Best Cabin Camping near Smithville, TN

I’m hesitant to write this review because this is our new close-to-home GO-TO camping spot and we don’t want it to get booked up. 😆 It is new, quiet, and extremely well-priced. Our lakeside spot was $60 per night. Our other lake resort stays in this area have been at least double that! There is a gated entrance, which I like. The staff here is unbelievably welcoming and friendly. The crew is constantly working on cleaning, landscaping and maintenance. This morning they were raking the beach sand because it rained yesterday. There are plenty of pet waste stations and attractive (seriously)trash bins spaced throughout the park. 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. There is a swimming beach (see pic) as well as several relaxing spots, a playground, a bark park and a dog washing station (see pic!). There is a bath house, laundry (with 4 brand-new LG front loading washers), a gym (with a universal, an elliptical and a treadmill) and a small store. See pics! Bathhouse is spotless. It is attached to the marina (but the marina is situated on the far end)and they rent kayaks, paddle boards, and golf carts. There are three docks with kayak and jet ski slips. The view of Percy Priest is incredible and serene. I seriously can not recommend this place highly enough. ***They are going to be adding tiny houses, cabins and aqua houses (think Bali, but closer😉).

The park offers several campgrounds than can accommodate RV's, tent camping and primitive campsites. There are water and electrical hookups at all sites except the primitive. There are bathhouses and even cabin rentals for those who prefer that. You can purchase ice, firewood and food at the camp store on property and there is also a place to do your laundry for a small fee. Each site offers a table and grill. All are drive up except the primitive sites. This park has the highest free falling waterfall (256 feet) East of the Mississippi River! There are plenty of activities and hiking to explore just visit the parks website for more information!

Hobbs Cabin itself is a primitive shelter, with six wood bunks. Maximum occupancy is six people. Features a wood fireplace and fire ring. Spring is located approximately 50 yards south of Hobbs Cabin. Spring is located approximately 50 yards south of Hobbs cabin. Spring water may not be available during dry conditions. The cabin can be accessed via the North Rim Trail or the North Plateau Trail, which can be combined as a loop for an overnight trip.

The weather was less than ideal on our trip (rain) but we made the most of it and had the best time! There was firewood left under the cover of the porch, so we had dry wood for the wood fire place. So cozy!

General: Three distinctly different areas: tent only section, cabin area, and the main campground. I didn’t see the inside of the cabins, but they looked very luxurious from the outside, so I am sure they are very nice. The tent area also looks nice. This review focuses on the main campground. 

Site Quality: Camper pads are all paved but vary in length from 18 to 51 feet. The width of some can also accommodate two cars side by side. Not all are completely level. Each site has a picnic table, lantern hook, fire ring, and grill. All sites have electricity and water, and eight of the 50 sites are FHU. There are many trees to provide separation and privacy, and sites are spaced a decent amount of space apart. Some sites can accommodate tents, and these are indicated on the post. 

Bath/Shower: Very clean. There was a sign saying the bathrooms are cleaned twice per day. Soap, paper towels, and utility hooks are all appreciated as was instant hot water from the taps. 

Activities/Amenities: Many outdoor activities including tennis, basketball, volleyball, horseshoes, and a playground. There are two hiking trails accessible from the campground. I hiked a short distance on the Bluff Trail until it became narrow and overgrown. There are other hikes that require a drive from the campground. The best hike is in the Twin Falls area but that is a 10-15 minute drive from the campground. There is also a swimming beach with a rentable pavilion and picnic tables. It is possible to walk there but easier to drive. We also saw people kayaking on the lake and fishing is permitted. Each bathhouse also has one washer/dryer for a reasonable price. Free WiFi with a good, strong signal. 

We enjoyed our two-night stay at this campground and for us, it was a five-star stay but I gave it four stars due to some sites not being completely level and the necessity to drive to the best hike.

Cumberland Mountain has a total of 145 campsites, spread across 5 loops, plus a backcountry site on an 8 mile backpacking trail.

We have not stayed overnight here as we are tent-campers only, and while tent camping is permitted, after visiting we felt that this campground was much better suited for RV campers. However we have come here for the day to hike and enjoy the playground by the picnic area, and it is a beautiful park, with a large lake, a restaurant, and a bridge that is iconic to the Cumberland region of Tennessee.

Of the five camping loops, loop 4 offers the most shade (particularly sites 102-109, which are shaded by evergreens and some of the prettiest campsites I have seen in a state park!), although is not ADA accessible. Loop 2 offers the least amount of shade. Loops 1, 3, and 5 have mostly hardwood trees, thus offering more shade in the warmer months and mostly sun in the winter. All sites have picnic tables and fire rings, and most can accommodate trailers up to 60 feet, with a few going higher (site 145 can fit over 100'!). Tent camping is permitted, although in most sites the only space to put a tent is very close to the fire pits or on a gravel/concrete surface, and in loops 2, 3, and 5 the park prohibits tents on the grass within each site.

Amenities at this park include hiking, fishing, paddling/boat rental, biking, a swimming pool, golf, and birding. Cabins are also available to rent, many with a view of the lake. Day use includes picnic tables, picnic pavilions, and multiple playground areas for kids. This park is also further away from urban areas and is a good place for wildlife viewing--we have seen black snakes, and what looked like a raccoon!

This is a much less crowded park than Fall Creek Falls to the south, particularly if you can make it early in the season, and is convenient to I-40, premium golfing, and historical sites on the Cumberland Plateau. While there are better options in this region for someone looking to pitch a tent, if you have an RV, Cumberland Mountain is very peaceful, offering a lot of ways to spend your day and a quiet and relaxing spot to watch the stars and enjoy the sounds of nature at night.

The campground part of Cumberland Mountain State Park has several sections, but most of them seem more conducive to RVs than tents.  Although there were a few of us tent campers there, the pads to put the tents were hard gravel.  There are fire pits, lantern poles, grills, and picnic tables—all the necessities for ideal camping.  However, there is not a whole lot of privacy, although my neighbor was very nice.  It’s easy to get lost in this campground with all of the one way roads and different sections.  You almost need a compass or GPS to get around.  The bath house I used seemed in need of attention.  The stalls were rusted and the outside of the bath house didn’t look much better.  It was, however, clean with hot water.  Close to the office there is an aviary, and once you cross the bridge, there is a restaurant and several other amenities.  What was once a building for changing and bathrooms is now a small CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) museum, which tells the history of the area.  There is also an outdoor screen for movies at night, tennis courts, basketball, and playgrounds.  When walking along the shoreline behind the restaurant, you will want to watch out for goose droppings.  For those who like water sports, there is also a canoe and kayak launch area.  The equestrian camping area is separate from the other camping areas, so odor is not a problem.  If you don’t have an RV or a tent, you can also stay in one of the park’s cabins.