Camping near Martin, Tennessee spans from Kentucky Lake to Reelfoot Lake, with most campgrounds located within a 35-45 mile radius of town. The region sits at approximately 400 feet above sea level with a humid subtropical climate producing hot summers and mild winters. Spring flooding can impact campsite availability at certain locations, particularly at Reelfoot Lake where water levels fluctuate dramatically with seasonal rainfall.
What to do
Pontoon tours at Reelfoot: Visitor center-based boat tours provide an excellent way to experience Reelfoot Lake's unique cypress swamp ecosystem. A camper at South Campground noted, "Did a 2 hour pontoon tour offered at the TN State Park Visitor Center. Guide was excellent. Neat to see a bald cypress in one of TN's only 2 natural lakes... Saw 10 bald eagles, osprey, egret, blue heron. Worth the price and time!"
Historical exploration: The Civil War history around the region includes battlefields and museums. At Columbus-Belmont State Park, visitors can explore trenches and relics. A camper commented, "Perfect area for history buffs, plus lots of hiking, boating, and wildlife. There is info on local nature and historical facts, primarily Civil War... great little Civil War museum."
Kayaking and canoeing: The flooded forest environment of Reelfoot Lake creates a unique paddling experience. According to a visitor, "Exceptional canoeing and wildlife! This park is like nothing else, it's a flooded forest. You can kayak among this and other lovely bayou environments, lakes, etc... You will need a watercraft of some sort or you will be kicking yourself for not being able to enjoy it fully."
What campers like
Lake views and wildlife watching: Camping spaces along the water offer constant wildlife viewing opportunities. One camper at Columbus-Belmont State Park described the appeal: "Several swings and benches line the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River... You can even take a self-guided walking tour through the trenches dug by soldiers in the Civil War, walking by several cannons and other relics left behind."
Fishing opportunities: The region offers multiple fishing environments from cypress swamps to open lake waters. A camper noted: "If you love bird watching or photography this place is a dream; osprey, eagles, herons, egrets, and so many others are everywhere. Pelican's stop here on their migration and I recommend the pontoon tour in October during the festival if you want to see them on the water."
Spacious sites at certain campgrounds: While some campgrounds have tightly packed sites, others offer more space. At Piney Campground, "My family and I really enjoyed staying at the Piney Campground... Big spaces- My family and I love when the campsite spaces are big enough for 2 tents, the table, fire ring and car. I loved that the spaces were big, and each campsite was separated by large bushes and trees."
What you should know
Seasonal flooding impacts: Water levels vary dramatically throughout the year, especially at Reelfoot. A visitor to Reelfoot Lake State Park shared: "We decided to make the 2 hour drive to do a one night camp here and explore the area... After making part of the first loop, we immediately saw why there were so many unreserved spots...A good 90% of the campground was underwater! The handful of sites that were still open for use had pools of water standing on the site."
Insect preparation essential: Mosquitoes and other insects can be problematic, particularly in summer months. A camper advised: "Stayed for the night on the south campground and it was excellent. Lots of friendly people with locals and travelers alike. Only downside was the massive amount of gnats and mosquitos by the lake sites. Bring your mosquito repellent and don't let them take away the great experience you can have here!"
Variable facility maintenance: Bathroom and shower facilities vary widely between campgrounds. At Piney Campground, a camper noted: "The bathrooms were clean, but are in bad need of updates, as are the shower facilities. Showers were luke warm, some had non-functioning heaters in them, and a lot of rust and broken shelving. The sites are level, but are not picked up routinely; we had to clean our site of discarded bottle caps, hygiene items, etc. when we arrived."
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Several campgrounds offer playgrounds, but quality varies. A visitor to South Campground mentioned: "This campground had a lot of families, a simple but age appropriate playground (ages 5-12), and many spots with views of the lake... Lots of campers with dogs. Only one hiking trail on-site."
Snack stands for kids: Some parks offer food service that's convenient for families. A visitor noted: "The little snack shack over by the chain was a nice evening diversion of ice cream and funnel fries. The camp host couple was wonderful."
Wildlife education: The visitor centers provide educational opportunities for children. According to one camper: "We drove to the visitors center to check that area out and consider the 2nd campground that is not on the water... We walked around outside and viewed the beautiful eagles, owls and hawks."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven sites requiring preparation. At Parkers Crossroads RV Park, an RVer advised: "Because of the slight incline on the side of the site, you can't really go wide. We had to maneuver several times so we could get straight on the site and get our sewer lined up... We soon found out the site is not level and had to put leveling blocks under our door side wheels as they were off the ground after auto level."
RV repair options: Some campgrounds offer repair services. According to a camper at Coyote View RV Park, "The owners Lowell and Jill are THE BEST HUMANS. We were on a cross country journey when our slide suddenly stopped working... He ended up having to go basically wire by wire to find out what was broken. He ordered the part and we were on the road 3 days later."
Utility setup considerations: Hookup locations can create challenges. One RVer mentioned: "The water is on the wrong side on the site so bring a extra hose."
