Best Tent Camping near Summertown, TN

Recent Tent Reviews near Summertown, Tennessee

287 Reviews of 4 Summertown Campgrounds

• 

  Jimmy C.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 2, 2021

  Tanbark Campground

  Awesome Spot!!

  I pulled in really late to tent camp. Richard, the owner came down and checked me in. Such a chill spot to set up for the night. I’d highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a spot to rest for the night. Not real sure how many tent sites he has but the one I am at right now is super close to the showers and the main office which is cool for a couple reasons. Convenience and safety! Check this place out for sure!

• 

  Crystal C.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 5, 2018

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  When you think FREE you probably don't think of sites THIS NICE!

  For My FULL VIDEO Of My Experience At This Campground CLICK HERE

  Following the winding a scenic Natchez Trace you begin to climb higher and higher into the beauty of the mountains. When I was making this trip in late August, I could already see the shifting of the leave in its most early stages and I could only imagine what it would be like only a month later.

  As I entered the park and followed the signs toward the campground I was very eager to see what this FREE site had to offer. I had discovered this site when searching youtube for things to do and someone suggested camping here because of the historic landmark in the park. After further research I discovered it was a pretty decently sized campground with semi primitive camping.

  I arrived at the camping loops and discovered two loops of camping each with differing sizes of spaces, some designed for pull through style RV parking and some for back in car parking. Spaces were large and while there were several people staying here it did not seem overly crowded.

  The first loop was much further from the restroom than the second, which also housed the campground host in his RV just as you entered the loop. He was welcoming with a smile and wave and I just felt like this was going to be a nice place to stay for the night.

  You can stay for up to 14 days at this location and I could easily see this being one of those stops you wouldn’t necessarily want to leave in a hurry because it was so peaceful. There were numerous hiking trails and a well landscaped creek area which made for a great place to come for day use as well.

  My site was pretty typical in that it had a fire ring and picnic table. The ground was semi level and very rough so camping in a tent I was happy to have brought a little padding. The restrooms were very nice and had both flush toilets and drinking water. They were well lit and for a minute when I walked in I wondered how on earth this was a free site because they were so nice.

  All was great until about 8 p.m. when some people pulled in after dark and weren’t quite sure how to set up their tent and were pretty loudly disagreeing with one another in debate of how to do so. But after they finally figured that out about an hour later the night was again left to the sounds of the cicadas and frogs.

  TIPS

  • If you are tent camping bring some kind of cushion on pad for your floor otherwise it will be a rough evening on the ground.
  • Bug spray is a must, the mosquitoes are thick here because of all the moisture of the forest and ticks can also be a problem during certain months.
  • Don’t tell all your friends, they will take over your secret little camping spot after they find out just how amazing this site really is!! (lol)
• A

  Anita C.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 4, 2019

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Super Quiet

  Good bathhouse with flush toilets and cold water sink. No Shower. Great for tent camping.

• 

  Tommy S.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 9, 2019

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Can’t beat Free

  I have tent camped here twice, once in 2013 and just last week. Both times I was traveling the Trace by motorcycle and stopped for the night. Camping spots are easy accessible and first come first served. Both times I’ve been here has been during 4th of July week/weekend and the campground has only had a few campers, never packed. The grounds are nice and well maintained. If you’re tent camping or wondering about be sure to spray down with bug spay, red bugs and ticks are present as with an natural camping woods.

• 

  Oliver

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 31, 2024

  Meriwether Lewis Campground, Milepost 385.9 — Natchez Trace Parkway

  Nice little primitive place

  It's just numbered spots with fire rings and picnic tables. I tent camp so it was perfect for me and I really liked it.

• B

  Bill E.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 15, 2015

  Montgomery Bell State Park Campground

  Good campground for kids

  We tent camp here at least 3 times a year. There are plenty of Ranger lead activities for the kids, fishing, swimming, good hiking trails.

• D

  Dawn R.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 9, 2023

  Buffalo I-40-Exit 143 KOA

  Tent Camp Sites

  The tent sites back onto I40 and are very loud. The ground is clay so, there are standing puddles in the rain around the camp. The tent pad does have drainage.

• 

  Amelia R.

  Guide

  

  Feb. 23, 2024

  Pinewood Canoe & Camp LLC

  Beautiful spot

  On the gorgeous Piney River! Tent camping and RV spots. Gets busy during holiday weekend and middle of summer but still a great place and worth a visit! Also a kayak rental company so you can camp and float the river.

• 

  Stacy D.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 15, 2020

  Buffalo River Resort LLC

  Great if you’re tent camping

  Several nice tent camping spots right on the river with lots of shade. RV spots are quite a distance from the river and behind a tree line so not much of a view. Looked like a good place to float the river but didn’t get to try it.

