Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga are popular starting points for RV adventure.
The average rental runs about $115/night, with travel trailers starting around $80/night and Class C motorhomes typically running $155/night. A popular size in TN is a class C because they are smaller, making them easier to maneuver on city streets and winding country roads.
Small pop-up campers rent for as little as $65 per night while large motorhomes with room to sleep up to 10 people start at $300 per night.
Tennessee has one of the strongest RV itineraries in the South — Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the most visited in the country), the Cumberland Plateau, Fall Creek Falls, and easy access to Nashville and Memphis make it a state that rewards repeat trips.
Great Smoky Mountains campgrounds have strict size limits on many sites. Elkmont and Cades Cove campgrounds — the most popular on the Tennessee side — cap most sites at 35 feet. Cades Cove loop road has a 35-foot vehicle length limit. Confirm your total rig length before booking through Recreation.gov.
A mid-size Class C is the most versatile rig for East Tennessee. The roads through the Smoky Mountains, the Cades Cove loop, and the Cherohala Skyway are paved but narrow and winding. A Class C under 30 feet navigates all of them. A large Class A works at the main campgrounds but limits scenic road access in the Smokies.
A travel trailer setup makes more sense for Nashville and Memphis day trips. Both cities have RV parks within reasonable distance, but parking a large motorhome near downtown is impractical. A travel trailer with a tow vehicle lets you base camp outside the city and drive in.
Amenities. Use the filters in the RVShare search at the top of the page to narrow by pet friendly, specific appliances, accessibility, and more.
Tennessee is easy to navigate with advance planning on the Smoky Mountains campgrounds. A few specifics:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park campgrounds are among the most competitive in the NPS system. Elkmont, Cades Cove, and Smokemont (NC side) all book through Recreation.gov. Reservations open 6 months in advance. Summer and fall weekends fill within hours, especially during fall colors. Book the moment the window opens.
Cades Cove is closed to vehicle traffic Wednesday and Saturday mornings. The Cades Cove loop road closes to motor vehicles until 10am on these days for cyclists and pedestrians. Plan your driving day accordingly if Cades Cove is on your itinerary.
Fall Creek Falls State Park is one of the highest waterfalls east of the Rockies. The park has full hookup campsites and is one of the most popular in Tennessee. Books through Tennessee State Parks and fills fast for spring and fall weekends.
The Natchez Trace Parkway enters Tennessee from the south. The Trace runs through the western part of the state to Nashville. Meriwether Lewis Campground near Hohenwald has free primitive sites — no hookups, first-come. A good option for a scenic overnight on the Trace.
Camping is very popular in Tennessee, so regardless of where you roam, you are sure to find a campground meeting your needs. Remember that some campgrounds, especially those at higher elevations, may not be open in the winter.
You can also find free primitive campgrounds, especially in Cherokee National Forest. Note that the Parksville Lake Campground offers full hookups and charges $20 per night. State parks often charge under $20 per night, and there is no entrance fee to Tennessee state parks. Some of these campsites are primitive while others have full hookups.
You can also stay at privately owned campgrounds. For example, consider the Pine Mountain RV Park by the Creek. This campground that is only two blocks from the Pigeon Forge Parkway leading to Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers full hookups, a splash pad, and laundry facilities.
50-site campground
Lake
Kayak and standup paddleboard rentals
Boat ramp
Swimming beach
15 miles of hiking trails
Fishing
57 camping spots
Lake
Kayak and paddleboard rentals
Fishing
5.5 miles of hiking trails
117 campsites
Sadie Ford Heritage Farm and Cultural Art Center
Disc golf course
10 miles of hiking trails
12.5 miles of horseback riding trails
106 campsites
Lake
Swimming pool
7 miles of hiking trails
3.5-mile bike path
Fishing
Cumberland Mountain State Park
145 campsites
Golf course
Paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, tandem kayaks, pedal boats, and fishing boats for rent
Fishing
Swimming pool
14 miles of hiking trails
David Crockett Birthplace State Park
85 campsites
Boat launch
Swimming pool
1.1 miles of hiking trails
97 camping spots
Restaurant
Lake
Swimming pool
3-mile bike path
Fishing
Boat Launch
60 camping spots
11 miles of hiking trail
Storybook hiking trail
Lake
Fishing
You can find many RV dump stations if you choose to camp in a campground that does not offer sewer services. Take a look at our guide to learn about specific options.
Many state parks and state recreation areas offer dump stations.
You can also find many at major truck stops. Some campgrounds will let you use their dump station for a fee, even if you do not stay with them.
In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can find dump stations at the Cades Cove, Cosby, Deep Creek, Look Rock, and Smokemont campgrounds and across from the Sugarlands Visitors Center.
Options within the Cherokee National Forest, include the Chilhowee Campground, Rock Creek Campground, and the Indian Boundary Recreation Area.
You can divide Tennessee into four large regions, and there are fantastic landmarks to visit in each of them.
Consider basing a trip to Western Tennessee in Memphis, Shiloh, or Jackson. If you are a music lover, visit Graceland, the Tina Turner Museum-West Tennessee Heritage Delta Center, and the Beale Street Historic District. Wolf River is a fantastic place to go kayaking.
The middle part of the state, near Nashville and Franklin, is a great place to explore. Learn more about the Civil War in Tennessee by touring The Carter House and Carton Plantation. If you have children, the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring and the Adventure Science Center are great places for STEM education. See art at the First Center for Visual Arts and animals at the Nashville Zoo.
The area around Bristol and Knoxville in Eastern Tennessee holds many adventures you will enjoy. This region is home to the Cherokee National Forest, and the Appalachian Trail transverses it. The Ocoee River is a fantastic spot for a whitewater rafting trip. You will want to visit the underground waterfalls at Ruby Falls. Ride the Incline Railroad to the top of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga.
About 13 million people explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park annually. This park is one of the most biodiverse areas in the nation, boasting more kinds of species per square mile than almost anywhere else. It is hard to take in all this park offers in one visit, so if you have already been there, consider going again.
On average expect to pay $174 per night in Tennessee.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Tennessee?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Tennessee from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Tennessee?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
Do you need a special license to drive an RV in Tennessee?No. You don’t need a special license or CDL to drive an RV in Tennessee.
