Best Tent Camping near Portland, TN
Tent camping options near Portland, Tennessee include several established campgrounds within a short drive. Camp Nashville Highland Rim offers tent sites with access to showers and toilets, while Long Hunter State Park Campground provides more primitive tent camping experiences along the lakeshore. Both locations allow fires and permit tent campers to bring pets, making them suitable for outdoor enthusiasts wanting to camp with their animals.
Tent campsites in the area range from drive-in accessible to those requiring short hikes. Many locations, including Long Hunter State Park, feature dedicated tent pads and fire rings, though amenities vary significantly between campgrounds. Camp Nashville provides drinking water and allows alcohol, while primitive backcountry sites at Long Hunter may require campers to filter water from nearby sources. Most tent-only areas maintain seasonal availability year-round, though summer months bring increased tick activity and higher humidity. Campers should check individual park regulations, as some locations prohibit alcohol or restrict fires during dry periods.
The tent camping experience around Portland offers opportunities for both lakeside and wooded settings. Areas like Long Hunter State Park provide tent campers with waterfront sites that serve as excellent swimming locations during warmer months. The primitive tent setups allow for greater seclusion than developed campgrounds, particularly at backcountry sites. Wildlife sightings are common, including deer and various bird species. As one camper noted of Long Hunter State Park, "Even though 6 miles is quite the hike for a young Girl Scout Troop just to reach our Campsite, it was beyond worth it." Tent campers should be prepared for insects, particularly ticks during summer months, as another review mentioned finding "the most ticks any of us had seen, including tiny seed ticks" at primitive sites near the water.
