Bumpus Mills, near Barkley Lake, Tennessee, is a cozy campground that offers a laid-back atmosphere perfect for those looking to unwind. With a handful of sites, many right on the water, it’s an ideal spot for fishing, kayaking, or simply soaking in the beautiful sunsets.

The campground provides essential amenities like electric and water hookups, making it convenient for both tent campers and RVers. Visitors have noted that the sites are spacious and shaded, with some reviewers highlighting the nice bathhouse facilities. As one camper put it, “This campground is a hidden gem!” 

If you’re up for some local fun, the nearby Bumpus Mills Marina features a pavilion and restaurant with live music on weekends. While the campground is small and quiet, it’s a great base for exploring the surrounding area, which is rich in history and outdoor activities. Just keep in mind that it can get busy on weekends, so plan accordingly if you want a peaceful retreat.

## Overview

 From fishing to boating and hiking, campers and day visitors at Bumpus Mills enjoy hours of fun on the upstream section of Lake Barkley. Many bird species reside here, including golden and bald eagles. Don't forget to pack binoculars and a camera to take advantage of the excellent opportunities for birding and wildlife photography. 
## Recreation

 The recreation area is ideal for hiking, fishing, swimming, picnicking and boating. Abundant wildlife includes wild turkey and deer.
## Natural Features

 Bumpus Mills is located on scenic Lake Barkley among wooded rolling hills. Lake Barkley is the westernmost lake on the Cumberland River, which flows westward to the Ohio River. Barkley lies parallel to Kentucky Lake, a reservoir that stems from the Tennessee River. Between both lakes is the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Due east is Fort Donelson National Battlefield, which marks the site of the first Union victory of the Civil War. The Bear Creek Waterfowl Management Unit is a short drive south of Bumpus Mills.

Bumpus Mills

Are you in need of a campground near Bumpus Mills, TN? Bumpus Mills is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Tennessee camping adventure.

The Best Camping Near Bumpus Mills, Tennessee

Kids were so excited about seeing a turkey by the camper in the morning. It was hard to choose a site just because they were all so nice on a small hill overlooking the water (though they do vary in shade). The sites themselves are very flat though with concrete platforms. Nice campground but plan to spend most of your time on the water or at another park or whatever nearby. 


Bumpus Mills 

Kids were so excited about seeing a turkey by the camper in the morning. It was hard to choose a site just because they were all so nice on a small hill overlooking the water (though they do vary in shade). The sites themselves are very flat though with concrete platforms. Nice campground but plan to spend most of your time on the water or at another park or whatever nearby. 



**Bumpus Mills Campground and Boatramp**

is pretty Awesome! Small campground with 5 sites right on the lake. The campground host said that the campground is busy on the weekends but slow during the week, SOUNDS PERFECT! Would be s good base camp for the area.

Water sports here and explore the rest of Land Between The Lakes. Short trail and beach on site , we will visit again!

Quaint....

**Bumpus Mills Campground** is my kinda place. Outside Bumpus Mill , Tn , back in the woods and small. The campground host was professional, informative and hospitable.

I drove through the campground and had a hard time picking a site. 5 are right on the lake shore. There were two in the treeline that had some privacy, the rest were shaded and open.

The showerhouse was wheelchair accessible and well maintained. Mostly water sports here, but it is located in a good area to explore with a lot of history.

Peace and quiet!!

Very small Corps of Engineer Park. Has a lot of potential but needs some work. Lots of gravel would be a good start. We could not maneuver our 36’ MH into our assigned spot because of the drop off on the side of the road. Also appears to have some spots that flood when raining. 
Bathrooms were clean when we arrived but by night four they were a mess.
Half of our concrete table benches were mIssIng.
Full sign out when a walk up spot was available next to us.
Hosts were very nice. 
only 15 spots or so, as half the campground was shut down at some point. would be nice to see it cleaned up and reopened. 


Ehh.

This campground is a hidden gem!  Stayed at Site 25 and had a great view all weekend.  

  

Pros:

  

There are only 15 sites so it's small but not crowded.

Several sites have 50A service, the rest have 30A and all have water.

Several sites are on the water and the rest are near it.  Great for boating or kayaking.

Nice bath/showerhouse if you need it.

Lots of shade!

  

Cons:

  

No sewer onsite but there is a dumpstation at the entrance/exit.

The roads are NARROW and tree-lined, so I don't recommend any rig over 30'.

There is little or NO cell service and no broadcast TV channels in range.  Bring DVD's in case it rains.

It's very affordable which means it books up fast even if people decide not to show up.  There were two Premium Waterfront Sites that didn't get used the weekend we were there despite being booked so people do just book the site even if they decide not to use it.  Boo...

  

This campground is very nice and quiet and we would come here again.  Probably a bit boring if you want the "big campground" experience, but this is great for kayakers, boaters or just couples looking to get away.

Hidden Gem

Great little campground close to the Bumpus Mills Marina. Electric and water hookups with dump site at the entry/exit. Lots of flying bugs in the restrooms (cleaning crew was there at least twice a week). 

The sites have plenty of room and the park is pretty quiet. Several sites are on the water.

The marina was a fun place with a pavilion/restaurant that has bands on the weekends.

This campground closes the first week of September.

Bumpus Mills Campground on Lake Barkley

If you want a small affordable campground this is your place. The shower house could use for some regular cleaning. I’m not sure it was cleaned at all the time we were there. Not much to do in the area but fish unless you really want to explore outside of the campground. 

I learned after our time there our site is the worst with bugs. I thought the bugs were just extra because it had rained a lot but a friend told me to never book that site bc the bugs are always backs there. Our site also gets all the rain drained from the upper site. When we checked in the host did prepare us our site would flood for a few areas since rain was expected. 

The sunsets were fabulous! 


Photos of Bumpus Mills

Real photos from real campers