H
Heather O.
Scout
ScoutBaileys Point
Nice and clean
Nice sites, and clean washrooms nice staff
Camping near Old Hickory Lake
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Several state parks and private campgrounds circle Old Hickory Lake, giving campers different options around this central Tennessee waterspot. Cedars of Lebanon State Park sits 17 miles from the lake with sites near hiking trails and a swimming pool for hot days. Bledsoe Creek State Park is closer, about 12 miles away, with camping spots right on the water for fishing and boating. The Nashville KOA Resort, 9 miles from the lake, has full RV hookups plus a swimming pool and play areas. Cedar Creek in Mount Juliet has good shade trees over its sites, with standard picnic tables and fire rings at each spot. Seven Points, another Mount Juliet camping area, puts you close to the water for swimming and boating. Grand Ole RV Resort & Market in Goodlettsville works well for campers who want to visit Nashville, with basic facilities and helpful staff. Poole Knobs in La Vergne stays quieter than other areas and includes a boat ramp for getting onto the lake. Elm Hill RV Resort near J. Percy Priest Lake has a marina and waterfront camping. The roads to all these campgrounds stay in good shape year-round. You'll find spots for both tents and RVs throughout the Old Hickory Lake area.
Best Camping Sites Near Old Hickory Lake (119)
1. Nashville KOA Resort
41 ReviewsNashville, TN9 milesWebsite+1 (615) 889-0282"Nashville north koa was a nice campground with a proximity to Nashville but away from the bustle. We stayed for a week and enjoyed ourselves."
"The proximity to the Opry and surrounding sites is fantastic. Top that off with front desk, event and maintenance staff that were all super nice and you’ve got a great combo."
2. Cedar Creek (TN)
23 ReviewsMount Juliet, TN3 milesWebsite+1 (615) 754-4947$30 - $50 / night
"On Old Hickory Lake. Accomodates both tents and RV’s. Most sites have a lovely view of the lake if not directly along the shore. Swimming beach, playground, and marina both within walking distance."
"We came from Idaho to Tennessee in May for two weeks and this was our first campsite. We fell in love with peaceful walks along the river, watching the ducks and birds along with a few turtles 🐢."
3. Bledsoe Creek State Park Campground
35 ReviewsCastalian Springs, TN12 milesWebsite"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."
"Easy hiking trails with little to moderate inclines and terrain. Around 5-7 miles of trails, plenty of camping sites. I always see wildlife when i visit this park."
4. Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground
47 ReviewsLebanon, TN17 milesWebsite+1 (615) 443-2769$25 - $30 / night
"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."
"We hiked some of the 2 mile running trail and then veered off to explore the CCC original looking covered bench which overlooks a currently dry stream bed."
5. Seven Points
25 ReviewsMount Juliet, TN11 milesWebsite+1 (615) 889-5198$32 - $50 / night
"Paved roads, showers, playground, Big lake side sites wth shade. lots of space between the campsites. fire rings, picnic tables."
"The campsite was surrounded by trees and it was a quick walk to the lake. The bathroom and shower facilities were clean and had warm water."
6. Grand Ole RV Resort & Market
17 ReviewsGoodlettsville, TN10 milesWebsite+1 (615) 420-6036"The Grand Ole RV Resort is a nice park to stay in near all the fun and sightseeing of Nashville, Tennessee. The campground is very tidy and well-kept."
"There’s a train that passes by on the nearby track a couple of times a day, but it was never super early or late and didn’t bother us at all."
7. Two Rivers Campground
16 ReviewsNashville, TN9 milesWebsite+1 (615) 883-8559"Highway noise is really bad but there’s not anything they can do about that. Close by restaurants and Camping World for any needed supplies."
"But given where they are located, crammed in with two other RV parks and a Camping World all next to the highway, there isn't any way to make things better."
