Searching for the best camping near Smithville, TN? Smithville is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Tennessee camping adventure.
This recreation area is part of Center Hill Lake
Fall Creek Falls State Park is one of Tennessee’s largest and most visited state parks. The park encompasses more than 29,800 acres sprawled across the eastern top of the rugged Cumberland Plateau. Laced with cascades, gorges, waterfalls, streams and lush stands of virgin hardwood timber, the park beckons those who enjoy nature at her finest. Fall Creek Falls, at 256 feet, is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Other waterfalls within the park include Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls, and Cane Creek Cascades. The park is located in Bledsoe and Van Buren counties, 11 miles east of Spencer and 18 miles west of Pikeville. It may be entered from Highway 111 or Highway 30.
In 1937, the federal government began purchasing the badly eroded land around Fall Creek Falls. The following year, the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began restoring the forest and constructing park facilities. A few years later in 1944, the National Park Service transferred ownership of the park to the State of Tennessee.
Fall Creek Falls features 30 cabins, 222 campsites, and the 85-room Lodge Fall Creek Falls. Backcountry camping is also available with a permit.
The park is home to a variety of activities suitable for visitors of all ages and abilities. Hikers can opt for short or long walks around the lake and to the base of Fall Creek Falls. There are two long-distance overnight trails for adventure-seeking visitors while the day-use trails are designed to accommodate recreational and educational activities for all ages. More than 56 miles of trails can be explored.
$8 - $32 / night
This recreation area is part of Center Hill Lake
$25 - $30 / night
Campgrounds
Nightly rates vary based on date and availability. Applicable taxes and fees applied at checkout. The $5 reservation fee per site is non-refundable.
The campground at Old Stone Fort State Historic Park was upgraded and re-opened in Fall 2020. Recent improvements include the construction of a bathhouse and electric improvements.
There are 50 campsites with water and electrical hookups, grills, picnic tables and hard-surface pads that can accommodate a unit up to 50 feet in length. A dump station is open year-round. One of the two restroom facilities includes showers. However, that building is not open during the off-season, so showers are not available in December, January, and February. Firewood can be purchased at the park. The stay limit is two weeks.
Campsites are heavily wooded with separation between the sites. Camping is equally popular by both RV’s and tents/pop-ups. While the campground has a remote feel, it is actually within 10 minutes of a variety of restaurants. Also, a Manchester public pool is within one mile of the campground.
$20 - $30 / night
Spacious Skies Belle Ridge Campground is part RV park, part campground, part glamping retreat, and part expansive adventure property akin to a state park. We specialize in large open sites to easily accommodate large RVs and group camping. There are hiking trails going to two different ponds, and another going to a 100' water fall. If you love the outdoors, we're sure you'll love the Cumberland Plateau and all Spacious Skies Belle Ridge has to offer!
Between Knoxville and Nashville and only 0.3 miles off of I40, we are an easy stop for anyone visiting Tennessee or driving through on the main highway. Easy in/easy out for those RVers that just need a place to rest!
We are proud to announce our partnership with Black Folks Camp Too and are now the first “unity blaze certified” collection of private campgrounds!
Being Unity Blaze Certified confirms that all 15 of our campgrounds and our team are committed to making sure all campers know “You are Invited and Welcomed” — the Unity Blaze motto. While Spacious Skies has always firmly held this belief, we wanted to go one step further in partnering with BFCT to make sure all campground staff completed the Unity Blaze training program.
Please navigate to our website for up to date information regarding our amenities.
$21 - $275 / night
$15 - $85 / night
Same RV park and campground you love but with a new name!
You'll say WOW - Come see why! With so many ways to stay, from cabins, to teepee's and safari tents, plus campsites for your RV, trailer or tent, we are a perfect spot for a weekend getaway or an over-night stop as you pass through! We are 1/2 way between Nashville and Chattanooga on I-24, at exit 114, in the Heart of the beautiful Tennessee. Once you are here, enjoy our swimming pool, splash park, fishing pond and lawn games, or make a campfire and and get your fill of s'mores and hot dogs!
If you want to explore the area, The Broken Banjo RV Park is near what we like to call "The Secret Smokies". You'll see caves, waterfalls, nature trails, a natural bridge arch and bountiful wildlife. We are at the beginning of the Cumberland Plateau, which extends all the way past the Great Smoky Mountains.
