The best hot spring camping in Tennessee.

Campers scouting for gorgeous state parks, miles of trails and cascading waterfalls need to look no further than Tennessee. With 56 state parks to choose from, many a short drive from Nashville, an exceptional camping experience is guaranteed. The Volunteer State also boasts the most visited national park in the United States: Great Smoky Mountains.

Gatlinburg makes a great jumping-off point for exploring the 150 Smoky Mountain hiking trails. Adventurers find 800 miles of pristine backcountry brimming with wildlife, waterfalls, and wildflowers. Set out on a rustic backpacking trek along the 71-mile stretch of Appalachian Trail that passes through the Smokies. Savor the 100-mile views from the 6,643-foot Clingmans Dome — the highest point on the Trail and in Tennessee.

Year-round Cades Cove Campground is another hugely popular Great Smokies destination. The 160 sites offer the feel of primitive camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. The verdant valley surrounded by mountains is teeming with wildlife. A 5-mile round-trip hike to Abrams Falls reveals one of the most powerful waterfalls in the national park.

Tennessee’s largest and most visited state park is Fall Creek Falls. The 26,000+ acres sprawled across the Cumberland Plateau contain 35 miles of hiking trails and 24 miles of mountain biking trails. Did we mention an 18-hole golf course? The large campground is a short walk away from the 256-foot Fall Creek Falls.

Anglers who camp need to motor over to Paris Landing State Park on the western shore of Kentucky Lake. With 3 miles of water from shore to shore and more than 100 species of fish, supper’s a sure thing. The 841-acre park also offers a challenging par 72, 18-hole golf course. The year-round, by-reservation-only campground welcomes tents, RVs and primitive campers.