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Best Tent Camping near Smithville, TN

924 Reviews

Tent campgrounds near Smithville, Tennessee offer several options for outdoor enthusiasts seeking rustic camping experiences. The surrounding area includes Savage Gulf State Park, featuring multiple tent-friendly campgrounds like Savage Falls and Alum Gap, while Foster Falls Campground in South Cumberland State Park provides tent sites with easy access to hiking trails and natural features. Holleman's Bend Camping Area offers free tent camping with drive-in access, and primitive backcountry tent sites can be found at Turnhole Backcountry Campsite in nearby Mammoth Cave National Park.

Sites throughout the region vary significantly in terms of amenities and accessibility. Most tent campgrounds feature basic fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities like potable water and toilets are inconsistent between locations. Drive-in tent sites at Foster Falls provide gravel pads with concrete picnic table slabs, while primitive backcountry areas like Alum Gap require short hikes of 1-2 miles to access. Campers should verify seasonal availability and reservation requirements before traveling, as many tent campgrounds in state parks require advance booking through Tennessee State Park websites. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "The campground is great for novice primitive campers. The campsites are secluded, but very close to the parking lot."

Areas farther from main roads offer deeper seclusion for tent campers seeking quiet experiences. Many tent sites throughout South Cumberland State Park provide access to stunning waterfalls, swimming holes, and hiking trails including the Fiery Gizzard Trail. Foster Falls tent sites accommodate tents under towering trees that provide ample shade during summer months, while backcountry tent sites at Alum Gap offer more privacy between campsites. Tent camping in this region connects visitors directly to the natural landscape, with wildlife sightings including deer and wild turkeys common at several locations. A camper noted that Alum Gap campground "is a perfect choice for those new to backpacking" with "ample space for multiple tents and featuring an established fire ring."

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Best Tent Sites Near Smithville, Tennessee (38)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Smithville, TN

40 Photos of 38 Smithville Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Smithville, TN

924 Reviews of 38 Smithville Campgrounds

  • Shana D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 14, 2022

    Greeter Falls Campground

    New campground

    We only checked out the primitive sites while passing through the area. The sites had picnic tables and fire rings, but they were pretty overgrown. It doesn’t look like this section of the campground is getting much use yet. They have a couple of portable toilets on site with garbage cans next to the toilets. There is a water spigot at the exit that can be used for filling tanks/containers. Also, there is a community fire pit area near the exit and a small camp store building near the entrance. Closed when we drove thru. To be honest, other than sites being marked with a site number, I couldn’t tell where the sites were actually at or where tents were supposed to be set up at.

    We did not drive they the yurts or RV sites, so I cannot speak for those, but the pictures on the website look nice.

    Rating this a 3 based on location to Greeter Falls Waterfall and also because it is new and still an ongoing work in progress, I didn’t want to rate too low.

  • Katrin M.
    Mar. 7, 2021

    Foster Falls Campground — South Cumberland State Park

    Nice rustic getaway

    We camped here over the weekend with our dogs. The campground has 26 rustic campsites that need to be reserved in advance. Each site has a firepit and a picnic table. It is probably better for tent camping since there are no electrical hook ups. There are also no generators allowed. Some of the sites are very close together like mostly the ones on the entrance. We camped at #19 and it was very private and spacious. The bathrooms were ok. Unfortunately they were never cleaned over the weekend. It was pretty noisy on Friday night and there is nobody to enforce a quiet time. Be aware... roosters are nearby and they start crowing at 4am. Some of the sites are very well shaded. There is no firewood sale in the campground or the visitor center (which is about 17 min away) but locals have it available near by. The landscape is absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking. Foster Falls is just a short walking distance away and so beautiful. In the summertime it's a popular swimming hole. It is also a paradise for rock climbers. South Cumberland has many spread out entrances. We visited Stone Door and Denny Cove. It was so beautiful. We would camp here again but probably not in the summertime because it can get very crowded.

