Equestrian camping opportunities abound in the area surrounding Springville, Tennessee, located in western Tennessee along Kentucky Lake. The region features forested terrain with rolling hills and waterfront access points at elevations ranging from 375 to 500 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-90s with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions in the 60-80°F range with occasional thunderstorms.
What to do
Horseback riding trails: Access over 100 miles of maintained riding paths throughout Land Between the Lakes near Wranglers Campground. "The campground is amazing, the bathrooms are cleaned everyday on weekends and every other day during the week. Completely cleaned! Every site has grill, fire pit, table and lantern hook," notes Beth LeVar L. about Pin Oak Campground.
Water recreation: Explore multiple lake access points for swimming, fishing, and boating within a 20-minute drive from Springville. "We stayed at site 20 with a 36' travel trailer... Cravens Bay is secluded and about a 2 mile drive off the main road running through LBL. Defiantly for the nature lovers out there, nothing like seeing a Bald Eagle hunting fish while drinking coffee first thing in the morning," shares a visitor to Cravens Bay.
Historical tours: Visit Loretta Lynn's Ranch, approximately 45 minutes from Springville, for tours of the plantation and museum. "The best part of our stay was the tour of the plantation and Loretta Lynn's Museum," says Debra F. about her experience at the ranch campground.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spacious layout of campgrounds in the region. "The site I had was a little awkward backing into and the water hookup was on the wrong side for my camper. Nice facilities," reports Nathan R. about Montgomery Bell State Park Campground.
Easy water access: Campsites with direct lake frontage receive high marks. "We chose an electric/water only site which was very level, gravel pad," notes Debra F. about her stay at Loretta Lynn's Ranch.
Organized horse facilities: Equestrian campgrounds near Springville, Tennessee offer specialized amenities. "This is one of 5 organized campgrounds with full hookups that accept reservations. There are many other smaller campgrounds with toilets and the entire recreational area allows dispersed camping with a permit," explains Molly W. about the accommodations at Wranglers Campground.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds in the region have spotty or non-existent mobile coverage. "We had this received for a large group and it was great! Tons of room to spread out especially with the water as low as it was. Vault toilets on site and a few fire rings. Multiple picnic tables available. Lot's of fun and great views!" reports Matt S. about Colson Hollow Group Camp.
Site leveling challenges: Pack leveling blocks for most campgrounds in the area. "The site has 77 sites full hook-up with sewage. Every site has grill, fire pit, table and lantern hook. We were #38 it was easy to back into and pretty level," notes Beth LeVar L. about Pin Oak Campground.
Seasonal crowds: Summer weekends and holidays bring significantly more visitors, especially to horse-friendly facilities. "Fun experience staying with all the horses! I didn't really know it was a thing to bring horses to camp and ride them on the trails! Loved it. Spots are pretty close together but fine for big rigs," explains Tessa C. about her experience camping alongside equestrians.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly swimming areas: Look for designated beach areas with gradual entry points. "The campground was good, pretty generic, but clean. Each campsite had its own table and fire pit. We also really enjoyed some hikes nearby that had the best views," shares Evelyn R. about her experience at Lakes Prizer Point KOA.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playground equipment near camping loops. "Montgomery Bell State Park is very clean and quiet. We really enjoyed our spot by the creek. Children can wade in the creek all day, why parents enjoy sitting outside under all the shade trees. The park has tons of activities and good hiking trails," explains Tammy P.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Plan early morning or evening outings for best wildlife spotting chances. "Good place to boon camp. We stayed here two nights with our friends in two travel trailers. We had 4 adults and 4 kids (ages 2, 3, and 10) and we had the best time," reports Maryann about her family's experience at Colson Hollow.
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: Bring extension cords and extra water hose lengths. "Pads are not level. Saw a class A that had front wheels 10" off the ground and a TT with the hitch on the ground. Many sites had drop offs on the door side of the pad so you could not use all the awning space," warns Barry B. about Lake Barkley State Resort Park.
Navigation challenges: Access roads to some horse campgrounds can be narrow and winding. "The road leading into the campsite is paved but narrow, the roads at the campsite are well hard packed gravel and very narrow," notes a camper at Cravens Bay.
Dump station availability: Not all equestrian campgrounds provide full hookups or convenient dump stations. "There is a attendant at the site that you have to check in with first who will let you know what sites are available and pay after you have chosen your site and settled in. The attendant station did have some snacks for sale as well ice," explains a visitor to Cravens Bay about the check-in process.
