Cookeville is the largest city in Putnam County, Tennessee, with 62,000 people. It's home to Tennessee Tech University and is surrounded by mountains. Golf lovers will appreciate the six courses in town, and dozens more a short drive away. If you tire of rustic campsite fare, Cookeville has over 100 restaurants to appease your appetite.
Campgrounds can be found within 18 to 45 miles from the city limits, offering a variety of options whether you're roughing it in a tent, trailer, RV or if you prefer a cabin.
Maple Grove Campground is located 18 miles northwest of Cookeville, in Granville, Tennessee. Open year-round, it has 38 sites with full hook-ups, a large pool and a covered pavilion with a fireplace. There are laundry facilities and a camp store selling everything from candy to fishing tackle, which will come in handy when you follow the pathway from the campground to Cordell Hull lake for a day of fishing.
The Deer Run RV Resort sits on the Cumberland Plateau in Crossville, Tennessee, 42 miles southeast of Cookeville. It has RV sites with hook-ups, tent sites and cabins and trailers for rent. In addition to a 25-acre private lake with a beach and fishing access, there's also a basketball court, tennis court, volleyball, horseshoe pits, swimming pool and an on-site massage therapist to help you relax after you play. Guests have access to free wireless Internet, laundry facilities and a convenience store.
This 6,000-acre state park is at the edge of Center Hill Lake, 20 miles west of Cookeville. Wildlife is abundant here, including owls, hawks and bald eagles. Guests can stay in one of the 60 tent or trailer sites with hook-ups, or rent one of the one-bedroom suites in the lodging complex, which also has a meeting room for conferences or events. For the outdoor enthusiast, there are 11 miles of hiking trails, guides that teach about the local history, flora and fauna and fishing at the lake.
Guests can enjoy fishing, boating, golf and hiking at this 1,720-acre state park, 42 miles southeast of Cookeville. If you're looking for a more comfortable camping experience, the cabins here come equipped with full kitchens and cable TV. Otherwise, you can choose one of the 145 RV or tent sites. The park has a restaurant with a seafood buffet, if you aren't catching your own dinner by fishing in Byrd Lake. For those who don't want to fish, you can also rent paddle boats or canoes to enjoy the lake.
