The Lebanon area in Tennessee features a range of established campgrounds within a short drive of the city. Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground serves as a central camping destination with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. Several commercial facilities like Nashville East-Lebanon KOA provide year-round camping options with amenities such as full hookups, showers, and cabin rentals. Most campgrounds in the region sit within 30 minutes of downtown Lebanon, offering easy access to both natural attractions and urban conveniences.
Camping facilities around Lebanon typically remain open year-round, though some Army Corps of Engineers sites like Cedar Creek and Anderson Road Campground operate seasonally from spring through fall. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when occupancy rates peak. As one camper noted, "The sites are a bit close to each other" at Cedars of Lebanon, reflecting the generally developed nature of camping in this region. Most facilities feature paved or gravel roads accessible by standard vehicles, with no high-clearance requirements for the primary campgrounds. Cell service remains reliable throughout the area, and water restrictions are rarely an issue except during occasional drought conditions.
Visitors consistently mention the convenience of Lebanon's camping areas for both overnight travel stops and longer vacations. The proximity to Nashville (approximately 30 minutes west) makes these campgrounds popular bases for exploring the city while maintaining a more natural setting. State park campgrounds offer more hiking opportunities and natural features, while the commercial campgrounds emphasize amenities and comfort. According to reviews, "This is a perfect spot for passing through town" with sites that are "close to the bathrooms" and "minutes from Nashville downtown." Most developed campgrounds in the region provide electric and water hookups, with many offering sewer connections as well, making them suitable for longer stays in RVs or for tent campers seeking more amenities.
$25 - $30 / night
"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."
"Enjoyed Cedars of Lebanon State Park after completing my first triathalon sprint with some very great girlfriends!"
"You do not always need a reservation as the park holds out a couple spaces for drive ups."
"There is a flat trail next to the lake that my two year old loves to run up and down, playgrounds, and a story trail."
"Campground is near the road but is still quite. This would be a good place for easy access to the lake and Nashville. Multiple places to eat within 5 miles. Great pass through"
"Plenty of dog walking area, even a fenced area for the dogs to run. Friendly staff."
$30 - $50 / night
"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."
$32 - $50 / night
"Paved roads, showers, playground, Big lake side sites wth shade. lots of space between the campsites. fire rings, picnic tables."
"The campsite was surrounded by trees and it was a quick walk to the lake. The bathroom and shower facilities were clean and had warm water."
$24 - $50 / night
"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!"
"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."
"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."
$24 - $36 / 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!"
"I did notice, however, some the the sites had seriously sloping drives so lots of leveling would have been required. The area is heavily wooded.y site had no view of the lake but some do."
"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 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."
TravelerStaff pleasant, site easy enough to get into, no shade for “short stays”, overall nice, quaint park for overnight parking on the way to another destination. I was disappointed- NO shower house for RVers, only for cabin guest.
GuideThis was a very nice resort camping spot. I loved the not tub with the jets. I tent camped on the mulch and electric/ water site. I just wanted to see what the mulch was like. The big chest , checkers and jumping pillow was pretty cool. And if you want wood you can charge your card on file and they'll bring your wood to your site.... since they don't just have it in the office. It's also very close to town so you can get a Uber or even have food delivered if you actually don't want to cook. Feels very much like glamping.
ScoutThe owner was very nice and informative. I was able to have peace and quiet for the rest of my stay
GuideSites are large and nice with grass. Could not find anything level to park on unfortunately Lots of trees Lots of bugs
The roads to get here….well they are basically single lane roads so be careful
Nice bathrooms
TravelerI've lived close to Cages Bend for over 50 years, but have never camped here until this past weekend. Man I didn't know what i was missing. This little hidden gem is the perfect spot on Old Hickory Lake for camping and taking in an amazing sunrise. You can easily launch your kayak from the shore or catch that big bass you've been trying for. They have a boat launch if you want to bring that or your Jet ski with you. Lots of trees help keep the summer heat from beating down on you and did I mention wildlife? We saw tons of Deer, Ducks, Geese, squirrels, Turtles and snakes, but thankfully the snakes stayed in the water! The camp host, Tanya and Donnie(i hope i got their names right) were amazing from Day 1. Very helpful and kind, blows my mind to see any negative reviews about them, they were truly Amazing! The campground is kept very clean and they take pride in keeping it that way. We stayed in spot 28 the first night, then moved over to 30 for 4 nights. Both of them are great sites. We have verizon phone/internet service and it worked perfectly there. I could go on and on, but i'll finish by saying, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND a visit to Cages Bend Campground. We camped at over 50 campgrounds and this is in my top 3!
GuidePossibly the most extraordinary campsite I have been to. Large decks suspended over the hillside, some with excellent views of the lake. We were here for one night off season, I imagine if you are here in summer you wouldn’t want to be on the side of the marina. We were originally in site 7, but moved to 53… sites 1-12 definitely take some parking skills
GuideCamp hosts were extremely friendly, bathrooms were very clean, site was perfect right on a sandy beach.
