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Best Tent Camping near Lupton City, TN

1,267 Reviews

State parks and national forests surrounding Lupton City, Tennessee offer diverse tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Davis Pond Campsite provides walk-in tent sites with picnic tables and basic pit toilets in a secluded setting with fishing access. Nearby, Lockhart's Arch Shelter on the Cumberland Trail offers primitive tent camping for hikers, accessible via a 1.8-mile moderate trail from Signal Point. The Prentice Cooper State Forest, just northwest of Lupton City, features tent camping at Hunter's Check Station Campground with basic amenities. For those willing to travel slightly farther, Foster Falls Campground in South Cumberland State Park provides 26 rustic tent sites with access to waterfalls and hiking trails.

Most tent campsites in the region feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal grading, requiring careful tent placement. Davis Pond requires navigation along dusty gravel roads into the Wildlife Management Area, while Lockhart's Arch demands proper food storage measures as the shelter lacks protection from wildlife. Campers should bring water filtration systems, as most sites have limited or no potable water sources. Fire rings are common at established sites, though fire bans may be implemented during dry seasons. Pit toilets are available at some locations but are often minimally maintained. Bear activity occurs throughout the region, necessitating proper food storage practices at all tent camping locations.

In early spring and fall, tent campers experience fewer crowds and more comfortable temperatures at most sites. According to reviews, Davis Pond offers "shady trees and a fishing pond" with space for multiple tents, though the pit toilets can be poorly maintained. At Foster Falls, outer loop sites (17-26) provide "relative privacy from each other" with designated tent pads, while inner loop sites offer less seclusion. The proximity to natural features enhances the backcountry tent camping experience, with one camper noting that Foster Falls is "just a short walking distance away" from the campground. Cell service varies dramatically between locations, with most primitive tent sites having limited or no connectivity, allowing for a more immersive wilderness experience.

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Best Tent Sites Near Lupton City, Tennessee (64)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lupton City, TN

85 Photos of 64 Lupton City Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Lupton City, TN

1267 Reviews of 64 Lupton City Campgrounds

  • Shana D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 14, 2022

    Greeter Falls Campground

    New campground

    We only checked out the primitive sites while passing through the area. The sites had picnic tables and fire rings, but they were pretty overgrown. It doesn’t look like this section of the campground is getting much use yet. They have a couple of portable toilets on site with garbage cans next to the toilets. There is a water spigot at the exit that can be used for filling tanks/containers. Also, there is a community fire pit area near the exit and a small camp store building near the entrance. Closed when we drove thru. To be honest, other than sites being marked with a site number, I couldn’t tell where the sites were actually at or where tents were supposed to be set up at.

    We did not drive they the yurts or RV sites, so I cannot speak for those, but the pictures on the website look nice.

    Rating this a 3 based on location to Greeter Falls Waterfall and also because it is new and still an ongoing work in progress, I didn’t want to rate too low.

  • Melissa K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 3, 2017

    Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground

    Beautiful

    This park was really nice. We stopped while passing through. The only sites available were walk in tent sites. This isn't a huge big deal but it wasn't ideal for us at that particular time. We had a hard time identifying our site number as they really weren't marked but it wasn't far from the parking lot. There was a tent pad and fire ring but no picnic table. Not the end of the world as we arrived late and were really just sleeping there for the night. The sounds were amazing, owls for a good part of the night. We did have an issue with noise, there was a large group somewhere that was very loud well in to quiet hours and without a camp hose or attendant in the walk in sites, nothing was done about it and the noise started back up first thing in the morning as well. The park did acknowledge other complaints but without knowing which site they were in, it was hard to correct the situation. We did decide to explore the park before driving on and hiked to two waterfalls. Both hikes contained many stairs which is a good workout. The falls were really pretty and well worth the walk with a toddler.

