17 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Walling, Tennessee serves as a gateway to several notable camping areas in the Cumberland Plateau region. Horseshoe Bend Marina offers waterfront tent camping with electric hookups and showers, while Rock Island State Park Campground provides a more developed experience with tent, RV, and cabin options. Bear Bluff Retreat above Center Hill Lake features RV sites and glamping accommodations. The area generally supports a mix of established campgrounds rather than dispersed camping, with most sites providing at least basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings. Proximity to Center Hill Lake and the Caney Fork River creates opportunities for water-based recreation at many of these camping destinations.
Road conditions throughout the region are generally suitable for standard vehicles, though some campgrounds have sites that may present leveling challenges. "The only issue we had was leveling our camper, there was a 7in difference between the sides and being new to camping we weren't prepared to have to lift one side that much," noted one camper at Rock Island State Park. Most campgrounds in the area remain open year-round, though facilities like Ragland Bottom and Floating Mill operate seasonally from spring through fall. Reservations are recommended, particularly during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. Cell service varies throughout the area but is generally available at established campgrounds, with some like Rock Island even offering WiFi access at designated locations.
Several visitors highlight the waterfalls as standout features near camping areas in the region. Rock Island State Park receives consistently high ratings for its natural features, with multiple reviews mentioning the spectacular waterfalls and swimming opportunities. "This is a nice, less heard of state park that offers a lot of options for things to do," one camper noted, adding that "if you like hiking and waterfalls, there is a lot to experience." Many campgrounds in the area feature shaded sites that provide relief during hot summer months. The region's relative remoteness means campers should arrive prepared with supplies, as one review mentioned: "Make sure you have all your supplies before you get there, it is a remote area with no big cities within 50 miles."
"Fall creek falls is one of the best recreational areas in Tennessee. The park is very large and has so much to do. The falls are amazing, and it’s a moderate hike down to the base."
"Tons to do at one of Tennessee’s top state parks."
Available this weekend
"Rock Island State Park is situated in the middle of Tennessee. The park itself is surrounded by beautiful forest and some pretty great and easy hiking trails. The falls themselves are a sight to see."
"Off I24 near Murfreesboro, Tn and a leisurely drive through the Tennessee countryside. Small towns, pickups and cows. Watch for stop signs, I almost missed one while looking at the scenery."
Available this weekend
"I'm from New England and relocated to Tennessee in 2016. The first time I went camping at Edgar Evans, I had no idea what was going on!"
"The park is a gorgeous property with a lake and hiking trails. There are ADA sights. The hills are steep and some of the sights have angle ramps."
Available this weekend
"There were restrooms at the marina, which was close by. They have a game room tent with ping pong, cornhole, jenga, etc. and they host a movie night sometimes!"
"Located on the Caney Fork River."
Available this weekend
from $75 / night
"Snuggle deep in Ragland bottom Tennessee this nice Corps of Engineer campground is nestled. The campground is very well-kept. With plenty of room on the camping pads for all types and sizes of RVs."
"RV’s are at lake edge, there are several walk in tent sites near the lake too. If you have your watercraft along direct put in is possible but it’s rocky."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $50 / night
"2nd the layout is more tent friendly (to me) with walk in sites with some nice views."
"It was okay, but not good for anyone who cannot handle a lot of stairs. 2) There was a lot of boat traffic on the lake, even late into the night."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $50 / night
"Affordable, walking distance to town and yet the grounds make you feel like you’re in a park far away from everything. Beautiful pines on property and lots of local hiking nearby."
"The Barren Fork River runs right along the entire stretch of campground and behind the restaurant. We typically do the medium length run that takes 2.5-4 hours depending on how aggressively you row."
from $15 - $85 / night
"This is a primitive camping experience in the pristine woods of Van Buren County, TN about 20 miles(30 minutes) outside of McMinnville, Tennessee. The campground borders the beautiful Rocky River."
"Chris is very helpful, friendly and willing to show you around upon arriving. You will also be introduced to all his great dogs. After that you won’t be bothered unless you need help."
Available this weekend
from $25 - $89 / night
"We were there last weekend, lots to do around the area if you're into hiking kayaking walking, visiting old shops etc."
from $40 - $150 / night
"The trails were really clearly marked, so they were easy to follow despite all of the leaves on the ground, and there were plenty of signs indicating where to go."
