Just a few miles north of Memphis, Tennessee, you’ll find the 12,539 acres right next to the Mississippi River that makes up Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park. This isn’t just any forest. Within these forests, you will find many endangered species of trees and plants, as well as 10 State Champion Trees and two National Champion Trees. When you bring your RV to Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, you’ll get to enjoy the lovely shade of all sorts of different kinds of trees from American Beech, oak, bald cypress, sweet gum, and hickory trees. Within this variety of trees, you might get to spot some wildlife, including deer, foxes, bobcats, and many species of birds. You can explore all of this on the more than 20 miles of trails here - something that will take more than a day to complete. So, why not stay a few days in your RV? The campground offers electric and water hookups for your convenience, as well as some other great amenities such as a dump station, showers, and a bathhouse. You’ll have everything you need when you bring your camper or trailer to Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park.
Consisting of over 12,000 acres Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park in Tennessee is pretty big. Because of this, there are a lot of roadways held within the park, so you should use a GPS to get inside, then pick up a park map as soon as you reach the visitor center. The map will help you navigate and be able to get you where you need to be. You will likely want to set up your RV at your designated campsite before heading out, and just travel around in your smaller vehicle during the length of your visit here at the park. You should have no problem finding parking for a normal-sized car, and you should have no issues on the roads, even when traveling in your RV, as the roads are designed to accommodate RV campers. When choosing a campsite, keep in mind that many of the sites can only hold up to 35 feet, but there are a few that can accommodate up to 45 feet of big rig.
Here at the campground at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, you will find 49 different campsites to choose from. When you park your RV at one of these sites, you’ll have access to electric hookups and water hookups. Although there are no sewer hookups, you will be able to find a dump station nearby, as well as some other great amenities such as a bathhouse and hot showers for keeping clean. Keep in mind though that you can only stay up to two weeks at a time and no longer than that. The maximum RV length varies by site. Most of them can accommodate 30 feet with no problem, but only a few can hold up to 45 feet. There is also just one wheelchair accessible site. If you have a big rig or need wheelchair accessibility, you’ll definitely want to go ahead and reserve your spot ahead of time.
The Disc Golf course that you will find hidden within Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is actually made up of two different courses, each one consisting fo 18 holes. If you’ve never tried it before, disc golfing can be a lot of fun, especially here because this course has actually been named as one of biggest and prettiest of disc golf courses in the entire southeast region. If you didn’t bring the proper equipment with you in your rig on this trip, you can pick some up at stores near the park.
Fishing doesn’t always have to be done during the heat of summer. In fact, you can avoid the heat completely by setting up your fishing pole along either Piersol Lake or Poplar Tree Lake during the off season. Of the two Poplar Tree is the larger lake, being nearly three times larger than Piersol. At either one though, you just might be able to catch bass, catfish, and even bluegill. Just be sure that you get a lake permit before heading out to avoid any trouble.
Many people like to come here to go birding, and why wouldn’t you want to when there are over 240 species of birds that call this forest and swamp area home. Plus, if you come in your campervan during the off season, you’ll also get to see all of the migratory birds here too. In 2006, the park was even named as an “Important Bird Area” by Audubon Society. A few example of possible bird sightings include geese, owls, ducks, and woodpeckers.
If you would prefer to take the bike out on some nature trails instead of going on foot, you can do that too. The Bicycle Trail is the only trail that has paved service specially designed for bikes. It’s about five miles in length, and is labeled at moderately difficult. This is a great way to change up your mode of transportation while also getting to get out into the forest and enjoy all of that fresh air.
The Mississppi River provides great opportunities for boating in the summertime, and you will be able to find boat ramps located along its edge here in the park. You can also take a canoe, kayak, or paddleboat out on Poplar Tree Lake. If you didn’t pack one in your RV, you can rent a boat from the park with no problem. There is no better way to enjoy the summer.
There are more than 20 miles of trails located within Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park. These trails will take you through stunning shaded forests filled with abundant wildlife. The longest trail is the Horse/Multi Use Trail, which is actually fairly easy to traverse although it totals eight and a half miles long. The shortest trail is Pioneer Springs Trail, being about four miles and labeled as moderately difficult.
