The area of Spring Hill, located in scenic Middle Tennessee, is a camping destination well-suited for active lovers of the outdoors, as well as people with historical interests. Featuring the site of the famed Battle of Spring Hill, the area also offers Henry Horton State Park and the picturesque Duck River.
Campgrounds
There are a couple of campgrounds around Spring Hill that can serve your camping needs, whether you're looking for RV camping, cabins or tent camping. For instance, Campers RV Park has 40 sites for RV camping as well as tent camping, with pull-through sites, 50-amp hookups, water and sewer, and pool access.
For larger camping groups, the Ridley 4-H Center is a suitable choice. Located on a University of Tennessee at Knoxville extension campus "in the beautiful rolling hills of Columbia, Tennessee," as its website says, the campground has 10 climate-controlled cabins that can hold up to 400 campers. Amenities include a dining hall that serves up to 450 people, an Olympic-sized pool, a 100-foot figure-8 waterslide, and the Ridley Lodge, which has wireless Internet, cable TV and a full kitchen.
Spring Hill Battlefield
On your camping trip near Spring Hill, you can visit Spring Hill Battlefield, the site of the Nov. 29, 1864 battle, which gives you the opportunity to see and learn about what CivilWarTraveler.com calls "one of the most controversial events of the war." You can enjoy an interpretive walking tour of the site as well as a tour of Ferguson Hall, where Confederate Gen. Earl Van Dorn was shot dead by a jealous husband in 1863.
There is a nine-stop driving tour brochure as well if you prefer, with features including Oaklawn, Gen. John Bell Hood's headquarters, and a part of the battlefield that has been preserved in a 110-acre park. The closest campground to the battlefield is in nearby Columbia at Campers RV Park, just 10 miles away.
Duck River
Designated a State Scenic River, the Duck River, approximately 10 miles from Spring Hill, is a popular destination for canoeing and camping. With River Rate Canoe Rental Inc., a family-owned canoe rental and service company that has been around for more than 25 years, you can rent equipment and take self-guided family-friendly tours ranging from 5 miles to 29 miles. Camping is available along the river on a first-come, first-served basis through Henry Horton State Park.
Henry Horton State Park
Located in Middle Tennessee's picturesque rolling hills, Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill is just a 20-minute drive from Spring Hill and a popular destination for Spring Hill residents and tourists. The 1,140-acre park has a championship 18-hole golf course, and three hiking trails that offers glimpses of wildlife such as wild turkey and deer. In the summer, you can enjoy fishing in the Duck River, swimming in the park's Olympic-sized pool, volleyball, basketball or a picnic.
The park has 75 campsites, available on a first-come, first-served basis and situated along the Duck River. Choose from 21 primitive tent-camping sites, a large group primitive tent-camping site, and 54 sites equipped with tables, grills, and water and electrical hook-ups.
When to Go
Known for its hot, humid summers and cold winters, Middle Tennessee is a more popular camping destination in the summer, offering attractions such as swimming and water sports. But campers can enjoy the area and its attractions even in winter, as long as they come prepared with the proper clothing and gear. Snowfall typically occurs from the end of October through the beginning of April, with a peak in January of about 3.5 inches, so protective snow gear is a must during this period.
Member Comments