Best Equestrian Camping near J Percy Priest Lake

Most campgrounds in Tennessee are buried in the woods, but not this yurt campsite at Ray of Hope.  The yurt sets on the side of a beautiful Tennessee Hill offering almost a complete view of the nighttime sky.  We watched the moon rise over a hill directly in front of the campsite, and we even saw a brilliant shooting star blaze across the sky for what seems like an eternity.  The Ray of Hope campground is a private campground that went above and beyond our expectations.  The yurt was clean, included battery powered lights and a LED lantern, and a full sized bed that made the night pass with ease.  The campsite also offers free firewood and a large fire ring.  There are two deck chairs at the campsite which are perfect for stargazing.  The entrance of the yurt faces sunrise and the farm animals serenade you in the morning when the mist begins to burn off the valley.  There is a well stocked outside shower surrounded by sweet smelling herbs.  Water and a toilet are near the shower stall.   The campsite is near the small town of Petersburg, TN where you can find two gas stations and a Dollar Store.  If it's hot outside, you might want to bring a battery operated fan.  This place is a perfect glamping experience for an extended date or weekend in beautiful Tennessee.

We stayed at River Road RV Park and Horse Camp and had a great experience. It’s a quiet, no-frills spot on a working farm—perfect if you're looking for a place to relax and recharge after a day of exploring. The sites were level and clean, with both pull-through and back-in options. Full hookups were available, and there’s a small laundry area with a shower and bathroom. Roads are a little narrow, but manageable. This isn’t a resort, and amenities are minimal(a swing set for kids, no pool or clubhouse), but that’s part of the charm. Pam, the owner, is incredibly kind and helpful—she brought us firewood and checked in often. Her camp dog, Charlie, was a sweet and playful companion to our older dog. Many of the other campers are long-term residents working nearby, and everyone we met was friendly and helpful. It felt safe, grounded, and community-oriented. There’s some wildlife to enjoy—rabbits, birds, squirrels—and even a couple of mini ponies in the pasture. One thing to note: there is a train track nearby. It didn’t bother us, but light sleepers might want to bring earplugs just in case. The best part is the location. Duck River is just 5 minutes away, and Henry Horton State Park is close by—great for fishing, hiking, or kayaking. If you want a peaceful basecamp with kind people and good access to outdoor adventure, this is a great spot to park and stay.

When I happened upon this campground I was pleasantly welcomed by a visitor center and hiking from the moment I entered the park.  But no matter how nice this area was I wasn’t able to even expect what was to come with the camping facility which by far was a surprise to say the least.   

I had seen great reviews for this place, like many in Tennessee, but the amenities never seemed to stop when I actually arrived.  From an Olympic sized swimming pool, horse stables, a historic chapel, butterfly garden, playgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails, nature center and even outdoor recreation fields.  It seemed never ending! There was even a cave, that with special permit you can crawl into and explore!

The spaces were closer together than I might have have normally liked, but everyone was so friendly it didn’t seem to matter.  When I was there, there was an event going on that coming weekend so it was a bit more full than typical week day would have been.   

Still despite all the people, it wasn’t loud.  People did not blast music, talk loudly after hours or have generators humming throughout the night.  Instead it was like being in this nice isolated area just with a bunch of neighbors also enjoying the isolation.

I took full advantage of all the outdoor spaces, the only one I didn’t get a chance to enjoy was the pool which was at a point during the season where it was only open on weekends.   

I would stay at this site again if passing through.  Reservations are not required but could be helpful on busy weekends like the one I stayed just before.  I do suggest checking into the office also to get a Passport for the State of Tennessee (a small book you can stamp with each stop you make at a state facility).

TIPS:

• Bring your sense of adventure!  Lots of things to do from birdwatching to hiking and everything in between.
• Sit in the butterfly garden.  The area is so peaceful and beautiful because of the unique selection of plants selected to draw in the butterflies.  It is a perfect place to spend some time in quiet reflection.

