Best Equestrian Camping near Nashville, TN

There are free hot showers, laundry facilities in the summer, and it's clean and well kept. It's not too far from Nashville. White Bluff, the closest town, is only a few miles away and is a cute little town. Would highly recommend.

I first visited Montgomery Bell State Park as part of a large group outing with my church. We had a huge space just for our community for the big BBQ we had, but it was the rest of the park that really impressed me. There were tons of nice walking trails and a beautiful lake. I enjoyed renting paddle boats for the first time ever and cruising around the lake.

High recommendation particularly for large groups looking to get away from Nashville without traveling too far.

For several months while living in TN, we spent almost every weekend at Henry Horton State Park. It’s not quite an hour from Nashville. We always got a primitive site, shady site. I was never disappointed by any of our sites and never felt cramped or too close to other campers.

HH has RV sites, cabins, “hammock sites,” and a large group site. They also have a camp store, firewood, and restrooms. Rates are pretty standard. Backcountry primitive hike-in sites are $8.

Interactive heritage festivals and other activities frequently came to the center across the street. I don’t really recall if this is part of the park or not.

Needed to escape Nashville for a night and this was the park we chose. Nice place :) Nice short hiking trails easily accessible from the campground and a good beach to soak up some sun at. I think on the weekends this park is quite popular since it's so close to Nashville, but during the week when we stayed it was not super busy and the campground was relatively quiet although the sites were not particularly private.

There are several nice playgrounds, ranger led activities, a nature center that my kids loved, a butterfly garden, several short hikes that are good for kids. There are several sinkholes and cedar glades. There are also some caves you can explore if you want to get muddy. We often go here for day visits, but the overnight amenities are also nice. They no longer have horse stables.

Nice laid back spot next to small creek. Good location for Nashville. Cool small lake for kayaking. Be prepared to have vehicle to get to site.

Lovely park with somewhat unique cedar glades and tons of rare plant life. If you can snag a serious gardener or botanist to visit with you you’re in for a treat. Trails are easy, lots of wildlife, lots of cedars. Lots of horses on site too. And weddings in the lodge all summer. Modern state park setup, clean and well cared for with some extra activities. Tent sites were more private and woody. Cabins seemed popular given what neighbors said. Very nice state park, would return.

We camped here for 2 full weeks.  The campground at Cedars of Lebanon State Park deserves 5 stars for their proximity to Nashville, the large paved pads for campers, the peaceful woods, and their overall cleanliness.

However, we were here when there was construction going on.  It was LOUD from 8am to 4, 5, and even 6pm somedays with working trucks and digging up the Tennessee Rock.  

The weekends were peaceful without the construction, and the trails are all easy and flat.  The showers worked well and were the typical campground showers.  

The wifi that is listed on the website is basically nonexistent, so don't count on that for anything important.  But Verizon had good service, while AT&T was fair.  

Only Campground 3 was open during our stay and you can see the work they are doing here is going to make a huge difference to be big rig friendly.  Enjoy!

The campground is basic. If you’re looking for a quiet weekend close to Nashville this is your place. However, it’s pretty basic. It’s well maintained but also dated.

the staff was extremely helpful and friendly, the bath houses were clean. we visited during Independence day and the staff put on many activities such as decorated bike parade for kids, balloon toss,arts and crafts. also near Nashville with all it offers and lots of trails. will be back.

This was our first stay here, and we had heard great things about it. It is a beautiful state park known as the"Queen of Tennessee's State Parks". There are 4,000 acres with mountain biking, fishing, hiking, picnic areas, kayaking/canoeing, and a golf course. Nashville is only 45 minutes away. The campground was nice. Our site was tight, and we didn't have a lot of room for our truck. We had to move to a different site for the 3rd night and the water connection was quite a reach. The sites were mostly level and some were shaded. The bathhouse was clean and there was a laundry area with 2 washers/dryers. We did have a picnic table and fire ring. We had 2-3 bars of Verizon 4G. There was a playground for the kids. There is a small creek that runs along the western edge of the campground. We did spot some snakes(copperheads maybe?) near the creek. There is a small camp store that had a few supplies, ice cream, ice& firewood. The employees were very nice. We would definitely stay here again.

