Montgomery Bell State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Montgomery Bell State Park spans 3,850 acres and features three lakes, forests, a beach area, and several flowing streams. The beach, lakes, and rugged trails are perfect for many outdoor activities, including swimming, sunbathing, paddling, hiking, fishing, golfing, kayaking, and pedal boating. Spring and early fall offer mild temperatures, while winters are harsh and frigid. Summers are the perfect temperature for all outdoor activities and give visitors the best experience at the state park. Nearby attractions include Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, the Belle Mead Historic Site, and the Customs House Museum. Montgomery Bell State Park hosts many annual events, including the TNGIC annual conference, Bell Ringer 50K, and Tour the Trace.
Nearby Cities
Dickson, TN
Burns, TN
Bell Town, TN
Nashville, TN
Spring 49-68 F
Summer 70-88 F
Fall 52-70 F
Winter 31-45 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Montgomery Bell State Park
Campground Accommodations
Montgomery Bell State Park Campground
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 60 feet
Other amenities: Restrooms, showers, picnic tables
Dickson RV Park
If you’re looking for a spot that’s local and offers all the basics without any fancy frills, Dickson RV Park has you covered. With full-hookup, pet-friendly sites and seasonal rates available, you may just decide you want to stay for longer than you thought!
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: pool, pull-thru sites
Tanbark Campground
Comprised of a serene and sprawling 120-acre parcel of land just a few miles south of Dickson, Tanbark Campground is an ideal resting spot that’s easy to find from the highway. Its hookup sites offer up to 50 amps of electrical service, and it’s equipped with on-site bath house and laundry facilities, so you’ll be able to sit back, relax, and get ready to enjoy all the state park has to offer at your leisure. (Oh, and did we mention it’s a Passport America property?)
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: n/a
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: heated bath house, on-site laundry, picnic tables, Passport America discount
What to Do at
Montgomery Bell State Park
Montgomery Bell State Park offers many outdoor activities, including swimming, hiking, fishing, golfing, biking, and canoeing. Visit during an annual race or festival or explore the history of the iron industry. The state park has three lakes within its many acres, making it the perfect place for peace and solitude or just a quick escape from the city. You can rent paddle boats, kayaks, canoes, and float-bottom fishing boats at the state park during the summer.
Montgomery Bell State Park is beautiful, with lush forests, a beach, access to three lakes, and freshwater streams. The park has picturesque views and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities.
Inside Montgomery Bell State Park
If you’ve ever wandered through a Tennessee forest trail, you probably don’t need to be told why Montgomery Bell State Park is an attractive destination. The lush landscape and cool countryside breezes speak for themselves.
But just in case you’re wondering what all you’ll do with yourself once you get there, here are some of the most common pastimes pursued inside the park.
Hiking, biking, and birding - If you’re all about getting back in touch with nature the old fashioned way, Montgomery Bell State Park won’t disappoint. It’s got a vast network of hiking and mountain biking trails, and its trees are home to some of the most beautiful and unique birds in the state -- so be sure to remember to look up!
Paddling and swimming - Boats (without outboard motors) are allowed on all three lakes inside Montgomery Bell State Park, and the swim beach on Lake Acorn is free and available to the public, Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Kayaks and pedal boats are also available for rental at an affordable cost of $18 per hour.
Golfing - Montgomery Bell State Park is home to a unique, wooded golf course that was originally built back in 1973 and redesigned in 1988. Keep an eye out for the deer, geese, and wild turkey who call the course home while you’re swinging!
Fishing - Properly-licensed Tennessee fisherfolk can reel bass, bream, and catfish from 50-acre Lake Woodhaven.
Fishing
At Montgomery Bell State Park, you can catch many fish species, including bluegill, shell cracker, largemouth bass, crappie, creel, and channel catfish. Review posted fishing signs, as you must release all black bass back into the river unharmed, and you cannot catch and keep largemouth bass over 15 inches. There's a limit of 30 for creel and crappie.
Geocaching
Check with staff at the Visitor Center about the website for the current geocaching event. You can follow the geocache and find amazing things while enjoying a fun and carefree adventure.
