Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Lafayette, TN

Defeated Creek Campground welcomes campers with pets throughout its 155 spacious sites overlooking Cordell Hull Lake. The campground features water and electric hookups at all sites, making it convenient for both tent and RV campers traveling with dogs. Pets must remain on leash while in the campground, though many waterfront sites provide direct lake access where dogs can swim under supervision. The park maintains multiple clean, well-maintained bathhouses and offers grassy areas perfect for pet exercise. Nearby Bearwaller Gap Trail provides excellent hiking opportunities for active dogs and their owners. Site spacing allows ample room for pet enclosures without crowding neighboring campers, and the park's layout includes multiple playgrounds and recreation areas. Most pets adapt well to the campground's quiet atmosphere and abundant wildlife, including frequent deer sightings throughout the grounds.

Campground hosts at Defeated Creek enforce pet policies while maintaining a welcoming environment for responsible pet owners. The surrounding lake area offers excellent opportunities for dogs who enjoy water activities, with many campers allowing their pets to swim directly from waterfront sites. Pet waste stations are positioned throughout the grounds, and campers report minimal issues with barking or disruptive animals despite the campground's popularity. The campground's secluded location means limited cell service, which allows for uninterrupted outdoor time with pets. Nearby Salt Lick Creek Campground provides an alternative pet-friendly option with similar amenities but a slightly different layout. Local outfitters offer pet-friendly boat rentals for exploring the lake, though life jackets for dogs are recommended and not provided. Dog owners should be aware of ticks in the heavily wooded trails surrounding the campground, particularly during warmer months.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Lafayette, Tennessee (98)

    1. Defeated Creek Campground

    28 Reviews
    Carthage, TN
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 774-3141

    $25 - $100 / night

    "Lots to do here with hiking trails, mountain bike trails, beach, playground, boat launch, and all the lake activities."

    "Dog friendly, but not at the swimming area. Overall it was a great place to go. Out of the way quiet and the lake was beautiful."

    2. COE Cordell Hull Lake Salt Lick Creek Campground

    15 Reviews
    Granville, TN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (931) 678-4718

    $20 - $50 / night

    "Our site was right on the creek and very near the beach. We went for an evening swim and we had a picturesque view of the sun setting over the mountains."

    "And it was adequate but situated on an inlet with mucky water. We took a walk and found an empty site (45) with breathtaking views. We asked to switch and they were happy to oblige."

    3. Baileys Point

    34 Reviews
    Lucas, KY
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 622-6959

    $22 - $50 / night

    "The sites are sit up so there is a view of the lake from most of the sites and the site are fairly large."

    "It's one of the few in the state where you can camp near the water and keep your kayaks or boat within a quick stroll."

    4. Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground

    47 Reviews
    Lebanon, TN
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 443-2769

    $25 - $30 / night

    "The site location was great for us because we had our 5 dogs with us and there was room at this site to let them out with ease and we were right next to a hiking trail for their walks."

    "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."

    5. Tn40Rv Campground

    1 Review
    Lafayette, TN
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 449-2831

    6. Edgar Evins State Park Campground

    56 Reviews
    Lancaster, TN
    32 miles
    Website

    "I'm from New England and relocated to Tennessee in 2016. The first time I went camping at Edgar Evans, I had no idea what was going on!"

    "We stayed on site 6, right next to some stairs that lead to a path to the bathroom/shower facilities."

    7. Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    137 Reviews
    Mammoth Cave, KY
    46 miles
    +1 (270) 758-2424

    $25 - $50 / night

    "Bathrooms were close by and air conditioned too! The showers are in the general store building where the post office is so a short walk or drive there."

    "There is a restroom in the campground and a shower house, laundry room, post office and store adjacent. The dump station is next to that facility right outside the front “gate”."

    8. Barren River Lake State Resort Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Lucas, KY
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 646-2151

    $25 - $34 / night

    "Plenty of playgrounds and trails for our kid. Clean bathhouses if you need them."

    "Being able to park your boat within walking distance of your camper, load up and go when you please, we loved that!
    The park was clean and the neighborhood of the campground was very friendly!"

    9. Defeated Creek Marina Campground

    4 Reviews
    Carthage, TN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 774-3141

    10. Morning View Farms

    2 Reviews
    Scottsville, KY
    13 miles
    +1 (270) 606-1970

    $35 - $85 / night

    "Our host was amazing, the nature was peaceful, serene, and everything we needed for a relaxing time away from home."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Lafayette, TN

1034 Reviews of 98 Lafayette Campgrounds


  • britni M.
    Mar. 10, 2024

    Bowling Green KOA

    Everything we needed

    Great pull through spots. Every ammenity needed. Pet friendly with dog park for off-leash use. If ever that way again, will definitely us. 30 minites from Mammoth Cave.

  • Jody A.
    Dec. 29, 2020

    Horse Cave KOA

    This is a CUTE campground!

    This is a super cute campground.  Easily accessible and very clean sites!  There is a small barn with animals penned up so you can just walk up to the fence and pet them.  My wife and daughter loved that!  Great little dog park with a mini obstacle course.  We had a great little trip here and would love to come again for a longer stay!

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 30, 2018

    Bowling Green KOA

    Why would I pay that much?!

    My brother visits KOA’s all the time for camping. Me, not so much. I have a hard time paying $40 for a tent site when I can camp for free or under $20. The Bowling Green KOA, Ky is located on the outskirts of Bowling Green near the I65 and Natcher interchange. You can actually see the back end of the campground from the ramp that connects the two. My first thought when considering a stay.
    I spoke with two of the very friendly and helpful ladies in the office and got a plethora of information. So much so that I’m sure I’ll forget some of it, but here goes;) So first with your fee you recieve (you and all your group) a free game of Minature Golf a day. Next there is wifi and cable available. There is a swimming pool on site and two pay lakes with paddle boats. A dog park and short trail. Depending on the month you visit there are also special incentives to stay an extra night. In May some of your fee is donated to Camp. With a KOA card there are special incentives too and you earn points with every stay. So, all that being said I did purchase a KOA card. Though this is not my favorite type of camping it will come in handy on an upcoming trip and when I camp with my brother ;) I was pleasantly surprised that the interstate noise was mostly not noticiple. There are plenty of trees that help block the noise and offer a lot of shade. We were in a busier site at the end of Abby Dr but it was an easy walk to the two small “lakes“( more like ponds ) and the dog park and showerhouse (with dogwash station) were a short walk away. Not much else to do but a fun enough spot for younger kids. ( no “bears“ to take photos with) and not as many special activities as some other theme campgrounds. This is a nice older campground, worth a night or two visit to get away from the grind for a bit.

  • Thomas R.
    Jul. 7, 2020

    Cave Country RV Campground

    Good stop along the way

    Off the freeway and very convenient. Very clean. Great dog park. Do not camp close to the railroad tracks. Loud horns in the middle of the night. Not much shade. Close to Mammoth Caves.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2024

    Bowling Green KOA

    Nice KOA

    This KOA was easy to find by following our GPS. We checked in about 45 minutes prior to their 1:00 PM check in time and they didn’t even mention us being early. We decided we didn’t need an escort to our site as it was near the office. We proceeded to deluxe-patio pull-through site H-4 with FHUs. The utilities were nicely placed in the middle of the pad. Water pressure was good at about 50 psi. This site has plenty of shade as does most sites in the campground (CG) due to mature trees, so we did not put out Starlink. We got 4 bars LTE on Verizon and used our MiFi versus Starlink. Site H-4 has a utility box on the yard side, so we had extra space between the adjacent site. They have a decent sized dog park with an agility set up. This KOA has a lot of amenities and lives up to a Holiday KOA rating. The dog park is a nice size. They have a decent laundry room behind the office with 4 washers and 8 dryers. It’s$2.50 to wash and$1.50 to dry. They have 2 fishing ponds. The large one you can keep 2 fish for$20 and the small one is catch and release. There’s some traffic noise from I-65 and surrounding roads. Our main reason to visit the area was to visit the National Corvette Museum. We enjoyed our two night stay.

  • d
    Aug. 19, 2019

    Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort

    Fun, clean, quiet

    This campground was very convenient for those visiting the Nashville area, its just off the highway and they offer shuttles for a fee to downtown and opryland. The check in process was quick and simple, the staff were genuinely friendly and helpful. Our campsite was easy to find and very clean. The shower house was one of the best I've seen mostly because it is air conditioned. The showers are all very private and clean with plenty of room. The waterpark is just steps away, I would suggest not eating food within the park it is over priced and not very tasty, go to the marina restaurant or eat at your campsite. They have a dog park to exercise your dogs and you can't beat the views. I would recommend this campground.

  • hThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Jellystone Park at Mamoth Cave

    Well maintained, easy access sites

    Kid friendly park, no mature trees in new section but concrete pad with grill and fire pit. Pool with splash pad, pools, pillow pads, multiple playgrounds, dog parks and kennels are available. Also, lots of golf carts to rent.

  • S
    Jun. 12, 2021

    Cave Country RV Campground

    Cave Country

    This RV Park is clean and well maintained. The dog park is beautiful with well trimmed grass and large. They have a nice swimming pool, picnic tables, and fire rings. Nice large gravel pull through site and level. The Mammoth Cave National Park is 10 miles with many other attractions nearby. We stayed for a week and loved it.

  • Alejandra E.
    Sep. 2, 2021

    Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Great camping spot

    We booked a group site and had 3 tents. It’s very woodsy and tranquil. Bathrooms were close by and air conditioned too! The showers are in the general store building where the post office is so a short walk or drive there. It’s coin operated with a change machine for bills. $1.50 to turn the shower on and insert more coins before it turns off for additional time if needed. The park is amazing and there’s lots of trails that lead to caves and cave openings. All the cave tours within the park were fully booked when we went so we booked some private tours outside the park in the surrounding area. Lots of opportunities to see caves! We stayed for two nights and did some star gazing! Overall great campground and facilities. They also have a kennel for a small fee at the park lodge if you bring your pet and you’re going in a cave tour whether in the park or outside of it. Pets are generally not allowed in caves. Just confirm pet is vaccinated.


Guide to Lafayette

If you're looking for pet-friendly camping options near Lafayette, Tennessee, there are several great spots where you and your furry friends can enjoy the great outdoors together.

Pet owners like spacious sites and beautiful views

Tips for camping with dogs near Lafayette

Pet-friendly campgrounds include great amenities

  • Defeated Creek Campground features electric hookups and picnic tables, making it convenient for pet owners who want to enjoy meals outdoors.
  • At Wildwood Resort and Marina, you can find a restaurant on-site, allowing you to grab a bite while your pet relaxes nearby.
  • Spring Hill RV Park offers a quiet atmosphere with friendly owners, ensuring a pleasant stay for both you and your pet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Lafayette, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Lafayette, TN is Defeated Creek Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 28 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Lafayette, TN?

TheDyrt.com has all 98 dog-friendly camping locations near Lafayette, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.