Is Reelfoot Lake State Park first-come first-served or reservation?

Reelfoot Lake State Park accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Reelfoot Lake State Park before I book?

Yes! Reelfoot Lake State Park has 17 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

Are there showers at Reelfoot Lake State Park?

Yes, Reelfoot Lake State Park has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Is there cell service at Reelfoot Lake State Park?

Cell phone service at Reelfoot Lake State Park is generally available. Cell service is available. Coverage may vary by carrier and exact location within the campground.

How many campsites does Reelfoot Lake State Park have?

Reelfoot Lake State Park has 86 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Reelfoot Lake State Park?

Pets are not allowed at Reelfoot Lake State Park. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Reelfoot Lake State Park?

Reelfoot Lake State Park offers: Showers, Potable Water, Dump Station, Electrical Hookups, Water Hookups, Sewer Hookups. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Reelfoot Lake State Park?

Popular activities at Reelfoot Lake State Park include Hiking, Fishing, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Reelfoot Lake State Park

4.36

61 reviews

Top 1% in TNSpring

FishingSummer Destination

Featured in:Best Campgrounds Tennessee

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

308 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

86 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Check Policy

Full HookupsPull-ThroughUp to 115 ftShowers

Book on Tennessee State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

308 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

86 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Check Policy

Full HookupsPull-ThroughUp to 115 ftShowers

Book on Tennessee State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Reelfoot Lake State Park

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No paid fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

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Share this campground

Itinio

Provider

731-253-9652

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Reelfoot Lake State Park

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Campground Map

Reelfoot Lake State Park

36.4258, -89.3735

Nearby supplies

No nearby grocery reported

visitors are advised to bring provisions

Weather at Reelfoot Lake State Park

Best Time to Camp at Reelfoot Lake State Park

Spring delivers the sweet spot: March through May brings daytime highs between 55°F and 75°F, cool mornings for paddling, and peak wildlife activity as migratory birds flood the wetlands. April and May also mean peak fishing crowds and harder reservations. Winters turn cold and windy across the open water. Summer gets muggy and busy on holiday weekends. Low-lying tent sites and access routes can pond or flood after heavy rain, especially in spring. Photography and birding are best in early spring before leaves fully canopy the cypress.

Best

Spring(Mar-May)

5.0 / 5

Top 1% in TN

Described as the 'sweet spot': peak wildlife, ideal temps, and excellent paddling/birding in Mar–May.

Planning Tips

About Reelfoot Lake State Park

Reelfoot Lake State Park sits on the shores of a 15,000-acre flooded-cypress lake in northwest Tennessee, formed by the 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes. The park offers 86 paved sites with electric and water hookups, three bathhouses, and access to exceptional birding, fishing, and kayaking. Spring draws heavy crowds during bass and crappie season, but lakefront sites with sunset views reward early planners.

The park provides 86 paved RV/tent sites with 20/30/50-amp electric and water hookups, and cabins are available.

Historical Significance

Reelfoot Lake was born in the winter of 1811–1812, when the New Madrid earthquakes. Among the most powerful ever recorded in the continental U.S. Dropped land and reversed the flow of the Mississippi River, flooding a forested basin. The park offers interpretive tours and programs that tell the lake's seismic origin story.

Weather and SeasonsSpring delivers the sweet spot: March through May brings daytime highs between 55°F and 75°F, cool mornings for paddling, and peak wildlife activity as migratory birds flood the wetlands. April and May also mean peak fishing crowds and harder reservations. Winters turn cold and windy across the open water. Summer gets muggy and busy on holiday weekends. Low-lying tent sites and access routes can pond or flood after heavy rain, especially in spring. Photography and birding are best in early spring before leaves fully canopy the cypress.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground borders a shallow wetland forest dominated by towering bald cypress (locally called white cedar) rising from dark water thick with aquatic plants. Boardwalks snake through the flooded timber, close enough to spot pelicans, eagles, and wading birds hunting among the stumps. The lake stretches flat and wide, its surface broken only by cypress knees and the occasional fishing boat. Elevation sits at 308 feet in a region of otherwise featureless northwest Tennessee farmland. Sunsets bleed orange and pink across the open water, framed by silhouetted cypress. Snakes are common along the shoreline and in low-lying areas.

Geological RegionNorthwest Tennessee; Reelfoot Lake is part of the New Madrid Seismic Zone (formed by the 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes)

Scenic ViewsOutstanding lakefront sites with notable sunset views; some South Campground sites provide direct lake views (sites #14–21 in South Campground are frequently recommended).

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsItinio (state park campsite/reservation page; reservation system typically UseDirect-based)

Total Campsites86 campsites

Best CampsitesLakefront sites beat those near the main road. In South Campground, sites 14 through 21 are praised for lake views and seclusion, especially during the quieter fall and winter months. Avoid South Campground entirely in April and May unless you book months ahead. Spring fishing season packs the loops tight.

Need help booking Reelfoot Lake State Park?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Park offers paved RV/tent sites with electric and water hookups, multiple bathhouses with showers and laundry/dishwashing facilities, and a dump station at the entrance.

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Water hookups

Sewer hookups

Dump station

I manage this campground

RV details

Electric hookups84 of 197 sites (43%)

Water hookups89 of 197 sites (45%)

Sewer hookups59 of 197 sites (30%)

59 full hookup sites13 pull-through sitesUp to 115 ft vehicles

Activities you can enjoy

Reelfoot Lake offers wildlife viewing and water-based recreation centered on the lake and boardwalks, plus trails for short hikes and sightseeing.

Hiking

Fishing

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsFlooding/standing water in low-lying areas after rains and in some tent sites; presence of local wildlife including snakes; variable cell coverage reported in parts of the park.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

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From Booking Sources

4.4

61 reviews

Recommended

Reelfoot Lake State Park is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors consistently praise the park's unique flooded-cypress scenery, abundant birdlife (including eagles and pelicans), clean bathhouses, and interpretive tours. Common positives are scenery, wildlife viewing, and organized tours; common negatives include seasonal overcrowding, low-lying/flood-prone tent areas, occasional trash or facility closures, and mixed cell coverage.

Review Summaries

Based on 61 reviews

What Campers Love

Outstanding lakefront views and sunsets, excellent birding and wildlife viewing, clean/heated bathhouses, pontoon/bus/pelican tours and interpretive programs, well-maintained sites overall.

Based on 61 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Book sites online in advance for spring fishing and festival periods; prefer lakefront sites (South Campground sites noted for lake views and seclusion); bring food/provisions as nearby services are...

Based on 61 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Beautiful and such interesting history of how earthquakes created the lake.”; “If I could give 0 stars I would…closed down in May without notice after booking.”; “Great place for photographing...

Based on 61 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.

Go if

Birders, kayakers, and bass fishermen who lock in South Campground sites 14-21 early will get lakefront sunsets and direct wildlife access that justify the trip from anywhere in the mid-South.

Skip if

Tent campers who can't tolerate soggy ground should know the low-lying sites pond after rain, and there's no swimming, no nearby grocery, and spring weekends are genuinely hard to book.

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