At only 35-40 minutes away from downtown Nashville, it is a great weekend or even one night getaway. There are both primitive and RV hookup sites. The hosts that were there when I went were very friendly and helpful. It's not backcountry camping but it is a great campground. There are also a few nice trails that connect right to the back of the campground.

I live too close to this State Park to camp here but I do play the golf course. Very nice and expect to see deer and turkey.

In addition there are some good places in nearby Dickson to eat. Tony B’s for burgers, Back Alley for BBQ, Zander’s for Pizza and Katie’s for ice cream.

The bonus is that it is an easy drive to Nashville.

When I happened upon this campground I was pleasantly welcomed by a visitor center and hiking from the moment I entered the park.  But no matter how nice this area was I wasn’t able to even expect what was to come with the camping facility which by far was a surprise to say the least.   

I had seen great reviews for this place, like many in Tennessee, but the amenities never seemed to stop when I actually arrived.  From an Olympic sized swimming pool, horse stables, a historic chapel, butterfly garden, playgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails, nature center and even outdoor recreation fields.  It seemed never ending! There was even a cave, that with special permit you can crawl into and explore!

The spaces were closer together than I might have have normally liked, but everyone was so friendly it didn’t seem to matter.  When I was there, there was an event going on that coming weekend so it was a bit more full than typical week day would have been.   

Still despite all the people, it wasn’t loud.  People did not blast music, talk loudly after hours or have generators humming throughout the night.  Instead it was like being in this nice isolated area just with a bunch of neighbors also enjoying the isolation.

I took full advantage of all the outdoor spaces, the only one I didn’t get a chance to enjoy was the pool which was at a point during the season where it was only open on weekends.   

I would stay at this site again if passing through.  Reservations are not required but could be helpful on busy weekends like the one I stayed just before.  I do suggest checking into the office also to get a Passport for the State of Tennessee (a small book you can stamp with each stop you make at a state facility).

TIPS:

• Bring your sense of adventure!  Lots of things to do from birdwatching to hiking and everything in between.
• Sit in the butterfly garden.  The area is so peaceful and beautiful because of the unique selection of plants selected to draw in the butterflies.  It is a perfect place to spend some time in quiet reflection.

Enjoyed Cedars of Lebanon State Park after completing my first triathalon sprint with some very great girlfriends! Almost all camping spaces were pull through, and they were close, providing for very little privacy. The shower house was the highlight of the campground, as it was very clean, well kept and had endless hot water (it was unusually cold during this stay). Campground has all amenities, and is close to many attractions being located between Nashville and Knoxville.

While on a family road trip to North Carolina for a college graduation we stayed here. We had spent the day in Nashville site seeing and decided to stay here for 1 night (RV) before traveling on. I am glad that we chose this location over the other options. The wooded area and cedar pines reminded me of camping back in Minnesota. The grey brickwork picnic shelters and campground atmosphere gave it a rustic feel however did not spare any amenities to make camping comfortable including water and electrical hookups. I would definitely stay here again if in the area again.

A fantastic family-friendly state campground. Mostly quiet after dark. Neighbors are friendly and welcoming (you’ll find that many visit in groups).

Amenities: Trails are pleasant. Playground is great. Bathrooms are clean but need an update. Not much in terms of wifi or tv if you are looking for that but att and verizon were usable.

Roads feel narrow but we had no problem maneuvering in our 36’ 5er. River sites look great but we booked last minute. Wound up with a corner interior spot (107) that backs to a tent camping area so was fantastic for views, too and this spot was quite spacious.

Location is lovely but is not that close to Nashville if that’s your goal.

Another backside primitive campsite at Mammoth Cave National Forest, Ky.

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.

Before using this campsite you are supposed to check in at the visitors center. Unfortunately the ferry is closed so it’s a long drive around to the backside.

Turnhole Campsite is a short or long hike from the Maple Springs parking area. Sal Hollow Trail would be the long trail, twisty , turny and moderately challenging. Buffalo Trail is a straight hike in , take a left at the intersection and straight on to the campsite. Difference of about 3 miles-ish.

The trails are used by hikers and horseback riders, are well marked and lotsa fauna to see. No major vistas here, just woods.

The campsite has poles to tie your horses, a fire ring, tent pad and lantern hooks. Pretty easy to find seasoned wood to burn. DARK at night, lots of animal noises ;) not much of a night sky except in the winter months.

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.