TravelerOur second overnight here. So convenient to I-65. Friendly and accommodating staff and clean bathrooms. Highly recommend!
ScoutBathrooms and showers are clean. Laundry is cheap! Pool heated!
Percy Priest Lake dominates the camping landscape near Lebanon, Tennessee with several campgrounds situated around its 14,200-acre shoreline. Most established camping options sit within a 30-minute radius of downtown Lebanon, creating convenient access to both outdoor recreation and urban amenities. Seasonal temperature variations range from winter lows around 30°F to summer highs in the 90s, affecting campground availability and recreation options throughout the year.
Lake activities on Percy Priest Lake: The majority of campgrounds near Lebanon provide direct water access with varying amenities. At Poole Knobs, campers appreciate the waterfront options: "Great, lakefront campsite... Really pretty lake and beautifully maintained property. Water and electric hooks, campsites very spread apart." Swimming, fishing and boating remain the primary draws.
Hiking trails with diverse terrain: Several state parks offer dedicated hiking paths within 20 miles of Lebanon. The Bledsoe Creek State Park Campground provides "beautiful hiking on calm trails and lots of wildlife," according to campers. The park's smaller size makes it ideal for families with young children or those wanting shorter trail options.
Seasonal events and entertainment: Many campgrounds host scheduled activities during peak camping season. One camper noted that at Cedars of Lebanon State Park, "their halloween weekend is a great time of fun for the kids!" From May through September, several campgrounds coordinate weekend programming like live music, themed weekends, and outdoor movie nights.
Spacious sites with privacy: Many campers mention site spacing as a key factor in their experience. At Seven Points, reviewers consistently highlight the layout: "The campsites are level cement pads with large well spaced sites. If you can get a lake view it is wonderful." The Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds generally provide more space between sites than private campgrounds.
Clean facilities: Bathroom and shower quality significantly impacts camper satisfaction. One visitor to Cedar Creek described it as having "Nice coated metal mesh large picnic table and fire ring. Restrooms are clean, well lit etc. Sites closer to the waterfront are beautiful and more spread out than the inland sites."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds offer chances to observe local wildlife. At Bledsoe Creek, one camper shared, "Deer would just walk up near you and just say hello. It's so peaceful." Bird watching is particularly good around the lake shorelines during spring and fall migrations.
Seasonal operation schedules: Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules. While commercial facilities like Nashville East-Lebanon KOA remain open year-round, Army Corps of Engineers sites typically close from October through April. One camper noted at Cedar Creek, "We pulled in about 7 PM. We found our ticket for the campsite taped to the window of the booth. Restroom are clean a little chilly as we were in beginning of April."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially for weekend stays from May through September. One visitor to Seven Points advised, "You need to book your reservations on recreation.gov."
Bug considerations: Ticks present a concern in wooded sites. A camper at Bledsoe Creek warned, "Our dogs picked up ticks every day, and we had a few as well. Watch out for lyme and other tick born illnesses. We unfortunately found a bullseye rash from one of the bites. This means the deer are carriers as well."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. The Nashville East-Lebanon KOA has "Paved roads the kids loved scootering on." When selecting a family-friendly site, proximity to playgrounds often determines children's enjoyment.
Swimming areas: Most waterfront campgrounds offer swimming access, though facilities vary significantly. At Elm Hill RV Resort, "The amenities were top notch and tons to do with kids. We enjoyed our stay and took full advantage of the lake. We paddle boarded, swam, and kayaked."
Safety considerations: Campgrounds with gated access provide additional security for families. One parent mentioned at Elm Hill RV Resort that it was "Very safe. Full hookups, decent WiFi. It is a bit expensive but well worth it for the proximity to Nashville and the beauty of the site."
Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds feature unlevel sites requiring preparation. At Nashville East-Lebanon KOA, one RVer noted, "The site was nowhere near level side to side."
Big rig accessibility: Most campgrounds accommodate larger RVs, but internal roads vary in quality. One camper at Cedars of Lebanon mentioned, "While making reservations, section 1 has very small, cramped together sites. We took a walk around section 2, and section 3. There was a lot more room, and seemed a little more private. I would recommend them over section 1."
Hookup variations: Water pressure and electrical service differ between facilities. An RVer at Cedars of Lebanon warned, "To my surprise I opened the electric pedestal, and there was only 50 amp service. I'm set up for 30 amp, so I had to use an adapter."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Lebanon, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Lebanon, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 128 campgrounds and RV parks near Lebanon, TN and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Lebanon, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lebanon, TN is Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 47 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lebanon, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Lebanon, TN.
What parks are near Lebanon, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 parks near Lebanon, TN that allow camping, notably Old Hickory Lake and J Percy Priest Lake.
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