The best forest camping near Scottsville

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Scottsville draws forest campers with over 1,150 options tucked among dense woods and shady hollows. You’ll find sites where deer pick their way through the undergrowth and birds call at dawn. Expect a range of prices—some forest spots start at just $10 a night, with an average around $30. Top picks like The Slab (by the Barren) (417 reviews), Camp Nashville Highland Rim (254 reviews), and Barren River Magic (143 reviews) make the most of the area’s thick canopy and river access. Most sites let you bring your pup, and you’ll find showers and toilets at many. Early risers often spot wildlife, while those looking to cool off can swim or cast a line in clear streams. If you want forests thick enough to muffle the world, Scottsville’s campsites deliver.

98% (784)

Top-rated campgrounds

Beardsnest

2. Beardsnest

100%
(152)
28mi from Scottsville · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · Cave City, KY
This ecological art project is currently recruiting visitors to camp in beautiful fields, on woodland rim sites, or at delicate campsites located along a system of woodland trails. As of 2025, camping here provides a glimpse into the fourth year of succession. This current phase is characterized by spacious views of a gently rolling young prairie contrasted with the rocky and steep slopes of the mature forest. Most likely a good fit for self-sufficient types that like campsites with generous spacing, but still want to get out to the park quickly (~7 miles to the Visitors Center) or travel into Cave City (3 mi) for coffee/ice-cream/pizza/barbecue/bar/food/etc. Expand from the campsite into a sketch-work of trails, as if camping near the headquarters of a satellite nature reserve. All sites except Spicebush have a filtered water output. Spicebush campers will have water access next to parking. Camping funds allow us to plant trees (~525 seedlings as of March 2025), establish prairie grasses and flowers, restore wetlands, create trails, and remove invasive species. If you have only 2 days, a nice way to experience Mammoth Cave NP is to break the trip into 3 layers, covering the underworld (cave tours), upper world (hiking), and the water that connects the two (Green River kayaking). Mammoth Cave is unique in the way that a study of the underworld will repeatedly draw the mind into a creative space of imagining what is beneath the surface, how these worlds are connected, while navigating park land and water. Note that we offer kayak trips that can be tailored to your schedule and travel constraints. Thanks to our visitors for supporting this type of project! Bundles of dried and split firewood are available onsite, usually a mix of oak with a suggested donation of $6/bundle, delivered to the campsite. Kayaks are hosted on a suggested donation basis ($45) providing a flexible option for visitors to float the Green River through the national park. Pending availability, we offer tent setups as well to folks who want to camp but aren't traveling with gear (REI 4 person Half Dome). Tent setup comes with two sleeping pads (you will need pillows, blankets, etc.).
Pets
Electrical Hookup
Campfires
from 
$25
 / night
Camp Nashville Highland Rim

3. Camp Nashville Highland Rim

95%
(349)
36mi from Scottsville · 9 sites · Tents, RVs · Goodlettsville, TN
Primitive camping near Nashville on a secluded hilltop nestled in a hardwood forest. Flat areas for tents, car / van camping, and trees for hammocks. Plan to carry your trash out with you. Do not leave trash on property. Please read all details / rules, and share with family or group. Drive to camping location. First arrive / first choice of favorite of available spaces upon arrival. Spaces are not numbered or pre-assigned. Camping guests supply camping gear. No gear rental available. Amenities: 2 community water hydrants, community vault toilet, fire pit at each site. Outdoor hot water heater for shower Apr-Oct, after forecasted freezing temperatures. Kid friendly. No extra charge for children. (verify not charged for children if selected.) Camping location north of downtown Nashville on a ridge at a higher elevation overlooking Nashville. Camp away from noisy highways, convenient to I65 near multiple amenities, grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops . 5 miles from three I65 exits. 14 miles from I24. 18 miles from I40. 18 miles from Nashville downtown riverfront. Uber or Lyft to Nashville available. Check in & out times are flexible. Quiet hours after 10PM. If you're hanging out or arriving after 10PM.... keep it quiet for other guests. Pets permitted under owner supervision. Clean up after pets, and do not allow pets to interfere with other guests. Please be sure all guests know camping rules! Do Not Leave Trash!! Trash policy is carry in / carry out with you for disposal somewhere else. Trash service is not provided as part of camping fees. $50 trash disposal will be requested if trash left on property. Vault toilet works on a septic system and is not pumped. Only place toilet paper in toilet. Wipes, feminine products, excess tp should be placed in trash can outside vault toilet (only trash exception). Do not burn noncombustible items. materials or cigarettes in fire pits or leave trash in firepits. Only firewood or ashes should remain in firepit. Do not use knives, hatches, axes, saws on live trees. This will be considered damaging to property.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$40
 / night
Jellystone Park Mammoth Cave

6. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort: Mammoth Cave

100%
(1)
29mi from Scottsville · 276 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Cave City, KY
It's time to create amazing family memories with a little something for everyone when you visit Jellystone Park Camp Resort at Mammoth Cave™. Celebrating our 35th Anniversary this season, our resort is surrounded by the natural beauty of Cave City in central Kentucky, home to the historic natural wonders found at Mammoth Cave National Park. We offer a great selection of RV and tent camping sites or deluxe cabins with all the comforts of home. Guests also have access to resort amenities that include favorites like on-site activities with Yogi Bear™ and friends, swimming at Karst Beach, jumping pillows, and fishing ponds. In addition to our amenities, Jellystone Park Camp-Resort at Mammoth Cave™ is near local kayaking and bike trails for a fantastic getaway experience.
Pets
Toilets
Full Hookups
from 
$26
 / night
Campsite and screen house

14. Maple Shade Farm full hookup site

100%
(110)
44mi from Scottsville · 1 site · RV · Greenbrier, TN
Tired of campgrounds that feel more like parking lots? Come and reconnect with nature and park your RV on our private, family friendly, large, shaded, full hookup, 72 ft long, 30 and 50 amp RV site with wifi on our 50 acre farm with fire ring and picnic table and screen house. We are not a campground, just a small farm in a rural neighborhood with 2 full hookup RV sites for guests.  30 minutes (17miles) North of Nashville, Tennessee. There are wild Turkeys and Deer that roam the property. We also have some free range Guineas and Peacocks which is why we ask that all dogs, while welcome, remained leashed at all times. We do have a leash free field for dogs to run. Great place to get away and enjoy nature, take a walk on our trails through the woods, take a hike down to our creek, listen to the birds and watch the sunset over the pasture while cooking s’mores on the fire, yet not that far from Nashville!  Perfect for enjoying nature and/or visiting Nashville. This site is for self contained RVs only, there are no restroom facilities. Check in is between 2 pm and sundown. No check ins after dark without prior approval. Limit of 2 vehicles and 2 pets. When you request to book just let us know how many people will be camping, how many pets you will be bringing with you and what you are camping in, travel trailer or motor home, and what length in feet it is. Thank you! Since this is a natural area of fields and woods, along with farm animals and wildlife you may encounter insects. We recommend bringing insect repellent for mosquitoes and ticks and making sure that your pets have protection also.
Pets
Full Hookups
from 
$46
 / night
Campsite number 1.

15. Twisted River

96%
(55)
7.5mi from Scottsville · 2 sites · Tents · Scottsville, KY
A recent addition to our already spacious and secluded bed and breakfast.  A tremendous wooded area with trails, woods, water and an awesome camping/fire pit area!  If you enjoy watching the stars after a delicious, over the campfire cooked meal, you'll love the sights, sounds and smells of backwoods Kentucky. The land is bordered by a winding, twisting river that is ample enough for bathing, boating and/or fishing that seems to go on for days. Idea for overnight stays, weekend getaways or family or group gatherings.Learn more about this land:A long flowing log trail that travels through gorgeous woods and time then temporarily halts at the centerpiece campsite for fire, food and laughs.   Space around a stone framed fire pit for up to 5 tents to enjoy peace or family at the same time.  Off you continue along a groomed 4 wheel trail that guides you past our deer plot, beaver workings, stretches of wild low lands and a refreshing creek for swimming, fishing, boating, you name it!  The main camp site is about a :15 minute hike off the main road but close enough to receive support if required.
Pets
Campfires
Picnic table
from 
$20
 / night
Mollys Ridge Glamping and Camping