I made a tour of campgrounds and lake recreation spots near Nashville TN during an extended trip where I had to be there to keynote some conferences. This spot was my absolute favorite!

Camping- The camping is really nice. If you're traveling with a family and need lots of variety for them close to the campsite, this is the spot to pick.

Think how awesome it'd be to fish for supper right from the tent almost.

Grounds- The grounds here were very well kept.

When I camp, I want either water or trails. This one had magnificent trails. Not too long, so good for the family. If you want longer, you can just do loops. The best thing about these trails were the open depressions and crevices in the ground. It's like a natural playground for adults and kids alike. I loved it!

Check out the photo of the map for even more activities. This would actually make a nice spot for reunions.

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. The river is at least 1/2 mile away, through extremely dense brush, and the banks are not easy to access, if accessible at all. We were lucky that a creek just north of the intersection of Buffalo Creek, Sal Hollow, and Turnhole trail had some water to filter from.

This is a nice, secluded spot. You are on the end of a ridge. Clear nights with a bright moon were magical here. It is probably a beautiful spot when there is no foliage, as well. We camped in August.

There is a tent pad, hooks for lanterns or packs, horse hitches, and a fire ring with a grate attached. Hike in is a little over 3 miles, a pleasant hike, but not a whole lot to see in the summer besides a lot of chantrelles.

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

We decided to do a day hike on the Sal Hollow Trail. 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.

Henry Horton State Park has that back country lived in feel. Probably has something to do with the multitude of kinfolk wandering about:)

South of Nashville, Tn 31A runs right through the middle of the actual park.

Duck River runs through the park and is a main focus of the entertainment with rental places picking up tubers from on the road into the tent area. (Yes, I received several dirty looks for driving on the road toward the tent area.) I parked in the restroom area as the road was completely blocked with children, inner tubes and adults.

The tent area had BIG sites that would easily fit several tents and trees for hammocks. There are 10 sites. The river was at the rear of the tent area as well as a trail Adeline Wilhoite River trail that followed the river. There are also primitive campsites available if your backpacking through located near the observation deck on the Adeline Wilhoite River trail loop.

The bathhouse is newer and well kept. There is a playground in the middle of the campground area, in front of the visitors office. ( pretty awesome looking sandpit)

The RV area is adjacent through the woods it has 56 sites. The sites looked adequate, but from what I saw they were close together. There may have been more space further in.

There is an Inn and cabins available also on the other side of the park/river.

We enjoyed the trails , just gotta say BUG SPRAY :) Keep your eyes open for critters and there are bikers using several of the trails.Wilhoite Mill Trail is one of the features of the park, which leads to a historic mill.

So pack your banjo and yak and git on out to Henry Horton State Park for a good ole time !

This is a pretty decent sized campground with plenty of electric hookups and also has a few tent sites. However there are no primitive, backcountry sites, so skip this one if you are wanting a backcountry experience. But, it is a very nice area with so many old, old hardwood cedars. It smells wonderful. There are also a few trials that take you through most of the park and is relatively easy so they are great for kids too.

Great state park to visit for a day. Campground is decent but no frills. Some small hiking trails around. Playgrounds for kids. Other than that not much else around or to see.

Nice nature experience. The campground is about average with decent bathrooms and decent sites. The park has some nice hiking trails and is a great place to relax for a weekend.

We went to a wedding here in the lodge, it was the most beautiful wedding we’ve ever been to, the historic stonework is amazing. The park has a pool and some cabins, it’s a lovely park and perfect for families. The cabins were much cleaner than we expected and easy to get to with our older relatives. Loved it!!

Large level sites with some privacy. Bathrooms were super clean. Was able to get groceries and all I needed just 10 mins away

My wife and I camped here on February 15 2020. Super easy check in. We traveled in a 29' motorhome. We stayed in section 1, site 22. It was right beside the shower house. It was a pull through site, but it was a little tight. To my surprise I opened the electric pedestal, and there was only 50 amp service. I'm set up for 30 amp, so I had to use an adapter. Keep in mind, while making reservations, section 1 has very small, cramped together sites.
We took a walk around section 2, and section 3. There was a lot more room, and seemed a little more private. I would recommend them over section 1. Wood was available for purchase in small bundles for $6 each cash only. I was actually surprised by how many people were camping in February. I would suggest reserving your spot a bit in advance. We look forward to returning.