$31 - $79 / night
We have stopped here several times in the past when it was a KOA. The new owners have fixed it up. The roads are still gravel but in better shape, the pads are nicer, and there is more room between sites. 30/50 amp electric, water & sewer. Lots of trees, there is a big dog park. The pool was closed when we were there. Bathrooms and showers were nice, but dated. Tent sites, cabins. Lots of road noise!
This place is a great place for camping had nice paved trails clean campground. The bathroom was clean. The shower was hot. Lots of friendly campers.
We arrived and we got to pick out our own campsite. Thanks to the friendly and helpful staff. Bathrooms were clean and the showers were warm water beautiful tall trees provided shade. Scenic Drive was stunning.
Excellent instructions, easy to find my site. Trees so can add my tarp for possible rain. Restful sleep. Parked by my deluxe primitive site. It comes with hot shower and flush toilet. Porta potties close by lit with fairy lights at night. I was impressed as they were clean. Self check in. I saw a deer on the way to the bathroom. Appreciate the trash cans, water and electricity. Close to gas, food. I went to Coalmont. The Mexican food was authentic. Amazing.
Did a drive around of the campground. Spacing looks great between sites. Sites look clean and level. Some sites are next to the Obey River. Will be camping here in the near future.
Plenty of spacious campsites, an easy hike (almost too short!) from the visitor center. Rustic, dispersed, but close enough to other people so you don’t feel absolutely stranded!
Ww made a reservation for April 19th and 20th but we had an emergency and had to cancel on April 16th and the lady said it was ok we couldn't make it but she said we couldn't get a refund but could come another time so we called yesterday to schedule the weekend of memorial day but they said we don't have a credit and we're just out of the money they just made it like it's OK I guess then once it got past the time we was supposed to come the lied
I seek off the beaten path places, and this campground is a gem. Located in a quiet forest near the small mountain town of Monterey, Belle Ridge is a wonderful destination stop when touring the Upper Cumberland regions of Tennessee. Within ten minutes of Monterey, this mountain town has two wonderful coffee places, an amazing Amish bakery, nice specialty stores in the historic downtown, good restaurants and a wonderful museum. There was a lot to do at the campground, but also many interesting sights within a 30-minute drive.
We camped here for 2 full weeks. The campground at Cedars of Lebanon State Park deserves 5 stars for their proximity to Nashville, the large paved pads for campers, the peaceful woods, and their overall cleanliness.
However, we were here when there was construction going on. It was LOUD from 8am to 4, 5, and even 6pm somedays with working trucks and digging up the Tennessee Rock.
The weekends were peaceful without the construction, and the trails are all easy and flat. The showers worked well and were the typical campground showers.
The wifi that is listed on the website is basically nonexistent, so don't count on that for anything important. But Verizon had good service, while AT&T was fair.
Only Campground 3 was open during our stay and you can see the work they are doing here is going to make a huge difference to be big rig friendly. Enjoy!
This campground has some exceptional features, but it also has some kinks to work out.
First, one advantage/disadvantage is it is located right off 40. If you are placed in one of the sites in the front it’s going to be very noisy. We were in the middle of the campground and it was occasionally loud, but not terrible. Being able to pop off 40 to sleep for the night and get right back on the next morning with gas two minutes away was great for us.
I wasn’t pleased with my check-in because I waited nearly 20 minutes to be helped as a group in front of me arrived with 1,000 questions and booked their campground in person. When it was my turn, I was given four seconds of attention. When my friend checked in there was three people at the desk and she had a good experience. Online registration was easy and we just had to drop off keys in a drop-box before leaving.
Then, the next morning we wanted to buy the bag of gems for the mining and the office wasn’t even open (12PM) before check-out (11AM). My husband felt it was the best camp store we had encountered on this trip, but how does that even help if it’s not open in the morning? My kids were so disappointed.
We were all disappointed because we had looked forward to the themed activity (tie-dye), but it was cancelled with no explanation given and there weren’t any other activities/programs even though it is presented like they have theme weekends.
