B
BARBARA J.
Scout
ScoutOld Mill Camp and General Store
The hosts were extremely helpful and accommodating. Very clean and well maintained, little campground. Would stay again on a heartbeat.
Tent Camping near Lafayette, TN
1 campground with availability next weekend
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Several tent camping options dot the landscape near Lafayette, Tennessee, with Holleman's Bend Camping Area providing a free primitive experience along the riverfront. Located in nearby Granville, this tent-friendly area offers drive-in sites where campers can set up directly along the waterfront. Turnhole Backcountry Campsite in Mammoth Cave National Park provides another option for tent campers seeking a more secluded experience with hike-in access.
Tent campers at Holleman's Bend should prepare for limited facilities. The area has no drinking water, toilets, or trash service. Sites consist of natural, ungraded terrain with some located in a small clearing while others can be found along a gravel road. Cell service is limited or nonexistent, as noted by multiple campers. The camping area follows a 14-day stay limit which is monitored by local staff who collect camper information. Fire rings are available at some sites, and fires are permitted when no burn bans are in effect.
The riverside camping experience offers a mix of privacy and natural setting. Depending on site selection, campers may find varying levels of seclusion. "This was my first experience with free camping and it will be tough to beat," one visitor commented about Holleman's Bend. "It was quiet and peaceful. I woke up early enough to see the sunrise and the fog coming off the river." Wildlife activity is common, particularly along the water where fish can be heard splashing throughout the night. For those seeking more amenities, Long Hunter State Park Campground provides tent sites with access to drinking water and allows fires, though it requires a longer drive from Lafayette. Primitive tent setups at both locations allow campers to experience Tennessee's outdoor landscape with minimal development intrusion.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Lafayette (28)
1. Bledsoe Creek State Park Campground
"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."
"We stayed right on the water & one of the trails, it was so beautiful."
7 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
2. Holleman's Bend Camping Area
"We thought this was a bust, turned around to leave, and then we spotted the gravel path into the site. It's easy to miss on the way in."
"While the cell service was a bit spotty, it actually helped me disconnect and enjoy the surroundings. Overall, a great site—quiet, scenic, and well worth the visit."
3. Tailwater Rec Area
Check Availabilityfrom $50 / night
4. Turnhole Backcountry Campsite — Mammoth Cave National Park
"Another backside primitive campsite at Mammoth Cave National Forest, Ky. A lot of people don’t realize the extensive trail system of Mammoth Cave."
"Despite this campsite being surrounded by the Green River on 3 sides, water is hard to come by here, and hiking it in may be your best bet."
5. Narrows Boat Ramp
"The Narrows Boat Ramp Barron River Lake is actually more then just a boat ramp. There is a marina on site along side the boat ramp and a nice pavilion, playground, nature trail and restroom."
6. Laguardo
Check Availabilityfrom $85 - $120 / night
7. Wartrace Ck Rec Area
Check Availabilityfrom $50 / night
8. Nat Caldwell Park
Check Availabilityfrom $50 / night
9. Long Hunter State Park Campground
"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."
"Long Hunter State Park Primitive Campsites are my kinda camping."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when available10. Lone Branch
Check Availabilityfrom $50 / night
Drive Time
- 50 min from Bowling Green, KY
- 1 hr 1 min from Nashville, TN
- 1 hr 37 min from Clarksville, TN
- 1 hr 38 min from Elizabethtown, KY
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lafayette, TN
16 Photos of 28 Lafayette Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Lafayette, TN
988 Reviews of 28 Lafayette Campgrounds
- JJonathan
GuideMammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park
I came here an early November, and it has been very quiet. There is very little signal for AT&T, and my Starlink is not very helpful because many of the trees still have leaves on, and it makes for a dense canopy. Site C 079 is fine for my 23’ sprinter van, though I had to put two levels of blocks under the front to get close to level.
MickandKarla W.
LegendLong Branch — Center Hill Lake
A Big-Rig-Friendly COE Worth Returning To
We stayed here overnight on the way to Gatlinburg and three nights on the way back. GPS and signage was good as getting to this COE was easy. Often you don’t know what you’re going to get at a COE i.e. tight roads, low hanging branches etc. This was not the case as the campground (CG) is big rig friendly. For the overnighter, we checked in at the gate and proceeded to back in site 50 with water and electric (50/30/20 AMP). We had no problem backing into site 50 which sits above the creek that runs through the side of the CG. The gravel pad was fairly level(didn’t need any blocks under tires) with a picnic table, fish cleaning station, fire pit and stand up bbq. For the three nights we were in back in site 37, which was along the fence side of the CG. Site 37 had the same picnic table, cleaning table, stand up bbq and fire pit. This site’s pad was plenty long enough so we could put our toy hauler patio down. For both sites we got 1 bar on both Verizon and T-Mobile. As there is no Wifi in this CG, we used starlink. Since our starlink antenna is not hard mounted, we were able to move the antenna around to get a good signal through the trees. We were surprised this COE didn’t sell firewood nor ice. We enjoyed walking our dog around and even did some fly fishing in the adjacent river. We thoroughly enjoyed this COE.
