From music to barbeque to the views of the Mississippi River, there are many reasons to love Memphis. And, if you're looking to enjoy the outdoors nearby, then you are in luck since you can find several Tennessee State Parks to pitch your tent or hook up your RV.
To help guide your travels, we’ve compiled a list of four camping destinations all within a short drive of the city.
Located along the Mississippi River and Highway 51, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park offers 20 miles of hiking trails, a river access boat ramp, and a disc golf course to spend the day in the great outdoors. Yet, it’s also a great place for overnight guests. It’s close enough to Memphis to enjoy a night on Beale Street, yet far enough away to take advantage of the peace and beauty found in 12,000-acres of hardwood bottomland.
The park boasts 49 campsites, each equipped with a table, grill, electrical and water hookups. A modern bathhouse for hot showers and a dump station for self-contained rigs make this a great stop for tent and RV campers.
Considering all that it has to offer, Big Hill Pond is one of the least utilized parks in West Tennessee. Most people think of the region as flat, but Big Hill Pond and other parks on this list defy that logic. The park has 30-miles of overnight and day use hiking trails with fairly significant elevation changes. In addition to hiking, there are 14-miles of horseback riding and mountain biking trails. Big Hill Pond is also a great place to cast a fishing line and rent a canoe or kayak in the summer months.
In terms of camping, the park is perfect for tents. While there are no water or electric hookups at individual sites, there are tables and grills. There is also a modern bathhouse with hot showers. The park even has primitive campsites (lacking water or electric hookups) that are perfect for larger groups, like scout troops.
This park is known as a Civil War historic site, with a reconstructed section of the inner fort situated on top of a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. It’s also home to 20 miles of hiking trails and is a great place to camp along Highway 51.
The campground has six sites that can accommodate RV and camper trailers, along with 15 sites that have 20-amp power outlets. These sites are ideal for tent campers who want to charge phones or have other power needs (lights, appliances, etc.). Water is available nearby for meal prep along with two full-service bathhouses that are handicap accessible.
The last park on this list is actually located within Memphis city limits!
T.O. Fuller State Park boasts 45 campsites that are RV accessible. Some of the sites can accommodate up to 85 feet of RV space. Tent campers are also welcome. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, lantern hanger, fire ring, grill, electrical and water hook-ups. The campground has a picnic shelter, playground, bathhouse, and laundry. The bathhouse is centrally located and contains restroom facilities, coin laundry, and showers. There is also a centralized dumping station near the entrance of the campground.
