Best Dispersed Camping near Westmoreland, TN
Dispersed camping near Westmoreland, Tennessee includes several primitive sites within driving distance, though options directly adjacent to the town are limited. Campers can access free backcountry sites at locations like Goose Island on J. Percy Priest Lake, accessible only by boat, and Cordell Hull Horseback Trails area, which permits drive-in access. More established dispersed camping can be found at First Creek in Mammoth Cave National Park in neighboring Kentucky, approximately 65 miles northwest of Westmoreland. These areas provide opportunities for primitive camping with minimal facilities and no designated campgrounds.
Access requirements vary significantly between these dispersed camping locations. Goose Island requires watercraft, with most campers using canoes or small boats to reach the quarter-mile offshore camping area. The Cordell Hull area features drive-in access, though specific road conditions are not well documented. First Creek Dispersed Camping in Mammoth Cave National Park requires a hiking approach, with campers noting it's "all downhill" to reach the sites, making the return trek challenging. Most dispersed areas prohibit or restrict generators, have no drinking water, and lack toilet facilities. First Creek specifically requires camping permits and allows fires with firewood available on site.
These dispersed camping areas offer distinctly different experiences based on their terrain and access types. The boat-in requirement for Goose Island creates a more secluded setting, though wildlife encounters are common. One camper noted, "The only downside is the raccoons. They will come up really close at night begging for food. They're harmless though." First Creek in Mammoth Cave provides a more immersive forest experience with established primitive sites. A review described it as having "a fire ring, lantern hook and tent pad" with opportunities for stargazing, explaining that "it gets DARK here! You should have some beautiful star gazing opportunities and some wildlife interactions."