- MickandKarla W.Legend
Nashville Shores
Great Off Season Stay
We followed RV Life Trip Wizard GPS and Waze off I-40 to Nashville Shores RV Resort without any issues. Check-in was quick, easy, and informative, and we headed to back-in site 7 with full hookups (FHUs). The concrete pad was level, with the water hookup located at the very back of the site. Water pressure was good at around 60 psi but dropped somewhat as the campground (CG) filled up over the weekend. We had 3 bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile, with T-Mobile providing a respectable 108 Mbps download. We used our T-Mobile Home Internet, which delivered 126 Mbps, rather than Starlink. Although there were trees along the CG's perimeter, most sites appeared to have a reasonably clear view of the sky for satellite internet. Site spacing was okay, although neighboring RVs were still fairly close. Several sites were located along the lake, with a few appearing long enough to accommodate larger rigs. We suggest calling the office for details on reserving one of those waterfront sites. One of our favorite amenities was the large fenced dog run, with plenty of room to throw a ball and let our pup burn off some energy. We also appreciated having two fire pits at our site. One was behind our rig, providing a nice spot away from the CG road, while the other was near the front, next to a small concrete patio with a picnic table. Although the CG filled up during our mid-October weekend stay, the adjacent water park had closed for the season on October 1. Without the water park crowds and activity, we found Nashville Shores to be a very enjoyable place to stay."
- AA W.Scout
Singing Hills RV Park And Campground
Current owners are great but they are in the middle of a sale. The 59Amp power at site 12 is missing leg 2 so we used 30 Amp socket instead. No problem as the weather was wonderful.
Mark 'Tony' Z.
TravelerObey River Park
Nasty Water
The lakes are way low, so our lakeside campsite was not really. With no flow, the lake stunk and had a slimey feel. Too many motors to paddle, too loud, no privacy. I’ll not visit this one again.
don B.TravelerRagland Bottom
Site 5
Nice campground, spaces are a little tight but not bad. Restrooms are clean.
Nancy B.
RangerMammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park
Small
The sites are smaller than the photos show. Some are very uneven. Yes you can walk to the visitors center, depending where you are camped its almost a mile one way. (For those who have difficulty walking) The showers are not wheelchair accessible. Coin showers, but definitely hot. I had NO Verizon service at campsite.
- DDennis E.Traveler
Seven Points
Very nice clean quiet campground
Only here for an overnight but would definitely recommend. Huge sites. Very quiet. Clean campground. Host was very friendly.
Guide to Lafayette
Tent camping options near Lafayette, Tennessee extend beyond the well-known sites along the Cumberland River. The region sits at elevations ranging from 500 to 700 feet above sea level with a humid subtropical climate that provides comfortable spring and fall camping conditions. Winter camping remains viable with average lows rarely dropping below 25°F, though summer humidity can make July and August challenging without proper ventilation.
What to do
Fishing access: At Holleman's Bend Camping Area, campers can fish directly from their sites. "The water is BEAUTIFUL, though you'll hear fish splashing all night," notes camper Luka W.
Hiking trails: Turnhole Backcountry Campsite connects to an extensive trail system. "A lot of people don't realize the extensive trail system of Mammoth Cave. They come for the Cave and never take the time to enjoy the natural beauty of the area," explains reviewer Shelly S.
Swimming spots: The tent sites at Long Hunter State Park offer water access for swimming. "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. It is a great swimming spot with flat rocks to hang out on," writes Mandy C.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Campers frequently mention the abundant wildlife near tent sites. "We saw so many Whitetail Deer, it was amazing. They would just come into the campground, feed and walk around. They didn't seem too worried or scared of us," reports Melani T. about Lone Branch.
Dark skies: The remote nature of many sites creates excellent stargazing opportunities. "Clear nights with a bright moon were magical here," says a camper about their experience at Turnhole Backcountry Campsite.
Quiet atmosphere: The isolation appeals to tent campers seeking solitude. "This campsite has no foot traffic passing by" since "you're sort of on a peninsula of the river," notes a Turnhole camper, making it particularly private compared to loop-trail sites.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Most primitive camping areas have minimal to no connectivity. "No Service (showed me how addicted I am). Other than that as described," writes Simon B. about their experience at Holleman's Bend.
Water availability: Water sources can be unreliable at backcountry sites. At Turnhole Backcountry Campsite, "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."
Seasonal closures: The Green River Ferry access point frequently closes, affecting routes to several campsites. "The Green River Ferry seems to be non-operational a lot. Call the hotline the day of your drive in to see which route you should take: 270-758-2166," advises Mandy C.
Tips for camping with families
Download maps: Many camping areas have no cell service for navigation. "Easy to find, download a map on the way as you lose service 20 minutes out," recommends Andrew K. about Holleman's Bend Camping Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Lafayette, TN?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lafayette, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lafayette, TN is Bledsoe Creek State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 35 reviews.
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Lafayette, TN?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Lafayette, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 tent camping locations near Lafayette, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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