  • Katrin M.
    Mar. 7, 2021

    Foster Falls Campground — South Cumberland State Park

    Nice rustic getaway

    We camped here over the weekend with our dogs. The campground has 26 rustic campsites that need to be reserved in advance. Each site has a firepit and a picnic table. It is probably better for tent camping since there are no electrical hook ups. There are also no generators allowed. Some of the sites are very close together like mostly the ones on the entrance. We camped at #19 and it was very private and spacious. The bathrooms were ok. Unfortunately they were never cleaned over the weekend. It was pretty noisy on Friday night and there is nobody to enforce a quiet time. Be aware... roosters are nearby and they start crowing at 4am. Some of the sites are very well shaded. There is no firewood sale in the campground or the visitor center (which is about 17 min away) but locals have it available near by. The landscape is absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking. Foster Falls is just a short walking distance away and so beautiful. In the summertime it's a popular swimming hole. It is also a paradise for rock climbers. South Cumberland has many spread out entrances. We visited Stone Door and Denny Cove. It was so beautiful. We would camp here again but probably not in the summertime because it can get very crowded.

  • Stephanie J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 27, 2019

    Mountain Glen RV Park & Campground

    Ranger Review: The Dyrt Reservations at Mountain Glen RV Park & Campground

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I am occasionally compensated for staying at and reviewing campgrounds. I was given the opportunity to stay at Mountain Glen RV Park and Campground in order to test the new reservation system through The Dyrt. The reservation system works extremely well--it is fast and efficient, and save the trouble of using a third party reservation system after finding a campground you like on The Dyrt. I look forward to more campgrounds joining TD's network!

    Mountain Glen is a new campground, located about an hour northwest of Chattanooga, and it is absolutely beautiful. There are a total of 8 tent sites and 41 RV sites, set next to a lake and a gorgeous view of a farm. Amenities include picnic tables, a playground, fishing, horseshoes, corn hole, a game room, a camp store, and laundry facilities, showers, and flush toilets with electricity (and heat!). It is also a short drive to Fall Creek Falls State Park, for anyone looking to enjoy the hiking near the falls without the overnight crowds the state park brings in. 

    The RV sites occupy most of the campground, and accommodate trailers ranging from 60' to 90'. All sites have electric and water hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, and most have small grassy areas for dogs, kids, or even grown ups to stretch out and rest. RVs are also available to rent.

    Tent sites 1-3 are listed as “primitive” sites and have no electricity or water, however it is a short walk to the office where water is available. The road is visible from these sites, however there is a grassy meadow both between the sites and the road, and the sites and the lake, with woods bordering site 3. 

    Sites 4 and 5 are located closest to the picnic shelter, with a clear view of the lake. Sites 6-8 are next to the office/bathrooms. Site 6 is the smallest and 8 is the largest. All tent sites are fairly hilly, and accommodate small tents better than large based on limited flat space—though hammocks would work well!

    There is a trail that winds around the lake, and passes a beautiful spillway on the end opposite the office which is great for getting some shade, and a chance for kids to splash in some water. This end also has a picnic table for day use. I would love to see this area eventually become a walk-in campsite as it is definitely the most beautiful area of the entire campground!

    The owners here are extremely nice. We were greeted warmly on our arrival, and spent some time talking with them our second day. It is obvious they care about the campground and want campers to enjoy themselves and feel comfortable. We are tent campers and I was wary of staying somewhere more geared towards RVs, but what tent camping here lacks in privacy and wilderness, it more than makes up for in beauty, peace, and a feeling of home-away-from-home.

  • A
    Sep. 5, 2016

    Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground

    Walk-in sites

    Love the tent-only serenity of the walk-in sites. There is a separate parking lot at the back of the park for the walk-in sites, which are a short distance away (easy to haul your gear). The sites have a tent pad, picnic table and fire ring, and lots of privacy as the sites are very far from each other. The bath house has showers and running hot water. the long hike around the canyon and down into it provided amazing views! I'm always thrilled to find camping areas where I can have the convenience of my car-but can avoid the noise of RVs - and you definitely get that here!

  • M
    Sep. 10, 2016

    Fort Mountain State Park Campground

    Memorial Day Weekend was Awesome..

    We spent Memorial Day weekend at Fort Mountain and it was awesome. We camped in a Pioneer campsite #2 which is a 3 sided pavilion that would easily sleep 8-10 people if you were only using bed rolls and sleeping bags. Pioneer camping has its challenges, but each site has an outhouse and a picnic table and prebuilt fire ring. There is an original fire tower on top of the mountain at the end of the trail. A Great Lake for kayaks and fishing with Jon boats, paddle boats, and canoes avaialble for rentals. Lots of cool lake side tent sites and trailer sites are also avaialble. We have camped several times with our scout troop. Lots of cool trails surround the park. There were fireworks in neighboring towns a short,15 min drive both nights. The towns near by have stores and food if your not I the mood to cook. The history is well documented on displays all around the park. And the there is a station that broadcasts at the end of one of the public service roads.

  • Heather W.
    Jul. 3, 2019

    Chilhowee Recreation Area

    Great place during lightning bug season!

    This campground is great! It has clean bathrooms with showers, fire rings with grill grates, lots of hiking, hike to a beautiful waterfall, huge lake to swim or float on a raft, and the lightning bugs were breath taking!!

    We stayed at site #39. Next to the trail that leads to the lake. Next to rest room, trash bin, and water spout. This specific site has the driveway and then stairs to the fire/table/tent pad. We set our large tent on the tent pad and a smaller tent on the driveway next to the stairs.

    Pros: No reservation needed. Warmish showers. Hiking. Lake to swim in. Beautiful waterfall. Perfect to see millions of lightning bugs. Easy payment (put money in slip and put in bin, and yes they do check). Pets allowed.

    Cons: we had the WORST neighbors I’ve ever experienced while camping! The staff warned them about quiet hours but never came back to in force it. Fire ring grill topper was broke off.

    DON’T drive up the dirt path, we made that mistake. Take the regular rode. GPS sends you automatically to the dirt road.

    Over all I’m defiantly going to camp there again. Well kept and overall has a lot to offer

  • WThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 8, 2020

    Pocket Campground — Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest

    Nice overnight

    The Pocket in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Another beautiful place we've never been before! Nice tent camp spot, not sure I would stay several days but we really enjoyed the weekend. This was our last chance since the camp closes on Nov. 9 this year. The sites along the creek are nice but the rest is well laid out with fire rings, lantern poles and tables. No showers but the restrooms were clean and in good order. Cell service is totally nonexistent in the whole area.

  • Stephanie J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2018

    Foster Falls Campground — South Cumberland State Park

    Loud and dirty but spacious with great hiking

    Foster Falls Campground has 26 sites, most of which are very large and spacious. As is common in loop campgrounds, the sites in the center of the loop--especially sites 1-13--are very open, with little privacy between sites, although they are still shady due to the extremely tall trees. The outer loop sites have more underbrush between them providing a buffer. Sites 17-26 all have relative privacy from each other, but are smaller sites in general, although many of them have specified tent pads. The sites closest to the bathrooms all had more bugs while we were there in August, and site 16, while very large, has power lines that run into the site itself.

    This is a very beautiful campground. The towering trees give most sites ample shade, and there is a lot of firewood that is easy to collect from felled trees, particularly on the back half of the loop. The front half of the loop is closest to the trail to the falls, and site 8 has a trail running directly behind it that takes you to the falls overlook, and to the trailhead to walk down to the falls themselves. Our 2 and 5 year old walked from our campsite down to the falls and back up easily, and enjoyed having a trail that led to the falls overlook for nightly post-dinner walks, and it would make a great camping base for anyone looking to hike the Fiery Gizzard Trail. The picnic tables are also very large and made it easy to prepare food and for 5 people to sit comfortably, even with our stove at one end, and the tables are on concrete slabs, which helps keep bugs crawling around your feet down a little, and makes it easier to clean up any food that falls while eating. The bathrooms were also cleaned each morning, with the trash taken out and the floor swept clean of bugs and detritus.

    My biggest complaints about this site are the noise, and how much trash we saw. There is a farm nearby with a rooster that spent the better part of the day crowing, which can be distracting when you have a toddler you are trying to get to sleep, and got very repetitive for the adults as well. We could also hear 18 wheelers both nights we were there during the night. We were there on weeknights so there were very few other campers, but there was a lot of trash still evident from the weekend littered across most of the campsites, and a group that stayed our first night there left their fire ring full of paper towels and banana peels. After reporting it to a ranger, he cleaned up the paper but left the banana peels which made me wonder how strictly the campground enforces proper food storage, and the ranger said that the campers had not paid or registered--despite the fact that park vehicles drove past at least twice since that group set up camp. If kept clean, I would easily give this a 4 or 5 star rating despite the noise, but I was very disappointed in the visibility of human impact--a shame, because it is otherwise a great place, and great for families with small children.

