Best Tent Camping near White Bluff, TN

Tent campsites near White Bluff, Tennessee include several established options within a 30-mile radius. Bells Bend Park offers primitive tent camping with 10 sites requiring campers to pack in their gear, while Long Hunter State Park Campground provides tent-specific sites along the shoreline of J. Percy Priest Lake. Stewart State Forest, located northwest of White Bluff, offers more remote backcountry tent camping opportunities with minimal development.

Most tent campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities with varying levels of development. Bells Bend Park includes fire rings with provided firewood, but lacks running water at the campsites themselves. Campers must use portable toilets in the parking area or hike to the outdoor center for flush toilets. Long Hunter State Park features primitive tent sites directly adjacent to the water, with some sites offering picnic tables and established fire rings. A camper noted that "it was the most ticks any of us had seen, including tiny seed ticks," suggesting insect protection is essential during warmer months. Stewart State Forest provides the most primitive experience with no water sources or facilities, requiring complete self-sufficiency.

The tent camping experience in this region offers a mix of accessibility and seclusion. Areas closer to Nashville like Bells Bend provide easier access while maintaining a natural setting. One camper described the primitive sites at Bells Bend as having "the sky is immense" with camping "in the trees on a hill." Walk-in tent sites typically offer more privacy than drive-up locations, with several campgrounds featuring waterfront locations ideal for swimming and fishing. Stewart State Forest provides extensive hiking opportunities with marked trails throughout the area, though campers should be aware that hunting is permitted in season. Most backcountry tent camping areas remain relatively uncrowded except during peak summer weekends, offering genuine wilderness experiences within reasonable driving distance of Nashville.

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Best Tent Sites Near White Bluff, Tennessee (22)

    1. Bells Bend Park

    3 Reviews
    Pegram, TN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 862-4187

    $10 - $11 / night

    "No drive up. Pack it in, pack it out. Firewood provided. Call the outdoor center for availability. Campground is open year round."

    "Bells Bend Park is close to the city but nature all around. Farmland with spots of woodland. 

    Primitive camping , in the trees on a hill. Group only. There are some tables and some fire rings."

    2. Whooping Crane Farm

    2 Reviews
    Ashland City, TN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 798-9093

    $100 / night

    "Whooping Crane Farm is located In such a great spot, just outside Nashville, it is easy to get to, but convenient to everything. The camp spot is fantastic!"

    "The property is 12 minutes from downtown Nashville, making it a perfect Glamping location. Being close to great restaurants is definitely a plus."

    3. Resurrection Ridge Retreat

    Be the first to review!
    Dickson, TN
    11 miles
    +1 (615) 479-4091

    $60 - $75 / night

    4. Long Hunter State Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    J Percy Priest Lake, TN
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 885-2422

    "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."

    "Long Hunter State Park Primitive Campsites are my kinda camping."

    5. Cook - J. Percy Priest Reservoir

    3 Reviews
    J Percy Priest Lake, TN
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 889-1975

    "Easy to get to, ample room between campers, close to local shopping."

    6. Smith Springs

    2 Reviews
    La Vergne, TN
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 889-1975

    $45 / night

    7. Old Hickory Beach

    1 Review
    Hendersonville, TN
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (615) 847-8091

    $75 / night

    "Old Hickory Beach Day Use Area is not what I would consider a hidden gem..that being said if you like swimming in lake water this is a nice enough area."

    8. Stewart State Forest

    2 Reviews
    Tennessee Ridge, TN
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (931) 552-3909

    "There is no water, so bring plenty. There is a spring, however you have to know where it is.  Plenty of firewood available.

    The closest store is about 5 miles away near Tennessee Ridge."

    9. Camp Nashville Highland Rim

    1 Review
    Goodlettsville, TN
    36 miles
    Website

    $32 - $45 / night

    "I had a chance to talk with the owner at Camp Nashville and learned that due to city regulations, it can be difficult to find camping this close to the city. "

    10. Southport Saltpeter Cave

    2 Reviews
    Mount Pleasant, TN
    44 miles
    +1 (931) 215-8445

    $10 / night

    "Southport Saltpeter Cave is a historic cave located 12 miles south of Columbia TN. We offer cave tours, primitive camping, hiking, and exploring."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near White Bluff, TN

18 Photos of 22 White Bluff Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near White Bluff, TN

493 Reviews of 22 White Bluff Campgrounds


  • Vince B.
    Mar. 31, 2021

    Gatlin Point

    A Good Boondocking Spot!

    About four miles of winding hills off the paved road. Cleared and not too rough. The site has 18 designed spots, all tiered into the wooded hillside. There is a natural boat launch into Bards Lake. A single Vault toilet and Dumpster as well. The gravel camping pads are reasonably level, each with a concrete picnic table and large fire ring with grate.The hillside spots were designed for tent camping and are tight. No campers larger than 20' will fit on the hillside, however the bottom four spaces will accommodate a class A rig. A fork at the top of the hill provides a space for small campers to turn around if needed. Space number 16 has poor drainage. The area is very shady, a nice deep woods feeling. Firewood must be deadfall or bring your own "bug free" wood. The welcome center at the entrance has fresh and "potable" water, and a blackwater dump. The center also has maps, sodas, candy, etc. Great area to hike, the weird history of the area can be seen everywhere. Hundreds of very old cemeteries and homestead ruins... Att signal was two bars at all times. Overall, a big thumbs up!!!

