Tennessee is blessed with 56 state parks that highlight its wonderful natural, historic and cultural heritage.
Editorial note: We choose and update recommended nearby parks using official park information, visitor-planning usefulness, available activities and facilities, geographic fit, and editorial review. Learn more in our Editorial Policy & Review Methodology.
Showcasing a diverse topography, which ranges from towering mountains and cascading waterfalls, to deep lying gullies and dense woodlands that teem with wildlife, these public recreational spaces offer excellent opportunities to venture into the great outdoors.
For those who love fishing, swimming, hiking, boating, hunting or camping, Tennessee’s State Parks are a fabulous playground to enjoy. Best of all they are open pretty much every day of the year and are free to enter as well. So, really, there is no excuse not to visit them!
If you live near the city of Jackson in Tennessee, your hometown location means you are close to several of these fantastic recreational destinations.
Next time your adventurous juices start flowing, here are 5 state parks near Jackson you should consider heading to.
Map of State Parks Near Jackson, TN
Here is a map of the state parks in Tennessee covered by this post:
List of State Parks Near Jackson
These five state parks near Jackson are all located within three hours of the city, so they can easily be visited as day trip destinations. However if you are wanting to stay overnight at any of them, or for a few days longer, they also offer a range of accommodation options too.
1. Middle Fork Bottoms State Park
Distance from Jackson: about 10 miles north of Jackson (straight-line).
Location: Christmasville Road, Jackson, Tennessee 38355
Middle Fork Bottoms State Park covers 860 acres in Madison County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Middle Fork Bottoms State Park include river access, mountain scenery, and wooded landscapes.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include hiking trails and a visitor center.
See our full Middle Fork Bottoms State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Natchez Trace State Park
Distance from Jackson: about 35 miles northeast of Jackson (straight-line).
Location: 24845 Natchez Trace Road, Wildersville, TN 38388
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a limited-access national parkway in the Southeastern United States that commemorates the historic Natchez Trace and preserves sections of that original trail.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, rental cabins, and hiking trails.
See our full Natchez Trace State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Big Hill Pond State Park
Distance from Jackson: about 39 miles south of Jackson (straight-line).
Location: 1435 John Howell Road Pocahontas, TN 38061
Big Hill Pond State Park is a state park in the southwestern part of McNairy County in southwestern Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Big Hill Pond State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Big Hill Pond State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Big Cypress Tree State Park
Distance from Jackson: about 41 miles north of Jackson (straight-line).
Big Cypress Tree State Park is a state park in Weakley County, Tennessee, located in the Southeastern United States.
Highlights associated with Big Cypress Tree State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Big Cypress Tree State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Mousetail Landing State Park
Distance from Jackson: about 45 miles east of Jackson (straight-line).
Location: 3 Campground Rd, Linden, TN 37096
Situated an hour’s drive east from Jackson, the Mousetail Landing State Park is a fabulous 1,247-acre recreational area that is nestled on the east banks of the Tennessee River.
Given its location, it won’t come as a surprise to hear that it is a very popular fishing spot. With stripe, catfish, crappie, bream and bass being plentiful.
Paddling, kayaking, canoeing and boating are also regularly practised on the river, while there is also a fabulous swimming beach area which remains open all year-round.
In addition to some terrific hiking trails, a series of mountain bike trails also weave their way through a hilly section of the park. Offering steep inclines and declines that make for an adrenaline fuelled ride.
All up, Mousetail Landing accommodates 25 campsites, of which 19 are equipped for electricity and water hookups. On the main park campground there is a modern bathhouse and laundromat, while if you prefer a more rustic option, there is also a primitive campground onsite too.
See our full Mousetail Landing State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
