Tennessee, often known as the Volunteer State, options an abundance of pure magnificence simply ready for campers to discover. From mountaineering and biking the assorted trails throughout the state to exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains and having fun with water actions, you’re positive to have a good time.
With 56 state parks, 15 state forests, two nationwide forests, and the Nice Smoky Mountains, there’s something for each kind of camper to take pleasure in whereas free tenting in Tennessee. You may expertise tent tenting, RV tenting, or cabin leases all through the state.
Maintain studying for locations you possibly can go free tenting in Tennessee, along with enjoyable actions for you and your loved ones and buddies to take pleasure in in your journey.
Free Tenting in East Tennessee
1. Cherokee Nationwide Forest
Cherokee Nationwide Forest is an unlimited forest in Tennessee, divided into northern and southern sections by the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. This huge 650,000-acre forest is the most important tract of public land within the state and provides free tenting within the jap area of Tennessee.
You’ll discover 30 developed campgrounds and quite a few picnic areas unfold all through the forest, along with over 700 miles of trails and 7 whitewater rivers to take pleasure in whereas free tenting in Tennessee. Benefit from the sounds of wildlife in nature whereas exploring the backcountry trails within the park, or discover your thrills whereas whitewater rafting on one of many rivers.
Cherokee Nationwide Forest options two Forest Service scenic byways the place you possibly can take a scenic drive by means of the mountains, observing wildlife and having fun with the solitude of the forest.
2. Paint Creek Hall
Paint Creek Hall is situated in Greeneville, located inside Cherokee Nationwide Forest, and is open year-round for some high quality free tenting in Tennessee.
At this location, campers will discover a heat water fishing pond along with a number of trails for mountaineering and overlooks so that you can observe Dudley and Kelly Falls. Dispersed tenting is free at this campground, with loads of alternatives for leisure actions together with picnicking, mountaineering, fishing, and a lot extra.
The Paint Creek Hall campground is supplied with vaulted bathrooms to make sure the world is sanitary for company and native wildlife. Paint Creek can also be stocked with trout through the summer time months, making fly fishing a fan-favorite at this free campsite in Tennessee.
3. Citico Creek Space
Citico Creek Space is one other free campsite in Tennessee that’s located inside Cherokee Nationwide Forest. On this space, you’ll discover greater than 20,000 acres of backcountry, with loads of campsites for many who are on the lookout for a little bit of solitude.
There are a number of designated dispersed tenting websites close to this space, which is adjoining to Citico Creek. Campers have loads of alternatives to discover backcountry trails biking or mountaineering, take a scenic drive by means of the world, or catch your personal dinner within the creek!
Fishing lovers will rejoice within the trout, small-mouth bass, and catfish prepared for catching in Citico Creek. There aren’t any providers or services at this campground because it’s a free campsite in Tennessee.
4. Tellico River Space
The Tellico River Space can also be situated inside Cherokee Nationwide Forest and supplies free campsites in Tennessee. This space options over 30,000 acres of land with plentiful tenting alternatives.
This huge distant backcountry of land ensures privateness and solitude, with dispersed tenting allowed at a number of designated websites. You gained’t discover any services or providers at any of the dispersed campsites, so you possibly can sit up for a primitive tenting expertise.
Guests usually benefit from the standard Indian Boundary Recreation Space and the Cherohala Skyway whereas tenting within the Tellico River Space. There are numerous locations for picnicking right here as properly, together with the Dam Creek Campground and Picnic Space and Walnut Grove Picnic Space.
Campers on the lookout for a free campsite in Tennessee can arrange camp typically anyplace, so long as you’re not organising inside 100 toes of water, trails, parking tons, roads, or any developed recreation areas.
Actions to partake in throughout your tenting journey embrace fishing for brook, brown, and rainbow trout, mountaineering on the numerous trails out there, and scenic driving.
5. Huge Creek Primitive Campground
Take pleasure in free tenting in Tennessee at Huge Creek Primitive Campground, with six primitive campsites scattered alongside the creek for loads of privateness. That includes a big piece of land with small campsites alongside Huge Creek, this website is for tent tenting solely.
Campers can have entry to flush bathrooms and clear consuming water whereas free tenting right here, though you gained’t discover any hookups or showers, for an authentically primitive expertise. Guests will benefit from the surroundings of the campground, surrounded by nature.
This website is just not fully free, with a price of $30 per evening, but it surely’s moderately priced for campers on a finances! This campground has a six-person-per-site restrict, with a restrict of 14 consecutive days.
