Best Tent Camping near La Vergne, TN

Tent campers can choose from several campgrounds within a short drive of La Vergne, Tennessee. Long Hunter State Park Campground offers primitive tent sites along Percy Priest Lake, with both drive-in and walk-in options. Bells Bend Park provides year-round primitive tent camping with 10 total sites that require hikers to pack in their gear. Other options include Smith Springs in Antioch and Cook - J. Percy Priest Reservoir, both offering tent-specific camping areas within 20 miles of La Vergne.

Most tent campgrounds in the area require campers to be self-sufficient with limited amenities. Long Hunter State Park's primitive sites feature fire rings and tent pads, but campers must pack in their own water or filter from the lake. At Bells Bend Park, firewood is provided, but all sites require walking in, with no drive-up access available. A review on The Dyrt noted, "Pack it in, pack it out. Firewood provided. Call the outdoor center for availability." Portable toilets are typically available in parking areas, with some parks offering access to flush toilets at nearby facilities. Many sites operate on a reservation system, particularly during peak summer months.

The tent camping experience near La Vergne offers opportunities for wildlife viewing and water activities. Areas around Percy Priest Lake provide waterfront tent sites with swimming and fishing access. One camper described Long Hunter State Park as having "beautiful campsite right on the water," though they warned to "bring DEET" due to ticks, especially around fire pits. Tent sites at Bells Bend Park offer more seclusion with "beautiful views of the park" according to reviews. The primitive backcountry tent sites typically provide more isolation from crowds and noise than developed campgrounds, making them popular with hikers seeking a more authentic outdoor experience. Most tent-only areas feature natural surroundings with moderate tree cover for shade during summer months.

Best Tent Sites Near La Vergne, Tennessee (20)

    1. Long Hunter State Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    J Percy Priest Lake, TN
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 885-2422

    "Primitive campsite 1 has 3 long log benches and a grill. It is located directly by the water, so you have a water filtration source at your finger tips."

    "Long Hunter State Park Primitive Campsites are my kinda camping."

    2. Smith Springs

    2 Reviews
    La Vergne, TN
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 889-1975

    $45 / night

    3. Cook - J. Percy Priest Reservoir

    3 Reviews
    J Percy Priest Lake, TN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 889-1975

    "Easy to get to, ample room between campers, close to local shopping."

    4. Stones River Getaway

    1 Review
    Murfreesboro, TN
    9 miles
    +1 (312) 925-2385

    $112 - $160 / night

    5. Laguardo

    2 Reviews
    Mount Juliet, TN
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 449-6544

    $85 - $120 / night

    6. Bells Bend Park

    3 Reviews
    Pegram, TN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 862-4187

    $10 - $11 / night

    "No drive up. Pack it in, pack it out. Firewood provided. Call the outdoor center for availability. Campground is open year round."

    "Bells Bend Park is close to the city but nature all around. Farmland with spots of woodland. 

    Primitive camping , in the trees on a hill. Group only. There are some tables and some fire rings."

    7. Old Hickory Beach

    1 Review
    Hendersonville, TN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 847-8091

    $75 / night

    "Old Hickory Beach Day Use Area is not what I would consider a hidden gem..that being said if you like swimming in lake water this is a nice enough area."

    8. Lone Branch

    1 Review
    Mount Juliet, TN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 822-4846

    $50 / night

    9. Whooping Crane Farm

    2 Reviews
    Ashland City, TN
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 798-9093

    $100 / night

    "Whooping Crane Farm is located In such a great spot, just outside Nashville, it is easy to get to, but convenient to everything. The camp spot is fantastic!"

    "The property is 12 minutes from downtown Nashville, making it a perfect Glamping location. Being close to great restaurants is definitely a plus."

    10. Turnhole Backcountry Campsite — Mammoth Cave National Park

    2 Reviews
    Mammoth Cave National Park, KY
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 758-2180

    "Another backside primitive campsite at Mammoth Cave National Forest, Ky.

    A lot of people don’t realize the extensive trail system of Mammoth Cave."

    "Despite this campsite being surrounded by the Green River on 3 sides, water is hard to come by here, and hiking it in may be your best bet."

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Tent Camping Reviews near La Vergne, TN

718 Reviews of 20 La Vergne Campgrounds


  • Greg S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2025

    Anderson Road Campground

    4.5 stars

    Stopped for one afternoon and night on our way through. Driving in through da hood you get a questionable feeling but, once through the gate and checked in this is a fantastic little campground! We picked an awesome site- number 8 is a huge pull through with water and electric, a grill, prep table, picnic table, and fire ring with grill. The site has its own path and private lake access. The lake is rocky here but we had no trouble walking in and swimming with our Crocs on. All sites in this small loop campground are great and very large. There is some erosion and there was some trash near the lake that we gladly cleaned up. Overall a fantastic place to camp.

  • Myron C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 25, 2019

    Edgar Evins State Park Campground

    A Campground with Lots to Do but with Interesting Tent Pads

    Edgar Evins State Park is a large park with lots of activities for young and old. However, if you want to stay in the campground, make sure to take a freestanding tent unless you have creative ways to keep your tent up. Most of the sites have wooden platforms, and the fire pits are beside the road. Perhaps most people like that sense of permanence, but I personally prefer solid ground or even gravel pads. Fortunately, the one I used was a free-standing tent. There is another option, and that is to stay in the primitive camping area. Of course, they are walk-in sites, but they are not far from where you park. I would normally choose the primitive camping area for a couple of reasons. There is a little more privacy, and you have soft ground on which to pitch your tent. Obviously, if you are an RV camper, staying in the primitive area does not apply. Unfortunately, it was better this time to choose a site that you don’t have to walk to. Out of all the state park campgrounds I have visited, the bath rooms in this state park are the best. They are modern with tiled floors, and the showers resemble ones you would find at privately owned campgrounds. There are several different activity options—volleyball, horseshoes, playgrounds, hiking trails, etc. There is also an aviary, a marina, a restaurant, and a couple of boat ramps. For the children, there is the“Storybook Trail.” For other overnight options, there are also cabins that you can rent. In retrospect, the primitive area would have been a better choice. It definitely would have been more quiet. No matter whether you stay in the primitive area or the regular camping area, you will encounter hilly terrain. The camp store is fully stocked with most of your camping needs, and there is also a laundry. Overall, Edgar Evins State Park was a good place to spend time, but again, I have my doubts about the wooden platforms.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 24, 2019

    Edgar Evins State Park Campground

    Sorta like a treehouse

    Edgar Evins SP is unique in that the campground sites are decks, which is actually pretty cool. Now the one down side is that certain sites can be a challenge to back into. If you are a talented backer upper shouldn’t be an issue. However if your backing up could use some practice, and/or causes fights with your spouse you may want to call and ask the easier sites to set up in...just saying, less stress. The bottom sites are along the lake and you are across from the marina. Another thing is your cooking area is off the side of your deck with your picnic table. The primitive sites are walk in and have some pretty sweet views of the lake. Downside your walking up and down a slope with your gear. Speaking of slopes, the whole campground is on a slope so your pretty much either going up or down. Cool stairways to use and strategically placed facilities. The store and trash are located wheee you park for the primitive sites at the entrance. There’s a trail in the campground that gives you a quick route to the beach area.

  • D
    Oct. 18, 2022

    Lock A

    Great place to camp for $

    While the facilities are limited, we enjoyed being here. We were in site 25 with the river right behind us. 50A power and water, dump on the way out. Concrete pad, level, picnic table, fire ring and a trash can at every site. The road in is small and winding, nighttime driving is difficult. Senior pass got us in for just $12 a night. Boat ramp close by. Would certainly stay here again.

  • CC C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2021

    Nashville I-24 Campground

    Lovely stay

    We are RTT campers and chose this place on a whim as the rest of the local tent camping spots closed on October 1st. We were lucky to find they had space available. However, it should be noted that this is more of an RV campground, the traditional tent sites are right by the gate and not very private. The RV slot we were given backed up to a green space that has grazing deer from time to time. The site did not have a fire ring or a picnic table and was a little far from the bathrooms, but it did have power and water available. That being said the bathrooms were extremely tidy, well heated, and the water pressure in the showers was amazing! The other RV’ers were super friendly and the staff was very helpful in our stay and responsive to our request for availability.

  • Benjamin C.
    Oct. 10, 2021

    Cedar Point Campground

    Group Tent Camp!

    We went to camp here with our AHG group. We tent camped to complete one of their badges. We camp often and we enjoy it. The place is clean and organized well. The tent sights are elevated slightly which allows a nice “overlook” of the camp ground. Some tent spots were kind of sloped so be mindful of finding a good flat spot. Bath houses were clean and functioning. Good water front locations. We had a great time and recommend for a short stay.

  • Dan R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2020

    Poole Knobs

    Great place for Labor Day weekend

    Spent two nights here for Labor Day 2020. We stayed on the center strip in the primitive area. The facilities were well maintained and clean. Each site has a concrete picnic table, fire ring, and a moveable lantern hook. The primitive area has several water spigots to use (near each restroom and a few in between).

    The outer loop sites all have electric and water hookups, but the restrooms are all on the upper level where the primitive sites are. If you don’t have your own bathroom, it’s a bit of a hill to climb and there’s only a couple spots to do it.

    Overall, we loved it and we’ll be back for sure.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2020

    Turnhole Backcountry Campsite — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Easy or Hard

    Another backside primitive campsite at Mammoth Cave National Forest, Ky.

    A lot of people don’t realize the extensive trail system of Mammoth Cave. They come for the Cave and never take the time to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

    Before using this campsite you are supposed to check in at the visitors center. Unfortunately the ferry is closed so it’s a long drive around to the backside.

    Turnhole Campsite is a short or long hike from the Maple Springs parking area. Sal Hollow Trail would be the long trail, twisty , turny and moderately challenging. Buffalo Trail is a straight hike in , take a left at the intersection and straight on to the campsite. Difference of about 3 miles-ish.

    The trails are used by hikers and horseback riders, are well marked and lotsa fauna to see. No major vistas here, just woods.

    The campsite has poles to tie your horses, a fire ring, tent pad and lantern hooks. Pretty easy to find seasoned wood to burn. DARK at night, lots of animal noises ;) not much of a night sky except in the winter months.

    The cool thing about this campsite is your sorta on a peninsula of the river. Very private and it’s not on a loop trail so no foot traffic passing by.

  • Grant B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2021

    Ragland Bottom

    Beautiful Scenery and Friendly Staff

    We really enjoyed our text stay at Ragland Bottom campground. Even with it being a holiday weekend, the bathrooms were incredibly clean and the site did not feel crowded. We stayed at tent only site 22 and it had power and water. The gravel was on the coarser side and the pad was a bit rocky, but I was able to stale our tent out with a 2lb mini sledge. I did not like that the fire rings were located outside the tent pads, but they did have rock surrounds and a grill. The site also had a charcoal grill and wood railing along one side which came in handy for hanging towels and such to dry. Plenty of shade and the views were very nice.


Guide to La Vergne

Tent camping near La Vergne, Tennessee offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from primitive sites to well-equipped campgrounds, there's something for everyone.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy swimming and fishing at the beautiful Long Hunter State Park Campground, where you can relax by the water and take in the stunning views.
  • Explore the wooded trails at Bells Bend Park, perfect for hiking and wildlife spotting, including deer and turkeys.
  • Experience the tranquility of Smith Springs, where you can enjoy a peaceful day by the lake, ideal for a family outing.

Campground amenities that enhance your stay

  • Whooping Crane Farm offers glamping options with comfortable beds, a cooking station, and a scenic riverside location, making it a unique camping experience.
  • At Laguardo, you'll find clean facilities and drinking water, ensuring a comfortable stay while you enjoy the natural surroundings.
  • Old Hickory Beach provides a day-use area with a boat ramp and picnic spots, perfect for a fun-filled day by the water.

Local attractions that make camping memorable

  • Visit the expansive trails at Cook - J. Percy Priest Reservoir, where you can hike and enjoy the beautiful lake views.
  • Discover the charm of Nat Caldwell Park, a small recreation area ideal for a quiet day of fishing or picnicking.
  • Experience the wildlife at Lone Branch, where you can spot deer and enjoy the serene atmosphere of the nearby lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near La Vergne, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near La Vergne, TN is Long Hunter State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 8 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 20 tent camping locations near La Vergne, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.