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Best Tent Camping in Tennessee

Tennessee features diverse tent camping opportunities across its varied landscapes, from the Great Smoky Mountains to riverside settings. Cosby Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers traditional tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings, while more secluded options can be found at places like Lost Creek in Cherokee National Forest, which provides primitive dispersed camping for tent campers. Mount LeConte Shelter represents backcountry camping options that require hiking permits to access.

Most tent camping areas in Tennessee provide basic amenities, though facilities vary significantly between established and dispersed sites. Established campgrounds typically offer fire rings, picnic tables, and access to vault toilets, while primitive areas like TVA Public Land-Fork Bend feature minimal services, requiring campers to pack in water and pack out trash. Sites are predominantly set on dirt or forest floor with minimal improvements. Many tent-specific areas enforce seasonal closures, with Cosby Campground operating mid-April through mid-October, while others remain open year-round with varying levels of accessibility depending on weather conditions.

Walk-in tent locations throughout Tennessee provide greater seclusion than drive-up sites, particularly in places like Savage Falls Campground at Savage Gulf State Park. These tent-only camping areas often require short hikes to reach, creating natural buffers from vehicle noise and other campers. Tent campers frequently use these zones as bases for day hiking or longer backcountry explorations. Areas with creek access, such as those in Cherokee National Forest, offer natural water features that enhance the camping experience. A recent review noted, "Clear, clean water abounds here. Leave your phone at home, you won't have a signal, broadcast radio barely makes it in." Campers should be prepared for wildlife encounters and practice proper food storage, especially in bear-active areas of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Best Tent Campgrounds in Tennessee (184)

    1. Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    71 Reviews
    Cosby, TN
    Website
    +1 (423) 487-2683

    $50 / night

    "Cosby is a small town about a 45 minute easy drive from Gatlinburg. Heavily wooded, lends itself nicely to hammock camping."

    "Most of the sites are better suited to tent campers, though a few of them are designated RV sites offering a back-in parking pad."

    2. Harrison Bay State Park Campground

    60 Reviews
    Harrison, TN
    Website
    +1 (888) 867-2757

    "We stayed in the Tent camping area recently."

    "Situated again the bay, the majority of the park is surrounded by water, and as such many campsites have views of the lake."

    3. Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park

    39 Reviews
    Manchester, TN
    Website
    +1 (888) 867-2757

    "It was awesome that they have the rocky pads because it rained our whole trip and we stayed dry. It was very quiet for us and our site faced the open woods behind us."

    "Each site had a water spigot, electrical hookups, an asphalt pad, a fire ring with grill, and a standalone grill."

    4. Bledsoe Creek State Park Campground

    35 Reviews
    Castalian Springs, TN
    Website
    +1 (888) 867-2757

    "There is a flat trail next to the lake that my two year old loves to run up and down, playgrounds, and a story trail."

    "We stayed right on the water & one of the trails, it was so beautiful."

    5. Frozen Head State Park Campground

    32 Reviews
    Petros, TN
    Website
    +1 (888) 867-2757

    "After checking it out and realizing we were unprepared to set up a tent in a gravel mud puddle we checked out frozen head's campground and it was so nice."

    "There is a primitive tent area along a creek branch and there are some primitive hike-in areas) Tennessee seems to have a thing for larger rock pieces in their gravel on tent platforms... otherwise no"

    6. Foster Falls Campground — South Cumberland State Park

    32 Reviews
    Tracy City, TN
    Website
    +1 (931) 924-2980

    $18 - $21 / night

    "Things to know: $5 reservation fee, $8-45 per site Amenities: picnic table, fire ring, restrooms, heated shower

    Drawbacks: no electric or water hook-ups. No gas generators allowed"

    "The campground is great for climbers looking to get an early start on all the routes nearby."

    7. T.O. Fuller State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    West Memphis, AR
    Website
    +1 (888) 867-2757

    "Fuller SP Is a decent campground situated 5 miles from Graceland and about 15 minutes (by car) from downtown Memphis."

    "Quiet campground within Memphis city limits, right off of the hwy 15 mins from downtown. Friendly knowledgeable staff, beautiful trails and nice full hookup campsites, clean modern bathrooms/showers."

    8. Gee Creek Campground — Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park

    30 Reviews
    Delano, TN
    Website
    +1 (888) 867-2757

    "The state park/campground adjoins the Cherokee National Forest and sits on the north bank of the Hiwassee River outside of Benton, TN."

    "Very nice campground with large tent sites with fairly level ground capable of sitting 2 or 3 tents. Most have mature trees to hang hammocks. Very quiet during weekdays."

    9. Cove Lake State Park Campground

    25 Reviews
    La Follette, TN
    Website
    +1 (888) 867-2757

    "Great campground with very friendly and helpful rangers. Was pretty empty the night we were there."

    "The ranger was very friendly when we checked in. The site was a great site for winter camping, since the loop beside it was closed for the season (so there was only one neighbor)."