  • David B.
    Oct. 8, 2018

    Gatlin Point

    Five miles off paved roads and no electricity or running water.

    Located at Land Between the Lakes at the south end. This campground has about 18 sites. You can can camp near the water or back in the woods. The sites have concrete picnic tables, fire rings and gravel for parking and to set up your site. As m motioned, no electricity or running water. Nearest water point is about five miles away at the South welcome center. Vault toilet (one seat). Sites are close but not crowded. There is a small no wake lake next to the site and lake Barkley is 50 yards away. There is also a boat ramp into Lake Barkley a quarter mile away. This is a great site for relaxing and fishing.

  • B
    Jun. 8, 2020

    Lakefront Campground — Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park

    Well kept

    The tent sites were well kept. They are gravel pads with a grill and fire ring. They are right on the water with easy access to put in a kayak. And close to a boat ramp if bringing a boat. It’s shaded. The bath house is a bit of a walk and they have restrooms only, no showers.

  • Greg S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2025

    Anderson Road Campground

    4.5 stars

    Stopped for one afternoon and night on our way through. Driving in through da hood you get a questionable feeling but, once through the gate and checked in this is a fantastic little campground! We picked an awesome site- number 8 is a huge pull through with water and electric, a grill, prep table, picnic table, and fire ring with grill. The site has its own path and private lake access. The lake is rocky here but we had no trouble walking in and swimming with our Crocs on. All sites in this small loop campground are great and very large. There is some erosion and there was some trash near the lake that we gladly cleaned up. Overall a fantastic place to camp.

  • D
    Oct. 18, 2022

    Lock A

    Great place to camp for $

    While the facilities are limited, we enjoyed being here. We were in site 25 with the river right behind us. 50A power and water, dump on the way out. Concrete pad, level, picnic table, fire ring and a trash can at every site. The road in is small and winding, nighttime driving is difficult. Senior pass got us in for just $12 a night. Boat ramp close by. Would certainly stay here again.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    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)
  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 10, 2025

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    The best in free camping!

    This place is a gem! You can stay for 14 days each year because, let's face it, it's too nice for them to let people hog it. Free water in various places, garbage cans by your site, numbered sites, paved driveways and parking spaces, manicured and litter-controlled park, and a bathroom building with multiple flush toilets for each sex and sinks with running water! These are in at least two places. Picnic tables and fire rings with lift-off on a hinge grates.

  • Devin R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2024

    Meriwether Lewis Campground

    Hey, It’s Free

    I was really looking forward to this place on my way to Arkansas. However, as soon as I turned into the camping area I was “greeted” by not one but TWO off leash dogs barking and running toward my van (they were not together). Fortunately, I took vinegar spray with me when I took my dog for a walk. It was a useful deterrent when one of the loose dogs ran at us. I yelled to put the dog on leash but of course nobody emerged from the van. On the return trip I made sure to have my spray and body pointed straight toward the dog who was just waiting for me to turn around so he could attack again. If you want a flat spot, a pull through spot, or one that you can’t smell the toilets, get there early! I got there around noon and maybe 15 people were there. By sundown most spots were taken…on a Tuesday. Restrooms toward the entrance were nice with running water and flush toilets.

  • CC C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2021

    Nashville I-24 Campground

    Lovely stay

    We are RTT campers and chose this place on a whim as the rest of the local tent camping spots closed on October 1st. We were lucky to find they had space available. However, it should be noted that this is more of an RV campground, the traditional tent sites are right by the gate and not very private. The RV slot we were given backed up to a green space that has grazing deer from time to time. The site did not have a fire ring or a picnic table and was a little far from the bathrooms, but it did have power and water available. That being said the bathrooms were extremely tidy, well heated, and the water pressure in the showers was amazing! The other RV’ers were super friendly and the staff was very helpful in our stay and responsive to our request for availability.


Guide to White Bluff

Tent camping near White Bluff, Tennessee offers a blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Some prices for tent camping range from $10 to $50

  • At Bells Bend Park, tent camping costs $10 per night for Davidson County residents and $11 for those from out of county, with the option to reserve all sites for $50.
  • Whooping Crane Farm provides a unique glamping experience, making it a great choice for those willing to spend a bit more for added comfort.
  • Camping at Long Hunter State Park Campground is affordable and offers a beautiful setting right by the water.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy hiking and exploring the scenic trails at Long Hunter State Park Campground, where you can also swim in the lake.
  • Experience the tranquility of nature while fishing or kayaking at Whooping Crane Farm, located right on the river.
  • Take advantage of the beautiful views and wildlife watching opportunities at Bells Bend Park, ideal for tent or hammock camping.

Tent campers should check out the amenities

  • Bells Bend Park offers primitive camping with firewood provided and a portapotty available in the parking lot.
  • At Whooping Crane Farm, campers can enjoy amenities like showers, toilets, and a picnic area, making it a comfortable choice for families.
  • Long Hunter State Park Campground features reservable sites and allows campfires, perfect for a cozy evening under the stars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near White Bluff, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near White Bluff, TN is Bells Bend Park with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near White Bluff, TN?

TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near White Bluff, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.