Land Between the Lakes has Basic, Dispersed, and Self-Service camping options as alternatives to the more developed campgrounds. We have 11 self-service campgrounds and 5 designated basic camping facilities which offer year-round lakeside camping. Although these areas have fewer amenities than our developed campgrounds, they can offer solitude and a more primitive camping experience.
You may camp almost anywhere in Land Between the Lakes. A Basic Camping Permit is required for each person 18 and over when camping in Basic Camping Facilities. A Dispersed Camping Permit is required when camping in non-designated areas of the recreation area. Both permits currently cost $50 for an annual permit and $10 for a 3-day permit and can be purchased online or any of our facilities. Please note that these permits do not apply when camping at Self-Service Campgrounds.
Basic Campground amenities include defined campsites, fire rings and/or grills, picnic tables, vault toilet, trash removal, mowed areas, and a boat ramp. Basic Campgrounds include:
• Twin Lakes
A Basic Camping Area is an open field area without defined campsites. Amenities might include a vault toilet, trash removal, mowed areas, and a boat ramp. However, they may or may not have picnic tables and fire rings and/or grills. You may camp anywhere within the camping area with a Basic Camping Permit. Basic Camping Areas include:
• Demumbers Bay
• Pisgah Point
• Ginger Bay
• Neville Bay
Dispersed Camping includes remote campsites throughout the recreation area. Areas at the ends of forest roads or along the lakeshore often make wonderful campsites. If you camp in a location not designated on our map, it is considered dispersed camping. Read the full Camping Rules to learn where you can and cannot camp.
You pay a nightly per camping unit fee for camping at Self-Service campgrounds. The Basic/Backcountry Permit cannot be used at Self-Service Campgrounds. At Self-Service Campgrounds, you choose a site, fill out a provided fee envelope, insert your camping fee into the envelope, and deposit the envelope in the “Iron Ranger” fee tube at the entrance. Please do this within 30 minutes of setting up your camp.
Self-Service Campgrounds offer basic amenities including designated campsite pads, picnic tables, grills, fire rings, vault toilets, trash pickup, lake access, and boat ramps.
Self-Service Campgrounds include:
• Cravens Bay
• Fenton
• Turkey Bay Off-Highway Vehicle Area
• Nickell Branch
• Birmingham Ferry
• Smith Bay
• Sugar Bay
• Taylor Bay
• Redd Hollow
• Boswell Landing
• Gatlin Point
Leave firewood at home – do not transport it to campgrounds. Use firewood from local sources.
If you have moved firewood, burn all of it before leaving your campsite.
