remote settings provide peaceful environments for tent campers willing to forgo modern conveniences in exchange for quieter, more secluded camping experiences.

Best Tent Sites Near Holladay, Tennessee (12)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Holladay, TN

7 Photos of 12 Holladay Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Holladay, TN

326 Reviews of 12 Holladay Campgrounds


  • Vince B.
    Mar. 31, 2021

    Gatlin Point

    A Good Boondocking Spot!

    About four miles of winding hills off the paved road. Cleared and not too rough. The site has 18 designed spots, all tiered into the wooded hillside. There is a natural boat launch into Bards Lake. A single Vault toilet and Dumpster as well. The gravel camping pads are reasonably level, each with a concrete picnic table and large fire ring with grate.The hillside spots were designed for tent camping and are tight. No campers larger than 20' will fit on the hillside, however the bottom four spaces will accommodate a class A rig. A fork at the top of the hill provides a space for small campers to turn around if needed. Space number 16 has poor drainage. The area is very shady, a nice deep woods feeling. Firewood must be deadfall or bring your own "bug free" wood. The welcome center at the entrance has fresh and "potable" water, and a blackwater dump. The center also has maps, sodas, candy, etc. Great area to hike, the weird history of the area can be seen everywhere. Hundreds of very old cemeteries and homestead ruins... Att signal was two bars at all times. Overall, a big thumbs up!!!

  • David B.
    Oct. 8, 2018

    Gatlin Point

    Five miles off paved roads and no electricity or running water.

    Located at Land Between the Lakes at the south end. This campground has about 18 sites. You can can camp near the water or back in the woods. The sites have concrete picnic tables, fire rings and gravel for parking and to set up your site. As m motioned, no electricity or running water. Nearest water point is about five miles away at the South welcome center. Vault toilet (one seat). Sites are close but not crowded. There is a small no wake lake next to the site and lake Barkley is 50 yards away. There is also a boat ramp into Lake Barkley a quarter mile away. This is a great site for relaxing and fishing.

  • B
    Jun. 8, 2020

    Lakefront Campground — Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park

    Well kept

    The tent sites were well kept. They are gravel pads with a grill and fire ring. They are right on the water with easy access to put in a kayak. And close to a boat ramp if bringing a boat. It’s shaded. The bath house is a bit of a walk and they have restrooms only, no showers.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2018

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    When you think FREE you probably don't think of sites THIS NICE!

    For 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

    • If you are tent camping bring some kind of cushion on pad for your floor otherwise it will be a rough evening on the ground.
    • Bug spray is a must, the mosquitoes are thick here because of all the moisture of the forest and ticks can also be a problem during certain months.
    • Don’t tell all your friends, they will take over your secret little camping spot after they find out just how amazing this site really is!! (lol)
  • Devin R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2024

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    Hey, It’s Free

    I 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.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 10, 2025

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    The best in free camping!

    This 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.

  • Rachael H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2020

    Chickasaw State Park Campground

    Very disappointed

    Was excited as we drove into camp. It looked beautiful. Our site has a beautiful view of the lake. Tent pad was mostly level. They say gravel- it was really rocky. Fire ring, standing grill and table were at the site. Ours was nicely shaded. Water spigot not to far away. Tent area restroom was clean. No showers. Walked across the bridge to go to the swimming area. Trash EVERYWHERE. that only got worse as we got to the beach area. The majority of the people we saw there were... the kind of people you’re not surprised to see dropping their trash instead of walking 3 feet to put it in the trash can. I saw several people hawk and spit on the ground. One last view her nose in the ground in plain sight. Gross enough before COVID-19. The water was BROWN. very dirty. My daughter came out brown. Her suit was brown. The restrooms at the beach were FILTHY and full of trash. There is one cold water outdoor shower. Very disappointed in this park.

  • saddie R.
    Mar. 31, 2025

    Meriwether Lewis Campground, Milepost 385.9 — Natchez Trace Parkway

    Loved our stay!

    We 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!

  • Mandy F.
    Jun. 28, 2019

    Heartstone Campground

    Heartstone Campground - REAL Camping in the Tn Woods

    What a hidden treasure! We had so much fun! It really is in the woods, complete with songbirds to wake you up and crickets to sing you to sleep. The creek makes a relaxing backdrop to your campfire time at night. The creek is deep enough to sit in, but not swim. It’s very reasonably priced, pretty, and SO worth the drive!

    The campground owners are friendly and take great care of the place and campers, but they don’t hang around all the time. They obviously love their place because it was tidy and neat.

    The “outhouse” is a four stall building - very clean and private. The owners make sure to think of everything you would need (and a few little extras) We took showers with our solar bags in a outdoor little stall built on a hill. It was so cool to shower “outside”! There is plenty of firewood around the campground, and each site has a fire ring, and a picnic table. There are plenty of trash cans throughout.

    Heartstone is a primitive campground, with no hook-ups or electricity. They only allow dry camping for trailer campers. I’m pretty sure the limit for a Camper is 25’. Cell phone signals are spotty depending on your carrier, but they have a land line for emergencies. Welcome to off grid camping!

    Although it feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere there are actually stores and restaurants about 15 minutes away in the towns of Hohenwald, or Linden, or Waynesboro. The Buffalo River is only about 5 minutes away where you can go canoeing or floating, and the Tennessee River is about 30 minutes drive. It’s also near Amish communities where you can buy locally made and grown items. Nashville and Huntsville are both about an hour and a half away, depending which way on Hwy 65 you go.

    We really loved it there, and will definitely make it a regular stop this year. Hope this helped!


Guide to Holladay

Explore the beauty of tent camping near Holladay, Tennessee, where nature meets adventure in serene settings.

Tent campers should check out Santa's Woods

  • Nestled among large trees and trails, Santa's Woods offers a peaceful atmosphere perfect for setting up camp.
  • This private campground allows pets, making it a great choice for those who want to bring their furry friends along.
  • With five sites available, it’s an ideal spot for a cozy camping experience.

Enjoy local activities at Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park

  • The Red Rock Trail Backcountry Shelter features primitive sites along riverbanks, providing stunning views and a chance to connect with nature.
  • Hikers will appreciate the various trails available at the park, including options for both short and long excursions.
  • For history buffs, the park offers a glimpse into Civil War history, enhancing your outdoor adventure.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities at Stillwaters Farm

  • Stillwaters Farm Rustic Campsites provides essential amenities like drinking water, showers, and toilets for a comfortable stay.
  • Guests can engage in farm activities or simply relax in the tranquil environment, making it a unique camping experience.
  • The well-maintained grounds ensure a peaceful retreat, perfect for unwinding after a day of exploration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Holladay, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Holladay, TN is Santa's Woods with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Holladay, TN?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Holladay, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.