Nature Watching
Montgomery Bell State Park is an extraordinary place for nature watching as many bird species exist. You'll see the tufted titmouse, barrel owl, Carolina chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, Northern parula, yellow-throated vireos, warblers, red-eyed vireos, mallards, bald eagles, and wood ducks. There are many vantage points from the lake and forest where you can see these amazing bird species.
Stargazing
Montgomery Bell State Park hosts regular stargazing events at the ballfield on the campground. However, campers can view stars, constellations, and planets from the ballfield or campground at any time with binoculars or telescopes.
Flora and Fauna
The plants and flowers you'll see at the park include American cancer root, blue phlox, fan clubmoss, rue anemone, Allegheny spurge, twisted trillium, Christmas fern, mayapple, and star chickweed. The wildlife species at Montgomery Bell State Park start with many toads and frogs, including the American toad, Northern cricket frog, Southern leopard frog, and pickerel frogs. You'll also see garter snakes, common watersnakes, and ring-neck snakes. Other wildlife species you'll find are common snapping turtles, pond sliders, red-bellied woodpeckers, wild turkeys, pied-billed grebe, Eastern gray squirrels, white-tailed beavers, white-tailed deer, and raccoons.
Hiking
There are several trails to choose from at this park. One of the longest trails, the Montgomery Bell Overnight Trail is 10.4 miles long and is the most challenging trail at the park. Another popular trail, the Spillway Trail is just 0.3 miles long and is rated as easy with mild terrain.
Boating
You can boat on all three Montgomery Bell State Park lakes. You can use kayaks, canoes, pedal boats, and flat-bottom fishing boats. Outboard motors are not permitted anywhere within the state park. You can launch your boats from the Lake Woodhaven boat ramp.
Swimming
There's a beach area on Lake Acorn, however, no lifeguard is available, so use caution when swimming.
Biking
This state park offers 23 miles of bike trails ideal for mountain biking. You'll find the trails toward the northern end of the park, and the trails are color-coded as red for beginners, white or blue for intermediate, and green or yellow for expert or advanced riders. You cannot ride bikes on the hiking trail and vice versa. In addition, you cannot ride motorized bikes at the park, and the bike trails close at sunset.
How to Get to
Montgomery Bell State Park
From Nashville, take 1-40 West to Exit 182/Fairview/Dickson Hwy 96. Turn left onto Hwy 96 from the ramp. Continue on Hwy 96 from the exit ramp. Continue on Hwy 96 until you reach the dead end. Turn right onto Hwy 70 and continue for three miles until you reach the park entrance on the right.
Entering Montgomery Bell State Park
There isn't an entry fee or parking fee to visit Montgomery Bell State Park.
Whether you find yourself enjoying your Montgomery Bell State Park adventure in the comfort and convenience of an RVshare rental, or your travel plans lead you somewhere else entirely, we can’t wait to learn all about what you get into. Tag us in your social media posts, or send details and photos to us directly at [email protected]. We may choose your trip to be featured on our blog or social media channels!
Frequently Asked Questions About Montgomery Bell State Park
The best time to visit Montgomery Bell State Park is late spring and early fall since temperatures are mild and during these times, the state park is less populated. Summers are great for most outdoor activities, but the state park is crowded during peak seasons.
At Montgomery Bell State Park, include American toads, Northern cricket frogs, Southern leopard frogs, pickerel frogs, garter snakes, common watersnakes, ring-neck snakes, common snapping turtles, pond sliders, red-bellied woodpeckers, wild turkeys, pied-billed grebe, Eastern gray squirrel, white-tailed beaver, white-tailed deer, raccoons, and spiders.
Yes, there are 47 sites at Montgomery Bell State Park designated for RVs. These camping spots have water and electrical hookups. You can review the map at the Visitor Center to help you choose the best site for your trip.
You aren't required to make a reservation, but it is recommended that you reserve a camping spot as the park can reach maximum capacity quickly in the summer and around holidays. The camping fee is $28 a night plus a $5 nonrefundable reservation fee. If you cancel your reservation, there is a $10 fee.
Pets are allowed at Montgomery Bell State Park, however, you must keep pets on a leash no longer than six feet. Dogs and cats are welcome at the state park but aren't allowed in the beach area or in any of the buildings.
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