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Best Tent Camping near Lewisburg, TN

369 Reviews

Tent camping options in the Tennessee countryside near Lewisburg range from primitive sites to established campgrounds with varying amenities. Nearby tent-friendly locations include Southport Saltpeter Cave, located 12 miles south of Columbia, and the rustic tent sites at Fox Valley Farm. Long Hunter State Park Campground, about an hour northeast, provides additional tent camping possibilities with primitive sites set along the lakeshore.

Most tent campsites in the region require campers to be self-sufficient, with limited amenities available. Bells Bend Park offers primitive tent camping with sites accessible only by foot, requiring visitors to pack in all supplies and pack out all trash. Several locations provide fire rings and designated camping areas, but potable water is scarce. Southport Saltpeter Cave permits fires and provides firewood, but lacks drinking water facilities. The terrain varies across sites, with some offering flat, clear tent pads while others present more rugged, natural surfaces requiring careful site selection.

The tent camping experience near Lewisburg offers opportunities for stargazing, wildlife viewing, and water recreation. Ray of Hope Guest Ranch provides tent sites with excellent night sky visibility, while Long Hunter State Park features waterfront primitive sites ideal for swimming and fishing. Visitors to Tims Ford State Park can access backcountry tent sites by boat or hiking trail. Natural surroundings create an immersive outdoor experience with diverse wildlife. Seasonal considerations affect the camping experience, with ticks being prevalent in warmer months. A visitor noted, "Long Hunter State Park is 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." Many tent campsites require reservations, with prices typically ranging from $10-15 per night depending on residency status and location.

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Best Tent Sites Near Lewisburg, Tennessee (12)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lewisburg, TN

2 Photos of 12 Lewisburg Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Lewisburg, TN

369 Reviews of 12 Lewisburg 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.

  • 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)
  • 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.

  • Devin R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2024

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    Hey, It’s Free

    I was really looking forward to this place on my way to Arkansas. However, as soon as I turned into the camping area I was “greeted” by not one but TWO off leash dogs barking and running toward my van (they were not together). Fortunately, I took vinegar spray with me when I took my dog for a walk. It was a useful deterrent when one of the loose dogs ran at us. I yelled to put the dog on leash but of course nobody emerged from the van. On the return trip I made sure to have my spray and body pointed straight toward the dog who was just waiting for me to turn around so he could attack again. If you want a flat spot, a pull through spot, or one that you can’t smell the toilets, get there early! I got there around noon and maybe 15 people were there. By sundown most spots were taken…on a Tuesday. Restrooms toward the entrance were nice with running water and flush toilets.

  • 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.

  • saddie R.
    Mar. 31, 2025

    Meriwether Lewis Campground, Milepost 385.9 — Natchez Trace Parkway

    Loved our stay!

    We took our three kids tent camping overnight and we had a great time! All roads and campsites are paved so the kids all road bikes easily! No electric at sites but there are water spigots periodically placed through the campground. Bathrooms were very clean. No showers. Overall we were very happy!

  • T
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Anderson Road Campground

    Large sites

    The area is clearly designed for RVs, not tents, which was fine since I had my campervan. 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. Most that have beach access also have electric. There are 10-12 of those sites. The remainder are primitive. The only water is near the dump station. To access the lake if you don't have a lake site requires driving to a separate area. The bathhouse is fine. Most sites seem to be large enough for a couple of tents and vehicles. Verizon service was adequate. No wifi.

    Guns shots in the surrounding area in the overnight periods. I don't think they were originating from inside the campground. Also, campground is near the Nashville airport so air traffic can be heard. Generators are allowed in the campground.

Guide to Lewisburg

Tent camping around Lewisburg, Tennessee offers primitive to moderate sites within a rural Middle Tennessee setting. The area sits at approximately 700 feet elevation with rolling hills and limestone geography creating diverse camping terrain. Most sites have minimal amenities, requiring self-sufficiency, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 85°F and high humidity from June through September.

What to do

Explore cave systems: Southport Saltpeter Cave, located 12 miles south of Columbia, combines primitive camping with underground exploration. According to Daniel L., "Enjoyed this rough camping trip and Spelunking with our Royal Ambassador boys. Buddy gives a guided tour along with camping privilege's."

Paddle to island campsites: At Tims Ford State Park, campers can access remote sites by watercraft. "We visit here every summer, great paddling, few cliffs to jump off of, awesome old cemetery right beside campsite," notes Buddy G. about Devil's Step Island.

Stargazing opportunities: Clear night skies at Ray of Hope Guest Ranch provide excellent stargazing conditions. Jeremy H. shares, "We watched the moon rise over a hill directly in front of the campsite, and we even saw a brilliant shooting star blaze across the sky for what seems like an eternity."

What campers like

Lake access: Turkey Creek Campground offers direct water access for swimming and fishing. Travis J. notes, "Great straight forward campsite, awesome lake access!"

Farm settings: Several tent sites near Lewisburg are situated on working farms. Fox Valley Farm provides rustic tent sites with 5 designated camping areas. The rural setting offers agricultural landscapes typical of Middle Tennessee.

Urban-accessible nature: Bells Bend Park provides primitive camping surprisingly close to Nashville. Krista A. explains, "10 total sites. No drive up. Pack it in, pack it out. Firewood provided. Portapotty in the parking lot or hike to the outdoor center for flushing toilets and running water."

What you should know

Site accessibility varies: Many primitive sites require physical effort to reach. Sasha R. from Long Hunter State Park shares, "Even though 6 miles is quite the hike for a young Girl Scout Troop just to reach our Campsite it was beyond worth it!"

Insect preparation essential: Ticks and mosquitoes are prevalent from April through October. Bring appropriate repellent and check regularly for ticks.

Water availability limited: Most primitive sites lack potable water. At Stones River Getaway, sites include water access but campers should verify seasonal availability.

Tips for camping with families

Start with shorter trails: For families new to tent camping Lewisburg, Tennessee sites with shorter hikes are preferable. Smith Springs offers more accessible options as DrDavid P. notes, "If boring and peaceful is what you want, this is the place."

Pack extra clothing: Temperature variations can be significant, particularly in spring and fall when overnight temperatures can drop below 50°F despite warm days.

Choose sites with defined boundaries: Stones River Getaway provides tent sites with clear boundaries, helpful for keeping track of children. The campground is "open for reservations through the Dyrt" according to a recent addition.

Tips from RVers

Limited RV primitive options: Most tent-focused sites near Lewisburg don't accommodate RVs, but tent campers often appreciate this separation for more natural experiences.

Consider parking logistics: When tent camping at primitive sites, secure parking can be limited. Bells Bend Park requires campers to "pack it in, pack it out" as Carl A. enthusiastically confirms is "ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!"

Weather preparedness: Middle Tennessee experiences frequent afternoon thunderstorms in summer months. Bring appropriate rain gear and waterproof storage containers when tent camping in this region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lewisburg, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lewisburg, TN is Ray of Hope Guest Ranch and Horse Motel with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Lewisburg, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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