• 

  Jason J.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 9, 2021

  Montgomery Bell State Park Campground

  Good spot

  My favorite thing about this campground was it’s proximity to Narrows of the Harper, which I wanted to hike. Tent site, a little close in the campground, but not so bad it affected the experience negatively. Facilities well-maintained.

• 

  Lori H.

  Legend

  

  May. 12, 2019

  Montgomery Bell State Park Campground

  Beautiful Park!

  The park is amazing! The campground is ok, the spaces are good sized with plenty of space between, If tent camping, I would try to get one along the wooded sides, you’ll have more privacy that way. We stayed on site 99, across from a small creek, but right in the middle of the campground. The bathrooms are just ok, there’s no changing room in the shower stalls, so be prepared.

• T

  Tia M.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 21, 2021

  David Crockett State Park Campground

  Amazing Campground!

  Stayed at campground 1 site 20 and was very pleased! Very clean and well maintained! We tent camped and I like the concrete pad because didn’t have to worry about things getting wet from the ground. Has a 20 and 30 amp electric hook up and water beside. Nice fire pit and table also! Site 20 is located right beside shoal creek and with in walking distance to the restrooms and bathhouse!

• 

  Christopher B.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 2, 2021

  Spring Creek Primitive Campground — Mousetail Landing State Park

  Nice tent site on the TN River

  Site 1 was on it own little peninsula with cypress tree, flat ground, and nice views. The whole primitive/tent campground was nice, with all site being on or viewing the water. Clean and nice to walk around. The primitive section js also the boat ramp area and doesn’t have running water facilities

• 

  Staci R.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 8, 2017

  Montgomery Bell State Park Campground

  Bell ringer of a State Park

  Montgomery Bell (MB) is a very well kept State Park and campground. The campground is well planned with RVs and tent sites somewhat segregated, yet close enough to utilize the spaces well. Old shower point is Old, and needs modernizing, but the new shower house is very clean, has wash sinks, vending, and is worth the walk to for showering. The state park as a whole offers well kept trails, dispersed camping (by permit) and many amenities

• 

  Kristen M.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 28, 2020

  Montgomery Bell State Park Campground

  Quiet and Friendly

  A fantastic family-friendly state campground. Mostly quiet after dark. Neighbors are friendly and welcoming (you’ll find that many visit in groups).

  Amenities: Trails are pleasant. Playground is great. Bathrooms are clean but need an update. Not much in terms of wifi or tv if you are looking for that but att and verizon were usable.

  Roads feel narrow but we had no problem maneuvering in our 36’ 5er. River sites look great but we booked last minute. Wound up with a corner interior spot (107) that backs to a tent camping area so was fantastic for views, too and this spot was quite spacious.

  Location is lovely but is not that close to Nashville if that’s your goal.

• B

  Brandy C.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 9, 2021

  Montgomery Bell State Park Campground

  One of our favorites!

  We’ve been tent camping for years and try to find places somewhat close to home because we bring our bulldogs with us. This campground is absolutely one of our favorites.

  It is relatively small, but the bathhouses are super clean, and the staff are amazing. I’m hesitant to let our secret out, but we just bought a camper so we won’t be using this campsite anymore. Campsite 78 is the best! One of the scout troops built a platform there years ago, and its perfect to pitch your tent off the ground. In addition, the site is in the back corner, so it’s private and huge! We’ve camped there for their big Halloween shindig for the past three years.

  I hope someone else will enjoy it as much as we have!

• 

  j B.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 2, 2021

  Loretta Lynn's Ranch

  Campground is EXTREMELY run down

  First, I want to say that the employees in "Western Town" & tour guides were AMAZING! 👏

  The campground was HORRIBLE! It was run down. The toilets at the pool house were backed up. The pool was well kept. They did close the pool for storms and did NOT reopen it until the next day. NOT good management of resources.

  There are NO fire rings for safe fires. The tent sites have no picnic tables. It appeared that it is geared more towards the "EVENT" aspect of the campground. They also had people place their garbage by the road for pickup instead of dumpsters or garbage cans.

  The speed limit is 10 mph. HOWEVER, kids were racing around the campground and going off road on quads. This was daily and continued until after 9pm. I would think for liability reasons the employees would monitor things better.

  The tours of Loretta's homestead replica, her mansion and the museums was AMAZING! That would be the only reason I would ever return.

