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You want lakefront primitive camping with fishing access and don't need developed amenities or hookups.
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$5/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
70 campsites
Season
Open season: January...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$5/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
70 campsites
Season
Open season: January...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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Learn more about alerts →Dale Hollow Lake - Primitive Camping
Resource Managers Office, Dale Hollow Lake, 540 Dale Hollow Dam Road, Celina, TN 38551
You want lakefront primitive camping with fishing access and don't need developed amenities or hookups.
You need maintained facilities, guaranteed site security, or prefer campgrounds without alcohol restrictions.
Context for the broader area surrounding Dale Hollow Lake - Primitive Camping, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
Dale Hollow Lake is a vacation destination that borders the Tennessee-Kentucky state line. Dale Hollow Dam and Lake was completed in 1943. Although the dam was built for flood control and power generation, it has now become a recreational oasis for more than 3 million visitors each year. The dam is located on the Obey River, about 3 miles east of Celina, Tennessee. Surrounded by a thick expanse of forest, the clear blue lake creates a stunning scenic backdrop for a variety of water and land recreational activities. <p>Dale Hollow is also renowned for its fishing opportunities. In addition to yielding the world record Smallmouth Bass and being known as a trophy Smallmouth lake, the Obey River below Dale Hollow Dam is also known for excellent rainbow and brown trout fishing. Boating and water skiing are also popular activities, and with 27,700 surface acres of water and 620 miles of shoreline, there is plenty of space for campers to explore the lake. Secluded tie-ups are located around the shore, offering visitors a peaceful nature experience. Visitors desiring modern camping facilities will enjoy four developed campgrounds providing premier water-front camp sites equipped with water and electric hookup. <p>The Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery is located a short distance below the dam. Operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the hatchery is the largest federal trout hatchery east of the Mississippi, producing 1.5 million trout annually. The hatchery is open to visitors daily.
From Nashville, 69 miles east on I-40, 17 miles north on TN 56, 23 miles north on TN 53 to Celina, follow signs.
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Best season: fall. Fall offers the best combination of weather, scenery, and fishing — daytime highs typically range from the mid-40s to low 70s°F (5–22°C), with crisp mornings and clear evenings ideal for campfires. Autumn foliage around the lake is at its peak from mid-October through early November, making paddling into secluded coves and shoreline hikes especially scenic, and bass and trout fishing often remains productive. Crowds thin on weekdays after Labor Day, though weekends can still see boat traffic, so Peak months: October, November, September, May
Best season: foliage and bass fishing peak in Oct–Nov; crisp, pleasant camping weather.
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No water; please bring your own. Toilet facility consists of vault/pit type. You must bring your own toilet paper. Cove Creek is the only location with drinking water.
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