Best Tent Camping near Gladeville, TN
Several tent-only camping options surround Gladeville, Tennessee, with Long Hunter State Park Primitive Campsites offering secluded walk-in tent sites along Percy Priest Lake. The campground features designated primitive tent areas with minimal amenities that provide an authentic outdoor experience. Nearby Laguardo Recreation Area offers additional tent camping with boat-in and walk-in access options for campers seeking waterfront sites.
Primitive tent setups at Long Hunter State Park require carrying all essentials on a hiking trail to reach the campsites. Fire rings are available at designated sites, but campers must practice proper waste disposal with pack-in, pack-out principles. According to one visitor, "Long Hunter State Park Primitive Campsites are my kinda camping. If you enjoy carrying all your essentials on your back and sucking your water through a filtered straw then this is the camping/backpacking park for you!" Water access is available directly from the lake, though filtering is necessary. Seasonal considerations include summer tick activity, with several campers reporting significant tick presence in warmer months.
The tent camping experience varies significantly across locations. Sites at Long Hunter State Park provide waterfront access with swimming opportunities directly from camp. One camper noted that Primitive Campsite 1 "has 3 long log benches and a grill. It is located directly by the water, so you have a water filtration source at your finger tips." Wildlife viewing is common throughout the area with frequent deer sightings at several campgrounds. Tent sites at Bells Bend Park offer a more secluded experience with 10 primitive tent sites available by reservation. These walk-in only sites provide a natural setting with firewood provided, though no vehicle access is available to the individual campsites. The area offers minimal light pollution for stargazing opportunities while maintaining reasonable proximity to Nashville.