Army Corps of Engineers · Center Hill Lake · Lancaster, TN

Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas

Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping is a unique camping experience at designated areas across Center Hill's 415 miles of shoreline. Primitive camping offers a unique rustic lake front camping experience. Remote locations along the shoreline offer campers a peaceful nature experience. Most designated tent sites are accessible only by boat; while a few can be reached by road. Campers are advised that these areas are remote, primitive sites. Cellular service may be non-existant or limited. Water or electric including restroom facilities of any kind are not availabile.

Reservable · Recreation.gov21 sitesNo hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in Tennessee · pets allowed in Tennessee

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Highway 56 OverlookBlue HerronSunsetPrimitive Camping Guide
Photos courtesy of SB, Danielle Knowles, Kimberly Nash, USACE · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Tent-only21
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

21 sites in 21 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopShadeWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
Big Hurricane - Site 1Big Hurricane - Site 1PartialNo / –Lakefront10 / –Yes
Britch Creek - Site 2Britch Creek - Site 2PartialNo / –Lakefront10 / –Yes
Cane Hollow - Site 3CCane Hollow - Site 3CPartialNo / –Lakefront10 / 5Yes
Cane Hollow -Site 3ACane Hollow -Site 3APartialNo / –Lakefront10 / 5Yes
Cane Hollow -Site 3BCane Hollow -Site 3BPartialNo / –Lakefront10 / 5Yes
Cherry Creek - Site 4Cherry Creek - Site 4PartialNo / –Lakefront10 / –Yes
Crowder Cove - Site 5Crowder Cove - Site 5PartialNo / –Lakefront10 / –Yes
Davies Island East - Site 6Davies Island East - Site 6PartialNo / –Lakefront10 / –Yes
Davies Island North - Site 8Davies Island North - Site 8PartialNo / –Lakefront10 / –Yes
Davies Island West -Site 7Davies Island West -Site 7PartialNo / –Lakefront10 / –Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:30 PM, checkout 03:30 PM.

Campground map of Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas
Campground map published by Army Corps of Engineers on Recreation.gov, credited to USACE. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

No water, electric, or restroom facilities. Sites have signage and a fire pit.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 4.85 inches of precipitationFebruary: 5.14 inches of precipitationMarch: 5.29 inches of precipitationApril: 4.80 inches of precipitationMay: 4.76 inches of precipitationJune: 5.20 inches of precipitationJuly: 5.36 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.91 inches of precipitationSeptember: 4.01 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.54 inches of precipitationNovember: 4.04 inches of precipitationDecember: 5.90 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 38.1°F averageFebruary: 41.3°F averageMarch: 49.3°F averageApril: 59.0°F averageMay: 67.6°F averageJune: 75.5°F averageJuly: 78.9°F averageAugust: 77.6°F averageSeptember: 72.4°F averageOctober: 60.8°F averageNovember: 50.2°F averageDecember: 42.0°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Lancaster Edgar Evins Marina, 1 mile from the campground at 630 feet, station USC00405035 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 57 inches a year.

Getting there

Directions to primitive camp sites start at the nearest USACE facility. The GPS coordinate "Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas" is for Center Hill Dam. 36°05'52.3"N 85°49'32.4"W or 36.097869, -85.825653

Nearest townLancaster, Tennessee
Coordinates36.1023° N, 85.8298° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗5.3 mi
RV sales & serviceBlue Compass ↗31.8 mi
Outdoor gearBink's Outfitters ↗37.4 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Video of Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas — Center Hill Lake, TN from Stephen B.

Worth a stop

Edgar Evins State Park, minutes from Center Hill Dam, sits on the shores of the lake. An observation tower at the Visitor Center offers a spectacular view of Center Hill Lake and the surrounding hillsides. Burgess Falls State Park is a 35-minute drive from the dam. Here, the Falling Water River drops approximately 250 feet, creating numerous breathtaking waterfalls. Hiking trails and overlooks help visitors enjoy the scenery. The large Native Butterfly Garden is a popular attraction within the park. Rock Island State Park is approximately one hour from the dam. Rock Island is located near the confluences of three rivers that make up Center Hill Lake; the Caney Fork, the Collins, and Rocky Rivers.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Lake view rustic camping experience surrounded by mature hardwood trees. Fishing and boating only a few steps from your designated camping site.

Recreation

Primitive camping Center Hill Lake is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise filled with camping, fishing, boating, and hiking experiences. Center Hill Lake is known for its fishing opportunities and host a lot of fishing tournaments.

Guidebooks for Tennessee

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Tennessee
    Johnny Molloy, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Campgrounds in and Around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
    Grueen Huffman, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Tennessee
    Kelley Roark, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas?

Sites at Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas?

Check-in 02:30 PM, checkout 03:30 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas have?

21 sites, including 21 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas?

Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas?

Yes, pets are allowed at Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas?

Primitive camping Center Hill Lake is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise filled with camping, fishing, boating, and hiking experiences. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas?

Lancaster, Tennessee. Edgar Evins State Park, minutes from Center Hill Dam, sits on the shores of the lake.

Source: Getting there

What if Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Long Branch (0.2 mi), Floating Mill Park (5.4 mi), and Ragland Bottom (10.6 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby