Tullahoma, Tennessee offers several tent campgrounds within reasonable driving distance, primarily concentrated in the South Cumberland State Park system. Foster Falls Campground provides tent sites with basic amenities, while Tims Ford State Park features more remote tent camping options like Evans Loop Backcountry Sites, accessible by boat or hiking trails. Turkey Creek Campground offers lakeside tent camping with excellent water access for paddlers and swimmers.
Most tent sites include fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary significantly between established and backcountry locations. Father Adamz Campground provides drinking water, toilets and trash collection, while the backcountry sites at Evans Loop lack facilities entirely. Walk-in tent sites typically require a hike ranging from 0.5 miles at Father Adamz to longer treks at Stone Door and Savage Falls campgrounds. Seasonal considerations affect site availability, with summer months bringing higher usage at lakeside tent campgrounds. Fires are permitted at most locations except Savage Falls Camping Area.
The tent camping experience near Tullahoma features diverse terrain and recreational opportunities. Backcountry sites on Tims Ford Lake provide secluded camping with water access, though paddlers should be aware of boat traffic. Stone Door and Savage Gulf tent sites offer proximity to significant hiking trails with waterfall access and overlooks. Established tent campgrounds like Foster Falls provide easier access to amenities while still maintaining a natural setting. A visitor to Tims Ford noted, "We visit here every summer, great paddling, few cliffs to jump off of, awesome old cemetery right beside campsite." Tent campers at Foster Falls benefit from proximity to climbing areas and swimming holes, with shaded sites that feature ample trees for hammocking between hikes.
"It was awesome that they have the rocky pads because it rained our whole trip and we stayed dry. It was very quiet for us and our site faced the open woods behind us."
"Each site had a water spigot, electrical hookups, an asphalt pad, a fire ring with grill, and a standalone grill."
"Things to know: $5 reservation fee, $8-45 per site Amenities: picnic table, fire ring, restrooms, heated shower
Drawbacks: no electric or water hook-ups. No gas generators allowed"
"The campground is great for climbers looking to get an early start on all the routes nearby."
from $18 - $21 / night
"great time, one of the larger islands, great lake views. Only down side is the paddle to the island, not hard or difficult, the boat traffic and lack of respect for kayakers was concerning"
"Great straight forward campsite, awesome lake access!"
from $25 / night
"I stayed at site number 063, which was an RV site with electric and water, and it was adjacent to the primitive sites."
"I'm a local and tent camping saves my sanity from a high preassured daily life. When I cant leave to camp I'll set up at a primitive site here for a week at a time. It's a simple space."
"Alum Gap campground, situated in the backcountry of Tennessee, is not only a hidden gem but also a perfect choice for those new to backpacking."
"The Alum Gap campground in Savage Gulf State Natural Area was a perfect destination for a first-time backpacker (like me!). The trail is easy-moderate, mostly flat with only a few inclines."
from $8 - $12 / night
"All of the sites in the campground are level and have adequate shade. The water available in the parking lot is either from a water fountain or the bathroom sink. "
"The weather was very nice and the sites are well maintained. It’s also only about a half mile down to a swimming hole and water fall perfect for swimming in the summer"
"The trailhead campsite is a short walk from the parking lot, but makes for a great basecamp for exploring the area. The campsite is level and large enough to accommodate many tents."
"The Walls of Jehrico trail offers a handful of first-come/first-serve primitive campsites set adjacent to two separate water sources (streams). "
"Most campgrounds in Tennessee are buried in the woods, but not this yurt campsite at Ray of Hope. "
"I just got back from a weekend backpacking trip to Wall of Jericho and stayed at this site located right after coming down the hill before crossing the bridge."
"This is a great spot to camp if you are wanting to do some easy backpacking in Alabama. It is quiet and right on Hurricane creek on the way to Walls of Jericho."
TravelerThe waterfalls are beautiful and relaxing. You can hike the high-easier trail (but tree roots are present) or the lower-harder trails and be a unprofessional rock climber right down to the falls. 2.5 mile hike if you go all the way around. We spent over 2.5 hours here. Bonus is that if you are not camping here... you can use the very very clean showers for $5!
TravelerEnjoyable place to stay, quiet nights. Very chill atmosphere. Would recommend.
ScoutI was worried that I would arrive and find all the campsites occupied. This was not the case. When I got there around 5:30 there was only one other site taken. I didn’t see them until the next morning. By morning, there were two other sites occupied.
TravelerSides are clean and well spaced. The review said before that it was $20 a night. It’s now $30 a night for 20 amp service and I believe 44 for 30 or 50 amp service.
TravelerHard to find, really busy but most of them were hikers let left at nightfall.
GuideGreat bunch of people working there helped me out alot Sites were very tight I had to switch mine to just fit my camper 38 ft . The staff switched me to another spot
TravelerWhat a beautiful area to camp. We tent camped in a 12 person tent and had plenty of space on the grass to put the tent up. The other spots are more for RVs. The view is incredible! You can fish right on most of the sites including 41. We have 3 teenagers and they all have asked to come back to camp on this site. Plenty of privacy. We did have a bunch of kids that came through our site to visit the water which I was not a fan of but other than that it's truly a fantastic site. This place is wonderful! Oh, and our tmobile was spotty but still worked!
