Tent camping options near Lebanon, Tennessee center around Percy Priest Lake and adjacent waterways within a 20-mile radius. The area sits at approximately 500-550 feet elevation with a humid subtropical climate featuring hot summers and mild winters. Summer months bring average temperatures of 85-90°F with high humidity, making spring and fall typically more comfortable for camping.
What to do
Swimming access: Long Hunter State Park Campground features waterfront sites with easy lake entry points. A camper notes, "It is a great swimming spot with flat rocks to hang out on," making it ideal for cooling off during hot Tennessee summers.
Deer watching: Wildlife observation opportunities abound at Lone Branch, particularly in early morning and evening hours. A visitor described, "One great thing about this campground is that there is wildlife everywhere. We saw so many Whitetail Deer, it was amazing. They would just come into the campground, feed and walk around."
Fishing: Multiple campsites provide shoreline fishing access. At Lone Branch, "There is a lake nearby that tons of people went to fish. My dad caught some trout which was really cool. We cooked that for dinner one night and it was amazing!"
Hiking: The Buffalo Nature Trail across from Lone Branch offers moderate difficulty hiking with minimal elevation change. Trails typically range from 1-6 miles in length, with one camper noting their Long Hunter experience: "Even though 6 miles is quite the hike for a young Girl Scout Troop just to reach our Campsite it was beyond worth it!"
What campers like
Privacy: Turnhole Backcountry Campsite provides seclusion from other campers. A reviewer appreciated that "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."
Night sky views: Clear nights at certain sites offer good stargazing when conditions permit. One camper at Turnhole mentioned, "Clear nights with a bright moon were magical here. It is probably a beautiful spot when there is no foliage, as well."
Clean facilities: Smith Springs maintains well-kept grounds according to visitors. One camper stated, "The grounds here were very well kept," while another described it as a "beautiful place" and "very calm relaxing park."
Easy city access: Camp Nashville Highland Rim allows for combined urban and outdoor experiences. A visitor explained, "At Camp Nashville, you can make day trips to the city and come back to your cozy campsite after a day exploring the city!"
What you should know
Insect protection: Summer camping requires substantial insect repellent. A Long Hunter camper warned, "It was the most ticks any of us had seen, including tiny seed ticks. We left with multiple bites, and were constantly picking them off each other and our gear."
Water availability: Many primitive sites require carrying all water or filtering from sources that may be seasonal or difficult to access. At Turnhole, "Water is hard to come by here, and hiking it in may be your best bet. The river is at least 1/2 mile away, through extremely dense brush, and the banks are not easy to access."
Reservation requirements: Some sites like Stones River Getaway require advance booking. This newer campground has only 5 sites available, making early planning essential during peak seasons.
Trail accuracy: Some trail markers may not reflect actual distances. Regarding the Sal Hollow Trail near Turnhole, a hiker reported, "It ended up being pretty exhausting: we believe it is a lot longer than the markers suggest, and a lot of the trail seems pretty unused/not kept up."
Tips for camping with families
Shallow water access: Smith Springs offers kid-friendly water areas. A visitor observed, "The water area here is slightly different than some of the other areas I visited on the lake. Looks like it'd be great for just jumping in and lots of shallows for kids."
Wildlife education: Incorporate animal sightings into educational experiences. At Lone Branch, a camper reported, "We saw so many Whitetail Deer, it was amazing. They also saw some wild turkey on our way in to the campground, which was pretty cool too. There were TONS of squirrels, which seemed pretty okay with humans as well."
Short hikes: For younger children, several parks offer shorter trails under 2 miles. One parent recommended Long Hunter State Park for beginners: "This is a good trail to try out your skills before attempting a more challenging trip. Basic Tennessee woodland and animals."
Food storage: Secure food supplies from wildlife. A camper at Lone Branch warned, "When we were eating, they [squirrels] were right there with us. It was a little annoying after awhile because I felt like we had to watch them so they wouldn't get into our food."
Tips from RVers
Alternative accommodations: When RV sites are limited, consider tent camping options. At Laguardo, tent-only sites offer water access without requiring hookups. A visitor mentioned, "I've only been here kayaking but it's nice and clean."
Day use areas: Some locations like Old Hickory Beach provide day-use facilities without overnight options. A visitor noted, "Boat ramp, fishing, picnic and beach areas, no camping. 5$ for beach access and no dogs in the beach area."
Local recreation options: Many campgrounds offer activity areas separate from overnight camping. A reviewer suggested exploring different sections of Long Hunter State Park: "The park is spread out into 2 areas and you can swim in one but not in the other. There are great places to run and hike."
