Camping options near Smyrna, Tennessee range from primitive lakefront sites to full-service RV parks along Percy Priest Lake. The region sits at approximately 550 feet elevation with a moderate climate featuring hot summers and mild winters. Most campgrounds in the area remain heavily wooded, providing natural shade during the summer months when temperatures regularly exceed 90°F.
What to do
Kayaking on Percy Priest Lake: Seven Points Campground offers excellent water access with clearly marked launch areas. "This is a great, easy access campground with great amenities. Lake front sites for campers or tents. Close to groceries and gas station," notes Austin R. about Seven Points.
Hiking through cedar forests: The unique cedar glade ecosystem at Cedars of Lebanon State Park provides distinctive hiking opportunities on marked trails. "Cedars of Lebanon is a great State Park in middle TN for camping and for day hikes. It has a great pool, and the natural area where it's located features tons of endemic species to the area!" states Phoebe A. about Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground.
Swimming at designated beaches: Nashville Shores combines camping with waterpark access during summer months. "The water park is amazing," says Jared B., though another camper notes "the water park is not open during the week although it had officially opened the week before."
What campers like
Secluded waterfront sites: Anderson Road Campground receives praise for its spacious, private campsites. "These campsites are great - nice and spread out and tucked in the woods. Plus, the campsites closest to the lakes are right on the water or across the road from the water, so great for fishing and gorgeous sunsets too!" reports Sara U. about Anderson Road Campground.
Level concrete pads: Four Corners RV Resort features modern, well-maintained sites. "The sites are concrete, level and roomy with full hookups (great water pressure!), new picnic tables and fire rings. There is not one bad location on the lakeside sites," explains Susan & Kevin W. about Four Corners RV Resort.
Year-round camping options: Nashville I-24 Campground in Smyrna provides camping access regardless of season. "Full hook-ups, plenty of trees for shade, laundry, showers and toilets. No frills. They have a pool and a pavilion with live music every once in a while. Pull though and back in sites," states Jacob S.
What you should know
Bathroom accessibility varies: At Poole Knobs, prepare for potentially long walks to facilities. "First of all, I love COE campgrounds. They are usually clean, scenic, and have lots of space between campsites. Poole Knobs has all of that, but the bathrooms were ridiculously hard to get to. If you get a site along the lake, expect a long walk and then an arduous climb," warns Larry R. about Poole Knobs.
Mosquito populations: Waterfront camping often means dealing with insects. One camper at Four Corners RV Resort cautions, "MOSQUITOS! The first and last night we stayed the mosquitos were so bad we couldn't be outside. There were two nights in between that it was tolerable."
Airport noise: Some campgrounds sit beneath Nashville airport flight paths. A visitor at Nashville Shores mentions, "No one mentioned that this place is on the flight path of the international airport."
Tips for camping with families
Seasonal programming: The Halloween weekend at Cedars of Lebanon offers special activities. "Their halloween weekend is a great time of fun for the kids!" says Justin L.
Playground access: Nashville KOA Resort provides multiple play areas. "Paved roads the kids loved scootering on. Would definitely stay again," shares Jennifer H. about Nashville KOA Resort.
Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds offer water access, but facilities vary. One camper at Anderson Road notes the lake bottom is "rocky here but we had no trouble walking in and swimming with our Crocs on."
Tips from RVers
Site length verification: Check measurements carefully when booking at lakeside parks. A camper at Safe Harbor RV Resort advises, "Be very cautious of the site lengths. Some are extremely short and I'd say the measurements are nearly exact. Since our site backed up to a drop off, there was a small fence so no way to 'hang over' the pad a little for extra room."
Seasonal differences: Consider timing for the best experience at Nashville I-24 Campground. "Spent about a month there in a large class A at 2 locations, 1st was a pull through easy to get in and out obviously but way too open only shade a dead hickory tree that still had some nuts that kept dropping on my roof the second was a shady spot along the back fence," reports Victor S.
Leveling requirements: Some campgrounds require equipment for proper setup. A reviewer at Seven Points notes, "I did notice, however, some the sites had seriously sloping drives so lots of leveling would have been required."
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