My 2nd outing in the teardrop was a solo overnight at the Meriwether Lewis campground on the Nachez Trace Hwy at Milepost 385.9 in Tennessee. A few great thing about this primitive campground are it's quiet, away from traffic, bathrooms are very clean, and it doesn't cost anything to camp. If there's an open spot, it's first come first served (no guarantees). After being closed for a year in 2020 because of 'the covid', the campground was opened up again for use in April 2021.
Meriwether Lewis campground is one of my favorite spots for a quick overnight or weekend getaway with friends. It's about an hour's drive from my house and taking the scenic Natchez Trace route to get there is always a beautiful drive, especially in the Fall.
The campsites are either pull-through or back-in and provide a fire pit and picnic table. There are a few water spouts located around the park to fill containers, but none of the sites have any direct hookups or electricity. Most sites are flat and a few have a slight grade. Not all sites are suitable for tent camping as the ground can be a bit uneven but most will accommodate tents very nicely as well. There are also a lot of trees so if you're into sleeping on a hammock, many sites are well suited for that. Most people who spend time at this campground notice how clean the bathrooms are and this is one of the perks. They are kept very clean and are well lit at night. I guess that makes up for no showers. Collecting fallen wood for a campfire is also an easy task at Meriwether Lewis. There's plenty to forage for off the trails and roadside. It's also helpful to have a folding limb cutting saw (which I forgot to bring on this outing) to cut the longer branches.
To sum this up, the Nachez Trace Parkway has 3 primitive campgrounds along its 444 mile route. I have only camped at Meriwether Lewis along the Trace so far but one of these days I'd like to drive the entire route from Nashville to Mississippi and stay at each campground along the way.
Happy Camping!
