July 8, 2022 | Permalink
From music to barbecue to views of the Mississippi River, there are many reasons to love Memphis. And if you’re looking to enjoy the outdoors nearby, you’re in luck because you can find several Tennessee state parks to pitch your tent or hook up your RV.
To help guide your travels, we’ve put together a list of four camping destinations that are all within driving distance of town.
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
Located along the Mississippi River and Highway 51, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park offers 20 miles of hiking trails, a boat ramp for river access, and a golf course for spending the day in the great outdoors. However, it is also a great place for overnight guests. It’s close enough to Memphis to enjoy a night on Beale Street, yet far enough to take advantage of the peace and beauty found in 12,000 acres of hard bottom.
The park has 49 campsites, each equipped with a table, grill, electrical and water hookups. A modern hot tub and dump station for standalone rigs make this a great stop for tent campers and RV’s.
Big Hill Pond State Park
Considering all it has to offer, Big Hill Pond is one of the least used parks in West Tennessee. Most people think of the area as flat, but Big Hill Pond and the other parks on this list defy that logic. The park has 30 miles of overnight and day use hiking trails with 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 fishing line and rent a canoe or kayak in the summer months.
In terms of camping, the park is ideal for tents. While there are no water or electric connections at the individual sites, there are tables and grills. There is also a modern bathroom with hot showers. The park even has rudimentary camping sites (lacking water or electrical hookups) that are perfect for larger groups, such as Boy Scouts.
Fort Pillow State Historic Park
This park is known as a Civil War Historic Site, with a reconstructed section of the inner fort perched on a cliff overlooking the Mississippi River. It is 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 carper 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 preparation as well as two full service handicap accessible bathrooms.
TO Fuller State Park
The last park on this list is actually the closest one of all to the Memphis area – only 10 miles south of downtown!
TO Fuller State Park boasts 45 RV-accessible campgrounds. Some sites can accommodate up to 85 feet of RV space. Tent campsites are also welcome. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, lantern hanger, fire ring, grill, and water and electrical hookups. The camp has a picnic shelter, playground, bathroom and laundry. The bathroom is centrally located and has restroom, coin laundry and shower facilities. There is also a central dumping station near the camp entrance.