I thought the layout of the campground and sites was kind of haphazard looking. The sites were gravel and there was plenty of grass and trees. The tables and fire pits all looked oldish. Hook-ups and WIFI were good.
The cabins were spaced really nicely. There was only one bathhouse, which looked absolutely great and was super clean. If you were camped at the front it would be a long walk. My friend stayed in the “primitive” cabin and she said the mattress was fantastic and she appreciated the Keurig. It was close to the bathroom and the loft space would easily accommodate a couple of kids.
What really shined about this campground was the woodsy landscape - the sandy playground (though it was older and the volleyball net was down), the fishing lake, and the really cool swimming lake, which was surrounded by rock, were all appreciated by our group and my friend said she was definitely coming back in the summer so her kids could swim. The hike to the waterfall was really lovely. We were hoping to see the cave, but the office was closed so we couldn’t inquire about its location (it wasn’t on the map).
All in all, we had a nice time and it was definitely more of a camping experience than many of the parking lot like camps we’ve stayed at. It seemed like a lot of guests were there specifically to dirt bike or off-road. I think it would be a nice campground to enjoy in the summer, but do wonder how much of an expansion is coming (their map indicates one is happening soon) and how that would impact the amenities.
Two other things worth noting - I appreciate that the campground prices don’t seem like they skyrocket in the summer. We looked at some summer dates and the prices were pretty similar to the price we paid for April. I also was impressed with the two people who were working - they seemed like they were all over cleaning and fixing things.
Pretty with clean bathrooms.
This was a nice spot to stay by the water. Safe and friendly neighbors. Good place for kids to bike and play.
Jake from the Dyrt here! This campground is new to the Dyrt and open for reservations through the Dyrt!
Our spot was near bathroom and the area was clean. Good hikes nearby. I had good cell reception as well with Verizon so was able to watch a little college football on Saturday.m
Very clean bath house and grounds. Friendly staff inside small camp store. Spacious sites. Walk or drive to Greeter Falls trailhead for a beautiful waterfall hike.
Overall we enjoyed our stay at Cedar Point Campground.
Pros: Spacious sites, not very close together. Quiet and peaceful with beautiful views of Normandy Lake. Fishing, swimming and canoe/kayak rentals available. Friendly staff. Close to larger cities like Murfreesboro and about 15-20 mins to closest city for a quick store run. Fun Halloween event with trick or treating and contests for the kids!
Cons: The campground seems to be mostly seasonal campers, so there’s not a ton of interaction between guests or with hosts. Bathrooms were small and on the dirtier side. They were only cleaned once during our 3 weeks stay that we could tell. The on site store is very small and doesn’t offer too much. There’s no laundry available or playground for the kids.
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Camped in the rv spots. All the spots were clean and spacious. Each spot was sort of raised deck. Facilities were clean. Would recommend.
This campground has a bit of challenges depending on the site. I definitely recommend either scouting out a site before booking or researching well which site would be a good fit. Many along the water are flat & easily assessable. We were at #35 that had a in-line that made it difficult getting even our small camper into it. We would definitely come back, but only if we were able to book one of the better sites.
Also note that depending on the site the sitting area around the fire pit can be extremely small. Great sites - 37-41, 47-55. Hard incline - 2, 3, 35, 36, 22-24
Also note there is a hill between you & anything you’re wanting to do. 35 is next to a bathroom, but a hill to get there. We had friends book site 2, next to you on the map but large hill to get to them. Nothing absolutely horrible, just be aware before booking.
Overall, absolutely beautiful place in the fall. The colors are gorgeous! The lookout tower at the office provides a beautiful view. Just careful what site you book.
I was overly impressed with this camp site! We have a large 8 person tent and need water & electricity so we rent out RV spots instead of the typical tent spots. We were at spot 116, which was on a hill but wasn’t bad enough to bother us sleeping in the tent. We slept in gravel as well since if we went on the grass we’d be on the side of a hill. We had our two dogs with us as well which our spot allowed us plenty of privacy. Bathrooms and showers were amazing for a campsite, picture gym bathrooms and that’s what it is like. Hot shower was amazing in the morning. Everyone was so friendly and had haunted houses set up for the trick or treaters. They also had a bunch of activities, parks, and a restaurant inside the camp site. Will DEFINITELY be back!
