With such a variety of recreational opportunities and activities to enjoy, Bledsoe Creek State Park may be one of the best parks in Tennessee. Located in the northcentral part of the state, this park has over 160 acres and a lake of 22,500 acres where you can go swimming, skiing, boating, and fishing. If you would rather stay on land, the park also has seven awesome trails totaling about seven miles of paths to explore.
The off-season in Tennessee does not get wintry like most of the country, so most of the activities here can be enjoyed all year long. RV camping is perfect here, with 76 spacious campsites to choose from. Whether you get one on the shoreline of Old Hickory Lake or nestled in the thick oaks and pines of the Tennessee forest, you will enjoy peace and quiet as well as fun and excitement.
The park was named after Anthony and Isaac Bledsoe, who built a fort here in 1778. They hunted buffalo and other game alongside the Chickamauga, Shawnee, Creek, and Cherokee Indian tribes. You can learn more about the history of the area at the Visitor Center near the entrance of the park. If you are interested in checking out the nearby attractions, there are plenty of those too, including the Cedars of Lebanon State Park, which is 28 miles away and the Long Hunter State Park, which is about 31 miles from the park.
Just 45 minutes from Nashville, Bledsoe Creek State Park is in Gallatin, Tennessee. Gallatin is the county seat of Sumner County and is named after Albert Gallatin, who was a U.S. Secretary of Treasury. Located on TN-25, three hours west of Knoxville, and only 2.5 hours northwest of Chattanooga, you can reach the park by way of US-231, I-40, or TN-109. You’ll travel through some hilly and narrow roads, and will have to drive slowly, especially if you are driving a big motorhome or pulling a trailer.
Being this close to Nashville, you will likely run into some traffic issues if you come from the southwest. If you get tired of driving, why not stop off in Nashville and take a look around? You can see the Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry House, or check out the Parthenon, which has a 42-foot tall statue of Athena in the middle of Centennial Park.
Once you get back on the road, you only have another 45 minutes before you reach the park and your campsite, so make sure you get any last-minute items in town before getting into the wilderness that is Bledsoe Creek State Park. The only place you may have trouble maneuvering your rig is Rabbit Jump Hill Road, which cannot accommodate trailers or RVs over 30 feet.
As one of the most beautiful states in the country, there’s a lot to enjoy about Tennessee. However, no city in the state quite compares to Nashville. From the fantastic restaurants to the spectacular music scene, there are boundless ways to enjoy a visit to Music City. Nashville KOA provides a tranquil atmosphere and great hospitality. On-site amenities include Wi-Fi, cable TV, and a pool that’s open all year round. Some sites can accommodate rigs up to 102 feet long, and propane and firewood are available on-site for purchase.
There’s plenty to do and see when you take a visit to Tennessee, and the rural Nashville North KOA gets you close to big-city action while still giving you the serenity of the rustic countryside. A tranquil atmosphere with outstanding hospitality makes a stay at this beautiful KOA a treat. With a solid selection of amenities including Wi-Fi, a swimming pool, cable TV, a local tour shuttle, and sites for rigs up to 90 feet, setting up camp at Nashville North KOA is a great way to get close to the historical sites, restaurants, and music of Nashville.
Bledsoe Creek State Park Campground has 57 paved level campsites that can accommodate rigs up to 65 feet long and have picnic tables, campfire rings, BBQ grills, and potable water is available within walking distance. Forty-three of these sites have 30- to 50-amp electrical hookups, and 14 have 30-amp electrical hookups. There is also an RV dump station and trash dumpsters nearby. Another 19 sites are primitive but are right on the lake with a fire pit, table, and BBQ grill. All sites are near the two shower houses, restrooms, and laundry facilities. Pets are welcome as long as they are accompanied and restrained at all times, so bring your furbaby along for fun. The playground is also just a short walk away next to the shower house. You can buy firewood from the park store or camp host, so please do not bring in your own firewood. You’re only a few feet away from the lake no matter which site you choose, and the Shoreline Trail starts right at the campground so you can take a hike whenever you want to.
If you visit the park during the summer, you know the water will be calling you. Whether it is Old Hickory Lake, Bledsoe Creek, or one of the other small creeks in the park calling your name, you can enjoy splashing around to cool off. Be sure you pack the floaties and rafts in the rig before heading to Bledsoe Creek State Park. You will love floating along with the current of the creek. However, there is no lifeguard on duty, so you will be swimming at your own risk.
Go ahead and bring your boat with you to the park because it has two boat ramps for use. The one at the campgrounds next to the camper parking area is just for those who are camping there. There is another dock and a launch ramp on the other side of the lake off Zeigler Fort Road that is open to the public. Whether you have a bass boat, sailboat, or even just a small jon boat, the 22,500-acre lake is big enough for everyone to enjoy.
If you want to have a picnic with the family or maybe have a birthday or other get-together, Bledsoe Creek State Park has two shelters that you can reserve that can accommodate large groups. The first shelter, which is about midway down Raccoon Creek Lane, can handle up to 30 people. The second shelter can accommodate 100 guests and is at the end of Raccoon Creek Lane across from the playground. Both of these pavilions have picnic tables and BBQ grills, as well as restrooms and running water.
With seven trails to choose from, you should not have any trouble finding the perfect one for you. The easiest and shortest is actually called the Easy Loop Trail. It is about half a mile and is across from the Visitor Center. This one is great for the kiddos as there are pages from different kids’ storybooks along the trail for them to read and learn about. The 2.1-mile Shoreline Trail is the longest, but it is also an easy hike. It connects to the one-mile Mayo Wix Trail and the 1.4-mile High Ridge Trail to make a loop. Try them all and then decide which is your favorite.
While you are checking out the trails, you can look for some of the birds that call this park home. One of the best trails for viewing your feathered friends is the Mayo Wix Trail, which is paved and leads to an observation deck. Be sure to bring along your camera and binoculars. You may even want to try using a drone to get some pics from a bird’s eye view. Some of the birds you may see here include the warbler, hairy woodpecker, hawks, wood ducks, and blue herons. You may even see some other animals like white-tailed deer, which are typically out and about in the fall.
You can fish at Bledsoe Creek State Park all year long, so pack the fishing gear in the RV. You can fish for perch, crappie, bass, and bluegill with a bobber or fly if you are looking for some panfish to enjoy for dinner. If you would rather pull in those big lunkers like catfish and carp, put weight and some live bait on your line and kick back and wait for the hit. Make sure you bring your net with you as well as a Tennessee fishing license.
