Army Corps of Engineers · Cheatham Lock and Dam · Ashland City, TN

Lock A

The relaxing yet activity-rich Lock A Campground has something to offer everyone from horseshoe pits to volleyball courts and hiking opportunities, plus a plethora of lake activities as well. Keep in mind, staff will hold a campsite until the check-out time (2:00 pm) on the day following the arrival date. If arrival does not occur before check-out time on the day following the arrival date, the reservation will be canceled.

More like this: electric hookups in Tennessee · reservable in Tennessee · big rigs in Tennessee · pets allowed in Tennessee

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Lock ALOCK ALock A- PlaygroundLock A- Volleyball Court
Photos courtesy of Cheatham · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric37
tent only electric7
Host/management1
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

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

44 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehicles
02ElectricBack-in40GravelPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 1
03ElectricBack-in40GravelFull50 ampYes / –8 / 1
04ElectricBack-in20GravelFull50 ampYes / –5 / 1
05ElectricBack-in36GravelPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 1
06ElectricBack-in20GravelFull50 ampYes / –8 / 1
07ElectricBack-in40PavedPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 1
08ElectricBack-in36GravelFull50 ampYes / –7 / 1
09ElectricBack-in28GravelFull50 ampYes / –8 / 1
10ElectricBack-in32GravelFull50 ampYes / –8 / 1
11ElectricBack-in32GravelFull50 ampYes / –8 / 1

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length40 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed

Both RV and tent sites have 50 amp electric hookups. Additional amenities include hot showers, a dump station, boat launch, playground, picnic shelter and swimming area. A beach and additional playgrounds are available in the adjacent Cheatham Dam Right Bank Recreation Area.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Lock A30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.79 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowFebruary: 4.55 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowMarch: 4.54 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowApril: 4.66 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 5.58 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.42 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.96 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.26 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.76 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 3.78 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 3.86 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowDecember: 4.90 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 37.8°F averageFebruary: 41.5°F averageMarch: 49.3°F averageApril: 57.1°F averageMay: 66.5°F averageJune: 74.6°F averageJuly: 78.5°F averageAugust: 77.7°F averageSeptember: 71.3°F averageOctober: 60.0°F averageNovember: 48.6°F averageDecember: 41.1°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Cheatham L&D, 2 miles from the campground at 392 feet, station USC00401663 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 51 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 1 inch a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Ashland City, Tennessee, take US 12 and go eight miles west to Cheap Hill. Turn left on Cheatham Dam Road traveling west four miles. Turn left into the campground.

Nearest townAshland City, Tennessee
Coordinates36.3158° N, 87.1869° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • However, if you're arrving late, we highly recommend you call the campground to notify the Park Attendant.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearRed River Canoe ↗19.5 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗26.9 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗27.4 mi

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

Explore

Video

Lock A Campground in Tennessee - Walk Through with Campsite #Numbers

Natural features

Lock A is on the north bank of the lake, just upstream from Cheatham Lock and Dam along the Cumberland River in north-central Tennessee.

Recreation

The temperate climate here allows for a lengthy recreation season including boating, swimming, canoeing and fishing. For hikers, the Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail is a rails-to-trails project, which runs 6.5 miles long and crosses Sycamore Creek on a historic abandoned railroad trestle.

Nearby

The Pardue Pond and Dyson Ditch Wildlife Refuges are on the other side of Cheatham lake. Both are excellent places for bird watching and exploring.

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 Lock A?

Sites at Lock A are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Lock A?

Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Lock A have?

45 sites, including 37 standard sites with power and 7 tent only electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Lock A?

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Lock A have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Lock A?

Additional amenities include hot showers, a dump station, boat launch, playground, picnic shelter and swimming area.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Lock A?

Yes, pets are allowed at Lock A. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Lock A?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Lock A?

The temperate climate here allows for a lengthy recreation season including boating, swimming, canoeing and fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Lock A?

Ashland City, Tennessee. The Pardue Pond and Dyson Ditch Wildlife Refuges are on the other side of Cheatham lake.

Source: Getting there

What if Lock A is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Harpeth River Bridge Campground (3.2 mi), Anderson Road Campground (35.6 mi), and Seven Points (36.6 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby