Clarksville’s hiking is better than the interstate suggests. Ten minutes from town, Dunbar Cave State Park wraps wooded trails around Swan Lake and the mouth of a cave that’s drawn people in since prehistoric times. Forty-five minutes northwest, Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area spreads 170,000 acres of trail country between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, running from short interpretive loops to all-day backcountry routes. And the Cumberland River cuts through downtown with a paved riverwalk for flat, easy miles when that’s the right speed.
That range is the point: you can match the trail to the day, the weather, and whoever’s hiking with you. This guide covers the trails worth your boots near Clarksville and roughly how hard each runs, plus where to base between hikes. Clarksville RV Resort, a mile off I-24 at Exit 1, puts all of it within day-trip range, with full hookup sites for travel trailers and motorhomes and cabins for hikers without a rig.
Dunbar Cave State Park: The Everyday Trail
Dunbar Cave is the hike you do without planning. The state park sits 10 minutes from Clarksville RV Resort, and its wooded loops circle Swan Lake and climb gently past the cave entrance, easy to moderate grades that work for kids, dogs on leash, and recovery days. The cave itself carries real history, including prehistoric Native American cave art, and ranger-led cave tours run seasonally; check the park’s current schedule before you build a day around going underground.
Because it’s this close, Dunbar Cave works as a repeatable trail rather than a one-time stop. Campers staying a week tend to fold it in as the morning loop: out early before the heat, back to the park before the pool opens. Summer afternoons here run 85 to 90 with humidity, so the shaded sections earn their keep from June through August.
Land Between the Lakes: The Full Trail Day
When you want mileage, drive 45 minutes northwest to Land Between the Lakes. The 170,000-acre peninsula between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and stacked with trail options: short interpretive walks, lakeside loops, and long point-to-point routes for hikers who want to feel it the next day. The Elk and Bison Prairie adds a wildlife loop where the big animals do the work of making the day memorable, and the Homeplace 1850s Working Farm turns a hike into a history stop.
Treat LBL as the anchor day of a Clarksville trip: pack water, start early in summer, and plan the drive home around dinner. Fall is the prize season, with highs of 65 to 78, low humidity, and color on the hardwoods.
Flat Miles on the Cumberland
Downtown Clarksville’s riverwalk at McGregor Park follows the Cumberland River about 12 minutes from the campground. It’s paved, flat, and lit, which makes it the evening option after a real hike or the rainy-day fallback when the dirt trails are mud. Pair it with the Customs House Museum or a downtown dinner and the walk becomes the front half of a night out.
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Clarksville RV Resort by RJourney
Clarksville RV Resort by RJourney sits at 1270 Tylertown Road, a mile off I-24 at Exit 1. The location is built for the long stay: a home base for Fort Campbell families, traveling workers in the Clarksville and Hopkinsville area, and anyone who wants monthly rates with full hookups instead of a hotel bill. Monthly rates start at $800 with water, sewer, and 30/50-amp electric included, which lands well below a 30-day hotel run. The site mix carries full hookups in pull-through and back-in configurations, with water-and-electric-only sites at a lower rate for shorter stays. A swimming pool, a fenced dog park, a playground, a pavilion, propane sales, a camp store, and 24-hour laundry round out the amenity stack that long-term guests use day to day.
Sites & Hookups
Every full-hookup site carries water, sewer, and 30/50-amp electric in pull-through and back-in configurations. For monthly guests, the sewer connection is the part that matters most: you are not packing up to find a dump station every few days. Water-and-electric-only sites are available at a lower rate for travelers who plan shorter stays. The 50-amp service runs a Class A or fifth wheel with multiple AC units through a Tennessee summer without tripping. Pull-throughs at the front of the park handle big rigs without a backing maneuver, useful when you are settling in for a month rather than overnight. A dump station serves registered guests at no charge.
What's On-Site
For a monthly stay, the amenities are the difference between camping and living. The 24-hour laundry handles loads on your schedule with no hard cutoff. The fenced dog park gives dogs an off-leash run, which matters when the same dog is at the site for 30 days. The camp store carries propane, firewood, and RV supplies so the basics stay on-property between Walmart runs. The pool runs during warmer months. The pavilion handles cookouts and gatherings, and the park runs cornhole, seasonal movie nights, and themed bingo. Park-wide WiFi covers basic browsing free, with a streaming-tier upgrade for guests who want faster speeds.
What Guests Say
4.1 stars across 933 Google reviews. For monthly guests, the themes that matter most show up consistently: the I-24 convenience, the long pull-through sites, the pool, the dog park, the staff, and cabin cleanliness. Fort Campbell families on extended assignments return because the park is reliably close to base. The trade worth knowing is real: the I-24 proximity that makes the park easy to find also means highway noise reaches back-row sites closest to the interstate, and Fort Campbell helicopters pass overhead periodically. Front-row and interior sites stay quieter, which is worth requesting when you are booking for a month rather than a night.
Other RV Parks and Campgrounds Near Clarksville, TN
<p>Both of these alternatives sit near bigger trail networks, so they’re worth a look if hiking is the whole trip rather than part of it.</p>
Two Rivers Campground
A private campground near downtown Nashville for travelers whose assignment or commute centers on the city rather than Fort Campbell. Full hookups and pull-through sites, with proximity to Broadway and the Opry. A workable monthly base when the trip is Nashville-focused, though you trade the I-24 corridor convenience. Visit website.
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
A 170,000-acre peninsula managed by the U.S. Forest Service with developed campgrounds offering electric hookups and bathhouses. Stay limits and the lack of full sewer hookups make LBL a poor fit for true monthly RV living, but it is the strongest nature alternative for a shorter stretch. Visit website.
Settling In Around Clarksville
The Cumberland River runs through downtown Clarksville with the McGregor Park Riverwalk and boat ramps a short drive from the park. For bigger water, Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area sits about 45 minutes northwest between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with fishing, kayaking, and swimming beaches that make easy weekend breaks during a long stay.
Dunbar Cave State Park is 10 minutes away with trails and the historic cave for a regular walking loop close to the park. Land Between the Lakes adds the Elk and Bison Prairie and the Homeplace 1850s Working Farm for longer day trips. For monthly guests, having a state park this close keeps a weekly hike on the calendar without a road trip.
Downtown Clarksville’s Riverwalk, the Customs House Museum, and Beachaven Vineyards are 10 to 15 minutes off-site, covering the slow-Sunday list for a long stay. Nashville is 45 minutes south on I-24 for Broadway, the Grand Ole Opry, and big-city errands. Fort Campbell sits just north on the Kentucky line, with the main gate a short drive from the park for families based on assignment.
Seasonal Guide for Camping in Clarksville
Summer (June through August)
Warm and humid Tennessee summers. The pool opens and the dog park sees early-morning and evening use to beat the heat. Run 50-amp service to keep multiple AC units going. Monthly guests settle in for the long days; book a front-row or interior site to stay clear of I-24 noise with the windows open.
Fall (September through November)
The best stretch for a long stay. Mild days, cool nights, and lower humidity make the park comfortable without heavy heating or cooling. Travel traffic thins after summer, so monthly guests get a quieter property and easier site selection.
Winter (December through February)
The strongest value window for monthly guests. Tennessee winters are mild compared with the north, though cold snaps happen, so skirting and heated-hose management pay off on a long stay. Workforce travelers and Fort Campbell families keep the park steady through the off-season.
Spring (March through May)
Green and active, with warming days and occasional spring storms. A good window to start a long stay before summer rates and travel traffic pick up. The dog park and pavilion come back into regular use as the weather turns.
Practical Tips: Best Hiking Trails Near Clarksville, TN
Summer highs run 85 to 90 with humidity. Take trails in the morning, then use the park pool for the afternoon. Fall flips the script with 65 to 78 degree days built for full trail days.
Ranger-led tours at Dunbar Cave run seasonally and can book out. Confirm the schedule with the state park before planning a day around the cave itself.
Land Between the Lakes is 45 minutes out with 170,000 acres of trails. Start early, pack water, and fold in the Elk and Bison Prairie on the way through.
The park is a mile off I-24 and back-row sites closest to the interstate pick up highway noise; Fort Campbell helicopters pass over periodically. Request a front-row or interior site when you book.
The on-site camp store carries propane, firewood, and RV supplies, so most basics are covered without a run into town.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best hiking trails near Clarksville, TN?
The short list: Dunbar Cave State Park’s wooded loops around Swan Lake, 10 minutes from town, for easy to moderate everyday hikes; Land Between the Lakes’ 170,000-acre trail system, 45 minutes northwest, for full trail days; and the paved Cumberland riverwalk downtown for flat miles.
How difficult are the Dunbar Cave trails?
Easy to moderate. The loops circle Swan Lake and climb gently past the cave entrance, with enough shade to stay workable through Tennessee summers. They suit kids, leashed dogs, and hikers easing back in, and the trailhead is about 10 minutes from Clarksville RV Resort.
Is Land Between the Lakes worth the drive from Clarksville?
Yes, as the anchor day of a trip. The 45-minute drive buys 170,000 acres between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with everything from interpretive walks to all-day routes, plus the Elk and Bison Prairie and the Homeplace 1850s Working Farm along the way.
Where should I stay for hiking near Clarksville?
Clarksville RV Resort, a mile off I-24 at Exit 1, puts Dunbar Cave 10 minutes away and Land Between the Lakes 45. Full hookup sites with 30/50-amp serve travel trailers and motorhomes, cabins cover hikers without a rig, and a pool and 24-hour laundry handle the recovery side.
Can I rent a travel trailer near Clarksville, TN?
Peer-to-peer RV rental marketplaces operate around Clarksville and Nashville, with travel trailers that can be delivered to a campground. If you’d rather skip towing entirely, Clarksville RV Resort’s pet-friendly cabins put you at the same trailheads with a real bed and no hitch.
When is the best season to hike near Clarksville?
Fall, by a comfortable margin: September through November brings 65 to 78 degree highs, lower humidity, and hardwood color at Land Between the Lakes. Spring is a close second. In summer, hike early mornings and save afternoons for the pool.
Base Camp for the Trails
Clarksville RV Resort by RJourney sits a mile off I-24 at Exit 1 with full hookup pull-through and back-in sites, 30/50-amp electric, a pool, a fenced dog park, 24-hour laundry, and a camp store. Nightly rates start at $34.60, monthly at $800, and the park stays open year-round, a short drive from Fort Campbell and downtown Clarksville.
See all site types, rates, and live availability on the Clarksville RV Resort page.
Book Your Stay (931) 774-7901