Free Camping in Tennessee

200 sites across 5 federal and state land agencies. 0 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

National Park Service sites

32 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Alum Ford Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • APPALACHIAN CLUBHOUSE
    Developed· Indexing
  • Appalachian Trail Thru Hiker Permit
    Developed· Indexing
  • BANDY CREEK
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bear Creek Campground - KY
    Developed· Indexing
  • BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • BLUE HERON CAMPGROUND
    Developed· Indexing
  • CADES COVE GROUP
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cades Cove Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Clingmans Dome Solar Eclipse Event August 21 2017
    Developed· Indexing
  • Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • COSBY CAMPGROUND
    Developed· Indexing
  • ELKMONT CAMPGROUND
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort Donelson National Battlefield
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort Donelson Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Great Smoky Mountains Backcountry Permits
    Developed· Indexing
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parking Tag
    Developed· Indexing
  • GREENBRIER PICNIC PAVILION
    Developed· Indexing
  • Look Rock Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Oak Ridge Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Obed Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
8 more National Park Service sites in Tennessee.

PRIVATE sites

120 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • Adventure Bound Camping Resorts
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ambrams Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Anderson Road Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Anthony Creek #9
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Anthony Creek Horse Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arrow Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Backbone Rock Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Backcountry Site 1
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Backcountry Site 2
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Backcountry Site 3
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Beard Cane #11
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Bi-Color Campground
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Big Fork Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Hill Pond SP - Grassy Point Shelter
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Big Hill Pond State Park Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Birch Branch Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Mountain Campsite
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Board Camp Creek Campsite
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Bristol Campground & Event Parking
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cable Crossing Campsite
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Camp Buck Toms
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Craig Staff Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Creek #23
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Camp Joy, Inc.
    Developed· Indexing
96 more PRIVATE sites in Tennessee.

US Army Corps of Engineers sites

24 sites. US Army Corps of Engineers camping rules →

  • ANDERSON ROAD CAMPGROUND
    Developed· Indexing
  • Center Hill Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cheatham Lock and Dam
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cordell Hull Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • DALE HOLLOW DAMSITE
    Developed· Indexing
  • Dale Hollow Damsite Corps Pass
    Developed· Indexing
  • Dale Hollow Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • DALE HOLLOW LAKE - PRIMITIVE CAMPING
    Developed· Indexing
  • Dale Hollow Lake Eagle Watch
    Developed· Indexing
  • DEFEATED CREEK PARK
    Developed· Indexing
  • DOVER
    Developed· Indexing
  • DYERS CREEK
    Developed· Indexing
  • HARPETH RIVER BRIDGE CAMPGROUND (TN)
    Developed· Indexing
  • J Percy Priest Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • JEFFERSON SPRINGS
    Developed· Indexing
  • LAGUARDO
    Developed· Indexing
  • LILLYDALE CAMPGROUND AND DAY USE
    Developed· Indexing
  • LONG BRANCH
    Developed· Indexing
  • OBEY RIVER PARK
    Developed· Indexing
  • Obey River Park Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • Old Hickory Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • PLEASANT GROVE RECREATION AREA
    Developed· Indexing
  • POOLE KNOBS
    Developed· Indexing
  • TAILWATER REC AREA
    Developed· Indexing

US Forest Service sites

17 sites. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Oak Cove Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cherokee National Forest
    Developed· Indexing
  • CHILHOWEE GROUP CAMP
    Developed· Indexing
  • Davis Branch Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • DENNIS COVE CAMPGROUND
    Developed· Indexing
  • Horse Creek Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Jacobs Creek Campground (TN)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Jake Best Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lost Corral Horse Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • MCNABB CREEK GROUP
    Developed· Indexing
  • North River Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Old Forge Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • PARKSVILLE LAKE RV CAMPGROUND
    Developed· Indexing
  • Rough Ridge Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Round Mountain Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Tellico Ranger Station
    Developed· Indexing

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

7 sites. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Erwin National Fish Hatchery
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in Tennessee

How long can you camp on public land in Tennessee?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Tennessee is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Tennessee have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Tennessee right now?
Fire restrictions in Tennessee change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Tennessee state office page and the USFS Tennessee forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Tennessee?
Dispersed camping in Tennessee means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. USFS national forests in Tennessee allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Tennessee?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Tennessee with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Tennessee prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Tennessee?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Tennessee when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Tennessee are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Tennessee in winter?
Winter access in Tennessee depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Tennessee often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Tennessee?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Tennessee do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Tennessee?
Coverage in Tennessee varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Tennessee sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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