  God bless Loretta Lynn and her family. A fan forever

• 

  Jeremy H.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 7, 2019

  Meriwether Lewis Campground

  Camp Where An Explorer Died Mysteriously

  “Let’s go camping where one of the most remembered American explorers died a tragic death.” That’s probably not something I would have said before visiting the Meriwether Lewis Campground near Hohenwald, Tennessee. This campground is amazing. First, its setting couldn’t be anymore beautiful being nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of central Tennessee. The campground is filled with tall, stately oak trees that provide great, all day shade and shelter from the sun. It was hypnotizing listening to the wind from a summer storm swoosh through them. The sites are tent, car camper, and RV friendly though if you are staying in a tent you might have to be selective about which site you choose. Some are rocky and have quite a slant. Site 16, the one we chose to call home for the night, would not have made a good tent site at all even though it offered a breath-taking view of a cool, green hollow. Each site has a fire ring with an attached grill. The rings are about three feet wide and around 18 inches deep. They rest on a concrete slab. Camp parking is asphalt as are all the roads that wind through the park. All sites are within walking distance of a fully functional and positively clean bathroom that is cleaned regularly. You will need to bring your own soap to the bathroom though. The park doesn’t supply it or paper towels. Each campsite also has a secure trash can that is emptied daily(late in the evening during our stay). The campground is full of wildlife so it's nice to know they won’t be feasting on full trash cans. We shared our campsite with a pleasant and oddly curious Tennessee Rough Green Snake or Vine Snake. He enjoyed hunting bugs in the leaf litter at our campsite, and for about an hour, my son Oz and I enjoyed watching him on the hunt. We also saw a box turtle speeding down one of the many trails located within walking distance of the campground. The campground had three rounds of campers arrive on Friday night, July 5. The early campers who arrived between 2PM and 6PM, the after-work campers arriving just before sunset, and the evening crowd that arrived after sunset. The after-sunset crowd made a quick camp and went right to sleep. The camp has fresh water sources scattered throughout the campground including water fountains and spigots. Park staff were welcoming and hard working as you can instantly tell by the overall tidiness of the entire park. You may want to grab supplies before you head into camp since the two nearest towns are a few miles from the camp: Hohenwald (8 miles) and Summertown (11 miles). There is no store in the park or vending machines. You will also need to purchase firewood or be willing to walk to get it. The campground is well used so most sites only have twigs available. We lucked out and found some charred wood in unused campsites that supplemented our kindling we found while hiking. Overall, this is a great family campground. Access to the park isn’t restricted at night so you may want to make sure you carry a light with you as you walk around the campground in the dark. There is a lot of after dark traffic and you want to make sure you can be seen by other campers driving to the bathroom or the occasional guest who might just be driving through. I look forward to going back again soon. This is a five star park.

• 

  MickandKarla W.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 23, 2022

  Montgomery Bell State Park Campground

  Large State Park

  The park’s website says to use Google Maps, which we did with no issues getting to the state park area. We had never been here before, and the signage coming into the park concerning the campground(CG) was a little confusing, but we made it to the check-in office. Check-in was quick and the narrow passage into the CG where we were directed to go looked more like a wide walking path, but we were assured:“people drive big rigs in every day.” We made it on the narrow road through the trees, through the tent area, and around a somewhat sharp curve to get to back-in site 93 with 50/30/20 AMP and water. The back-in was a little interesting as we had to pull forward on the road to the left that goes to the bathhouse to get straight on our site and then back in. We tried the traditional back-in, but because of the immediate curve to the right after site 93, there was no way to pull forward on the main road and back-in. Plus there were too many trees, etc., to swing, and there was a tent site in the way. As with other State Parks we’ve stayed in, the pad length was a little shorter than advertised, but we got our 39’ 5th wheel and F450 on the site. A creek runs through the backside of the CG which made for a nice view off the back of our site. We were at the transition point to the mix of electric/water and FHU sites that also back up to the creek. We got 3 bars on Verizon and 2 bars on T-mobile. Satellite would not be a viable option with all the trees in this CG. There were three bathhouses with one having laundry. We decided to stay here as this state park has a golf course. Montgomery Bell is a large state park, and we did not make it to the golf course due to the weather plus we were only staying one night. With this CG being on the edge of big rig-friendly and windy roads to get here, it would be questionable whether we’d stay here again.

• 

  Steve G.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 27, 2021

  Spring Creek Primitive Campground — Mousetail Landing State Park

  Small, shaded and quiet!

  Overall: Small, shaded and quiet. Way off the beaten path near the Tennessee River. A drive to the nearby Lady’s Bluff Small Wild Area is worthwhile. 

  Getting there: If you want to get away from the crowded I-40 Interstate and do not mind a 30 minute drive through the gently rolling hills and farmland of rural Tennessee this might be a good stop for you! Be sure to set your GPS before leaving I-40 because at least with ATT you will lose signal.  

  Check in and staff: Online reservation was easy and the website has photos with a good listing by site of what is there, including whether or not there is a tent pad and the size of same. We needed to change sites at the last minute. The ranger was very kind and helpful. 

  Amenities: power and water available at main campground but not all site:, spotty cell service with ATT. Does work on the hilltop of the main campground. Washer/dryer available in bath house. Camp store closed for remodeling and paving while we were there. 

  Bathrooms: older but clean, well kept. Small, one shower. 