16. Mollys Ridge Glamping and Camping

90%
(5)
36mi from Scottsville · 1 site · Lodging · Horse Cave, KY
Experience the beauty of nature and the excitement of a true outdoors escape at Mollys Ridge, an off-the-grid adventure featuring Glamping and Camping rentals located directly over Mammoth Cave in the largest growing Amish community in Kentucky. This amazing outdoor rental experience is the perfect place to be surrounded by lush green woods and incredible wildlife.  At Mollys Ridge not only can you explore 36 acres of outdoor trails and a immersive off grid experience, but glamp it up daydreaming under clear starlit skies against beautiful sunsets. We're constantly working on Molly's Ridge adding more capacityto share this slice of Heaven with more of our Member guests creating custom experiences around adventures tailored just for you and make everlasting memories like nowhere else in Kentucky!  So come enjoy breathtaking views from your luxury outdoor Glamping tent, camping pad or off grid rental at Mollys Ridge surrounded by nature at its most magnificent; offering endless opportunities to create unforgettable moments you will cherish for a lifetime!
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$99
 / night
Chatty Heifer Farm

17. Chatty Heifer Farm

99%
(200)
27mi from Scottsville · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Dixon Springs, TN
The family we bought the farm from owned and farmed it since 1900. They built a cabin then and built a house around the cabin in 1920. We bought it in 2018 and have been renovating it to build a retreat center for first responders and others who serve unselfishly. To that end, we've cut hiking trails and campsites as well as filling the farm with livestock to help people slow down and de-stress. We're located in the beautiful green hills about an hour east of Nashville, Tennessee. Learn more about this land:Drift off to sleep with the sounds of a year-round creek just outside your campsite. Wake up to a beautiful meadow surrounded by green hills in rural Tennessee. Campsites are located on a 120 year old farm under restoration, which is family owned and operated. Get some time away. You'll have privacy as you explore the farm: wade the creek, sway on the tire swing, visit the farm animals (goats, cows, pigs, and chickens), pick wild berries, and sample farm fresh produce and eggs when available. Hiking trails are also available on the farm through tranquil woods.Property is easily accessible from Nashville. In addition, day trips are possible to several lakes, rivers, waterfalls, historic sites, civil war battlefields, state parks, and national wildlife areas.
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
$22
 / night
The campsite also has a room to hang up a hammock!

20. Holler Homestead Woodsy Retreat

100%
(15)
50mi from Scottsville · 1 site · Tent · Lancaster, TN
We discovered this small homestead 18 years ago. It was built by a man preparing to go off grid, but he never did. In the intervening time, we became enthralled with growing vegetables, raising ducks, grazing sheep and hiking the hills behind us. Then Nicole discovered permaculture and began the process of changing the land using these practices. With our three dogs, cats, goats, sheep, rabbits, ducks and chicken (there is only one chicken), things can be pretty merry around her. There are aquaponics and hydroponics to check out for fun. Plus, Nicole is one of the region's only craft coffee roasters, so you are in for a treat if you come visit and like coffee because she tends to make coffee most mornings. Learn more about this land: Hang your hammock or pitch your tent in the back acres of a small homestead integrating permaculture practices. Hang out in our land for your whole visit checking out the holler we live in, dunk in the creek by the road, or drive over the hill to Center Hill Marine, or across the dam to Edgar Evins State park, or canoe the Caney Fork River! Sorry - No dogs please. Kayaking and fishing is also so close you can almost hear it - but you can't. Which is good.  Our property has a composting outhouse and the outdoor shower attached to the house has hot and cold water. We also have a nice, outdoor kitchen area to share that has a big sink and blackstone griddle. There is Wifi in the kitchen area and a plug for recharging devices. The camp site is a two-minute walk from the driveway and outhouse so be prepared to carry items in and take your morning constitutional walk.  We sometimes have homestead-produced items for sale. This is a functioning homestead, so we may be hosting an open house event, processing animals, or some other fun homestead happening activity during your stay.
Campfires
Toilets
Showers
from 
$23
 / night