TravelerNice campground, spaces are a little tight but not bad. Restrooms are clean.
ScoutVery clean. Full hookup. Large pull through sites. No fire rings. Close to highway but didn’t hear a thing
Tent camping near Tullahoma, Tennessee provides access to diverse terrain across the Highland Rim and Cumberland Plateau with elevations ranging from 1,070 to 1,800 feet. The region receives approximately 55 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush forests and active waterfalls during spring months. Summer temperatures typically range from 65°F at night to 88°F during daytime, making late spring and early fall the most comfortable camping seasons.
Waterfall swimming: Foster Falls Campground at Foster Falls Campground offers swimming opportunities beneath its namesake falls. "Really beautiful scenery on somewhat strenuous hikes to waterfalls, some good sport climbing, and a few trails that will take you really high up so you can look down at the beautiful green canopy. Beautiful spot any time of year but we like to go when it's warm enough to swim in the waterfall," notes Kelly M.
Rock climbing: Access sport routes located within walking distance of Foster Falls campsites. The area features over 200 established climbing routes ranging from 5.8 to 5.13 in difficulty. "Camping was easy and bathrooms were clean. Really beautiful scenery on somewhat strenuous hikes to waterfalls, some good sport climbing," according to one visitor.
Island exploration: Paddle to campsites on Tims Ford Lake's islands from Evans Loop Backcountry Sites. "Great time, one of the larger islands, great lake views. Only down side is the paddle to the island, not hard or difficult, the boat traffic and lack of respect for kayakers was concerning," reports Buddy G.
Privacy between sites: The spacious sites at Stone Door Campground offer substantial separation. "The campsites are secluded, but very close to the parking lot. There is an outhouse and drinking water close to the campsites. Each site has a fire ring and plenty of space," notes Aaron S.
Convenient water access: Lakeside camping at Turkey Creek Campground provides direct water entry points. "Great straight forward campsite, awesome lake access!" says Travis J., highlighting the convenience for paddlers who want to minimize carrying gear.
Large picnic tables: Foster Falls Campground features oversized tables that accommodate group meals. "The picnic tables are also very large and made it easy to prepare food and for 5 people to sit comfortably, even with our stove at one end, and the tables are on concrete slabs," explains Stephanie J.
Seasonal crowding: Summer weekends draw large crowds to waterfall campsites. "Foster Falls Campground has 26 sites, most of which are very large and spacious. As is common in loop campgrounds, the sites in the center of the loop--especially sites 1-13--are very open, with little privacy between sites," reports Stephanie J.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience unexpected noise sources. "My biggest complaints about this site are the noise, and how much trash we saw. There is a farm nearby with a rooster that spent the better part of the day crowing, which can be distracting when you have a toddler you are trying to get to sleep, and got very repetitive for the adults as well. We could also hear 18 wheelers both nights."
Water availability: Alum Gap Campground requires planning for water. "On my hike there, I encountered a small creek, which served as a sufficient water source. Depending on recent rainfall, you might need to collect water back at the Greeter Falls area," writes Asher K.
Short hikes with rewards: Look for campsites with quick access to attractions. "The Alum Gap campground in Savage Gulf State Natural Area was a perfect destination for a first-time backpacker (like me!). The trail is easy-moderate, mostly flat with only a few inclines," reports Brittany S.
Consider noise levels: Select sites away from high-traffic areas. "We were there on weeknights so there were very few other campers, but there was a lot of trash still evident from the weekend littered across most of the campsites," notes one camper about Foster Falls.
Start with Father Adamz Campground: This site offers a manageable backpacking introduction. "The hike in is pretty steep in parts and very rocky. Definitely a good workout! The hiking trails are well maintained and the scenery is great. The short hike down to the base of the waterfall is fairly steep and very rocky, but well worth the effort!" advises Jeff C.
Limited RV options: Most tent camping areas near Tullahoma have minimal RV facilities. Backcountry areas like Savage Falls Camping Area are tent-only. "You gotta be super fit to get to this place but once you do, it's AMAZING. I did notice bear scat on my hike in and that was a bit of a concern but once everyone settled in at night, it was great. There are NO facilities so be prepared for that," warns Scott G.
Consider primitive setups: RVs without hookup needs can use certain tent areas. "Our family camped here about 2 years ago as our first camping trip together. It was perfect. We love how much space and privacy we had and will be a regular camping trip for us," mentions Robbie M. about Stone Door Campground.
Island camping alternative: For RVers with boats, Tims Ford Lake offers unique options. "Great paddling, few cliffs to jump off of, awesome old cemetery right beside campsite. All in all. Great place to unwind," notes Buddy G. about the Devil's Step Island site.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Tullahoma, TN is Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park with a 4.5-star rating from 39 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 34 tent camping locations near Tullahoma, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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