8. Cages Bend
8 ReviewsHendersonville, TN2 milesWebsite+1 (615) 824-4989$30 - $35 / night
"Corp of Engineers campground with a view of Old Hickory Lake. Some waterfront sites. Adjacent boat ramp. Fishing platform. Well kept. Convenient to amenities in Hendersonville and Gallatin."
"The entire Old Hickory Lake has a lot of nice areas to enjoy your leisure pursuits. A little too organized for my taste. Off Nashville Pike, in the suburbs, near the city but fells like the country."
9. Elm Hill RV Resort
15 ReviewsJ Percy Priest Lake, TN12 milesWebsite+1 (615) 710-9365"Sitting in a lake, the campground is a peninsula surrounded by water. Great views, super clean and very nice amenities. Saturday night they had a band and a Halloween celebration. Very safe."
"Nice lake. Nice pool. Good sites. Lake is close to all sites. Very helpful store at the front with items you need."
10. Nashville East-Lebanon KOA
17 ReviewsLebanon, TN13 milesWebsite+1 (615) 449-5527"Campground is near the road but is still quite. This would be a good place for easy access to the lake and Nashville. Multiple places to eat within 5 miles. Great pass through"
"Plenty of dog walking area, even a fenced area for the dogs to run. Friendly staff."
Recent Camping Photos near Old Hickory Lake
164 Photos of 119 Old Hickory Lake Campgrounds
Julie S.
Cedar Creek (TN)
Melani T.
Lone Branch
Shelly S.
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Nashville - CLOSED
Michael K.
Camp Nashville Highland Rim
JOHN T.
Two Rivers Campground
Thomas T.
Nashville RV and Cabins Resort
Scott C.
Nashville KOA Resort
Emily R.
Nashville North
Sarah F.
Seven Points
Isabel D.
Bledsoe Creek State Park Campground
Brian R.
Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground
Emily H.
Poole Knobs
Recent Reviews near Old Hickory Lake
843 Reviews of 119 Old Hickory Lake Campgrounds
- RRichard B.
GuideLock A
Well kept park
Nicely laid out sites that are expansive and well kept. Great views of the lake.
MickandKarla W.
LegendCedar Creek (TN)
Not the Best COE We've Stayed At
We stayed one night at Cedar Creek Campground while traveling north and appreciated its location, which allowed us to bypass Nashville traffic by using I-840 and TN-45. We followed the route using RV Trip Wizard and Waze, although Waze wanted to route us through I-40. Coming in from the south, we did not see any brown campground signs until we reached the marina entrance. The final approach travels through a narrow, hilly rural-suburban area before arriving at the campground. Check-in was quick, and we headed to back-in Site 22 with 50/30/20-amp electric and water. Immediately after leaving the check-in station, there is a fairly tight right-hand turn. The attendant specifically warned us to take it wide, explaining they occasionally see larger rigs scrape there. The site length was accurately represented on Recreation.gov and accommodated our 40-foot fifth wheel, although we needed to unhitch to park our F-450 alongside the trailer. Utilities were conveniently located near the middle of the site, water pressure was excellent, and the site included a newer picnic table, fire ring with cooking grate, and lantern post. We received three bars on Verizon and two bars on T-Mobile. Our T-Mobile Home Internet averaged 193 Mbps download and 1.3 Mbps upload. With the heavy tree canopy, Starlink availability will vary considerably by site, and we doubt Site 22 would have provided a usable view of the sky. The campground has two bathhouses, with the newer facility offering individual shower rooms. The older bathhouse had two coin-operated machines, although the dryer was out of service during our stay. The lakeside sites are more generously spaced, while the interior loops connect to one another, making the back sides of the loops feel very close together, with some sites almost sitting on top of each other. Sites 54 and 56B appeared to be among the better choices for larger rigs. Although we didn't use the dump station, it looked manageable for a 40-foot rig despite reviews suggesting otherwise. The biggest consideration is maneuverability. The roads are narrow, several turns are sharp, and there are trees and drainage ditches throughout the campground. We exited without incident, but even on a Thursday with light occupancy, it required careful driving. Had the campground been full with vehicles parked along the roads, navigating a large RV would have been considerably more challenging. Overall, we enjoyed the peaceful Corps of Engineers setting and the opportunity to avoid Nashville traffic, but for our 40-foot fifth wheel, we're not convinced the extra maneuvering required is worth the tradeoff for future overnight stays.