"There are two ways to get to the Point: the main trail (white blaze) and the Upland Trail (blue blaze)."
from $10 - $35 / night
GuideIt's a beautiful place to take walks and look at all of God's beauty while doing it;) Then you have your beautiful water to enjoy while being under the moon… a wonderful place with the right person or even by yourself to get a sweet escape!
ScoutThe hosts were extremely helpful and accommodating. Very clean and well maintained, little campground. Would stay again on a heartbeat.
GuideSite 2 is the only cement pad, but the others look pretty level. While water is not available at individual sites, there is a spigot near the bath house. The bathrooms and showers were really clean.
GuideCampground people were very nice the sites are in the trees very very close . If you’re going to stay more than one night I would go somewhere else. You will trip over your neighbors sewer and bump into the slide out on your way out of your RV thats how close you are .they charge $55 a night for full hook up and it is not far from the HYW
ScoutSurprisingly busy, was almost full when I arrived at dusk on a weekday. Has a toilet, but it’s pretty rank.
LegendWe stayed here overnight on the way to Gatlinburg and three nights on the way back. GPS and signage was good as getting to this COE was easy. Often you don’t know what you’re going to get at a COE i.e. tight roads, low hanging branches etc. This was not the case as the campground (CG) is big rig friendly. For the overnighter, we checked in at the gate and proceeded to back in site 50 with water and electric (50/30/20 AMP). We had no problem backing into site 50 which sits above the creek that runs through the side of the CG. The gravel pad was fairly level(didn’t need any blocks under tires) with a picnic table, fish cleaning station, fire pit and stand up bbq. For the three nights we were in back in site 37, which was along the fence side of the CG. Site 37 had the same picnic table, cleaning table, stand up bbq and fire pit. This site’s pad was plenty long enough so we could put our toy hauler patio down. For both sites we got 1 bar on both Verizon and T-Mobile. As there is no Wifi in this CG, we used starlink. Since our starlink antenna is not hard mounted, we were able to move the antenna around to get a good signal through the trees. We were surprised this COE didn’t sell firewood nor ice. We enjoyed walking our dog around and even did some fly fishing in the adjacent river. We thoroughly enjoyed this COE.
LegendWe originally reserved three nights at Whispering Falls RV Park but changed our plans to an overnight stay with only 24 hours' notice. The staff was very accommodating and changed our reservation without any fees. On travel day, we called to see if we could arrive early since check-in wasn't until 3:00 PM. Again, no problem! Awesome customer service. We followed RV Life Trip Wizard GPS along with the directions in our confirmation email, which accounted for a detour due to construction of the new Burgess Falls State Park visitor center. The drive took us along country roads that we wouldn't want to navigate after dark. Check-in was simple, and we entered the gate code and proceeded to back-in site 7. We were impressed with the newer campsites featuring pavers and long pads. Utilities were conveniently placed, making hookups easy. Water pressure was decent at around 45 psi. Campground (CG) WiFi was pretty good at 20.5 Mbps download. We received one bar on both Verizon and T-Mobile, but our T-Mobile Home Internet was unusable, so we set up Starlink. Mature trees surrounded the CG perimeter but didn't cause us any satellite reception issues. Sites were decently spaced, with sites 9 and 10 looking like great choices for those traveling together. There were quite a few seasonal or permanent campers, but their sites were very well maintained. The CG also had a good-sized, unfenced dog area. One nice feature was being able to hear the falls from sites toward the back of the CG. We especially enjoyed being able to walk directly from our campsite into Burgess Falls State Park and access the trails leading to the falls to include bringing our dog on a leash. The store, which also serves as the check-in location, offered fast food, beer, and basic grocery items. Between the excellent customer service, well-maintained sites, and convenient access to the state park, we would definitely stay here again!
TravelerThe waterfalls are beautiful and relaxing. You can hike the high-easier trail (but tree roots are present) or the lower-harder trails and be a unprofessional rock climber right down to the falls. 2.5 mile hike if you go all the way around. We spent over 2.5 hours here. Bonus is that if you are not camping here... you can use the very very clean showers for $5!
TravelerEnjoyable place to stay, quiet nights. Very chill atmosphere. Would recommend.
Camping near Walling, Tennessee offers diverse terrain with elevations between 900-1,500 feet along the Cumberland Plateau's eastern edge. The area sits at the convergence of the Caney Fork River and Center Hill Lake, creating unique camping opportunities with abundant limestone formations. Water levels can fluctuate by 5-15 feet seasonally, affecting shoreline camping spots.
