It's almost summertime, and that means we're planning all of our camping trips for the coming warmer months. How many of you have the sweetest memories surrounding a campground? A campfire surrounded by ghost stories, a lake perfect for swimming, grilling out during the evenings. It's pure joy. And we have a perfect place right here in Tennessee - have you been?
Bledsoe Creek State Park is located about fifty minutes outside of Nashville, just past the town of Gallatin. It is deeply entrenched in Middle Tennessee history, having once been a hunting ground for multiple Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Shawnee, Creek and Chickamauga.
There are also more than six miles of trails primed and ready for hiking, trails the you can hike throughout the entire year. There is also a mile that is paved, making it wheelchair accessible.
Coming for the lake? There are two boat ramps available for use, one that is reserved for registered campers and another that is open to the general public. You can also go fishing, if you'd rather.
All 57 campsites have solid borders and fire rings, as well as picnic tables, grills and lantern holders. It's the easiest kind of place to stay, with everything you need.
Is Edgar Evins State Park the best campground near Nashville, TN? It is a pretty bold claim; I love our state parks and campgrounds in Tennessee so it is tough to decide. I wanted to shine the light on this gem of a state park because there is a lot of beauty to enjoy within its borders. There are plenty of features about this park that make it stand out from the others like the raised camping platforms that are located right on the water’s edge. So let's dive in for a closer look at Edgar Evins State Park.
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Edgar Evins State Park can be found in Silver Point, Tennessee, which is close to Cookeville and about an hour east of Nashville. The park’s focal point is Center Hill Lake.
All activities revolve around this natural beauty, including the camping sites. One of the highlights of the campground is the elevated platforms right on the water's edge where you can tent and RV. I like the unique way the sites were created to thoughtfully make good use of the views of the lake while still immersing guests in nature.
There are a variety of sites that accommodate smaller campers as well as bigger ones. Not every site is located right on the water, so make sure you reserve a spot early, though the sites found inland still have the same unique platform to camp on.
If you don’t have camping equipment, no problem -- this campground has cabins, too! The cabins are designed in a split-level style and offer all of the comforts of home while still providing great views of the lake.
Like every good state park, there are plenty of options when it comes to hiking. Most of the trails also make good use of the lake’s scenery by offering quiet places where you can soak in the view.
Of course, one of the best ways to enjoy this park is to get out on the water. There are three boat launches for you to bring your own vessel of choice and take to the water. There is something inherently peaceful about the stillness of the water as you glide through the mirror-like water.
So the question remains: is Edgar Evins the best Campground near Nashville, Tennessee? If you want an elevated camping experience with a peaceful lake, this is the campground for you. To book a site, please visit the Edgar Evins State Park website. If you need a camper then please visit our friends at RV Share and rent one for a weekend getaway.
While you are planning some camping trips feel free to browse through our top 20 campgrounds in Tennessee.
Pigeon Forge KOA will always hold a special place in my heart. This is the place where we stayed when we first visited the Great Smoky Mountains. We started to feel the pull towards the mountains and that eventually led us to move to Tennessee. It all started at this campground and every time I camp there it is like going back to revisit an old friend. It is both warm and inviting and to me will always be the best KOA in Tennessee.
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We decided to take a slow-paced trip back to the place that started it all and really embrace a weekend spent in the campground. Most of the time when we go we will also visit the national park, but this time we intentionally decided to relax and not go anywhere for the whole weekend.
I got up early and made my family breakfast. The sizzling sausage and our egg muffins popped on the stove as they warmed. My family lounged around the back deck of the cabin we were staying in and listened to the birds sing their morning song.
After breakfast, we walked down to the children's area so our two girls could go on the train ride. These brightly colored seats bounced around and weaved in a fast-paced tour of the campground. The worker was super fun and even made a tight circle in the parking lot as the kids laughed and squealed with delight.
When I came out of the camp store I was surprised to see my wife was also seated and had a smile from ear to ear. As her hair flicked in the breeze the train came to a stop where she informed me that it was as fun as it looked.
I took my puppy over to the dog area while my girls kept playing on the playground. This large area was free of any other dogs, but he ran wild and had the time of his life leaping through the tunnel and he had a plethora of new smells to enjoy.
The bounce pillow is a KOA staple and the pad at this campground allows kids to jump high in the air like you're soaring with the birds. The Smokies are visible from this spot in the campground so we sat and watched our girls jump with the best view in Tennessee in plain sight.
I am also a big kid at heart so I have spent a good amount of time on that jump pillow too.
As the day started to warm up, it was time to hit the pool, which is the best part of the Pigeon Forge KOA. The whole pool area is beautiful with a shallow kids' pool which leads into the lazy river.
We love swimming in the lazy river as the jets propel you forward and we get to race from one spot to the next, or simply lay on a raft and float. I can’t sit still for too long and eventually end up acting like a shark and chasing my children, which is just the best.
The pool area has a big fire if you don’t have your own firewood and this has become the hub of activities throughout the weekend. I have seen families gather around and trivia nights all happening around the flames. Whenever we camp we end every night with a campfire burning late into the night as we share s'mores.
Near the cabin we were staying in is "The Backyard." This is where all of the fun lawn games are located like bocce ball and corn hole. At night you can still play with string lights illuminating the area and creating an inviting atmosphere for families to play games even when the sun sets.
Out of all of the campgrounds in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, the Pigeon Forge KOA will always be our favorite. There are many other great places, but when you have nostalgic memories attached to a place nothing can beat it. If you want to book a night, make sure you head on over to the Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg KOA Holiday website.
I would always suggest taking part of your trip and spending it exploring the Smoky Mountains which are only minutes away from the campground. To make the best use of your time, make sure you have the AllTrails app so you can download all of the trails beforehand.
Pigeon Forge is also filled with all kinds of wild fun attractions so make sure you visit a few of those too. If you want to see some highlights of the campground feel free to watch this Adventuring in the Moment we made to showcase our favorite spot to camp.
