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Best Dispersed Camping near Lawrenceburg, TN

34 Reviews

The rolling hills surrounding Lawrenceburg, Tennessee feature several notable camping options, with the Meriwether Lewis Campground along the Natchez Trace Parkway standing out as a particularly well-regarded destination. This free National Park Service campground, located about 30 miles from Lawrenceburg, offers both tent and small RV camping with paved sites, fire rings, and picnic tables. The TVA Nature Trail and Recreation Area provides another free camping alternative with more primitive accommodations for those seeking a less developed experience. Both locations feature historical significance, with interpretive displays and hiking trails connecting campers to the region's past.

First-come, first-served policies govern most camping areas near Lawrenceburg, making early arrival advisable during peak seasons. As one camper noted, "If you want a flat spot or pull-through site, get there early! By sundown most spots were taken...on a Tuesday." The region experiences typical Tennessee seasonal patterns with humid summers requiring insect protection. According to visitor reports, "Bug spray is a must, the mosquitoes are thick here because of all the moisture of the forest and ticks can also be a problem during certain months." Basic amenities like flush toilets and drinking water are available at most established sites, though electrical hookups are generally absent. Cell service is typically available, but supplies should be purchased in advance as the nearest towns may be 8-13 miles away.

Visitors consistently praise the cleanliness and maintenance of campgrounds in the area. The Meriwether Lewis site receives particularly high marks for its well-maintained facilities despite being free. "The restrooms were very nice and had both flush toilets and drinking water. They were well lit and for a minute when I walked in I wondered how on earth this was a free site because they were so nice," reported one camper. Wildlife sightings are common, with visitors mentioning encounters with native snakes, turtles, and various birds. Hiking opportunities abound with trails leading to small waterfalls and creeks. Many campsites feature shade from mature oak trees, providing natural cooling during warmer months. Weekend occupancy tends to be higher than weekdays, though some visitors report finding availability even during holiday periods.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Lawrenceburg, Tennessee (3)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Lawrenceburg, TN

12 Photos of 3 Lawrenceburg Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Lawrenceburg, TN

34 Reviews of 3 Lawrenceburg Campgrounds

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2018

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    When you think FREE you probably don't think of sites THIS NICE!

    For My FULL VIDEO Of My Experience At This Campground CLICK HERE

    Following the winding a scenic Natchez Trace you begin to climb higher and higher into the beauty of the mountains. When I was making this trip in late August, I could already see the shifting of the leave in its most early stages and I could only imagine what it would be like only a month later.

    As I entered the park and followed the signs toward the campground I was very eager to see what this FREE site had to offer. I had discovered this site when searching youtube for things to do and someone suggested camping here because of the historic landmark in the park. After further research I discovered it was a pretty decently sized campground with semi primitive camping.

    I arrived at the camping loops and discovered two loops of camping each with differing sizes of spaces, some designed for pull through style RV parking and some for back in car parking. Spaces were large and while there were several people staying here it did not seem overly crowded.

    The first loop was much further from the restroom than the second, which also housed the campground host in his RV just as you entered the loop. He was welcoming with a smile and wave and I just felt like this was going to be a nice place to stay for the night.

    You can stay for up to 14 days at this location and I could easily see this being one of those stops you wouldn’t necessarily want to leave in a hurry because it was so peaceful. There were numerous hiking trails and a well landscaped creek area which made for a great place to come for day use as well.

    My site was pretty typical in that it had a fire ring and picnic table. The ground was semi level and very rough so camping in a tent I was happy to have brought a little padding. The restrooms were very nice and had both flush toilets and drinking water. They were well lit and for a minute when I walked in I wondered how on earth this was a free site because they were so nice.

    All was great until about 8 p.m. when some people pulled in after dark and weren’t quite sure how to set up their tent and were pretty loudly disagreeing with one another in debate of how to do so. But after they finally figured that out about an hour later the night was again left to the sounds of the cicadas and frogs.

    TIPS

    • If you are tent camping bring some kind of cushion on pad for your floor otherwise it will be a rough evening on the ground.
    • Bug spray is a must, the mosquitoes are thick here because of all the moisture of the forest and ticks can also be a problem during certain months.
    • Don’t tell all your friends, they will take over your secret little camping spot after they find out just how amazing this site really is!! (lol)
  • Kristina D.
    Apr. 25, 2021

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    It’s open!

    Great place and it’s FREE! Bathrooms and trash cans. This is dry camping - no electric/dump. Water at bathrooms

  • Jeremy A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 11, 2021

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    Great rest stop along the Natchez Trace

    One of three first come first serve free camps on the Trace. Potable water and flush toilets, fire rings and tables, pull through and back in sites. There’s relative privacy, though that’s largely dependent on seasonal deciduous canopy. The campground sits next to a creek cascade and some hiking trails, including part of the old Trace. The Trace today is a far cry from the early days of interstate travel with sunken roads, mud bogs, and bandits. The two-lane is closed to commercial traffic, making this a fun alternative route for a leisurely paced road trip.

    Hohenwald, the “High Forest”, holds an Oktoberfest heritage festival and craft fair highlighting the Swiss-German Community that was established here, which is an excellent opportunity to get a feel for the local culture. It was in nearby Grinder House on the night of October 11,1809 that the tragic last chapter in the life of Meriwether Lewis unfolded. Following the Corps of Discovery Expedition, Lewis had been appointed second governor of the Louisiana Territory, and turned his hand to expanding the road networks, negotiating treaties between Native American nations and managing the encroaching settlers moving west. In response to political infighting over his policies, including an expedition to return a Mandan chief to his people, the War Department refused to reimburse him for debts incurred in office, threatening personal financial ruin. The state of the mail led Washington to believe him incommunicado and, on the brink of insolvency, he set out to the Capitol with receipts to make his case. Rather than continuing by boat via New Orleans, Lewis elected to travel the Trace. After finishing a meal at the roadhouse and retiring to his room, shots rang out, and Lewis was discovered by the innkeeper’s family shortly before he passed away. Over a century of dispute followed, with competing narratives of suicide, robbery, and even assassination. His gravesite was lost among the final resting places of the pioneer cemetery, and a monument to one of the great explorers was later erected in his honor.

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 30, 2021

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    Awesome free camping

    Boondocked here for the night.. got way more than expected! It was extremely clean. Flat, paved campsites with firepits, picnic tables, and trash cans. No water or bathrooms but a great little stop over for our trip west.

  • Sable A.
    Aug. 17, 2024

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    Free site

    Nice first come free camping location just off the Trace. Grounds seem to be keep up on every time I’ve been there.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 10, 2025

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    The best in free camping!

    This place is a gem! You can stay for 14 days each year because, let's face it, it's too nice for them to let people hog it. Free water in various places, garbage cans by your site, numbered sites, paved driveways and parking spaces, manicured and litter-controlled park, and a bathroom building with multiple flush toilets for each sex and sinks with running water! These are in at least two places. Picnic tables and fire rings with lift-off on a hinge grates.

  • Joey S.
    Nov. 8, 2021

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    Historic

    Walk down the Natchez Trace, visit the grave of Meriwether Lewis, all around a good visit. No electric, first come first served free campground, show up early and you're good to go. Beautiful park to stay

  • Trinity W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2019

    TVA-Nature Trail and Recreation Area

    Free Camping on TVA land

    I assumed for a long time that you weren't allowed to camp on the TVA trails, because while there are many hikers and birdwatchers who enjoy the trails, you rarely see anyone camping out there. I learned recently, and confirmed through their website, that you can camp for free on TVA land. It just isn't well advertised. This particular trail is a great area, and there are many little side trails to explore. Plenty of places to make a primitive campsite. Many of the side trails lead to the river. There is even a small beach area down the one that leads along the river to the old train bridge. This trail is rich in history, and there are a lot of plaques telling about certain natural and man made features along the trails. The trails are clean, well-kept, and well-marked. At the trail head and parking area, there is a nice well-kept, clean restroom building with flush toilets. Behind that building, they recently put in a very nice playground and a pavilion with picnic tables. There are not really any ready made campsites with tables or firepits or trash cans, but there are plenty of benches and trash cans along the trails. I highly recommend going to the train bridge. There are also small plaques around some of the plants telling what they are and a little about them. If you want a beautiful, primitive camping area, with nice, fairly modern facilities nearby, this is a great place to go. Also, keep in mind there are several trail heads along this road, and you could potentially start out at any of them, but the particular trail head I mentioned has the best restroom facilities and a wonderful playground. Most of the others only have a parking area.

  • Jeremy H.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    Camp Where An Explorer Died Mysteriously

    “Let’s go camping where one of the most remembered American explorers died a tragic death.” That’s probably not something I would have said before visiting the Meriwether Lewis Campground near Hohenwald, Tennessee. This campground is amazing. First, its setting couldn’t be anymore beautiful being nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of central Tennessee. The campground is filled with tall, stately oak trees that provide great, all day shade and shelter from the sun. It was hypnotizing listening to the wind from a summer storm swoosh through them. The sites are tent, car camper, and RV friendly though if you are staying in a tent you might have to be selective about which site you choose. Some are rocky and have quite a slant. Site 16, the one we chose to call home for the night, would not have made a good tent site at all even though it offered a breath-taking view of a cool, green hollow. Each site has a fire ring with an attached grill. The rings are about three feet wide and around 18 inches deep. They rest on a concrete slab. Camp parking is asphalt as are all the roads that wind through the park. All sites are within walking distance of a fully functional and positively clean bathroom that is cleaned regularly. You will need to bring your own soap to the bathroom though. The park doesn’t supply it or paper towels. Each campsite also has a secure trash can that is emptied daily(late in the evening during our stay). The campground is full of wildlife so it's nice to know they won’t be feasting on full trash cans. We shared our campsite with a pleasant and oddly curious Tennessee Rough Green Snake or Vine Snake. He enjoyed hunting bugs in the leaf litter at our campsite, and for about an hour, my son Oz and I enjoyed watching him on the hunt. We also saw a box turtle speeding down one of the many trails located within walking distance of the campground. The campground had three rounds of campers arrive on Friday night, July 5. The early campers who arrived between 2PM and 6PM, the after-work campers arriving just before sunset, and the evening crowd that arrived after sunset. The after-sunset crowd made a quick camp and went right to sleep. The camp has fresh water sources scattered throughout the campground including water fountains and spigots. Park staff were welcoming and hard working as you can instantly tell by the overall tidiness of the entire park. You may want to grab supplies before you head into camp since the two nearest towns are a few miles from the camp: Hohenwald (8 miles) and Summertown (11 miles). There is no store in the park or vending machines. You will also need to purchase firewood or be willing to walk to get it. The campground is well used so most sites only have twigs available. We lucked out and found some charred wood in unused campsites that supplemented our kindling we found while hiking. Overall, this is a great family campground. Access to the park isn’t restricted at night so you may want to make sure you carry a light with you as you walk around the campground in the dark. There is a lot of after dark traffic and you want to make sure you can be seen by other campers driving to the bathroom or the occasional guest who might just be driving through. I look forward to going back again soon. This is a five star park.