Scottsville draws forest campers with over 1,150 options tucked among dense woods and shady hollows. You’ll find sites where deer pick their way through the undergrowth and birds call at dawn. Expect a range of prices—some forest spots start at just $10 a night, with an average around $30. Top picks like The Slab (by the Barren) (417 reviews), Camp Nashville Highland Rim (254 reviews), and Barren River Magic (143 reviews) make the most of the area’s thick canopy and river access. Most sites let you bring your pup, and you’ll find showers and toilets at many. Early risers often spot wildlife, while those looking to cool off can swim or cast a line in clear streams. If you want forests thick enough to muffle the world, Scottsville’s campsites deliver.

98% (784)

Top-rated campgrounds

Beardsnest

2. Beardsnest

100%
(152)
28mi from Scottsville · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · Cave City, KY
This ecological art project is currently recruiting visitors to camp in beautiful fields, on woodland rim sites, or at delicate campsites located along a system of woodland trails. As of 2025, camping here provides a glimpse into the fourth year of succession. This current phase is characterized by spacious views of a gently rolling young prairie contrasted with the rocky and steep slopes of the mature forest. Most likely a good fit for self-sufficient types that like campsites with generous spacing, but still want to get out to the park quickly (~7 miles to the Visitors Center) or travel into Cave City (3 mi) for coffee/ice-cream/pizza/barbecue/bar/food/etc. Expand from the campsite into a sketch-work of trails, as if camping near the headquarters of a satellite nature reserve. All sites except Spicebush have a filtered water output. Spicebush campers will have water access next to parking. Camping funds allow us to plant trees (~525 seedlings as of March 2025), establish prairie grasses and flowers, restore wetlands, create trails, and remove invasive species. If you have only 2 days, a nice way to experience Mammoth Cave NP is to break the trip into 3 layers, covering the underworld (cave tours), upper world (hiking), and the water that connects the two (Green River kayaking). Mammoth Cave is unique in the way that a study of the underworld will repeatedly draw the mind into a creative space of imagining what is beneath the surface, how these worlds are connected, while navigating park land and water. Note that we offer kayak trips that can be tailored to your schedule and travel constraints. Thanks to our visitors for supporting this type of project! Bundles of dried and split firewood are available onsite, usually a mix of oak with a suggested donation of $6/bundle, delivered to the campsite. Kayaks are hosted on a suggested donation basis ($45) providing a flexible option for visitors to float the Green River through the national park. Pending availability, we offer tent setups as well to folks who want to camp but aren't traveling with gear (REI 4 person Half Dome). Tent setup comes with two sleeping pads (you will need pillows, blankets, etc.).
Pets
Electrical Hookup
Campfires
from 
$25
 / night
Camp Nashville Highland Rim

3. Camp Nashville Highland Rim

95%
(349)
36mi from Scottsville · 9 sites · Tents, RVs · Goodlettsville, TN
Primitive camping near Nashville on a secluded hilltop nestled in a hardwood forest. Flat areas for tents, car / van camping, and trees for hammocks. Plan to carry your trash out with you. Do not leave trash on property. Please read all details / rules, and share with family or group. Drive to camping location. First arrive / first choice of favorite of available spaces upon arrival. Spaces are not numbered or pre-assigned. Camping guests supply camping gear. No gear rental available. Amenities: 2 community water hydrants, community vault toilet, fire pit at each site. Outdoor hot water heater for shower Apr-Oct, after forecasted freezing temperatures. Kid friendly. No extra charge for children. (verify not charged for children if selected.) Camping location north of downtown Nashville on a ridge at a higher elevation overlooking Nashville. Camp away from noisy highways, convenient to I65 near multiple amenities, grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops . 5 miles from three I65 exits. 14 miles from I24. 18 miles from I40. 18 miles from Nashville downtown riverfront. Uber or Lyft to Nashville available. Check in & out times are flexible. Quiet hours after 10PM. If you're hanging out or arriving after 10PM.... keep it quiet for other guests. Pets permitted under owner supervision. Clean up after pets, and do not allow pets to interfere with other guests. Please be sure all guests know camping rules! Do Not Leave Trash!! Trash policy is carry in / carry out with you for disposal somewhere else. Trash service is not provided as part of camping fees. $50 trash disposal will be requested if trash left on property. Vault toilet works on a septic system and is not pumped. Only place toilet paper in toilet. Wipes, feminine products, excess tp should be placed in trash can outside vault toilet (only trash exception). Do not burn noncombustible items. materials or cigarettes in fire pits or leave trash in firepits. Only firewood or ashes should remain in firepit. Do not use knives, hatches, axes, saws on live trees. This will be considered damaging to property.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$40
 / night
Jellystone Park Mammoth Cave

6. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort: Mammoth Cave

100%
(1)
29mi from Scottsville · 276 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Cave City, KY
It's time to create amazing family memories with a little something for everyone when you visit Jellystone Park Camp Resort at Mammoth Cave™. Celebrating our 35th Anniversary this season, our resort is surrounded by the natural beauty of Cave City in central Kentucky, home to the historic natural wonders found at Mammoth Cave National Park. We offer a great selection of RV and tent camping sites or deluxe cabins with all the comforts of home. Guests also have access to resort amenities that include favorites like on-site activities with Yogi Bear™ and friends, swimming at Karst Beach, jumping pillows, and fishing ponds. In addition to our amenities, Jellystone Park Camp-Resort at Mammoth Cave™ is near local kayaking and bike trails for a fantastic getaway experience.
Pets
Toilets
Full Hookups
from 
$26
 / night
Campsite and screen house

14. Maple Shade Farm full hookup site

100%
(110)
44mi from Scottsville · 1 site · RV · Greenbrier, TN
Tired of campgrounds that feel more like parking lots? Come and reconnect with nature and park your RV on our private, family friendly, large, shaded, full hookup, 72 ft long, 30 and 50 amp RV site with wifi on our 50 acre farm with fire ring and picnic table and screen house. We are not a campground, just a small farm in a rural neighborhood with 2 full hookup RV sites for guests.  30 minutes (17miles) North of Nashville, Tennessee. There are wild Turkeys and Deer that roam the property. We also have some free range Guineas and Peacocks which is why we ask that all dogs, while welcome, remained leashed at all times. We do have a leash free field for dogs to run. Great place to get away and enjoy nature, take a walk on our trails through the woods, take a hike down to our creek, listen to the birds and watch the sunset over the pasture while cooking s’mores on the fire, yet not that far from Nashville!  Perfect for enjoying nature and/or visiting Nashville. This site is for self contained RVs only, there are no restroom facilities. Check in is between 2 pm and sundown. No check ins after dark without prior approval. Limit of 2 vehicles and 2 pets. When you request to book just let us know how many people will be camping, how many pets you will be bringing with you and what you are camping in, travel trailer or motor home, and what length in feet it is. Thank you! Since this is a natural area of fields and woods, along with farm animals and wildlife you may encounter insects. We recommend bringing insect repellent for mosquitoes and ticks and making sure that your pets have protection also.
Pets
Full Hookups
from 
$46
 / night
Campsite number 1.

15. Twisted River

96%
(55)
7.5mi from Scottsville · 2 sites · Tents · Scottsville, KY
A recent addition to our already spacious and secluded bed and breakfast.  A tremendous wooded area with trails, woods, water and an awesome camping/fire pit area!  If you enjoy watching the stars after a delicious, over the campfire cooked meal, you'll love the sights, sounds and smells of backwoods Kentucky. The land is bordered by a winding, twisting river that is ample enough for bathing, boating and/or fishing that seems to go on for days. Idea for overnight stays, weekend getaways or family or group gatherings.Learn more about this land:A long flowing log trail that travels through gorgeous woods and time then temporarily halts at the centerpiece campsite for fire, food and laughs.   Space around a stone framed fire pit for up to 5 tents to enjoy peace or family at the same time.  Off you continue along a groomed 4 wheel trail that guides you past our deer plot, beaver workings, stretches of wild low lands and a refreshing creek for swimming, fishing, boating, you name it!  The main camp site is about a :15 minute hike off the main road but close enough to receive support if required.
Pets
Campfires
Picnic table
from 
$20
 / night
Mollys Ridge Glamping and Camping

