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State Parks and Outdoors

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Things to do › State Parks and Outdoors

This guide lists every state park, historic area and natural area in our places directory, grouped by region. Each row links to our page for the park, which carries hours, closures and the park’s own rules.

Looking for animals? See the Tennessee wildlife guide for Smokies bears, elk, eagles, cranes and snakes.

Looking for plants? See the Tennessee wildflowers and plants guide for Smokies spring wildflowers, rhododendron, cedar glades and fall color.

Our state park list covers 65 parks, recreation areas and natural areas in 7 regions. 65 list free entry (Tennessee state parks charge no access fee; camping, cabins and some tours cost money), and 65 say leashed dogs are allowed. Every row below links to our page for the park, which carries hours, closures and the park’s own rules.

65Parks and Areas
7Regions
65Free Entry
65Allow Pets

State park facts come from our state park dataset (last checked Oct 30, 2026), read on each park’s own tnstateparks.com page. Plans and rules change, so check the organizer or park page before you drive.

State Parks by Region

Memphis & West Tennessee (13) Events in This Region

ParkWhereDay Use
Big Cypress Tree Park Official pageGreenfield, Weakley County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use
Big Hill Pond State Park Official pagePocahontas, Hardeman County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use
Chickasaw State Park Official pageHenderson, Chester County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use
Fort Pillow State Historic Park Official pageHenning, Lauderdale County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park Official pageMillington, Shelby County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use
Middle Fork Bottoms Official pageHumboldt, Gibson County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use
Natchez Trace State Park Official pageWildersville, Henderson County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use
Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park Official pageEva, Benton County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use
Paris Landing State Park Official pageBuchanan, Henry County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use
Pickwick Landing State Park Official pageCounce, Hardin County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use
Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park Official pagePinson, Madison County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use
Reelfoot Lake State Park Official pageTiptonville, Lake County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use
T.O. Fuller State Park Official pageMemphis, Shelby County · Memphis & West TennesseeFree day use

Upper Cumberland & Plateau (13) Events in This Region

ParkWhereDay Use
Burgess Falls State Park Official pageBaxter, Putnam County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use
Cardwell Mountain State Archaeological Park Official pageMcMinnville, Warren County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use
Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park Official pageByrdstown, Pickett County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use
Cumberland Mountain State Park Official pageCrossville, Cumberland County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use
Cummins Falls State Park Official pageCookeville, Jackson County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use
Edgar Evins State Park Official pageSilver Point, DeKalb County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use
Fall Creek Falls State Park Official pageSpencer, Van Buren County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use
Pickett CCC Memorial State Park Official pageJamestown, Fentress County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use
Rock Island State Park Official pageRock Island, Warren County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use
Savage Gulf State Natural Area Official pageBeersheba Springs, Grundy County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use
Scotts Gulf Wilderness Official pageSparta, Van Buren County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use
Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park Official pagePall Mall, Fentress County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use
Standing Stone State Park Official pageHilham, Overton County · Upper Cumberland & PlateauFree day use

Nashville Area (10) Events in This Region

ParkWhereDay Use
Bicentennial Capitol Mall Official pageNashville, Davidson County · Nashville AreaFree day use
Bledsoe Creek State Park Official pageGallatin, Sumner County · Nashville AreaFree day use
Cedars of Lebanon State Park Official pageLebanon, Wilson County · Nashville AreaFree day use
Dunbar Cave State Park Official pageClarksville, Montgomery County · Nashville AreaFree day use
Harpeth River State Park Official pageKingston Springs, Cheatham County · Nashville AreaFree day use
Johnsonville State Historic Park Official pageNew Johnsonville, Humphreys County · Nashville AreaFree day use
Long Hunter State Park Official pageHermitage, Davidson County · Nashville AreaFree day use
Montgomery Bell State Park Official pageBurns, Dickson County · Nashville AreaFree day use
Port Royal State Historic Park Official pageAdams, Robertson County · Nashville AreaFree day use
Radnor Lake State Natural Area Official pageNashville, Davidson County · Nashville AreaFree day use

Chattanooga & Southeast (10) Events in This Region

ParkWhereDay Use
Booker T. Washington State Park Official pageChattanooga, Hamilton County · Chattanooga & SoutheastFree day use
Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park Official pageBirchwood, Meigs County · Chattanooga & SoutheastFree day use
Fiery Gizzard State Park Official pageMonteagle, Marion County · Chattanooga & SoutheastFree day use
Fort Loudoun State Historic Park Official pageVonore, Monroe County · Chattanooga & SoutheastFree day use
Harrison Bay State Park Official pageHarrison, Hamilton County · Chattanooga & SoutheastFree day use
Hiwassee River State Park Official pageDelano, Polk County · Chattanooga & SoutheastFree day use
Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail Official pagePikeville, Bledsoe County · Chattanooga & SoutheastFree day use
North Chickamauga Creek Gorge Official pageSoddy Daisy, Hamilton County · Chattanooga & SoutheastFree day use
Ocoee River State Park Official pageDelano, Polk County · Chattanooga & SoutheastFree day use
Red Clay State Historic Park Official pageCleveland, Bradley County · Chattanooga & SoutheastFree day use

