Old Hickory Lake offers RV camping across multiple facilities located 15-25 miles from downtown Nashville. The lake spans 22,500 acres with 440 miles of shoreline, providing water recreation opportunities year-round. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter camping requires preparation for occasional freezing temperatures and precipitation.
What to do
Water recreation access: Several campgrounds offer direct water access for swimming and boating. Four Corners RV Resort features "a swimming beach as well as several relaxing spots, a playground, a bark park and a dog washing station," with rental options for "kayaks, paddle boards, and golf carts."
Live music opportunities: Grand Ole RV Resort provides nightly entertainment during summer months. "They have live free entertainment nightly," notes one camper, while another mentions, "Live music every night was nice." This creates an authentic Nashville experience without driving into the city.
Shuttle services: Nashville RV and Cabins Resort offers convenient transportation to downtown attractions. "Has shuttle service to downtown for 10.00 great price," reports one visitor, making it possible to explore Nashville without driving or parking concerns in the busy downtown area.
What campers like
Level camping pads: Most Old Hickory Lake campgrounds feature engineered sites designed for RVs of all sizes. At Four Corners RV Resort, "The sites are concrete, level and roomy with full hookups (great water pressure!), new picnic tables and fire rings." This level of site preparation reduces setup time.
Staff assistance: Campground staff around Old Hickory Lake consistently help with parking and hookups. "A man even led us to our site in a golf cart and helped my fiancé back in and park our trailer, which was a huge help," notes one camper about Grand Ole RV Resort & Market.
Clean facilities: RV parks maintain well-kept restrooms and common areas. At Nashville North KOA, a visitor reports, "Swimming pool was very busy and well maintained. Level gravel sites and bath house very clean." Another camper at Nashville RV and Cabins Resort notes, "Sites were large with awesome pool and play areas for kiddos."
What you should know
Train noise impacts: Railroad tracks affect several campgrounds in the region. At Grand Ole RV Resort, a camper notes, "Trains rolling by at 3 am is not how I like to spend my night." Another mentions the location "is in between a railroad and a highway," though they add that the "noise didn't bother us at all from the trains."
Highway noise levels: Interstate proximity means traffic noise at many sites. One camper at Nashville North KOA describes it as "Noisy due to the highway that is very close. Great sounds of the trucks to keep you awake," while another notes sites are "close to a creek, but no mention of the highway right behind the creek."
Site spacing considerations: Many parks feature compact arrangements. "Sites are very very close together. Very very noisy due to the highway," reports one Nashville North KOA visitor. Similarly at Grand Ole RV Resort, a camper notes "spaces are tight, location is in between a railroad and a highway."
Tips for camping with families
Pool availability: Several campgrounds offer swimming facilities for children during warm months. At Nashville RV and Cabins Resort, "Sites were large with awesome pool and play areas for kiddos." Similarly, Four Corners notes, "They are adding more sites and a small pool to the existing amenities like a beach."
Playground options: Recreation facilities vary widely between campgrounds. While Shady Acres RV Park notes "If it were summer months there is a pool up front," some facilities lack child-specific amenities. One visitor to Grand Ole RV Resort mentioned, "They show a playset on their map and it was two regular swings and a baby swing. This was disappointing since we had little ones."
Insect preparation: Lakeside camping requires proper protection from mosquitoes. At Four Corners RV Resort, one camper reports, "The first and last night we stayed the mosquitos were so bad we couldn't be outside... I went out on the dock one night to fish and they were so thick it was impossible to not get bit by them."
Tips from RVers
Site selection guidance: Request sites away from highways or train tracks for quieter stays. At RJourney Clarksville RV Resort, a visitor advises, "Request a site as far as possible from the road," while another notes, "If you're back around site 51 you get interstate traffic all the time."
Early check-in benefits: Arriving during daylight hours improves setup experience. "Sites are gravel and mostly level. All sites are FHU," notes one camper at Campers RV Park, adding that arriving when staff can assist with parking is valuable since "The owners, managers, and staff are all great."
Propane availability: Plan for propane needs while staying near Old Hickory Lake. One camper at Four Corners notes they "have firewood for sale and a propane filling station on site," while another reports that at Campers RV Park, "You remove your tank, you haul it and set in an unsecured area and come back the next day and pick up."
Legend