    10. Panther Creek State Park Campground

    22 Reviews
    Talbott, TN
    Website
    +1 (888) 867-2757

    "Panther Creek SP Panther Creek State Park was an unexpected find outside of Knoxville, TN , in Morristown. I’ve driven by the sign but no need to camp so close to home."

    "The park is quiet and well patrolled by rangers and sheriff, so very safe. Store closest to campground is open 2-7:30 PM. Visitor Center at the entrance opens at 7 AM."

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Tent Camping Reviews in Tennessee

4333 Reviews of 184 Tennessee Campgrounds

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 31, 2026

    Nashville Shores

    Great Off Season Stay

    We followed RV Life Trip Wizard GPS and Waze off I-40 to Nashville Shores RV Resort without any issues. Check-in was quick, easy, and informative, and we headed to back-in site 7 with full hookups (FHUs). The concrete pad was level, with the water hookup located at the very back of the site. Water pressure was good at around 60 psi but dropped somewhat as the campground (CG) filled up over the weekend. We had 3 bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile, with T-Mobile providing a respectable 108 Mbps download. We used our T-Mobile Home Internet, which delivered 126 Mbps, rather than Starlink. Although there were trees along the CG's perimeter, most sites appeared to have a reasonably clear view of the sky for satellite internet. Site spacing was okay, although neighboring RVs were still fairly close. Several sites were located along the lake, with a few appearing long enough to accommodate larger rigs. We suggest calling the office for details on reserving one of those waterfront sites. One of our favorite amenities was the large fenced dog run, with plenty of room to throw a ball and let our pup burn off some energy. We also appreciated having two fire pits at our site. One was behind our rig, providing a nice spot away from the CG road, while the other was near the front, next to a small concrete patio with a picnic table. Although the CG filled up during our mid-October weekend stay, the adjacent water park had closed for the season on October 1. Without the water park crowds and activity, we found Nashville Shores to be a very enjoyable place to stay."

  • eThe Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 29, 2026

    Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park

    The 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!

  • BThe Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 29, 2026

    Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    Beautiful spot in the smoky mountains. State park style amenities, no showers. No hookups. Very busy very open campground. Nice that some trails are walking distance from campground. I would not camp here again as I prefer more separation and privacy. No cell service. STARLINK is usable but obstructed with tree canopy

  • MThe Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 28, 2026

    Kings Holly Haven RV Park

    Overland invasion

    Drove 5 hrs from our last campground to here for event Campground was very well maintained and liked the site. Wasn’t overly crazy about the event not a lot of vendors mainly jeeps went to a few local shops in town had a great lunch at the cookie dough monster.

  • Jeff C.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 28, 2026

    Parksville Lake RV Campground

    Great little campground

    Parksville Lake RV Campground is an absolute gem! I had a fantastic stay here. The campground is beautifully maintained, and the sites are nice, spacious, and wonderfully shaded by the trees. We loved the layout of the RV loop, especially the outer section where a peaceful creek flows right past the sites—the sound of the water at night was perfect. The restrooms and showers were exceptionally clean and well-kept.  I had Starlink connectivity at my site and my WeBoost cell signal booster gave me up to three bars on AT&T.  The campground host was incredibly nice, welcoming, and helpful. It's a wonderful, relaxing spot, and I will definitely be back!

  • Windy W.
    Oct. 23, 2026

    Doe River Landing

    Beautiful Place, Ugly host, Oct 2026

    Let me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time.   With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price

  • Robert R.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 23, 2026

    Tennessee Wall Camp

    I was worried that I would arrive and find all the campsites occupied. This was not the case. When I got there around 5:30 there was only one other site taken. I didn’t see them until the next morning. By morning, there were two other sites occupied.

Guide to Tennessee

Tennessee offers a diverse range of tent camping experiences, from serene forest settings to scenic riverside spots, perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.

Tips for tent camping near the Great Smoky Mountains

  • Cosby Campground provides a peaceful escape with well-maintained sites surrounded by lush forests, ideal for families and solo adventurers.
  • Big Creek Campground is a tent-only site that offers easy access to over 800 miles of hiking trails, including the scenic Big Creek Trail.
  • Alum Gap Campground is accessible via a short hike, making it a great choice for those new to backpacking while offering stunning views and a rustic experience.

Some prices for tent camping range from free to $11

  • Lilly Pad Campground charges $5 per person per night, making it an affordable option for those looking to enjoy a unique camping experience with a brewery on-site.
  • Bells Bend Park offers primitive camping at $10 per night for Davidson County residents, providing a budget-friendly way to enjoy nature close to the city.
  • Holleman's Bend Camping Area is free, allowing campers to enjoy a peaceful riverside experience without any cost.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Rock Creek Campground features picnic tables and fire rings, ensuring a comfortable camping experience right by the Obed River.
  • Lost Creek - Cherokee NF offers concrete tables and fire pits at each site, along with a drop toilet for basic sanitation needs.
  • USA Raft Adventure Resort provides a variety of unique accommodations, including tent sites with riverfront views, along with amenities like a bar and food truck on-site.