Guide to Lawrenceburg

Dispersed camping near Lawrenceburg, Tennessee offers several primitive options beyond the more developed sites. The area sits at approximately 900 feet above sea level with terrain ranging from dense oak-hickory forests to open creek banks. Winter temperatures typically drop to the mid-30s while summer highs reach the low 90s with relatively high humidity levels requiring adequate hydration and proper gear selection.

What to do

Explore historical sites: The Meriwether Lewis Campground features the reconstructed cabin where the famous explorer died in 1809. "This is such a great spot if you are driving down the Trace from Nashville... there was stuff about Meriwether Lewis, like the cabin he died in (weird I know, but kinda cool, right?!)," notes Jessica L.

Waterfall hiking: Several short trails lead to seasonal waterfalls near Meriwether Lewis Campground. One camper shares, "Pretty water falls not far from the camp site. History and adventure!" These falls are most impressive following spring rains, typically from March through May.

River access: TVA lands provide shoreline access for fishing, wading, and wildlife viewing. "Many of the side trails lead to the river. There is even a small beach area down the one that leads along the river to the old train bridge," explains a visitor to TVA-Nature Trail and Recreation Area.

What campers like

Well-maintained facilities: Despite being free, the campgrounds receive regular maintenance. "Clean, well maintained, quiet. Spots have some space between them but sparse trees for separation. I am just travelling through the area but if I lived within a days drive of here I'd be here regularly," reports Tiel M.

Educational opportunities: Interpretive displays provide context about local ecology and history. "This trail is rich in history, and there are a lot of plaques telling about certain natural and man made features along the trails. There are also small plaques around some of the plants telling what they are and a little about them."

Concrete parking pads: Many sites at Lentzville Road feature hard surfaces that remain stable even after heavy rain. "There are many concrete parking spots for RV's and spots for camping. The parking spot also has a Littering box and a table," mentions Len L.

What you should know

Trail navigation challenges: Some trail junctions lack clear signage, potentially causing disorientation. "Careful on the hiking trails though, many cross paths with no directions on how to get back to camp. We wondered around for a few hours before making it out," warns Ashley R.

Seasonal popularity: Summer weekends see significant crowds, particularly at established campgrounds. "As busy as it was I still found a quiet spot. Level pads, table and fire ring at all the sites," notes David R., suggesting arrivals before 2pm on Fridays during peak season.

Camping regulations: TVA lands permit primitive camping but with specific restrictions on duration and group size. "I learned recently, and confirmed through their website, that you can camp for free on TVA land. It just isn't well advertised."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Some nearby recreation areas provide play equipment for children. "Behind that building, they recently put in a very nice playground and a pavilion with picnic tables," making TVA-Nature Trail and Recreation Area particularly suitable for families with young children.

Child-friendly trails: Several paths accommodate various age groups and ability levels. "Trails to hike that are challenging but not too hard for kids of multiple ages," mentions Brittni F., recommending morning hikes before summer heat intensifies.

Bathroom facilities: Restrooms with flush toilets provide convenience for families at established sites. "Good bathhouse with flush toilets and cold water sink. No Shower. Great for tent camping," notes Anita C.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Arrive early to secure level parking areas, especially for larger vehicles. "I did not expect to find something like this in Tennessee! Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised. It is a cute little campground with clean bathrooms nearby," shares Seanna M.

Stay duration limits: Free sites often have maximum stay restrictions. "You can stay for 14 days each year because, let's face it, it's too nice for them to let people hog it," explains Lara M., noting the annual limits at Meriwether Lewis Campground.

Minimal hookups: Most dispersed areas near Lawrenceburg lack electrical or water connections. "This is such a great spot... It was quiet, had great primitive spots (and RV if you are into that sort of thing)," making it essential to arrive with fully charged batteries and adequate water reserves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Lawrenceburg, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Lawrenceburg, TN is Meriwether Lewis Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 33 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Lawrenceburg, TN?

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