  Site: partial shade, some reasonable separation between sites but some close together. Fellow campers were quiet and courteous. Picnic tables and fire pits clean and in good order.

• 

  Sarah C.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 1, 2017

  Joe Wheeler State Park Campground

  Grew up camping here

  Loved it as a kid and still love it today! This is a great spot located in Northern Alabama just east of Florence on the Tennessee River. This is a good spot for exploring some of the cool spots in the area including the musical landmark of Muscle Shoals.

  There are improved and primitive sites available, depending on what your looking for. Primitive sites are simple and improved sites come in all shapes and sizes (i.e. some have sewer, some are 50 amp, 30 amp, etc.). While the improved sites cater to RVs, they are nice for tents as well. The campground is full of great trees if you're hoping to sling a hammock for your stay.

  There's a store and a nice boat launch readily accessible. Be sure to get a site right on the water if you can. Here's a map to help! http://www.alapark.com/sites/alapark.com/files/JoeWheelerStateParkCampgroundMap.pdf

• 

  Shelly S.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 17, 2017

  Henry Horton State Park Campground

  Country folk

  Henry Horton State Park has that back country lived in feel. Probably has something to do with the multitude of kinfolk wandering about:)

  South of Nashville, Tn 31A runs right through the middle of the actual park.

  Duck River runs through the park and is a main focus of the entertainment with rental places picking up tubers from on the road into the tent area. (Yes, I received several dirty looks for driving on the road toward the tent area.) I parked in the restroom area as the road was completely blocked with children, inner tubes and adults.

  The tent area had BIG sites that would easily fit several tents and trees for hammocks. There are 10 sites. The river was at the rear of the tent area as well as a trail Adeline Wilhoite River trail that followed the river. There are also primitive campsites available if your backpacking through located near the observation deck on the Adeline Wilhoite River trail loop.

  The bathhouse is newer and well kept. There is a playground in the middle of the campground area, in front of the visitors office. ( pretty awesome looking sandpit)

  The RV area is adjacent through the woods it has 56 sites. The sites looked adequate, but from what I saw they were close together. There may have been more space further in.

  There is an Inn and cabins available also on the other side of the park/river.

  We enjoyed the trails , just gotta say BUG SPRAY :) Keep your eyes open for critters and there are bikers using several of the trails.Wilhoite Mill Trail is one of the features of the park, which leads to a historic mill.

  So pack your banjo and yak and git on out to Henry Horton State Park for a good ole time !

• 

  Jessica L.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 29, 2019

  Tennessee River Camp Resort

  This is a really nice campground

  Tis is a really nice campground on the Tennessee river, which is great for boating and fishing also nice for camping

• 

  Michael P.

  Traveler

  

  May. 31, 2019

  Spring Creek Primitive Campground — Mousetail Landing State Park

  Primitive

  This park is extremely clean and well maintained. The primitive sites are right on the beautiful tennessee river. The park rangers are extremely helpful as well. Highly recommended

• 

  Amelia R.

  Guide

  

  Feb. 23, 2024

  Montgomery Bell State Park Campground

  Good camping area

  Something for everyone! Tent spots, RV spots, cabins, back country spots! Lots of recreation opportunities here too! The lakes are great!

• 

  Jeremy H.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 20, 2019

  Ray of Hope Guest Ranch and Horse Motel

  Great Place To See The Stars

  Most campgrounds in Tennessee are buried in the woods, but not this yurt campsite at Ray of Hope.  The yurt sets on the side of a beautiful Tennessee Hill offering almost a complete view of the nighttime sky.  We watched the moon rise over a hill directly in front of the campsite, and we even saw a brilliant shooting star blaze across the sky for what seems like an eternity.  The Ray of Hope campground is a private campground that went above and beyond our expectations.  The yurt was clean, included battery powered lights and a LED lantern, and a full sized bed that made the night pass with ease.  The campsite also offers free firewood and a large fire ring.  There are two deck chairs at the campsite which are perfect for stargazing.  The entrance of the yurt faces sunrise and the farm animals serenade you in the morning when the mist begins to burn off the valley.  There is a well stocked outside shower surrounded by sweet smelling herbs.  Water and a toilet are near the shower stall.   The campsite is near the small town of Petersburg, TN where you can find two gas stations and a Dollar Store.  If it's hot outside, you might want to bring a battery operated fan.  This place is a perfect glamping experience for an extended date or weekend in beautiful Tennessee.

• M

  Mary H.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 3, 2020

  Thousand Trails Natchez Trace

  Great Tennessee State Park

  Stayed in Pin Oak Campground. Large sites nicely spaced. Full hook ups. Senior discount. Will handle tents to big rigs. Beautiful lake view. Friendly people. Bath house nice and clean. Long nice drive back to campground cell services very weak. Long trip back for supplies come prepared.