Free Tenting in Central Tennessee
6. Meriwether Lewis Campground
Meriwether Lewis Campground is situated alongside the Natchez Hint Parkway, which winds by means of elements of Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, and provides free tenting in Tennessee.
This campground is standard amongst historical past and nature lovers particularly, contemplating the chance to study concerning the historical past of the Natchez Hint Parkway. This campground is one among three campgrounds discovered inside the boundaries of the Natchez Hint Parkway, however the one one situated inside the state of Tennessee.
You’ll discover 32 secluded free campsites in Tennessee at this campground inside a forested setting. Every campsite has a picnic desk and hearth ring onsite. There are flush bathrooms with operating water out there right here, however no showers.
Hikers can discover a number of trails across the space for a brief day hike sightseeing. This free campsite in Tennessee has websites out there on a first-come, first-served foundation, with the busiest instances through the spring and fall.
7. Holleman’s Bend Tenting Space
Holleman’s Bend Tenting Space is a multi-use primitive tenting space that provides guests the chance to expertise the wilds of Higher Cumberland. Guests can discover leisure alternatives on Cordell Hull Lake whereas free tenting in Tennessee at this campground space.
The primitive campsites on this space have been designed with horse riders in thoughts, good for you you probably have horses! The campsites are close to the lake shore and also you’ll have entry to a paved boat ramp, which is great for all kinds of water actions and sports activities.
This space is a bit small, so it’s greatest suited to tent campers or these with a compact journey trailer who’re on the lookout for the proper quiet escape alongside the lakeshore.
Free Tenting in Southeast Tennessee
8. Jackson Island Campground
Jackson Island Campground is situated throughout the Watts Bar Reservoir from Rhea Springs Recreation Space. Providing free tenting in Tennessee, this space is extra rustic and primitive than a number of the different choices we’ve talked about, making it good for many who want roughing it.
The campsites listed here are all shaded by the encircling bushes, which offer loads of privateness and safety from the solar. When you’re on the lookout for the proper campsite off the overwhelmed path, Jackson Island Campground is the one for you!
You’ll find vaulted bathrooms right here, together with a swimming seaside and fishing space. Different actions you will discover right here embrace water sports activities and wildlife viewing. With 30 or extra campsites, this space supplies glorious free tenting in Tennessee.
9. Rhea Springs Recreation Space
The Rhea Springs Recreation Space is situated throughout the Watts Bar Reservoir from Jackson Island Campground and supplies loads of alternatives without cost tenting in Tennessee. This space was constructed by the Tennessee Valley Authority and is a part of a hydroelectric energy station on the Piney River.
Campers can fish from the reservoir or go boating and swimming to benefit from their time right here. Guests will discover hearth rings and picnic tables at every campsite, in addition to a shower home for showering, which many of the different locations we’ve mentioned didn’t provide.
You’ll have loads of privateness when tenting right here, contemplating every campsite is spaced far sufficient aside to be thought of dispersed tenting. You may go to this space any time of 12 months on a first-come, first-served foundation.
Actions to Take pleasure in Whereas Free Tenting in Tennessee
Tennessee has a big number of actions to take pleasure in in your tenting journey. There may be an abundance of alternatives for mountaineering, biking, sightseeing, swimming, and a lot extra within the Volunteer State.
There are various out there actions so that you gained’t have to fret about becoming bored whereas in your journey! Outside actions embrace mountaineering, caving, mountaineering, biking, off-roading, and ziplining, along with watersports like boating, waterskiing, rafting, wakeboarding, and parasailing.
Campers may also go to waterfalls, take part in geocaching and firefly looking, discover a whole lot of miles of trails, and study concerning the native wildlife whereas free tenting in Tennessee. There are limitless alternatives for leisure actions within the state, with one thing for everybody to take pleasure in.
The Appalachian Path traverses by means of the state with its highest level for glorious mountaineering and biking alternatives when you’re in your tenting journey. The rugged terrain is well-suited for lively and skilled campers.
Tennessee options dramatic geology, with hovering landscapes from the delta lowlands of the Mississippi River east to the rugged heights of the Cumberland Plateau. Then, the panorama climbs the forested slopes of the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park.
Verify Out These Locations to Go Free Tenting in Tennessee
From the Nice Smoky Mountains to the Appalachian Path, in addition to varied state parks and state forests, Tennessee provides limitless alternatives for campers to take pleasure in. Whether or not you’re solo tenting or headed out for some high quality time with your loved ones, these free campsites in Tennessee have all of it.
Are you on the lookout for extra details about tenting in Tennessee? Take a look at 30 of one of the best locations to go tenting in Tennessee in case you don’t thoughts paying a park price.