Beautiful campground. Pretty spacious and private sites. The hiking trails are gorgeous, but they’re not marked on the trail. Even still, we enjoyed hiking with the map and didn’t have difficulty finding our way. Gorgeous small waterfall. The visitors center is very nice but small.
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Pros: The staff are all incredibly friendly. We loved interacting with them (especially Eric!) during our stay. The laundry and bathrooms are very clean and spacious. The staff will come around and collect your trash for you (which isn’t necessary but a nice plus!) The location is directly off the highway and close to stores if you need a late night run for anything. The dog park was cute and offered a lot of extras. The heated pool was nicely taken care of and would be fantastic for the summer season. The camp store had lots of necessities and cute decor plus a dvd rental library and a pizza place onsite!
Cons: There was a massive cell phone tower within walking distance from our RV. Literally on the property of the RV park behind their utility shed and next to the playground. The highway traffic is quite loud. The campsites are very close together! The playground and fun type amenities in the back of the park weren’t kept up very well it seemed. A lot of the stuff was missing or broken.
For more detailed reviews and photos, follow us on TikTok and Instagram @HomegrownRV!
Wonderful place, hot water, clean sites. They have a daily trash service and several stores to visit
The tent sites are park and walk. The furthest tent site is about a 1/4 mile from where you park. Just an FYI.
Although we didn't have the opportunity to stay here on this visit we drove by on our way to the falls and I was very impressed. The campground was very well organized and looked incredibly taken care of. It had nice sites and was very close to the falls. We saw many groups walking to the trailhead from the campground. The falls themselves were pretty incredible and there is some great hiking in the area. Make sure to do the whole loop so that you can appreciate the rock formations and cliffs. We did this hike in the afternoon and got a nice dip in at the falls since it was such a hot day. There were lots of people there enjoying the space and everyone was incredibly friendly. I will definitely be checking out this campground on my next visit to the area.
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. Accessible via a straightforward hike of just a little over one mile from the Greeter Falls parking area, this primitive camping site offers an inviting introduction to the world of wilderness adventures. Each campsite provides a generously sized designated area, offering ample space for multiple tents and featuring an established fire ring. However, be prepared for a rustic experience, as there are no bathroom facilities or other man-made structures in sight.
During my visit over Labor Day weekend, I found the campground to be remarkably uncrowded, indicating that it is less frequented by campers. Most of the campsites are surrounded by trees and offer a serene woodland setting. However, a mere half-mile down the trail, the landscape opens up to reveal a breathtaking viewpoint that offers a stunning look out at the canyon. 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. One noteworthy aspect is that there aren't any clear distinctions between the different available sites; they all offer a satisfying camping experience.
Exploring the waterfalls in the area is an absolute must. These natural wonders, especially on a scorching hot day, offer the perfect opportunity to cool off with a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear pools at their base. Furthermore, you'll be pleased to know that cell phone service is excellent, thanks to the location atop the plateau. To ensure a smooth camping experience, make sure to reserve a site in advance.
In summary, Alum Gap campground provides a remote and tranquil wilderness camping experience in Tennessee, with an easy access trail that makes it an ideal introductory backpacking option. While amenities are minimal, the campground's seclusion, beautiful surroundings, and nearby attractions, including scenic viewpoints and waterfalls, make it a remarkable destination for nature enthusiasts. Don't forget to plan ahead and secure your reservation for an unforgettable backcountry adventure.
Great place. Dogs loved it also
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. Our campsite had all the amenities(Firepit, picnic table, site trash pickup) and was spacious. The swimming pool and laundry facility were clean. Note: The washers and dryers do not take quarters; pay by credit/debit card. The staff were top-notch and on top of things. The only 2 things that need improvement are the beach area, possibly some more sand, and extending the swimming boundary. Rocky Bottom must wear water shoes. The adjacent marina restaurant is not open for business, which was a little disappointing. In closing, overall, we had an exceptional stay
Camping near Smithville, Tennessee, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful retreat, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Smithville, Tennessee, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or just enjoying the outdoors, there's something for every camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Smithville, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Smithville, TN is Edgar Evins State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 56 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Smithville, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 30 glamping camping locations near Smithville, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
