Tent Camping

[memphismason]

The wife and I and another couple friend of ours have decided that we are going to start camping this year. Now I have "camped out" during hunting season as a kid (me and my dad) but that was always in some sort of camper. I have never camped out in a tent.

So we are buying the stuff we need and plan on going sometime in March or April, before it gets real hot.

So the question is, where do all of you guys like to go camping. Me and my buddy drove through Chickasaw state park today, and it looks real nice, but we don't know how crowed it gets. Another friend of mine, who does a lot of camping likes to go to Enid Lake in MS. He says it is never really crowed.

What is yall's opinions?

[BBill_TN]

Congratulations on your decision to get into camping. I camp and backpack as often as I can still. I picked up the habit in college at UT...was always easier to go hiking than to go to class for some reason:)

Not sure what your options in West TN are; I know that backpacking options are a bit limited that way if you like mountains, but am sure that you should be able to find something that direction. From fellow backpackers, I hear that the Ozarks over in Arkansas are really nice....maybe if not for a first trip, it might be something for you to explore later on.

There are quite a few opportunites here in Middle TN, but I still find myself driving east to the Smokies and NC often as well.

Good luck on your decision; I am sure that it will be rewarding for you. Need any input on equipment or anything drop me a line; might have some info or can point you in the right direction.....lots of discounted stuff online if you know what to look for.

Bill

[Guest GUTTERbOY]

I really like the Balsam Mountain campground in the Smokies... but that might be a bit further than you want to go. Nice thing about it is it's about eight miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway, so it's kind of off the beaten path. Stays pretty quiet.

I try to look for places that don't advertise lots of amenities and/or have spots for giant RVs and travel trailers. I avoid resort-type places like the plague.

[memphismason]

Yeah I won't be doing any backpack camping for a little while. It will be more of the pull up in the truck at the camp site pitch a tent and do some fishing.

I love to latter on maybe do some backpack type camping. I think that would be fun, but baby steps first. LOL

[BBill_TN]

Nothing wrong with car camping:) I still do that a lot myself when troutfishing in Cherokee National Forest. They even have a walk-in campsite there; kind of bridges the gap between car camping and backpacking.

After the initial equipment purchase, I find I spend less money on backpacking trips than car camping ones; guess the fact you have to carry it on your back adds a bit of sanity to the amount of stuff you think you need:)

[Smith]

Congratulations on your decision to get into camping. I camp and backpack as often as I can still. I picked up the habit in college at UT...was always easier to go hiking than to go to class for some reason:)

Not sure what your options in West TN are; I know that backpacking options are a bit limited that way if you like mountains, but am sure that you should be able to find something that direction. From fellow backpackers, I hear that the Ozarks over in Arkansas are really nice....maybe if not for a first trip, it might be something for you to explore later on.

There are quite a few opportunites here in Middle TN, but I still find myself driving east to the Smokies and NC often as well.

Good luck on your decision; I am sure that it will be rewarding for you. Need any input on equipment or anything drop me a line; might have some info or can point you in the right direction.....lots of discounted stuff online if you know what to look for.

Bill

Don't know about TN, but a lot of great uncrowded camping over in the Ozarks. I always enjoyed canoeing the Buffalo river and camping on the banks along the way. I'm sure there are places here in TN to do the same. Adds a little something different to the regular camping experience. Plus you can catch your own dinner! Nothing like some good trout!

[Guest sharpshooter01]

Try LBL, I love that place. We usually backcountry camp there during deer season. I've never been in the spring but if I get a job soon we are thinking about taking a trip that way during turkey season. Being from E.TN I don't get out there much. If you ever want to try this side of the state go to Indian Boundary in Cherokee NF. They have a nice lake and bike trail all the way around it and trout fishing on Tellico river or Citico creek.

[deerslayer]

In Memphis, some of your best options less than 4 hours away are in Arkansas. Try Spring River in the spring--it's full of drunks in the summer, but there probably aren't too many canoers in April. Farther north (actually across the line in MO) is the Current River (MUCH less crowded). Petit Jean State Park just past Conway is a cool place. Blanchard Springs north of Heber Springs is nice, too. Farther west, there are all kinds of places in the Ozarks. Buffalo River area is worth checking out. In TN, four and a half or five hours away is Fall Creek Falls State Park, and it's worth the drive. Two more hours past that is my favorite place, the Smokies, but they are a little far for a weekend or even a three day trip. I've hunted at LBL, but never really camped there. I've heard lots of good stuff about it, and want to go someday.

[Guest GUTTERbOY]

Nothing wrong with car camping:) I still do that a lot myself when troutfishing in Cherokee National Forest. They even have a walk-in campsite there; kind of bridges the gap between car camping and backpacking.

After the initial equipment purchase, I find I spend less money on backpacking trips than car camping ones; guess the fact you have to carry it on your back adds a bit of sanity to the amount of stuff you think you need:)

I go camping with the motorcycle. Has that same sort of effect of limiting how much stuff you can bring. But then I've never been an "everything but the kitchen sink" kind of guy anyway.

[memphismason]

Thanks for all the ideas. I am really looking forward to this.

Chickasaw State Park was super nice. I was really surprised.

[kckndrgn]

The wife and I have gone to Natchez Trace quite a few times. It DOES get busy during the holiday weekends, but other than that it's not too bad. A couple of lakes near by for fishing, you can do some backpacking as well.

We are going to start camping again this spring. We haven't gone in about 3 years and I really like camping.

The other reason we like Natchez is that she has some relatives that live near by that have access to a 600yrd range

[poak]

I go camping with the motorcycle. Has that same sort of effect of limiting how much stuff you can bring. But then I've never been an "everything but the kitchen sink" kind of guy anyway.

+1!

Minimalist camping on a minimalist vehicle

Last summer I did just that all the way from Nashville to San Diego. Trip of a lifetime.

[Guest GUTTERbOY]

Last summer I did just that all the way from Nashville to San Diego. Trip of a lifetime.

Just thinking about that makes my buns tingle. I've done about 500 miles in a day, and it took a week for my ass to forgive me.

I wouldn't mind doing a long road trip, but I'd have to set aside several weeks... and work out a good way to maintain the chain on the road, 'cause I ain't got no centerstand...

[memphismason]

+1!

Minimalist camping on a minimalist vehicle

Last summer I did just that all the way from Nashville to San Diego. Trip of a lifetime.

THAT SOUNDS FREAKING AWESOME!

[Guest GUTTERbOY]

Here are some selected pics from my trip last fall. I did the primitive camping thing, none of that pesky running water and real toilets for me.

Bike parked on the FS road

Site

And some shots from the Cherohala Skyway

[Guest Traumaslave]

The only thing I don't like about bike camping is the chance of someone taking my bike.

Gutterboy, next time you in my neck of the hood for the Cherohala, lemme know. I love doing the 411/Dragon/Cherohala loop. That and I live only about 20 miles from the Skyway.

My last camping trip with a friend from Louisville, Ky.