Take a step back in time when you visit David Crockett State Park. This park, which commemorates the life of Davy Crockett, is located on the ridge-line between the Crowson and Shoal Creeks in southern Tennessee and provides stunning views. David Crockett was known for establishing industry in the area along the creek. He helped develop two mills and a distillery, all of which washed away during a flood in 1821. Although the structures were lost in the flood, Crockett's passion for forging new lands and developing areas for growth was not lost, and the park now serves as a reminder of Davy Crockett's pioneering spirit.
Visitors to this scenic park are in for more than a history lesson. David Crockett State Park offers guests many recreational opportunities. With a paved bike trail and more than ten miles of hiking trails, the park is a popular place to hike, fish, and enjoy the great outdoors. The paths winding through the park offer guests stunning views of Shoal Creek and Crockett Falls, limestone bluffs, and abundant native wildlife against the backdrop of a mature old wood forest. During the summer months, guests enjoy water activities in the park. David Crockett State Park maintains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with a modern bathhouse and vending machines. Lake Lindsey also provides a comfortable space for relaxation. The park offers paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, and fishing boats for rent. Two campgrounds provide nearly 100 sites for RV and trailers. Guests will find electric and water hookups at each site along with a dump station and centralized bathhouses. Whether you're renting an RV from nearby or you're accustomed to life on the road, you'll stay in comfort at David Crockett State Park.
David Crockett State Park is located in the south-central portion of Tennessee, 153 miles northwest of Chattanooga, 109 miles south of Nashville, and 107 miles southeast of Jackson, Tennessee. David Crockett State Park is an easy trip, even for those with large motorhomes or trailers. The park is most easily reached from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. The town of Lawrenceburg is not far from I-43.
Once you get to the park, the roads inside of the gates are wide and mostly well-maintained, so even RVs on the larger side should have no trouble maneuvering through the park.
There are parking options throughout the park. There is parking provided at the Trail of Tears Trailhead, at Crockett's Mill, and at David Crockett Pond.
The simple named, Campground #1 is located near the park entrance next to Shoal Creek. It has 45 sites with water and electric hookups as well as 10 primitive camping sites. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring, and bathhouses and a dump station are also located on-site. Maximum RV and trailer length differ between sites and vary between 26 to 70 feet. Campground #1 is open from mid-March to late November. Reservations for both campgrounds can be made up to a year in advance.
Campground #2 is located a mile into the park and has 52 newly renovated paved sites with water and electricity hookups. This campground operates year-round, so guests who crave winter camping won't have to look outside of the park to stay here during the colder months. Like Campground #1, Campground #2 has sites with fire pits, picnic tables, and there are restrooms and a dump station on site. Reservations for both campgrounds can be made up to a year in advance.
Seven Cabins are available for rent year-round at David Crockett State Park. Located near Lake Lindsey, each cabin has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a patio. These modern cabins were uniquely built with energy conservation in mind, and are the only eastern United States vacation homes with a certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in a state park. Pets are not allowed in the cabins, except Cabin 6. You can stay guilt-free in these energy-efficient cabins year-round with reservations available up to a year in advance.
David Crockett State Park offers guests a paved bike path to use to explore the beauty of the Tennessee woods. The bike trail passes through a shady area covered with oak and pine trees. Although the park doesn’t offer a strenuous bike ride, biking the park's paved trail is a great way to get from point A to point B without having to move the campervan from the campsite. The trail is a short three miles in length and is perfect for the whole family. Those looking to take advantage of this mode of transportation will need to bring their own bikes along with them in the Class B as the park does not offer rentals.
The David Crockett State Park Museum is a great first stop on your RV vacation to learn about the park's history. The museum is open from Memorial Day until early August and is free of charge to all park visitors. The museum is small but is packed with information about David Crockett's life. The museum gives visitors an overview of Native American history, displays Cherokee art, and tells stories of the people who helped support David Crockett during his time in the area.
Those visiting during the hot summer months will appreciate the number of swimming opportunities available at David Crockett State Park. The lovely wooded park offers guests both swimming and wading opportunities and touts both a lake and an Olympic sized pool. The pool area provides ample ways to relax with lounge chairs for sunbathing, a bathhouse with showers and toilets, and a snack bar. The pool is open from Memorial Day through the second weekend in August with the exception of Mondays and Tuesdays. Lifeguards are on duty during open hours. Guests will also find a tranquil spot near Crockett Falls appropriate for wading in the warm summer months.
David Crockett State Park’s 40-acre lovely Lake Lindsey is an exceptional place to relax and catch fish. The lake is home to bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. Anglers will find length and creel limits posted. If you're in need of bait, or an up to date Tenessee fishing license, venders near the park sell both. There is a boat dock on the southwest bank of the lake where boats can be rented if you didn't tow your own behind the campervan, and rowboats may be rented at the park office when the dock isn’t in operation. Other watercraft available for rent include paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats. Boats can be rented by the hour, day, or week as needed.
Avid birdwatchers flock to David Crockett State Park for their chance to see over 100 species of birds that have been spotted here. The spring and fall are especially great times to visit to spot both native and migratory birds in the pine-oak-hickory forest that makes up much of the park. The northern section of the Trail of Tears is as popular amongst birders as it is amongst history buffs. On this section of the trail, birders can hope to see a red-headed woodpecker, red-eyed vireo, Kentucky warbler, scarlet tanager, and various other woodland birds. The amount of water in the park makes for some great bird watching as well. The boat dock and dam area on Lake Lindsey offer scenic views along with the opportunity to spot some local waterfowl including Canada geese, mallard, great blue and green herons, and belted kingfisher. One thing is sure; you won't want to forget the binoculars in the Sprinter as you wander the park.
Hikers of all ages have the opportunity to bask in the natural beauty of southern Tennessee at David Crockett State Park. Ten miles of natural and paved trails vary in difficulty and scenery, making it easy to find a path you'll enjoy. The Trail of Tears is the most popular and traveled trail in the park due to its well-known history. This easy trail is the longest in the park, stretching 2.5 miles along a natural surface. Those looking for a more intense hike should check out Shoal Creek Trail and the Overlook Trail. Both are under two miles but can be extended with a number of connector trails that vary in distance and direction.
David Crockett State Park provides endless opportunities for guests to revel in the beauty of the Tennessee woodland. During the fall, when the leaves change from green to shades of red, yellow, and gold, the park transforms into an image straight off of a postcard. The creeks that wind throughout the park provide a grazing space for resident animals like deer and other native species, and people walking the trails or fishing might be lucky enough to spot some of the creatures. Bring your camera with you on your walks or time outside because you never know what might cross your path, and you won't want to miss an opportunity to capture the moment.
If you find yourself at David Crockett State Park for an off-season sojourn, you won't be stuck in the motorhome twiddling your thumbs. The park offers several events and festivals throughout the fall and autumn to keep you and the family busy. Spend Halloween at the park and partake in the Halloween History Trail, where kids can trick or treat along the jack-o-lantern lit trail and learn about the park's history. In November, the park hosts an annual Thanksgiving feast at the Crockett's Mill Restaurant and a day after Thanksgiving hike. One of the park's campgrounds stays open all year, making it easy to join in the festivities with camp set up nearby.