Kayaking the Caney Fork River: Multiple access points near Horseshoe Bend Marina provide easy river entry. "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 Lori H.
Hiking to waterfalls: The Virgin Falls trail system offers challenging but rewarding hikes. "There are several spots along the way to camp if you want including a creekside, bluff view, and directly next to the falls. Pack a water filter and pack in/out everything," advises Tyler J. about Virgin Falls State Natural Area.
Swimming holes: Numerous natural swimming spots dot the region's waterways. "Make sure you visit the ranger station for a map and safety rules during water releases," recommends Christy E., highlighting the importance of checking water conditions before swimming at Rock Island State Park.
Night sky viewing: The rural location offers excellent stargazing opportunities. "Very dark at night time, especially with little moon, the stars were jaw dropping," reports Joseph M. about his experience at Fall Creek Falls State Park.
Platform camping sites: Edgar Evins State Park offers unique elevated camping platforms. "We love the platform sites that are so spacious and private. Easy access to dump station and bath houses. Almost all sites have view of water," shares Betheny about Edgar Evins State Park Campground.
Waterfront access: Many campsites offer direct lake or river frontage. "The tent only sites are at the back of the campground and are along the water. You have to take steps down from the parking lot to get to your campsite," explains Clinton N. about Floating Mill Campground.
Diverse accommodation options: The region provides everything from primitive sites to glamping. "Horseshoe Bend Marina has both tent and RV sites available, plus several 'glamping' style tents. They sell wood at the campground, in addition to fishing bait and kayak rentals," notes Ryan F.
Wildlife viewing: Many campers report regular wildlife sightings. "Daily deer sightings, a lovely fishing lake and bike trails and you have a park that appeals to many!" explains Sandra V. describing her experience at Fall Creek Falls.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly between campgrounds. "No service for T-Mobile sprint. We are on site 9 and it's not the most leveled spot. Marina staff was super friendly," reports one reviewer about Horseshoe Bend.
Water release schedules: Dam operations affect water levels and safety. "Rock Island has some nice trails and wonderful falls in the area. The site was great with everything out back," notes Beth LeVar L. at Rock Island State Park Campground.
Campsite reservations: Book early for waterfront sites, especially during summer. "Ragland Bottoms is such a fun place to camp! I know that sites 1-15 are all lakefront sites with electricity and water, and they book up fast," explains Lori H.
Seasonal facilities: Many campgrounds operate limited schedules. "The only amenities we used were the dump station and restrooms. Restrooms were clean and heated," shares John B. about his November visit to Edgar Evins State Park.
Choose developed campgrounds for amenities: Some parks offer substantial facilities for children. "Modern bathhouses located in each camping area, swimming pool, golf course and restaurant make roughing it easier for those who need more comfort while camping," advises Sandra V. about Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground.
Plan for hiking difficulty: Trail ratings vary widely in the region. "One of the best hiking parks I've ever been to. Miles and miles of trails; short, long, loops, overnights. This place has it all," explains Myke C. about Fall Creek Falls State Park.
Pack for water activities: Most family-friendly sites center around water recreation. "The tent sites were really nice. I love how close you are to the water. It also includes two swim areas which is nice," notes Haley B. about Floating Mill Campground.
Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds are quieter than others. "We visited during the summer. I really enjoyed our stay. A couple of things caught a us by surprise... There was a lot of boat traffic on the lake, even late into the night," warns Shy-Anne W.
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites require leveling equipment. "The campsites are easily accessible and roomy. We were there only couple days but would love to go back," shares Betheny about Ragland Bottom.
Road conditions: Access roads can be challenging for larger rigs. "Be wary of the speed bumps throughout the campground, they are closely spaced and rather abrupt, take them very slowly," cautions Ray & Terri F. about Edgar Evins State Park.
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. "FYI there are some sites with sewer. I didn't realize this when I reserved. They have great dump station but prefer to have that taken care of before we pull out," advises Betheny about Rock Island State Park.
Campground layout considerations: Site configurations vary dramatically. "The sites are all paved but vary in length from 18 to 51 feet. The width of some can also accommodate two cars side by side. Not all are completely level," notes Lee D. about Rock Island State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Walling, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Walling, TN offers a wide range of camping options, with 169 campgrounds and RV parks near Walling, TN and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Walling, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Walling, TN is Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 146 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Walling, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Walling, TN.
What parks are near Walling, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 28 parks near Walling, TN that allow camping, notably Center Hill Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake.
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