Camping in Tennessee and along the Natchez Trace Parkway

[Dunnfamily4]

We are planning a summer trip and will travel at some point into Tennessee/Cumberland Mountain area.  I am hoping some folks out there can suggest campgrounds and activities in this area between Chattanooga and Knoxville (preferably near Chattanooga).  Also, we are planning our return home trip by way of the Natchez Trace Parkway.  Can anyone suggest areas along the trace and in Tennessee?

We prefer an area near water (river, stream, or lake) and prefer campsites with water and electric hookups for our popup.  I love Cajuncamper's suggestion on checking out campsites and CG's through webshots.  Thanks, Dunn4.

[Old Goat]

We are planning a summer trip and will travel at some point into Tennessee/Cumberland Mountain area.  I am hoping some folks out there can suggest campgrounds and activities in this area between Chattanooga and Knoxville (preferably near Chattanooga).  Also, we are planning our return home trip by way of the Natchez Trace Parkway.  Can anyone suggest areas along the trace and in Tennessee?

We prefer an area near water (river, stream, or lake) and prefer campsites with water and electric hookups for our popup.  I love Cajuncamper's suggestion on checking out campsites and CG's through webshots.  Thanks, Dunn4.

We have camped all over Tennessee  in past years while on our way to and from Kentucky and points beyond. We have always found Tennessee's state parks to be clean and well maintained. With a little research you will find plenty to do and see where ever you go, whatever your likes.
Two years ago, we traveled down the entire 440 mile length of the Natchez Trace Parkway from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi and it was one of the most enjoyable trips we have ever taken. The trace is a federal park and is maintained by the National Park Service. It is a two lane road all the way and  commercial traffic of any kind is strictly prohibited. There are plenty of places of interest, overlooks, parks , picnic areas and rest rooms along the way which are all well marked. We camped for two days at the Corps of Engineers Park on Bay Springs Lake near Tupelo. It is not a fancy park but clean with water and electric hookups and a lot of water front sites. Also, Tishomingo State Park is near by and has plenty of water front sites. Of the two,I would recomend Tishomingo. There are several dry camping sites along the way which have restrooms and a fresh water outlet, but no hookups. We stayed at Roosevelt SP east of Jackson, Ms and found it to be pretty, quiet and well maintained. We camped at Natchez SP for two days while we explored Natchez and the surrounding areas. It is located just north of Natchez and near the south end of the Parkway. It also is clean, modern, with paved sites and well maintained. The NPS does an excellent job of maintaining the Parkway in every way. Road is well paved and it's shoulders and approaches are kept mowed and well landscaped. It is just beautiful. All restrooms and facilities are modern and clean. We highly reccomend this trip, especially if you are a history buff like we are. You will find plenty of history along the Trace and in the small towns it passes through and by.

A word of caution, If you are in a hurry, the Trace is not for you. The speed limit is 50 mph along it's entire  length and it is strictly radar enforced. We were on the Trace for four days and saw eight cars pulled over by park rangers. Every car that passed us for "poking along" at 45 or 50 mph was caught soon after....If you speed you will get caught and I have heard that the speeding fines are quite stiff...

We look forward to another trip on the Trace this summer. We will be down on the Gulf coast and will travel the Trace from Natchez to Nashville for a convention there. The trace is a great example of how a long trip could be so pleasant and restfull before the days of the interstates. Most people who travel at high speeds along the super highways of today have no idea of what they are missing....
 Good Luck on your trip.....

[jmaddox]

It's off the Trace, but JP Coleman State Park just north of Iuka, MS is one of our favorite places.  It's clean, with good space between the sites, and there are a lot of spots right on the water.

[cyclone]

Check out Fall Creek Falls State Park near Pikeville, TN.  Beautifual park, and an easy day trip to Chattanooga from there.  Closer to Chattanooga are Harrison Bay and Chester Frost state parks.  I've never been to Chester Frost, but was not impressed at all with the campground(s) at Harrison Bay.  We checked it out on a day trip, and I would never decide to camp there.  Another option for close to Chattanooga is Cloudland Canyon SP in Georgia.  

I have travelled a short distance on the Trace and have never camped there, either.  I know the cg's within the trace are without hook-ups.  One area to check out might be Pickwick near Savannah, TN.  There is a state park there, and I think a COE cg, as well.

[jmaddox]

Check out Fall Creek Falls State Park near Pikeville, TN.  Beautifual park, and an easy day trip to Chattanooga from there.  Closer to Chattanooga are Harrison Bay and Chester Frost state parks.  I've never been to Chester Frost, but was not impressed at all with the campground(s) at Harrison Bay.  We checked it out on a day trip, and I would never decide to camp there.  Another option for close to Chattanooga is Cloudland Canyon SP in Georgia.  

I have travelled a short distance on the Trace and have never camped there, either.  I know the cg's within the trace are without hook-ups.  One area to check out might be Pickwick near Savannah, TN.  There is a state park there, and I think a COE cg, as well.

The CG @ Pickwick that is good is the COE one.  The State Park is not as nice, and if you like being on the water...well, it isn't.  The COE CG is on the North Shore of the river (it's near the dam) and is about a 15-20 minute drive south of the town of Savannah, TN.

[Dunnfamily4]

I made several notes reading the responses to my posting and spent last night researching the info on the internet.  My gosh, what did we do before the internet.  Life is so much easier now.  Thanks for all the tips and comments on camping in this area and traveling the Natchez Trace.  This is going to be such a fun trip.  Thanks again.