Campgrounds and RV parks near Carthage, TN

Carthage sits along the Cumberland River in Smith County, Middle Tennessee, roughly an hour east of Nashville. The town serves as a practical base for exploring Cordell Hull Lake, a 12,000-acre Army Corps of Engineers reservoir that stretches 72 miles upstream and includes 381 miles of shoreline. Center Hill Lake and the Caney Fork River lie a short drive south, adding a second large water-recreation area within easy reach. RV options around Carthage range from private parks to federal and state campgrounds. Cumberland Valley RV Ranch, Made In The Shade RV Park, and TN40RV Campground offer private full-hookup sites geared to travelers. Defeated Creek Marina Campground is a Corps of Engineers facility about seven miles from Carthage on Cordell Hull Lake, with 155 sites that all include electric hookups, plus a boat ramp, swimming beach, playground, and adjacent marina. Edgar Evins State Park, on Center Hill Lake near Silver Point, sits about sixteen miles from the Defeated Creek area and is known for its wooden-platform campsites overlooking the lake.

Reservation systems differ by operator. Defeated Creek Marina Campground and other Army Corps of Engineers sites on Cordell Hull Lake are booked through Recreation.gov, either on the website or the mobile app. The system supports gate-code access for late arrivals, and reservations are strongly recommended for waterfront sites, which fill quickly in peak months. Stays are capped at 14 nights within any 30-day period on Corps property. Edgar Evins State Park uses the Tennessee State Parks reservation system at reserve.tnstateparks.com. Advanced reservations may be made up to one year in advance, with a non-refundable reservation fee per campsite, and most campsites require a two-night minimum stay. Private parks including Cumberland Valley RV Ranch, Made In The Shade RV Park, and TN40RV Campground handle bookings directly through their own websites or by phone.