  • Stephanie J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 27, 2019

    Mountain Glen RV Park & Campground

    Ranger Review: The Dyrt Reservations at Mountain Glen RV Park & Campground

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I am occasionally compensated for staying at and reviewing campgrounds. I was given the opportunity to stay at Mountain Glen RV Park and Campground in order to test the new reservation system through The Dyrt. The reservation system works extremely well--it is fast and efficient, and save the trouble of using a third party reservation system after finding a campground you like on The Dyrt. I look forward to more campgrounds joining TD's network!

    Mountain Glen is a new campground, located about an hour northwest of Chattanooga, and it is absolutely beautiful. There are a total of 8 tent sites and 41 RV sites, set next to a lake and a gorgeous view of a farm. Amenities include picnic tables, a playground, fishing, horseshoes, corn hole, a game room, a camp store, and laundry facilities, showers, and flush toilets with electricity (and heat!). It is also a short drive to Fall Creek Falls State Park, for anyone looking to enjoy the hiking near the falls without the overnight crowds the state park brings in. 

    The RV sites occupy most of the campground, and accommodate trailers ranging from 60' to 90'. All sites have electric and water hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, and most have small grassy areas for dogs, kids, or even grown ups to stretch out and rest. RVs are also available to rent.

    Tent sites 1-3 are listed as “primitive” sites and have no electricity or water, however it is a short walk to the office where water is available. The road is visible from these sites, however there is a grassy meadow both between the sites and the road, and the sites and the lake, with woods bordering site 3. 

    Sites 4 and 5 are located closest to the picnic shelter, with a clear view of the lake. Sites 6-8 are next to the office/bathrooms. Site 6 is the smallest and 8 is the largest. All tent sites are fairly hilly, and accommodate small tents better than large based on limited flat space—though hammocks would work well!

    There is a trail that winds around the lake, and passes a beautiful spillway on the end opposite the office which is great for getting some shade, and a chance for kids to splash in some water. This end also has a picnic table for day use. I would love to see this area eventually become a walk-in campsite as it is definitely the most beautiful area of the entire campground!

    The owners here are extremely nice. We were greeted warmly on our arrival, and spent some time talking with them our second day. It is obvious they care about the campground and want campers to enjoy themselves and feel comfortable. We are tent campers and I was wary of staying somewhere more geared towards RVs, but what tent camping here lacks in privacy and wilderness, it more than makes up for in beauty, peace, and a feeling of home-away-from-home.

  • Christy E.
    Jun. 14, 2018

    Rock Island State Park Campground

    Beautiful area with many activities

    I stayed in the tent-only loop - a small group of 10 sites. It was quiet and had many trees for hammocks. Thus site offers level tent pads, a grill, fire ring, and picnic table. Clean bathrooms and hot showers available. The nearby swimming beach was great for the kids. Many short hiking options available. Make sure to visit the ranger station for a map and safety rules during water releases.

  • Greg S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2025

    Anderson Road Campground

    4.5 stars

    Stopped for one afternoon and night on our way through. Driving in through da hood you get a questionable feeling but, once through the gate and checked in this is a fantastic little campground! We picked an awesome site- number 8 is a huge pull through with water and electric, a grill, prep table, picnic table, and fire ring with grill. The site has its own path and private lake access. The lake is rocky here but we had no trouble walking in and swimming with our Crocs on. All sites in this small loop campground are great and very large. There is some erosion and there was some trash near the lake that we gladly cleaned up. Overall a fantastic place to camp.

  • Stephanie J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2018

    Foster Falls Campground — South Cumberland State Park

    Loud and dirty but spacious with great hiking

    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, although they are still shady due to the extremely tall trees. The outer loop sites have more underbrush between them providing a buffer. Sites 17-26 all have relative privacy from each other, but are smaller sites in general, although many of them have specified tent pads. The sites closest to the bathrooms all had more bugs while we were there in August, and site 16, while very large, has power lines that run into the site itself.

    This is a very beautiful campground. The towering trees give most sites ample shade, and there is a lot of firewood that is easy to collect from felled trees, particularly on the back half of the loop. The front half of the loop is closest to the trail to the falls, and site 8 has a trail running directly behind it that takes you to the falls overlook, and to the trailhead to walk down to the falls themselves. Our 2 and 5 year old walked from our campsite down to the falls and back up easily, and enjoyed having a trail that led to the falls overlook for nightly post-dinner walks, and it would make a great camping base for anyone looking to hike the Fiery Gizzard Trail. 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, which helps keep bugs crawling around your feet down a little, and makes it easier to clean up any food that falls while eating. The bathrooms were also cleaned each morning, with the trash taken out and the floor swept clean of bugs and detritus.

    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 we were there during the night. 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, and a group that stayed our first night there left their fire ring full of paper towels and banana peels. After reporting it to a ranger, he cleaned up the paper but left the banana peels which made me wonder how strictly the campground enforces proper food storage, and the ranger said that the campers had not paid or registered--despite the fact that park vehicles drove past at least twice since that group set up camp. If kept clean, I would easily give this a 4 or 5 star rating despite the noise, but I was very disappointed in the visibility of human impact--a shame, because it is otherwise a great place, and great for families with small children.

  • Stefan A.
    May. 21, 2018

    Foster Falls Campground — South Cumberland State Park

    Above average campsites, exceptional proximity to natural beauty

    There are very average campsites for RV’s, car camping, backcountry and your average camping spots. HOWEVER, the beautiful hike down to the waterfall is 100 meters from most of the campsites. The views made it an amazing trip.

    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

  • Davina B.
    May. 9, 2019

    Cumberland Mountain State Park Campground

    Great for RVs, Ok for Tents

    This campground is located within the Cumberland Mountain State Park. The sites are set up for RVs and it is very popular.

    Pros: There is no camp store, but there are vending machines available. There are restrooms available. Staff is in the office during business hours. There are 2 short hiking trails (less than 1 mile in length each). There are playgrounds, a lake for fishing, and a golf course. Each site has parking for 1 vehicle, a large gravel pad, water and electric hookup, picnic table, and lantern hook.

    Cons: site are very close together. Tents and RVs do not have separate loops. No camp store. No showers.

    Overall, this campground is set up to cater more toward those with RVs than people camping in tents.

  • Myron C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 25, 2019

    Edgar Evins State Park Campground

    A Campground with Lots to Do but with Interesting Tent Pads

    Edgar Evins State Park is a large park with lots of activities for young and old. However, if you want to stay in the campground, make sure to take a freestanding tent unless you have creative ways to keep your tent up. Most of the sites have wooden platforms, and the fire pits are beside the road. Perhaps most people like that sense of permanence, but I personally prefer solid ground or even gravel pads. Fortunately, the one I used was a free-standing tent. There is another option, and that is to stay in the primitive camping area. Of course, they are walk-in sites, but they are not far from where you park. I would normally choose the primitive camping area for a couple of reasons. There is a little more privacy, and you have soft ground on which to pitch your tent. Obviously, if you are an RV camper, staying in the primitive area does not apply. Unfortunately, it was better this time to choose a site that you don’t have to walk to. Out of all the state park campgrounds I have visited, the bath rooms in this state park are the best. They are modern with tiled floors, and the showers resemble ones you would find at privately owned campgrounds. There are several different activity options—volleyball, horseshoes, playgrounds, hiking trails, etc. There is also an aviary, a marina, a restaurant, and a couple of boat ramps. For the children, there is the“Storybook Trail.” For other overnight options, there are also cabins that you can rent. In retrospect, the primitive area would have been a better choice. It definitely would have been more quiet. No matter whether you stay in the primitive area or the regular camping area, you will encounter hilly terrain. The camp store is fully stocked with most of your camping needs, and there is also a laundry. Overall, Edgar Evins State Park was a good place to spend time, but again, I have my doubts about the wooden platforms.

Guide to Smithville

Tent campsites near Smithville, Tennessee cluster around Center Hill Lake, a 64-mile shoreline reservoir with water temperatures reaching 80°F in summer months. The region sits at approximately 700 feet above sea level on the eastern Highland Rim, characterized by limestone formations and oak-hickory forest. Spring and fall temperatures typically range between 50-70°F, creating prime camping conditions with lower humidity.

What to do

Water activities at Horseshoe Bend Marina: Located on Center Hill Lake, this campground offers kayak rentals with easy paddling routes. "You can paddle both directions with ease, and there are several waterfalls nearby, also Rock Island State Park is about 1.5 miles by water. The boat traffic is minimal so paddling is easy," notes camper Lori H. at Horseshoe Bend Marina.

Wildlife observation from secluded sites: Wake up early to spot wildlife along the water. "I woke up early enough to see the sunrise and the fog coming off the river. Simply magical," reports camper Devin R. at Holleman's Bend Camping Area. Morning hours between 6-8am typically provide the best wildlife viewing.

Backpacking to waterfalls: Multiple routes connect campgrounds to waterfalls with swimming opportunities. "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," writes Asher K. about exploring near Alum Gap.

What campers like

Peninsular camping locations: Several tent campsites near Smithville offer unique water-surrounded camping. "The cool thing about this campsite is your sorta on a peninsula of the river. Very private and it's not on a loop trail so no foot traffic passing by," explains Shelly S. about Turnhole Backcountry Campsite.

Spacious tent sites with fire features: Campers consistently mention the generous sizing of tent areas. "Each campsite provides a generously sized designated area, offering ample space for multiple tents and featuring an established fire ring," notes Asher K. about Alum Gap Campground.

Night sky visibility: Clear nights reveal exceptional stargazing opportunities. "Clear nights with a bright moon were magical here. It is probably a beautiful spot when there is no foliage, as well," reports Mandy C., who camped at Turnhole in August.

What you should know

Cell service limitations: Coverage varies dramatically across the region. "No Service (showed me how addicted i am). Other than that as described," mentions Simon B. about Holleman's Bend. Similarly at Horseshoe Bend Marina, "NO CELL SERVICE for ATT," reports Joe B.

Water availability concerns: Seasonal fluctuations affect water access at primitive sites. "Despite this campsite being surrounded by the Green River on 3 sides, water is hard to come by here, and hiking it in may be your best bet. The river is at least 1/2 mile away, through extremely dense brush," warns Mandy C. about Turnhole.

Ferry closures affect access: Always check transportation status before departing. "Unfortunately the ferry is closed so it's a long drive around to the backside," notes Shelly S. about reaching Savage Falls Camping Area.

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly backpacking options: Several sites offer introductory backpacking experiences. "The Alum Gap campground in Savage Gulf State Natural Area was a perfect destination for a first-time backpacker. The trail is easy-moderate, mostly flat with only a few inclines," shares Brittany S.

Short hike-in options with kids: Look for sites with minimal hiking distances. "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," writes Asher K.

Campgrounds with entertainment options: Some sites offer recreational amenities beyond nature. "They have a game room tent with ping pong, cornhole, jenga, etc. and they host a movie night sometimes! They also had an inflatable water slide during the day," explains Lori H. about Horseshoe Bend Marina.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. "We are on site 9 and it's not the most leveled spot. We have a 25ft class C," reports a reviewer about Foster Falls Campground.

Alternative camping options for convenience: Consider glamping tents at select locations. "The glamping tents themselves are large canvas tents with two double beds in them and decorated pretty cool inside with a beautiful front porch view of Center Hill Lake. The memory foam beds are literally one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept in," shares Nate H. about Horseshoe Bend Marina.

Limited bathroom facilities: Prepare for minimal facilities at some locations. "The bathhouse was functional, but really only one person can be in there at a time, even with two toilets, as one is not enclosed. There's only one shower in there," notes Lori H.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Smithville, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Smithville, TN is Horseshoe Bend Marina with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Smithville, TN?

TheDyrt.com has all 38 tent camping locations near Smithville, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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