Montgomery Bell State Park Campground provides a wooded retreat 35 miles west of Nashville with elevation ranging from 640 to 850 feet. The park's 4,000-acre area includes protected cedar glades, limestone outcroppings, and moderate hiking trails through hardwood forests. Campgrounds near Pegram offer options from primitive tent sites to full RV hookups, with most facilities open year-round despite Middle Tennessee's humid subtropical climate.
What to do
Hiking with history: Montgomery Bell State Park has nearly 20 miles of trails with historical significance. "Great family friendly park with lots of hiking and historical sites. There is a beautiful waterfall and an adorable old church," notes Faith S. in her review of Montgomery Bell.
Fishing access: Henry Horton State Park offers easy fishing access along the Duck River. "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," shares RL in their review of Henry Horton.
Watersports opportunities: Four Corners RV Resort provides direct lake access for boating and swimming. One visitor explained, "We spent a week on a Lakefront site with breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Additionally, we were right next to one of the courtesy docks where our family members picked us up on their boat, enjoying the lake coves and scenery."
What campers like
Quiet, wooded sites: Cedars of Lebanon State Park offers secluded camping amid unique cedar forests. "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!" writes Phoebe A. in her review of Cedars of Lebanon.
Proximity to attractions: Nashville KOA Resort provides easy access to Nashville's entertainment district. One camper shared, "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."
Seasonal events: Several campgrounds offer special seasonal programs. At Cedars of Lebanon, a visitor noted, "Their halloween weekend is a great time of fun for the kids!" The park decorates campsites and organizes family-friendly activities during holiday weekends.
What you should know
Site spacing considerations: Nashville North KOA has tight camping areas. "The sites are very very close together. Very very noisy due to the highway that runs right on the other side of the tree line. But... the folks running the show are really nice," explains Mary L. in her review of Nashville North KOA.
Weather variability: Middle Tennessee experiences frequent summer thunderstorms from June through August. Montgomery Bell campers should be prepared for sudden weather changes, especially during afternoon hours when storms typically develop.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds near Pegram require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. One visitor to Montgomery Bell advises, "Make your reservations early!! Beautiful area lakes, groomed trails, nice hosts - highly recommend."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Montgomery Bell State Park offers family-friendly areas with recreational facilities. "With a great pavilion, Vb court, ball diamond, and playground, the far side of the camp is perfect for families, groups, and events," states Steven F. in his review of Montgomery Bell.
Kid-friendly water features: Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort has a water park adjacent to the campground. A visitor mentioned, "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."
Best family sites: At Montgomery Bell, sites 1-8 are recommended for families. "Our fave sites are 1-8, with #1+2 right next to the creek and the most updated bathrooms. If you don't want kiddos walking through your campsite to get to the playground, you may want to choose a higher number."
Tips from RVers
Site selection at Four Corners: Four Corners RV Resort offers concrete pad sites with full hookups. "The sites are concrete, level and roomy with full hookups (great water pressure!), new picnic tables and fire rings. There is not one bad location on the lakeside sites. Our personal faves are 69 thru 81...odds/lakefront," advises Susan & Kevin W. in their review of Four Corners.
Utility placement: Some campgrounds have awkwardly positioned hookups. At Montgomery Bell, one camper noted, "The site I had was a little awkward backing into and the water hookup was on the wrong side for my camper. Nice facilities."
Campground roads: Several campers mention tight turning radiuses at Cedars of Lebanon. "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," shared a recent visitor.