Guide to Lupton City

Tent camping near Lupton City, Tennessee offers options ranging from backcountry sites to established campgrounds within the surrounding Cumberland Plateau region. The area sits at elevations between 600-1,800 feet with distinct microclimates that create pockets of wilderness terrain. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping benefits from moderate 50-70°F conditions with occasional thunderstorms.

What to do

Hike to swimming spots: At Foster Falls Campground, campers can combine hiking with swimming opportunities. "Beautiful scenery on somewhat strenuous hikes to waterfalls, some good sport climbing, and a few trails that will take you really high up so you can look down at the beautiful green canopy," notes reviewer Kelly M., who recommends going "when it's warm enough to swim in the waterfall."

Climb at nearby crags: The Lupton City region has several climbing areas where tent campers can test their skills. Many visitors to Blue Hole Dispersed Camping appreciate its proximity to climbing routes, with Ava R. stating it's "right down the road from blue hole and Ellison Cave trail" making it a convenient basecamp for climbers.

Fish in secluded ponds: Fishing opportunities exist at several campgrounds in the region, especially for tent campers willing to travel dusty roads. Davis Pond Campsite offers fishing access, with Josh W. noting it provides a "basic/small" area that works well as a "good overnight" stop for anglers looking for a quick fishing trip.

What campers like

Spacious tent sites: Savage Falls Campground receives high marks for its layout. Cole T. calls it a "perfect spot for a short hike-in backcountry camping experience" where "camp sites are secluded and spread apart," making it ideal for those seeking privacy while tent camping.

Free dispersed camping: Budget-conscious campers appreciate no-cost options. At Hunter's Check Station Campground, Everest C. notes it offers "free camping" with accessible sites, though mentioning "most of the camp spots are littered with peoples leftovers" - something to consider when selecting a site.

Proximity to overlooks: Many tent campgrounds provide quick access to scenic views. At Savage Falls, Jason J. highlights the "great site right above the falls" with "a short walk down to a perfect little perch over the top of the falls," providing easy access to natural features without extended hiking.

What you should know

Road conditions vary significantly: Access to many tent sites requires navigation on unpaved roads. At Davis Pond Campsite, Tessa B. warns about challenging access: "Last 7 miles are on a windy gravel road. The last 1/2 mile gets a little dicey and needs a vehicle with some clearance."

Weather impacts site conditions: The Cumberland Plateau experiences rapid weather changes that affect camping conditions. LaRee S. noted at Back Achers Farm that "the site itself was not well-marked and completely overgrown" during summer months, creating concerns about wildlife encounters.

Toilet facilities require planning: Most tent sites offer minimal sanitation facilities. Amber L. simply states that Hunter's Check Station Campground "has toilet facility" without elaborating on condition, while others note that facilities at primitive sites may be poorly maintained or entirely absent.

Tips for camping with families

Choose loop campsites for ease: At Foster Falls, families appreciate the accessibility of certain sites. Brittany S. notes the "fairly large campsites with easy access to Foster Falls and the Fiery Gizzard trail" and mentions "lots of trees (perfect for hammocking!)" which appeals to families with older children.

Consider noise levels: Families should research potential noise sources near campgrounds. For tent camping near Lupton City, noise can come from unexpected sources. Everest C. reports at Hunter's Check Station: "Not a quiet camping area lots of road noise and traffic."

Short hikes to waterfalls: When camping with children, proximity to attractions matters. At Lockhart's Arch Shelter, Stephanie J. describes the hike as "moderate, passing beautiful views at Julia Falls Overlook, and a cool suspension bridge as it crosses Middle Creek," making it manageable for families with older children.

Tips from RVers

Clearance requirements: RVers should note many tent camping areas near Lupton City have access limitations. At Blue Hole Dispersed Camping, Ava R. shares: "We stayed 3 days 2 nights here in our 21' pop up camper with our generator. Road is pretty well maintained, spots are good size, some only large enough for tent/car camping."

Limited hookup options: Most camping areas near Lupton City lack full RV services. Michael M. describes Blue Hole as having "no electricity or running water but the camp sites are pretty good" and mentions they "have a handicap access area for RVs to do disperse camping also an parking for the bluehole."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lupton City, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lupton City, TN is Davis Pond Campsite with a 3.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 64 tent camping locations near Lupton City, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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