Campground Review: Montgomery Bell State Park The Four Mile Campground is nestled in a hollow offering shade and creekage on one side plus several of the trailheads start nearby and you are close to the lakes.

Our sites were on the edge of the woods and near the restroom. Large sites, room for multiple tents and people. The only Con I had was we were on the entry road so a little busy with vehicles and foot traffic. There was a trailhead right next to our sites.

Awesome hike, rolling trail with just enough challenge. Very cool natural spring right by one of the primitive campsite. Also historical area to discover. Will be back soon!

On other visits we have explored several of the connector trails. They offer more challenging single track. There is also an extensive mountain bike trail system.

Product Review: As a Dyrt Ranger I get to review outdoor products. I had the opportunity to review the Saris SuperClamp EX bike rack. Which was good because I usually stuff my bike in the back of my truck.

The Saris was super easy to assemble and attach to the back of my truck. The tools needed came with the rack. Once on my truck I could easily fold it down out of the way or tilt it out for rear hatch access.

Loading and securing the bikes was a simple process. There are two “J” shaped arms that tilt out of the way for loading/unloading that tilt in to stabilize the bikes. Cables which are part of the assembly pull out , are run through the frame and then locked in the frame with key included.

We were at the park for a Triathlon and I was able to load my bike and my friends on the Saris and yaks on the top of my truck. This left plenty of room in my truck for my other gear and dogs.

The only Con I saw was that with my friends Jeep the rear door swings out so even with the tilt feature the assembly still had to be removed for access to the rear of the vehicle. Even with that though it was one easy step to remove the Saris EasyClamp EX . She then used the cable lock to secure the Saris to a tree.

We camped here for 2 full weeks.  The campground at Cedars of Lebanon State Park deserves 5 stars for their proximity to Nashville, the large paved pads for campers, the peaceful woods, and their overall cleanliness.

However, we were here when there was construction going on.  It was LOUD from 8am to 4, 5, and even 6pm somedays with working trucks and digging up the Tennessee Rock.  

The weekends were peaceful without the construction, and the trails are all easy and flat.  The showers worked well and were the typical campground showers.  

The wifi that is listed on the website is basically nonexistent, so don't count on that for anything important.  But Verizon had good service, while AT&T was fair.  

Only Campground 3 was open during our stay and you can see the work they are doing here is going to make a huge difference to be big rig friendly.  Enjoy!

As soon as we pulled into Cedars Of Lebanon State Park I got the old time vibe from the split tree fences and ancient farm equipment to the black and white photos in the visitors center, this park seems very in touch with its beginnings.

We hiked some of the 2 mile running trail and then veered off to explore the CCC original looking covered bench which overlooks a currently dry stream bed. There is a similar covered bench on the far-side of the dry creek with very cool stone “steps” leading from one to the other and a wood bridge further down the small valley to cross the stream bed when it has water in it. The stream runs into a cave that you can visit while at the park, guided tours are suggested but not required. Check in before exploring the cave and wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting muddy, low ceiling and headlamp/flashlight needed.

As you follow path up away from the creek bed you wander into a very unique garden area which is part of the Nature Center. I would love to have the creativity and skill to build some of the structures in my yard. Definitely worth a visit. 

The picnic area which is adjacent the lodge has small and large pavilions for use and fire pits. The lodge looks like it’s the original that you can see in the black and white photos.

The campground had the smell of bacon cooking when we pulled in which just sets the atmosphere perfectly;) there are three loops. One has side by side sites, no privacy and not much space but easy in, easy out. The other two loops have more area between sites which are tucked back into the trees. Area 3 is for pop ups , tents and vans with 20 amp electric, Area 2 is for the larger campers, 30 amp and area 1, the side by side is 30 to 50 amp. Aside from the occasional overly excited children it is a very nice quiet campground. There is disc golf, a swimming pool and riding stables plus two playgrounds and a nice gazebo that you can rent for special events. Definitely a campground to spend a chill weekend and unwind.