Paris Landing State Park is a recreational hotspot located in the Tennessee River Valley on Kentucky Lake, Tennessee. The lake, created from a dam in the Tennessee River, is 160,000 acres, and a popular destination for water sports, fishing, and other lakeside activities. Activities are not only limited to water; you can also enjoy playing golf on the park's very own golf course and enjoy group activities like basketball and tennis.
Paris Landing is part of Tennessee’s "Go Green With Us" program, an initiative to use sustainable materials to minimize the human impact within the park’s boundaries. The park, already recognized for its achievements in keeping much of the park green, has spread its efforts from the main operational facilities to the campground. The camp surfaces inside of the campground are man-made tent pads meant to keep the ground protected from daily tent set up and removal. The campground also uses convenient trash and recycling dumpsters, so visitors don’t have to go far to be mindful of their refuse. In addition, the park strives to combat invasive pests that threaten Tennessee’s forests by using only certified heat-treated wood inside the park’s boundaries.
Accommodation options include RV and tent sites with water and electrical hookups, cabins, primitive camping, and a group campsite. The park is pet-friendly, but make sure to keep your pets on a leash at all times and clean up after them.
Paris Landing State Park in Buchanan, Tennessee is less than 100 miles away from many major cities, both in state and out of state. You will easily find the park just off the US Route 79. The closest town is Paris, TN, approximately 15 miles from the park. If you need any supplies that you can't find at the camp store or a quick bite to eat, you can find it there.
You will find ample parking by the Park Office and also near the trail head of the hiking trails. Once you have parked, you can go ahead and explore the rest of the park and start enjoying the fun activities available.
Just off US Route 79, between Memphis and Nashville, you’ll find the Paris Landing/Kentucky Lake KOA. With ease in mind, each site was designed for big rigs with easy-in, easy-out access, ample shade, and full hookups. The campground features a plethora of activities including swimming, mini-golfing, disc-golfing, fishing, and even gem mining! The beautiful Kentucky Lake is only a few minutes away and offers visitors some of the best fishing and boating opportunities in the state.
The Paris Landing Campground is an RV sanctuary nestled under the Tennessee trees. RVers staying in this campground will have shade and access to comfort services with flush toilets and hot showers. The campground has 39 RV and tent camping sites with 30-amp electrical and water hookups. Most campsites can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet in length, but some can fit a rig up to 100 feet long. Within the campground, you can also find 18 primitive sites. These sites are ideal for tent campers looking for a more rugged camping experience.
This year-round, pet-friendly campground offers its guests restrooms, a laundry area, and a dump station. A camp store is available between March and October and stocks snacks and camping supplies. Even though the campground allows RVs year-round, be aware of seasonal operations that may affect some facilities. Generator use is permitted, but please quiet your generators between the hours of 10 PM and 6 AM.
The recreation area is the place where people with varied interests can go to participate in group activities like tennis, softball, and basketball, or sit and have a picnic lunch with friends. The playground, swimming beach, and the golf course are all close by, and the area has ample parking and a restroom. This is a great spot to spend the day, with fun activities close by and a lovely picnic area to relax and watch the children play. Check with the park to see what kind of activities are taking place when you arrive!
Some of the biggest fishing tournaments in the state of Tennessee take place on Kentucky Lake, but thankfully, you don’t have to be an expert to fish in Paris Landing State Park. Anyone with a valid Tennessee fishing license can fish here. Fish from a boat or bring your family to one of the two fishing docks and make a day of putting your poles in the water. This freshwater lake is home to over 100 species of fish like bass, catfish, crappie, walleye, and bluegill. If you are lucky enough to catch some fish, use the marina’s cleaning station to clean and prepare your catch!
Fall, winter, and spring are the perfect seasons for bird lovers to see migrating and nesting waterfowl. Paris Landing has recorded over 185 species of birds inside of the park’s boundaries. Many of these bird sightings are spectacular findings for avid bird watchers, with the bald eagle topping the list of the park’s most loved birds. You can see a variety of birds throughout the park, from the parking lot to the fishing pier to the hiking trails. Make sure to print out a checklist if you would like to keep track of which birds you see.
Visitors looking for a more luxurious accommodation option can try the park's 10 cabins. These three-bedroom cabins offer beautiful views of the Kentucky Lake and can sleep up to 10 people. Each cabin is fitted with two bathrooms with showers, linens, a full kitchen, cable TV, air conditioning, and central heating. You can also enjoy a fire at night using the gas log fireplace.
You can bring along your pets when you stay at select pet-friendly cabins, although you will need to pay an extra nightly fee. These cabins need to reserved in advance of your stay.
Groups looking to camp together can reserve this campsite for their camping trip. Big Eagle Base Group Campsite overlooks roughly 700 feet of the lakeshore, the majority of it being grass-covered ground, ideal for pitching tents and running around.
The whole campsite is about 2.5 acres and sits on the banks of the Kentucky Lake. It can sleep groups of up to 80 people or about 40 tents. Camping facilities include a picnic shelter, a boat launch suitable for kayaks and canoes, fire rings, a big charcoal grill, and a communal restroom with showers. A minimal amount of electricity and water are available, so come prepared with everything you need.
Within the Paris Landing Campground, you will find six camping cabins. These six camping cabins are situated in the campground for visitors looking for a more solid abode, but not wanting to rent a full-blown cabin. These camper cabins can sleep four people at a time and are equipped with two full-sized beds, a mini-fridge, microwave, table and coffee pot. You will need to bring along all your own linen for your stay. All six camping cabins are pet-friendly, and by paying a nominal nightly fee, you can bring along your furry friends.
Boating is a popular activity at Paris Landing State Park. If you are planning on using the marina inside of the state park, you will need to bring your own boat and use the free boat ramp. Kentucky Lake is also the ideal location to get some sailing in, so if you have a sailboat, bring it along. This marina doesn't rent boats, but there are private rental facilities nearby that rent canoes, kayaks, and other watercraft. The seasonally operating marina sells gas (diesel and non-ethanol), bait, ice, beverages, and other general supplies. If you are a keen fisherman, you can also cast a line while you're on the lake and try your hand at catching something.
Golfers who enjoy tree-lined, rolling-hill courses will crave another round at the Paris Landing Golf Course. This 18-hole, 72-par course offers amenities such as a practice green, a driving range, and a snack bar. Golfers can rent clubs, pull carts, and even take lessons. Because this course is a popular venue for tournaments and other events, golfers must reserve a tee time before playing, and reservations are taken up to seven days in advance. Contact the golf course clubhouse for more information.
Don’t forget to bring your swimsuits in your campervan, because your family will love the swimming options available at Paris Landing. Swimming is a favorite seasonal activity, and swimmers can choose to swim at the public beach or the pool. The swimming pool offers seasonal, and daily swimming passes, as well as water aerobics and swimming lessons (for an additional fee). The swim beach has restrooms and a picnic area, but it is a less-structured swimming facility than the pool because there aren’t lifeguards on duty, and you will be swimming at your own risk. Check with the park for seasonal operating hours.