16. Mollys Ridge Glamping and Camping

90%
(5)
36mi from Scottsville · 1 site · Lodging · Horse Cave, KY
Experience the beauty of nature and the excitement of a true outdoors escape at Mollys Ridge, an off-the-grid adventure featuring Glamping and Camping rentals located directly over Mammoth Cave in the largest growing Amish community in Kentucky. This amazing outdoor rental experience is the perfect place to be surrounded by lush green woods and incredible wildlife.  At Mollys Ridge not only can you explore 36 acres of outdoor trails and a immersive off grid experience, but glamp it up daydreaming under clear starlit skies against beautiful sunsets. We're constantly working on Molly's Ridge adding more capacityto share this slice of Heaven with more of our Member guests creating custom experiences around adventures tailored just for you and make everlasting memories like nowhere else in Kentucky!  So come enjoy breathtaking views from your luxury outdoor Glamping tent, camping pad or off grid rental at Mollys Ridge surrounded by nature at its most magnificent; offering endless opportunities to create unforgettable moments you will cherish for a lifetime!
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$99
 / night
Chatty Heifer Farm

17. Chatty Heifer Farm

99%
(200)
27mi from Scottsville · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Dixon Springs, TN
The family we bought the farm from owned and farmed it since 1900. They built a cabin then and built a house around the cabin in 1920. We bought it in 2018 and have been renovating it to build a retreat center for first responders and others who serve unselfishly. To that end, we've cut hiking trails and campsites as well as filling the farm with livestock to help people slow down and de-stress. We're located in the beautiful green hills about an hour east of Nashville, Tennessee. Learn more about this land:Drift off to sleep with the sounds of a year-round creek just outside your campsite. Wake up to a beautiful meadow surrounded by green hills in rural Tennessee. Campsites are located on a 120 year old farm under restoration, which is family owned and operated. Get some time away. You'll have privacy as you explore the farm: wade the creek, sway on the tire swing, visit the farm animals (goats, cows, pigs, and chickens), pick wild berries, and sample farm fresh produce and eggs when available. Hiking trails are also available on the farm through tranquil woods.Property is easily accessible from Nashville. In addition, day trips are possible to several lakes, rivers, waterfalls, historic sites, civil war battlefields, state parks, and national wildlife areas.
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
$22
 / night
The campsite also has a room to hang up a hammock!

20. Holler Homestead Woodsy Retreat

100%
(15)
50mi from Scottsville · 1 site · Tent · Lancaster, TN
We discovered this small homestead 18 years ago. It was built by a man preparing to go off grid, but he never did. In the intervening time, we became enthralled with growing vegetables, raising ducks, grazing sheep and hiking the hills behind us. Then Nicole discovered permaculture and began the process of changing the land using these practices. With our three dogs, cats, goats, sheep, rabbits, ducks and chicken (there is only one chicken), things can be pretty merry around her. There are aquaponics and hydroponics to check out for fun. Plus, Nicole is one of the region's only craft coffee roasters, so you are in for a treat if you come visit and like coffee because she tends to make coffee most mornings. Learn more about this land: Hang your hammock or pitch your tent in the back acres of a small homestead integrating permaculture practices. Hang out in our land for your whole visit checking out the holler we live in, dunk in the creek by the road, or drive over the hill to Center Hill Marine, or across the dam to Edgar Evins State park, or canoe the Caney Fork River! Sorry - No dogs please. Kayaking and fishing is also so close you can almost hear it - but you can't. Which is good.  Our property has a composting outhouse and the outdoor shower attached to the house has hot and cold water. We also have a nice, outdoor kitchen area to share that has a big sink and blackstone griddle. There is Wifi in the kitchen area and a plug for recharging devices. The camp site is a two-minute walk from the driveway and outhouse so be prepared to carry items in and take your morning constitutional walk.  We sometimes have homestead-produced items for sale. This is a functioning homestead, so we may be hosting an open house event, processing animals, or some other fun homestead happening activity during your stay.
Campfires
Toilets
Showers
from 
$23
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field