The best forest glamping in Pickwick Lake

Thanks to the Tennessee Valley Authority and its dam-building prowess in the 1930s, vast reservoirs are scattered across the Volunteer State. Like most of them, Pickwick Lake is a hotspot for outdoor recreation, with bass fishing, boating, swimming, tubing, and water skiing among its top activities. Stretching 53 miles from southwest Tennessee across Mississippi and Alabama on the Tennessee River, Pickwick Lake’s shoreline is dotted with campsites, as is the surrounding countryside. Fun fact: A literature-loving postmaster named the area after a Charles Dickens’ novel, the Pickwick Papers, in the mid-1800s.

99% (43)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Camp Wonder Wander is Wanderful

97%

(19)

15 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Waynesboro, TN

Your host Val has walked away from her life as a tenured graphic design professor for a passion that is probably her true calling. Inspired by travels and a youth immersed in girls scouts, I created this retreat center and camp for the opportunity to relish in nature, put away the phone and get back to craft, conversation, and the basics of life. You'll relish in the quiet and beauty of the rural rolling foothills of Appalachia in mid-south TN. 20 minutes from any town so prepare en route. Route 99 splits the 17 acres with retreat center on one side and an 11.5 acre campground with significant river front property On The Buffalo. This is in Lewis county - of the Lewis and Clark adventurers. The Buffalo River is a class 1 and sometimes 2 river perfect for kayaking. Ask about add on options like a tour and story about the camp and animals or even a pottery lesson or art workshop.

2. Cedar Ridge Campground

12 sites · Russellville, AL

Cedar Ridge Campground stands out as a family-owned and operated retreat that welcomes guests year-round, offering a variety of stay options including nightly, weekly, and extended visits to accommodate every camping style. Nestled in a serene wooded area of Northwest Alabama, this campground is conveniently located next to Cedar Creek Lake, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Here, you can indulge in a range of activities such as fishing, jet-skiing, boating, and swimming, making it an ideal spot for adventure seekers. After a day of exploring the great outdoors, Cedar Ridge Campground provides a comfortable environment to unwind. Gather with family and friends in the inviting pavilion, challenge each other to a game of pool or foosball, or grab a quick snack at the camp store. Whether you choose to relax at your campsite or engage in fun activities, Cedar Ridge ensures a memorable camping experience that combines the beauty of nature with the comforts of home.

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

Thanks to the Tennessee Valley Authority and its dam-building prowess in the 1930s, vast reservoirs are scattered across the Volunteer State. Like most of them, Pickwick Lake is a hotspot for outdoor recreation, with bass fishing, boating, swimming, tubing, and water skiing among its top activities. Stretching 53 miles from southwest Tennessee across Mississippi and Alabama on the Tennessee River, Pickwick Lake’s shoreline is dotted with campsites, as is the surrounding countryside. Fun fact: A literature-loving postmaster named the area after a Charles Dickens’ novel, the Pickwick Papers, in the mid-1800s.

99% (43)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Camp Wonder Wander is Wanderful

97%

(19)

15 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Waynesboro, TN

Your host Val has walked away from her life as a tenured graphic design professor for a passion that is probably her true calling. Inspired by travels and a youth immersed in girls scouts, I created this retreat center and camp for the opportunity to relish in nature, put away the phone and get back to craft, conversation, and the basics of life. You'll relish in the quiet and beauty of the rural rolling foothills of Appalachia in mid-south TN. 20 minutes from any town so prepare en route. Route 99 splits the 17 acres with retreat center on one side and an 11.5 acre campground with significant river front property On The Buffalo. This is in Lewis county - of the Lewis and Clark adventurers. The Buffalo River is a class 1 and sometimes 2 river perfect for kayaking. Ask about add on options like a tour and story about the camp and animals or even a pottery lesson or art workshop.

2. Cedar Ridge Campground

12 sites · Russellville, AL

Cedar Ridge Campground stands out as a family-owned and operated retreat that welcomes guests year-round, offering a variety of stay options including nightly, weekly, and extended visits to accommodate every camping style. Nestled in a serene wooded area of Northwest Alabama, this campground is conveniently located next to Cedar Creek Lake, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Here, you can indulge in a range of activities such as fishing, jet-skiing, boating, and swimming, making it an ideal spot for adventure seekers. After a day of exploring the great outdoors, Cedar Ridge Campground provides a comfortable environment to unwind. Gather with family and friends in the inviting pavilion, challenge each other to a game of pool or foosball, or grab a quick snack at the camp store. Whether you choose to relax at your campsite or engage in fun activities, Cedar Ridge ensures a memorable camping experience that combines the beauty of nature with the comforts of home.

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

Public campgrounds in and near Pickwick Lake

100%

(2)

J.P. Coleman Campground

120 sites · Tents, RVs · in J.P. Coleman State Park

100%

(7)

Tishomingo Campground

69 sites · Tents, RVs · in Tishomingo State Park

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

100%

(7)

Tishomingo State Park

Tishomingo, Mississippi

100%

(2)

J.P. Coleman State Park

Mississippi

Other options in and near Pickwick Lake

Cedar Ridge Campground

12 sites · Russellville, AL

Cedar Ridge Campground stands out as a family-owned and operated retreat that welcomes guests year-round, offering a variety of stay options including nightly, weekly, and extended visits to accommodate every camping style. Nestled in a serene wooded area of Northwest Alabama, this campground is conveniently located next to Cedar Creek Lake, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Here, you can indulge in a range of activities such as fishing, jet-skiing, boating, and swimming, making it an ideal spot for adventure seekers. After a day of exploring the great outdoors, Cedar Ridge Campground provides a comfortable environment to unwind. Gather with family and friends in the inviting pavilion, challenge each other to a game of pool or foosball, or grab a quick snack at the camp store. Whether you choose to relax at your campsite or engage in fun activities, Cedar Ridge ensures a memorable camping experience that combines the beauty of nature with the comforts of home.

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best forest glamping in Pickwick Lake guide

Where to go

Pickwick Dam Area

South of Pickwick Dam, Pickwick Landing State Park is watersports central, with a marina and an array of boat rentals, including kayaks, canoes, fishing boats, and pontoon party barges. Landlubbers may prefer to play the 18-hole golf course, try their hand at disc golf, or stroll the two easy hiking trails. Campers will find lakefront tent sites and RV sites. North of the river, the Bruton Branch State Recreation Area has primitive tent sites, most of them by the water.

Southwest Tennessee

For more tent and RV campsites, check out the small towns and farms near the lake and the Tennessee River in southwest Tennessee. Glamping options—think cabins, Airstream rentals, and horse farms—are plentiful too, and many have boat ramps. Top small towns for camping include Counce, Savannah, and Henderson, and the TVA manages the 92-site Pickwick Dam Campground in Savannah.

Mississippi & Alabama

Skinny Pickwick Lake stretches from Tennessee into the northern reaches of Mississippi and Alabama, where waterfront campgrounds are just as recreation-focused as their neighbors in Tennessee. Cabins and campsites are close to both the lake and the Tennessee River at J.P. Coleman State Park, which is perched on a lakeside bluff in Mississippi.

Memphis & Jackson Surrounds

Home to the National Civil Rights Museum, blues-playing Beale Street, Elvis Presley’s Graceland, and a booming food hall scene, Memphis is a full-immersion destination. Not far from the city and close to the Mississippi, campgrounds, RV parks, and glamping destinations are plentiful on farms and forestlands. Memphis is 120 miles west of Pickwick Lake, while Jackson, another urban launchpad, is 60 miles north of Pickwick Dam.