Chris A.ScoutNashville KOA Resort
Great pool and staff!
Great spot. Lots of dog areas and cool hangout area around the pool.
Jon C.
TravelerNashville I-24 Campground
Nice quiet place but too close
Campsites are door to door. Theyve packed alot of campers in a little area. On the plus side there is sewer hookups at each campsite
- Dan W.Guide
Seven Points
Best kept secret
We have now been here 7 times in the past 3 months. We love it. The campground is so beautiful and peaceful and the camp hosts are the best.
J. W.ScoutTwo Rivers Campground
Quiet Comfortable Easy Access
Friendly, clean, services include trash pickup at each site. Help onsite 24 hours. Clean toilets and washroom.
- Nan N.Traveler
Floating Mill - Center Hill Lake
Beautiful place on the water
We loved it here! There are some very private spots for tent camping right at the water. We were in a more tight, less private rv spot, but it was still beautiful. And we ended up having a pull through site, which was great. Bath houses were well maintained, great swim area in the lake.
Angel K.ScoutHarpeth River Bridge Campground (TN)
Fair pricing and clean
Very clean campground, water is not for swimming though! And people who are keeping it going are super nice. Wanted to extend but they only have 14 sites and it was booked :/
Guide to Old Hickory Lake
Old Hickory Lake campsites offer different experiences depending on location around this 22,500-acre reservoir. The lake stretches 97 miles along the Cumberland River in central Tennessee, with campsites positioned at various elevations between 445 and 450 feet. Spring camping brings mild temperatures averaging 60-75°F with higher rainfall, while summer campers can expect humidity and temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F.
What to do
Swimming at designated beaches: Seven Points Campground has a swimming area with a clean shoreline for families. "This place is gorgeous. The lake view and night skies are amazing. The water is warm, which isn't something I'm used to being from further north," notes Sean M. about Seven Points.
Hiking cedar forest trails: The unique limestone glades at Cedars of Lebanon State Park provide distinctive hiking terrain. "Cedars of Lebanon is a great State Park in middle TN for camping and for day hikes. It has a great pool, and the natural area where it's located features tons of endemic species to the area," says Phoebe A. about Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground.
Fish from lakefront sites: Multiple campgrounds offer direct water access for fishing without launching a boat. "Most sites have a lovely view of the lake if not directly along the shore. Swimming beach, playground, and marina both within walking distance," explains Kathy G. about Cedar Creek.
What campers like
Level concrete pads: Elm Hill RV Resort (previously Safe Harbor) offers stable, well-maintained sites. "The sites are level and have nice firepits. We just travelled cross country for 3 months and this is one of the nicest campgrounds we have stayed at," shares Chris H. about Elm Hill RV Resort.
Live entertainment options: Several campgrounds feature regular music performances. "They have live music every night was nice. Backing my trailer is not my strong suite but they guided me through it like it was nothing," says Ed S. about Grand Ole RV Resort & Market.
Proximity to Nashville attractions: Campers appreciate the ability to explore the city while staying at lakeside campgrounds. "Very busy campground, showers and bathrooms were very clean and nice. Nice shuttle service to downtown Nashville ($10 round trip) offered from two separate shuttle companies," notes Aaron L. about Two Rivers Campground.
What you should know
Train noise concerns: Some campgrounds have railroad tracks nearby that can disrupt sleep. "Only downfall are the trains that operate 24/7 directly adjacent to the grounds. Trains rolling by at 3 am is not how I like to spend my night," warns Jeff P. about Grand Ole RV Resort.
