If you are traveling to Tennessee, you will not lack for scenic places to visit.
Tennessee has some of the most beautiful parks in the country. Steeped in history, the parks of Tennessee are a paradise for nature lovers and history lovers alike.
In the Northernmost part of the state, the area surrounding the city of Clarksville is a great place to start your adventures. And one of the best ways to do that is by visiting nearby state parks.
Map of State Parks Near Clarksville, TN
Here is a map of the state parks in Tennessee covered by this post:
List of State Parks Near Clarksville
Here are each of those state parks with distance from Clarksville and what is special about each.
1. Dunbar Cave State Park
Distance from Clarksville: about 8 miles east of Clarksville (straight-line).
Location: 401 Old Dunbar Cave Rd, Clarksville, TN 37043
If you are visiting or even just passing through Clarksville, you will find this unique park just four short miles from the center of town.
Dunbar Cave is a prehistoric park rich in the history of Mississippi Native America. Prehistoric cave drawings dating back to the 14th century adorn the walls of the cave that Mississippians believe was a portal to the underworld. Visitors can take a guided tour of the cave and get an up close and personal view of the historic art work.
The park offers various educational activities for students either in the park or in the classroom. Outside of the cave, the 144-acre park offers a wealth of natural beauty with a wide variety of wildlife to observe, the most prevalent species being birds.
Over three miles of hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty wind through the park from the visitors’ center providing a serene, natural experience with a unique journey into the history of the area.
See our full Dunbar Cave State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Harpeth River State Park
Distance from Clarksville: about 29 miles southeast of Clarksville (straight-line).
Location: 1254 Narrows of the Harpeth Rd, Kingston Springs, TN 37082
Harpeth River State Park is a state park in Cheatham and Davidson counties in the U.S.
Highlights associated with Harpeth River State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include rental cabins, hiking trails, and a visitor center.
See our full Harpeth River State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Montgomery Bell State Park
Distance from Clarksville: about 31 miles south of Clarksville (straight-line).
Location: Burns, Tennessee
Montgomery Bell State Park is a Tennessee state park in Burns, Tennessee, United States.
Highlights associated with Montgomery Bell State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, rental cabins, a designated swimming area, and a swimming pool.
See our full Montgomery Bell State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Beaman Park State Natural Area
Distance from Clarksville: about 31 miles southeast of Clarksville (straight-line).
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Beaman Park State Natural Area covers 1,678 acres in Davidson County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Beaman Park State Natural Area include river access, old-growth forest, and wooded landscapes.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include hiking trails.
See our full Beaman Park State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Paris Landing State Park
Distance from Clarksville: about 41 miles west of Clarksville (straight-line).
Location: 16055 Highway 79 N, Buchanan, TN 38222
Paris Landing State Park is a 841-acre park that lies 45 miles West of Clarksville along the bank of the Tennessee River.
The river is dammed to form the 160,000-acre Kentucky Lake, which is perfect for all sorts of water sports, from boating and fishing to water skiing. There is one fishing pier located at the lake, and over 100 species can be found in the deep waters and hidden coves. There is also a public swimming beach with a beach house and picnic area nearby.
The park also offers a full-service marina for annual and daily slips for rent. A four-lane public boat ramp will accommodate wave runners and boats. Smaller personal boats can be launched from the shoreline. Sailing is popular on Kentucky Lake as well.
For land activities, the park features a 72-par golf course along the Western shore of Kentucky Lake. The course offers a driving range, putting green, club rentals, and a snack bar. Lessons are also available at this year-round course. For those who wish to extend their stay, onsite cabins can be rented as part of a golfing package.
Other land activities are available for day use or overnight guests. There are three loop trails ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate including one ADA accessible trail. The camping facilities include a 38-site modern campground, 18 primitive sites, and six camping cabins for rent. While camping is offered year-round, the camp store is open May through October and carries camping supplies and snacks.
See our full Paris Landing State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
Distance from Clarksville: about 41 miles northwest of Clarksville (straight-line).
Location: Lodge Road, Kentucky
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park is a public recreation area located in northwestern Christian County, Kentucky, just south of Dawson Springs, Kentucky.
Highlights associated with Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park include lake recreation and wooded landscapes.
See our full Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
7. Lake Barkley State Resort Park
Distance from Clarksville: about 42 miles northwest of Clarksville (straight-line).
Location: 3500 State Park Road, Cadiz, KY 42211
Kentucky’s Lakeside Resort Lake Barkley is a full-service state resort—lodge, golf course, marina, and 3,700 acres on the Land Between the Lakes region!
Highlights associated with Lake Barkley State Resort Park include beach access, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Lake Barkley State Resort Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
8. Lake Malone State Park
Distance from Clarksville: about 42 miles northeast of Clarksville (straight-line).
Location: Ic-8001C, Kentucky 42339
Lake Malone State Park is a 338-acre (137 ha) public recreation area located 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Dunmor, Kentucky, in Muhlenberg County and extending into parts of Logan County and Todd County.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, a designated swimming area, a boat launch, and a marina.
See our full Lake Malone State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
9. Radnor Lake State Park
Distance from Clarksville: about 44 miles southeast of Clarksville (straight-line).
Location: 1160 Otter Creek Road, Nashville, TN 37220
Radnor Lake State Natural Area, also known as Radnor Lake State Park, is a popular state natural area and state park in Oak Hill, Tennessee within Nashville.
Highlights associated with Radnor Lake State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Radnor Lake State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
10. Bledsoe Creek State Park
Distance from Clarksville: about 61 miles east of Clarksville (straight-line).
Location: 400 Zieglers Fort Rd, Gallatin, TN 37066
Bledsoe Creek State Park is the farthest of these parks from Clarksville, sitting 69 miles Southeast of the city. Like many of the parks in Tennessee, the area is rich in history, and offers an engaging classroom surrounded by natural beauty.
The park has a modern, paved, 58-site campground complete with electrical hookups and modern bathhouses. There are also grassy tent sites and three sites have been modified to meet ADA compliance standards. Rustic, hammock sites are available at the back of the park. They are hike-in only and are limited to six people per site.
Although there are no areas designated for swimming, Old Hickory Lake is perfect for fishing, boating and water skiing. The hiking trails throughout the park vary in difficulty and provide lots of opportunities for bird watching and absorbing the natural wonder of the park.
The Visitor Center at the park offers a gift shop with maps and souvenirs, classrooms for educational activities, and a modern-equipped board room for hosing events for up to 20 people. The park is the perfect blend of history, natural beauty and educational opportunities that you can expect from Tennessee.
See our full Bledsoe Creek State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