Knoxville Area (7) Events in This Region

ParkWhereDay Use
Big Ridge State Park Official pageMaynardville, Union County · Knoxville AreaFree day use
Cove Lake State Park Official pageCaryville, Campbell County · Knoxville AreaFree day use
Frozen Head State Park Official pageWartburg, Morgan County · Knoxville AreaFree day use
Indian Mountain State Park Official pageJellico, Campbell County · Knoxville AreaFree day use
Norris Dam State Park Official pageRocky Top, Anderson County · Knoxville AreaFree day use
Panther Creek State Park Official pageMorristown, Hamblen County · Knoxville AreaFree day use
Seven Islands State Birding Park Official pageKodak, Knox County · Knoxville AreaFree day use

Southern Middle Tennessee (7) Events in This Region

ParkWhereDay Use
David Crockett State Park Official pageLawrenceburg, Lawrence County · Southern Middle TennesseeFree day use
Devil's Backbone State Park Official pageHohenwald, Lewis County · Southern Middle TennesseeFree day use
Head of the Crow State Park Official pageSewanee, Franklin County · Southern Middle TennesseeFree day use
Henry Horton State Park Official pageChapel Hill, Marshall County · Southern Middle TennesseeFree day use
Mousetail Landing State Park Official pageLinden, Perry County · Southern Middle TennesseeFree day use
Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park Official pageManchester, Coffee County · Southern Middle TennesseeFree day use
Tims Ford State Park Official pageWinchester, Franklin County · Southern Middle TennesseeFree day use

Tri-Cities & Northeast (5) Events in This Region

ParkWhereDay Use
David Crockett Birthplace State Park Official pageLimestone, Greene County · Tri-Cities & NortheastFree day use
Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork Official pageFlag Pond, Unicoi County · Tri-Cities & NortheastFree day use
Roan Mountain State Park Official pageRoan Mountain, Carter County · Tri-Cities & NortheastFree day use
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park Official pageElizabethton, Carter County · Tri-Cities & NortheastFree day use
Warriors' Path State Park Official pageKingsport, Sullivan County · Tri-Cities & NortheastFree day use

Outdoor Events on Our Calendar

EventWhenWherePrice
Campout with Rangers and Civil War Living History Presenters (Fort Pillow State Historic Park)Nov 7-8 (Sat 4:00 PM to Sun 11:00 AM)Henning · Memphis & West Tennessee$25.00 camper; $15.00 under 12; $15.00 Saturday only, no camping
Free Sorghum-Making Demonstrations at Cades Cove (Nov 19-22)Nov 19-22 (Hours not published)Cades Cove · Smoky MountainsFree
Thanksgiving at Fall Creek Falls (buffet at The Lodge)Thu, Nov 26 (11:00 AM-6:00 PM)Spencer · Upper Cumberland & PlateauSee event page
After Thanksgiving Day Hike (Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park)Fri, Nov 27 (1:00 PM-2:30 PM)Manchester · Southern Middle Tennessee$0.00 (donation tiers $5-$20 listed)
Day After Thanksgiving Hike (Fort Pillow State Historic Park)Fri, Nov 27 (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)Henning · Memphis & West Tennessee$0.00 (donation tiers $10-$20 listed)
Free Sorghum-Making Demonstrations at Cades Cove (Nov 27-29)Nov 27-29 (Hours not published)Cades Cove · Smoky MountainsFree
Coffee, Cascades, and Ancient Mounds (Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park)Sun, Nov 29 (9:00 AM-10:30 AM)Manchester · Southern Middle Tennessee$3.00 attendee (donation tiers $8-$23 listed)
Wilderness Wildlife WeekJan 4-7Pigeon Forge · Smoky MountainsFree and open to the public

Keep Planning

More Topic Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Tennessee state parks free?

Tennessee State Parks says there is no access fee at any state park (our data records this from each park page). Camping, cabins, golf, boat rentals, tours and some programs do cost money, so the park page matters before you go.

Do I need a reservation to visit?

Day use usually does not need one, but camping, cabins and many guided programs do. Each park page we link to names how the park handles it, and where it does not we say not confirmed.

Which parks are in the Smokies and which are on the Plateau?

The tables are grouped by our eight regions, and each region heading links to that region’s events. Our Smoky Mountains and East Tennessee guide pulls together the eastern ones.

Sources

  1. Park facts (entry, pet rule) were read on each park’s own tnstateparks.com page; attraction facts on each attraction’s own site. All rows are in the places directory and its dataset.
  2. Each event was read on the organizer’s own page, where its date, hours and price are printed; every row is in the Tennessee events dataset with a checked date.
How we check

Cite this page: It's Tennessee, “State Parks and Outdoors”, itstennessee.com/things-to-do/state-parks-and-outdoors/ (updated ). By the It's Tennessee editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.

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Printed from itstennessee.com on . Hours, prices and dates can change, so check with the venue before you go.