Site spacing varies significantly: Some areas offer privacy while others pack campers close together. "The campground was dirty and not well kept. It seemed like people had been basically living out of the campground," states Jessica L. about Bledsoe Creek State Park Campground.
Seasonal operations: Check opening dates before booking as some lakeside campgrounds close during winter. "We actually had a really good stay here, but I will say that the water park was closed and it wasn't peak season," reports Darrell F. about Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort.
Tips for camping with families
Look for pest-protected sites: Insects and wildlife can be problematic during warmer months. "Our dogs picked up ticks every day, and we had a few as well. Watch out for lyme and other tick born illnesses," cautions Kyle S. from Bledsoe Creek State Park.
Consider Halloween weekend events: Special seasonal activities make camping more entertaining for children. "Their halloween weekend is a great time of fun for the kids!" recommends Justin L. about Cedars of Lebanon State Park.
Waterpark combination options: Campgrounds with water recreation features provide additional entertainment. "The water park is amazing. The boys had a blast running under water buckets dumping over them and going down slides, floating down the lazy river or getting knocked down in the wave pool," describes Christy C. about Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort.
Tips from RVers
Check site dimensions carefully: Some Old Hickory Lake campsites have exact measurements with limited overflow space. "Be very cautious of the site lengths. Some are extremely short and I'd say the measurements are nearly exact. Since our site backed up to a drop off, there was a small fence so no way to 'hang over' the pad a little for extra room," advises Beth H. about Elm Hill RV Resort.
Road navigation challenges: Internal campground roads can be tight for larger rigs. "The only thing that was not ideal were how tight the roads were between campsites but it may have felt that way because we are new to hauling a camper," notes Ashley U. about Cedars of Lebanon State Park.
Amenities for extended stays: Some campgrounds offer laundry facilities and cable TV connections. "We had a nice level pull through site near the front. The grounds were clean and staff was friendly," reports Jil S. about Nashville East-Lebanon KOA.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to camp at Old Hickory Lake in Tennessee?
How much does it cost to camp at Old Hickory Lake in Tennessee?
Camping costs at Old Hickory Lake typically range from $20-45 per night depending on the campground and amenities. At The Narrows, you'll find mid-range pricing with some premium charged for shoreline sites where you can park your boat. Four Corners RV Resort offers higher-end pricing for their concrete pad sites, with deluxe options available both on the lake and inside the loops. For budget-conscious campers, Corps of Engineers campgrounds like Cages Bend often offer the best value. National Park passes provide significant discounts for seniors at most federally managed sites around the lake. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend stays during peak season.
Are fire pits allowed at Old Hickory Lake camping areas?
Are fire pits allowed at Old Hickory Lake camping areas?
Yes, fire pits are generally allowed at Old Hickory Lake camping areas, but with important regulations. Most campsites at Bledsoe Creek State Park Campground and RJourney Clarksville RV Resort come equipped with designated fire rings or grills for safe campfire use. Corps of Engineers campgrounds around Old Hickory Lake maintain similar policies. Always keep fires contained within established fire rings, never leave them unattended, and fully extinguish before sleeping or departing. During dry conditions or burn bans, fire restrictions may be implemented. Check with the specific campground office upon arrival as regulations can change seasonally. Gathering firewood on-site is typically prohibited, so plan to purchase wood locally.
What campgrounds are available at Old Hickory Lake?
What campgrounds are available at Old Hickory Lake?
Old Hickory Lake offers several excellent campgrounds with lake access. Cages Bend is a Corps of Engineers campground with waterfront sites, a boat ramp, and fishing platform. Cedar Creek (TN) accommodates both tents and RVs with many sites offering lake views or shoreline access. Additional options include Seven Points near Hermitage and Bledsoe Creek State Park Campground, though experiences at the latter vary. Most campgrounds around Old Hickory Lake provide amenities such as restrooms, picnic areas, and recreation opportunities while being conveniently located near towns like Hendersonville and Gallatin.
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