Army Corps of Engineers · Tennessee
Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas
Army Corps of Engineers · Tennessee, United States
- Sites
- 21
- Hookups
- 21 with water, 21 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 551 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Center Hill Lake
- Nearest town
- Lancaster
- Address
- 158 Resource Lane, Lancaster, TN, 38569
- Phone
- 931-858-3125
- Activities
- Backpacking, Birding, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Jet Skiing, Kayaking, Motor Boat, Paddling
21 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping is a unique camping experience at designated areas across Center Hill's 415 miles of shoreline. Primitive camping offers a unique rustic lake front camping experience. Remote locations along the shoreline offer campers a peaceful nature experience. Most designated tent sites are accessible only by boat; while a few can be reached by road.
Campers are advised that these areas are remote, primitive sites. Cellular service may be non-existant or limited. Water or electric including restroom facilities of any kind are not availabile. Campers desiring on-site attendant, security, and law enforcement services are encouraged to use developed campgrounds where such services are provided. These services are not provided for primitive camping.
Recreation
Primitive camping
Center Hill Lake is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise filled with camping, fishing, boating, and hiking experiences. Center Hill Lake is known for its fishing opportunities and host a lot of fishing tournaments.
Facilities
No water, electric, or restroom facilities. Sites have signage and a fire pit.
Natural Features
Lake view rustic camping experience surrounded by mature hardwood trees. Fishing and boating only a few steps from your designated camping site.
Nearby Attractions
Edgar Evins State Park, minutes from Center Hill Dam, sits on the shores of the lake. An observation tower at the Visitor Center offers a spectacular view of Center Hill Lake and the surrounding hillsides.
Burgess Falls State Park is a 35-minute drive from the dam. Here, the Falling Water River drops approximately 250 feet, creating numerous breathtaking waterfalls. Hiking trails and overlooks help visitors enjoy the scenery. The large Native Butterfly Garden is a popular attraction within the park.
Rock Island State Park is approximately one hour from the dam. Rock Island is located near the confluences of three rivers that make up Center Hill Lake; the Caney Fork, the Collins, and Rocky Rivers.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45° | 30° | 5° | 69° | 9 of 11 |
| February | 53° | 35° | 17° | 72° | 8 of 11 |
| March | 63° | 44° | 25° | 82° | 5 of 11 |
| April | 71° | 52° | 37° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 81° | 64° | 45° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 86° | 70° | 55° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 73° | 63° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 87° | 73° | 64° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 85° | 68° | 56° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 71° | 52° | 38° | 89° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 61° | 44° | 23° | 78° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 53° | 37° | 16° | 68° | 7 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Long Branch (Center Hill Lake) · Army Corps of Engineers · 0 mi · 61 sites
- Edgar Evins State Park · Tennessee State Parks · 1 mi · 69 sites
- Floating Mill Park · Army Corps of Engineers · 5 mi · 101 sites
- Ragland Bottom · Army Corps of Engineers · 11 mi · 57 sites
- Defeated Creek Park · Army Corps of Engineers · 14 mi · 158 sites
All public campgrounds in Tennessee · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.