7 campgrounds with availability this weekend
J Percy Priest Lake offers numerous developed campgrounds with concrete pads and full hookups for RVs, along with primitive tent camping areas along its shoreline. Seven Points Campground and Anderson Road Campground provide water and electric hookups with seasonal availability from spring through fall. Four Corners RV Resort features lakefront sites with concrete pads and beach access about 20 miles south of downtown Nashville. The lake region includes several Corps of Engineers managed sites with varying levels of amenities and proximity to water.
Campground reservations are essential during summer months when lakeside sites fill quickly. Most developed sites around J Percy Priest Lake operate seasonally, typically closing between late October and April. "There is a gated entrance, which I like. The staff here is unbelievably welcoming and friendly. The crew is constantly working on cleaning, landscaping and maintenance," notes one visitor about Four Corners Resort. Water levels can impact access to boat-in sites, and mosquitoes present a significant challenge for outdoor activities, particularly at dusk near the shoreline. Campers should pack insect repellent and be prepared for windy conditions when staying at lakefront sites during winter months.
Lakefront camping receives consistently positive reviews, with visitors highlighting the scenic sunrise and sunset views over the water. Several campgrounds feature swimming beaches, fishing docks, and boat access points, making water recreation the primary draw for most campers. Families appreciate the concrete pads and level sites at newer resorts, which provide stability for RVs while maintaining proximity to nature. Wildlife viewing includes deer, turkeys, and waterfowl, with Canadian geese particularly common at Four Corners. Bathroom facilities vary considerably between campgrounds, with some offering only vault toilets while newer resorts provide modern shower houses and laundry facilities. The proximity to Nashville makes these campgrounds popular for those seeking outdoor recreation with urban conveniences nearby.
"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."
"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."
Available this weekend
"J. Percy Priest lake is very nice as well!"
"Paved roads, showers, playground, Big lake side sites wth shade. lots of space between the campsites. fire rings, picnic tables."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $36 - $50 / night
"Nashville north koa was a nice campground with a proximity to Nashville but away from the bustle. We stayed for a week and enjoyed ourselves."
"The proximity to the Opry and surrounding sites is fantastic. Top that off with front desk, event and maintenance staff that were all super nice and you’ve got a great combo."
"Great campground on a lovely lake. We always enjoy our stay here. Short drive to nearby Smyrna. Bathrooms are clean and staff is very welcoming."
"We have stayed on the other side of Percy Priest lake and loved it so thought we’d try an Army Corps campground this time in Nashville. What a gem!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $28 - $56 / night
"Driving in through da hood you get a questionable feeling but, once through the gate and checked in this is a fantastic little campground!"
"The first ten spaces are lake side and have water and power. The rest of the sites are less developed. There is a boat ramp."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $28 - $40 / night
"Sitting in a lake, the campground is a peninsula surrounded by water. Great views, super clean and very nice amenities. Saturday night they had a band and a Halloween celebration. Very safe."
"Nice lake. Nice pool. Good sites. Lake is close to all sites. Very helpful store at the front with items you need."
"We came from Idaho to Tennessee in May for two weeks and this was our first campsite. We fell in love with peaceful walks along the river, watching the ducks and birds along with a few turtles 🐢."
"Bathrooms near to the entrance were a little dated, but the ones near the dump station were nicer. The playground/beach area was nice."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $35 - $50 / night
"The concrete pad was level, with the water hookup located at the very back of the site."
"There are very few RV parks in the Nashville/Franklin area and are more on the outskirts. We were happy to get a site here as it's relaxing by the lake."
"This is a true RV Park with full services, propane, a pool, nice dog walking area, and long pull throughs. The park is kept very clean and has great landscaping."
"Park is close to Murfreesboro and Nashville. Close to great restaurants and shopping. Staff is very friendly and is always open to helping you. Park is quiet."
"I’m hesitant to write this review because this is our new close-to-home GO-TO camping spot and we don’t want it to get booked up. 😆 It is new, quiet, and extremely well-priced."
"Want a slice of Tennessee? This is it. All RV parks should take note. This is how it is done. Amazing views of the lake. Beautiful level concrete pads. Spacious sites for everyone."
TravelerNow called Paradise Ridge. They have owned it for just over a year. There are 87 sites. Mostly long term parking but we got in for a night on our way out of Nashville. We paid $64.38 for one night. It was full hook up. Nice location from Nashville. Mail and UPS delivery. The only bummer is close to I-24. So if you can’t do some road noise you would not like it. The people that checked us in were very nice and helpful.
GuideIt's a beautiful place to take walks and look at all of God's beauty while doing it;) Then you have your beautiful water to enjoy while being under the moon… a wonderful place with the right person or even by yourself to get a sweet escape!
GuideCampground people were very nice the sites are in the trees very very close . If you’re going to stay more than one night I would go somewhere else. You will trip over your neighbors sewer and bump into the slide out on your way out of your RV thats how close you are .they charge $55 a night for full hook up and it is not far from the HYW
LegendWe stayed here overnight on the way to Gatlinburg and three nights on the way back. GPS and signage was good as getting to this COE was easy. Often you don’t know what you’re going to get at a COE i.e. tight roads, low hanging branches etc. This was not the case as the campground (CG) is big rig friendly. For the overnighter, we checked in at the gate and proceeded to back in site 50 with water and electric (50/30/20 AMP). We had no problem backing into site 50 which sits above the creek that runs through the side of the CG. The gravel pad was fairly level(didn’t need any blocks under tires) with a picnic table, fish cleaning station, fire pit and stand up bbq. For the three nights we were in back in site 37, which was along the fence side of the CG. Site 37 had the same picnic table, cleaning table, stand up bbq and fire pit. This site’s pad was plenty long enough so we could put our toy hauler patio down. For both sites we got 1 bar on both Verizon and T-Mobile. As there is no Wifi in this CG, we used starlink. Since our starlink antenna is not hard mounted, we were able to move the antenna around to get a good signal through the trees. We were surprised this COE didn’t sell firewood nor ice. We enjoyed walking our dog around and even did some fly fishing in the adjacent river. We thoroughly enjoyed this COE.
LegendWe followed RV Life Trip Wizard GPS and Waze off I-40 to Nashville Shores RV Resort without any issues. Check-in was quick, easy, and informative, and we headed to back-in site 7 with full hookups (FHUs). The concrete pad was level, with the water hookup located at the very back of the site. Water pressure was good at around 60 psi but dropped somewhat as the campground (CG) filled up over the weekend. We had 3 bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile, with T-Mobile providing a respectable 108 Mbps download. We used our T-Mobile Home Internet, which delivered 126 Mbps, rather than Starlink. Although there were trees along the CG's perimeter, most sites appeared to have a reasonably clear view of the sky for satellite internet. Site spacing was okay, although neighboring RVs were still fairly close. Several sites were located along the lake, with a few appearing long enough to accommodate larger rigs. We suggest calling the office for details on reserving one of those waterfront sites. One of our favorite amenities was the large fenced dog run, with plenty of room to throw a ball and let our pup burn off some energy. We also appreciated having two fire pits at our site. One was behind our rig, providing a nice spot away from the CG road, while the other was near the front, next to a small concrete patio with a picnic table. Although the CG filled up during our mid-October weekend stay, the adjacent water park had closed for the season on October 1. Without the water park crowds and activity, we found Nashville Shores to be a very enjoyable place to stay."
TravelerThe waterfalls are beautiful and relaxing. You can hike the high-easier trail (but tree roots are present) or the lower-harder trails and be a unprofessional rock climber right down to the falls. 2.5 mile hike if you go all the way around. We spent over 2.5 hours here. Bonus is that if you are not camping here... you can use the very very clean showers for $5!
GuideGreat bunch of people working there helped me out alot Sites were very tight I had to switch mine to just fit my camper 38 ft . The staff switched me to another spot
TravelerNice campground, spaces are a little tight but not bad. Restrooms are clean.
GuideWe had such a nice stay. From the moment we arrived, we felt comfortable and welcomed. The staff were genuinely friendly and helpful, and the whole campground had a really nice, relaxed feel to it.
Our site was spacious and easy to get into, and we really appreciated how clean and well cared for everything was. After spending the day exploring Nashville, it was nice to come back to the campground, slow down and just enjoy the evening.
The location worked out great for us too. We were close enough to enjoy everything Nashville has to offer, but when we came back to the RV, it felt like we could get away from all the activity and relax.
One of the things we enjoy about RV travel is finding places that you actually look forward to coming back to at the end of the day, and this was definitely one of those places. We made some great memories here and would absolutely stay again the next time we’re in Nashville!
J Percy Priest Lake offers year-round tent and RV camping at several waterfront locations within 20 miles of Nashville. The reservoir spans 14,200 acres with 213 miles of shoreline, reaching depths up to 90 feet. Water temperatures range from the mid-40s in winter to upper 80s during summer months, creating distinct seasonal camping experiences across the lake's recreation areas.
Swimming beach access: Cedar Creek Campground features a swimming beach within walking distance of campsites. "Nice place to go downtown the day to relax and swim," notes one visitor about the $5 per vehicle day-use area at Cedar Creek.
Kayaking and paddling: Several campgrounds offer direct water access for non-motorized boats. "We stayed here for a night on our cross country tour. Really pretty lake and beautifully maintained property," shares a camper at Poole Knobs, where lakefront sites allow easy launching of personal watercraft.
Hiking and fitness trails: Campgrounds around the lake connect to walking paths of varying difficulty. "There's a great short fitness trail that's well marked and great for a small getaway," mentions a visitor to Anderson Road Campground, highlighting the exercise options beyond water recreation.
Spacious concrete pads: Many RV sites feature level concrete pads with ample room for equipment. "The sites are concrete, level and roomy with full hookups (great water pressure!), new picnic tables and fire rings," describes a camper at Elm Hill RV Resort, noting the quality of site infrastructure.
Wildlife viewing: Deer and waterfowl are common sightings throughout the camping areas. "The view of Percy Priest is incredible and serene," notes a visitor about watching wildlife at Elm Hill RV Resort, where natural areas remain despite developed camping facilities.
Proximity to Nashville attractions: Campers appreciate the balance between natural settings and urban accessibility. "This is a great park. Everything worked as expected. Clean, organized, friendly. Very close to all attractions!" says a guest at Nashville KOA Resort, which offers shuttle service to downtown Nashville for $15.
Seasonal operation: Most Corps of Engineers campgrounds have limited operating seasons. "We live in Nashville and were looking for a place to dump our tanks. We decided to spend the night here and take our kayaks out onto the lake," mentions a visitor to Cedar Creek, which typically operates from mid-April through mid-October.
Insect challenges: Lakeside camping often means dealing with mosquitoes and other bugs. "The mayflies swarm into your rig if you have lights on at night," warns a camper at Elm Hill RV Resort, suggesting campers bring adequate repellent and screen protection.
Reservation requirements: Sites at popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer. "Stopped in just for a night while driving across many states. The check in gate wasn't attended at the time and directed us to make a reservation online," notes a visitor to Cedar Creek, highlighting the importance of advance planning.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds offer play equipment for children. "The amenities were top notch and tons to do with kids," shares a visitor at Four Corners RV Resort, where facilities include a swimming beach and playground.
Safety features: Some campgrounds provide controlled access for added security. "There is a gated entrance, which I like. The crew is constantly working on cleaning, landscaping and maintenance," mentions a Four Corners guest, appreciating the maintained environment.
Off-season activities: Family camping options extend beyond summer months. "Their halloween weekend is a great time of fun for the kids!" notes a visitor to Cedars of Lebanon State Park, which hosts special events during shoulder seasons.
Site selection: RV campers recommend researching specific site configurations before booking. "Our site was a little tight for our 38 ft 5th wheel. With slides on both sides and our awning out we were close to our neighbor," cautions a visitor to Nashville I-24 Campground, stressing the importance of knowing site dimensions.
Utility connections: Water and electric hookup placement varies between campgrounds. "The utilities are more to the front of the site with two sewer connections. We had decent water pressure," reports a visitor about Nashville KOA, noting that hookup positions may require extra hose or cord length.
Dump station access: RVers highlight the availability of sanitation facilities even at campgrounds without full hookups. "Discount for America the Beautiful pass. You need to book your reservations on recreation.gov," advises a Seven Points visitor, mentioning the dump station available within the campground for those without sewer connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available at J Percy Priest Lake?
J Percy Priest Lake offers several excellent campgrounds for visitors to enjoy. Seven Points is one of the most popular options, featuring wonderful waterfront sites with stunning sunset views over the lake. Additional campgrounds include Anderson Road Campground, which provides boat-in and drive-in access with reservable sites. Poole Knobs is another option with water access and toilet facilities. For those seeking more amenities, there are nearby RV resorts as well. Most campgrounds at Percy Priest Lake are managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and offer basic amenities like restrooms, picnic tables, and water access, with many sites situated right along the shoreline for easy lake access.
Where is Cook Public Use Park located at Percy Priest Lake?
Cook Public Use Park is located on the western shore of J Percy Priest Lake, approximately 10 miles east of downtown Nashville. While not as extensively developed as Seven Points or other major campgrounds on the lake, Cook Recreation Area offers day-use facilities for visitors. The park can be accessed via Cook Recreation Area Road off of Bell Road in Nashville. For overnight camping experiences near this area, visitors might consider Poole Knobs which is located relatively close by on Percy Priest Lake. For the most current information about Cook Public Use Park, contacting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District office is recommended.
Can you RV camp at J Percy Priest Lake?
Yes, J Percy Priest Lake is very accommodating for RV camping with several options available. Four Corners RV Resort is an excellent choice for RV campers, featuring level concrete pads, excellent WiFi connectivity, and lakeside spots at reasonable prices. The resort is relatively new and well-maintained. Another option is Elm Hill RV Resort, which offers full hookups and is big-rig friendly. Many of the Corps of Engineers campgrounds around the lake also accommodate RVs with spacious sites that can handle various sizes and types of recreational vehicles. Most RV sites offer water and electric hookups, with some providing full hookups including sewer connections.
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