Camping options near Stanton, Tennessee sit in the state's southwestern region, approximately 50 miles northeast of Memphis. The area features rolling hills and hardwood forests with an average elevation of 400 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, creating challenging conditions for tent campers without adequate ventilation, while fall and spring offer more moderate camping conditions in the 60-75°F range.
What to do
Hiking trails at Fort Pillow: The park offers several trail options with river views. "There are hiking trails but we did not go on them because we honestly did not feel comfortable hiking there, especially toward dusk," notes a reviewer at Fort Pillow Historic State Park Campground, highlighting the importance of timing your hike appropriately.
Explore Civil War history: Fort Pillow's historic area provides educational opportunities about the site's significance. "The historic site of Ft Pillow from the Civil war is on one of the hiking trails. The trails also go along the Mississippi river and provide some beautiful views," shares a Fort Pillow camper.
Lake activities at Chickasaw: The park offers swimming, fishing, and boating options. A visitor at Chickasaw State Park Campground mentions, "This is a great place to go RV camping, tent camping or even wrangler camping. It is a quiet park with hiking, biking, horseback riding, boating, swimming, and much more."
Paddle sports on waterways: Some campgrounds offer equipment rentals for water activities. "There is paddle boarding, kayaking, and a small John boat included with the park. There is also a very nice spacious pool that is included as well," reports a camper at Serendipity Resort.
What campers like
Quiet natural settings: Many campgrounds in the region provide peaceful environments away from urban noise. "A nice surprise about this campground was how quiet it was. Not very busy when we visited we got to soak in the scenery in serenity," comments a visitor to Fort Pillow.
Clean facilities: Several parks maintain well-kept bathhouses and common areas. A camper at T.O. Fuller State Park Campground observed, "Cleanest bathhouse we saw in 2 weeks camping trip," though they noted, "they need fans in them to move the stagnant air."
River views: Watching barge traffic on the Mississippi River serves as entertainment at some locations. "We got a riverfront pull through site, which was cool," reports a visitor to Tom Sawyer's RV Park, adding, "Tugboats pushed barges against the current at a slower than walking pace. Trees with root balls intact floated downstream."
Well-maintained sites: Level camping spots with adequate hookups receive positive feedback. "My wife and I loved the campground and have never had better service from the parks staff," notes a Fort Pillow camper, indicating the importance of staff interactions to overall experience.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly between locations. A camper at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park reported, "We had 0 service anywhere near our campsite. Nice to disconnect for a night, but plan accordingly."
Seasonal insect challenges: Mosquitoes present significant concerns during warmer months. "Unless you are in love with mosquitos you may want to stay away from here in the summer," warns a Meeman-Shelby visitor, suggesting, "Bring citronella candles for your table when camping and try to put a dryer sheet in your pocket to ward off mosquitoes."
RV site access considerations: Some campgrounds have difficult entry roads or tight turns. A visitor to Serendipity Resort noted, "The roads are narrow and the trees get close. Th signage could be better but the host left me a text when I arrived and found me while I was waiting outside the office."
Location safety factors: Certain campgrounds sit near areas that may concern some visitors. A T.O. Fuller camper observed, "The surrounding neighborhood made us feel a little uncomfortable as it was a pretty shady side of town," though they also mentioned, "the rangers were very nice at check in and did drive through the campground periodically."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities for children: Multiple parks offer swimming opportunities to keep kids entertained. A Joy-O RV Park visitor shares useful caution: "They have a pool! Just don't mind the completely run down facilities and the gross showers that were air conditioned only from about 4 pm until 9 pm."
Playgrounds and recreation areas: Several campgrounds include dedicated play spaces. A Meeman-Shelby Forest visitor noted, "There is a really nice day use area with a new playground, pavilion area and picnic tables. There is also a basketball goal/court area near the day use area."
Educational opportunities: Some parks feature museums or ranger programs. "Ranger Tyson informed us that they were doing a night hike to the Fort and they would be serving Gumbo for dinner around the campfire at the Fort. Sign me up! It was one of the fee based activities, but for $5 per person, it was totally worth it!" shares a Fort Pillow camper.
Pet management with children: Campgrounds requiring leashed pets need extra attention with young campers. A visitor to Serendipity Resort mentioned that pet areas need monitoring: "The grounds look awful, grown up grass everywhere. It appears they only mow about 25%."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: When seeking pet-friendly accommodations, consider specific site characteristics. An Agricenter RV Park visitor advises, "The sites are all mixed together. You have a handful of RV sites with 50 amp, a couple of 30 amp sites and then lots of tent sites that have 20 amp or no power at all."
Navigation challenges: Several campgrounds present difficulty for larger rigs. "Small but nice campground. Sites are decent and paved," notes a T.O. Fuller visitor, while another mentions, "The inner loop of the primary campground has been updated with new concrete and gravel and 2 sites (I think 6,8) are ADA accessible."
Hookup variations: Water and electric options differ significantly between sites. At Chickasaw, a camper reported, "We stayed in site 11 which was AAA and level at the top. Only negatives were a steep incline to back into site, no cell service and pay as you go park WiFi."
Weather preparedness: Regional climate impacts pet comfort in camping units. "The campground was beautiful and a very friendly staff. The bugs were bad," notes a Meeman-Shelby camper, suggesting extra preparation for pet owners concerned about insects.
