Overall Tennessee has 56 state parks which combine to showcase its outstanding geological, 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.
Boasting a varied topography, that includes everything from soaring mountains and raging waterfalls, to verdant woodland and deep lying gullies, these wonderful public recreational areas offer terrific opportunities to spend some time within the bosom of nature.
If you love to swim, fish, hike, go boating, hunt or camp, the you will be spoilt for choice with the opportunities provided by Tennessee’s State Parks.
What is great about them is that they are open pretty much every day and they won’t cost you a cent to visit, as entry is free!
If you live near, or are a resident of McMinnville, your location places you close to several of these state parks.
So the next time you feel the urge to head out into the great out doors, why not give these 10 state parks near McMinnville a whirl.
Map of State Parks Near McMinnville TN
Below is a map of the state parks in Tennessee covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near McMinnville
That said, should you plan to stay for an extended period at any of them, you’ll find various campground accommodation options there too.
1. Hubbard’s Cave State Natural Area
Distance from McMinnville: about 3 miles southeast of McMinnville (straight-line).
Location: Tennessee 37110
Hubbard’s Cave State Natural Area covers 50 acres in Warren County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Hubbard’s Cave State Natural Area include river access, island scenery, and wooded landscapes.
See our full Hubbard’s Cave State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Morrison Meadow State Natural Area
Distance from McMinnville: about 9 miles southwest of McMinnville (straight-line).
Location: Griswold Road, Morrison, Tennessee 37357
Morrison Meadow State Natural Area covers 20 acres in Warren County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Morrison Meadow State Natural Area include wetland habitat and seasonal wildflowers.
See our full Morrison Meadow State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Bone Cave State Natural Area
Distance from McMinnville: about 11 miles east of McMinnville (straight-line).
Location: Norton Spring Road, Riverview, Tennessee
Bone Cave State Natural Area covers 400 acres in Van Buren County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Bone Cave State Natural Area include river access, island scenery, and wooded landscapes.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a marina.
See our full Bone Cave State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Rock Island State Park
Distance from McMinnville: about 11 miles northeast of McMinnville (straight-line).
Location: 82 Beach Rd, Rock Island, TN 38581
Just over a 20 minute drive north east of McMinnville resides Rock Island State Park.
Situated where the Caney Fork, Collins and Rocky Rivers meet, right at the headwaters of Center Hill Lake, this is the place to come if you love water based fun.
Spread across 883-acres, this public recreational space offers plenty of opportunities for canoeing, SUP, boating and paddleboarding. While swimming and fishing are also very popular pastimes too.
Arguably the park’s main drawcard is the spectacular Great Falls Dam. Cascading for some 30 feet, this powerful horseshoe shaped waterfall is located in one of the most picturesque areas of the park.
There are two campgrounds here, for those wanting to stay for a few nights. They offer water and electrical hookups, as well as modern bathhouses that have warm showers.
See our full Rock Island State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Hawkins Cove State Natural Area
Distance from McMinnville: about 13 miles south of McMinnville (straight-line).
Location: Fultz Cove Road, Tennessee
Hawkins Cove State Natural Area is a natural area in Franklin County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Hawkins Cove State Natural Area include waterfall scenery, river access, and mountain scenery.
See our full Hawkins Cove State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Duck River Complex State Natural Area
Distance from McMinnville: about 18 miles southwest of McMinnville (straight-line).
Location: Sagely Anderson Road, Tennessee 37355
Duck River Complex State Natural Area covers 2,612 acres in Maury County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Duck River Complex State Natural Area include river access.
See our full Duck River Complex State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
7. Campbell Bend Barrens State Natural Area
Distance from McMinnville: about 19 miles west of McMinnville (straight-line).
Location: Petty Gap Road, Mooretown, Tennessee 37190
Campbell Bend Barrens State Natural Area covers 35 acres in Roane County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Campbell Bend Barrens State Natural Area include wooded landscapes and seasonal wildflowers.
See our full Campbell Bend Barrens State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
8. Tims Ford State Park
Distance from McMinnville: about 42 miles southwest of McMinnville (straight-line).
Location: 570 Tims Ford Dr, Winchester, TN 37398
Another fabulous lake side destination is the Tims Ford State Park.
It will take you an hour to drive south west from the city, but once you get to the 3,546-acre state park you will be able to enjoy, full use of the scenic Tims Ford Reservoir.
Well known for being a profitable spot to fish for bass, the lake is also highly regarded as a place to go swimming, canoeing, SUP, row boating and kayaking.
If you love golf then you will love The Bear Trace. A championship standard 18 hole golf course that was designed by Jack Nicklaus.
There are also several hiking trails that take you to various scenic parts of the park. While there are also two pavilions and a marina within its confines too.
Overall there are 168 campsites located across three areas, which all feature water hookups and 30-amp electric service.
See our full Tims Ford State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
9. Cedars of Lebanon State Park
Distance from McMinnville: about 44 miles northwest of McMinnville (straight-line).
Location: 328 Cedar Forest Rd, Lebanon, TN 37090
Just an hour’s drive north of the city lies the Cedars of Lebanon State Park.
Well known for its impressive eastern red cedar trees which are prevalent throughout the area, this public recreational area has been popular with visitors since 1955.
Encompassing 1,139-acres, the park features eye-catching limestone glades, fabulous woodlands and gorgeous flora. Which all blend into a stunning landscape of intriguing caves, attractive creeks, deep sinkholes and beautiful butterfly gardens.
If you love photography and hiking this is a great place for you to visit. It’s also a pet-friendly park which accommodates 117 campsites that are set out across three distinct camping areas.
All of these areas are equipped with modern bathhouses that have toilets and hot showers, as well as a camp store and laundromat.
See our full Cedars of Lebanon State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
10. Henry Horton State Park
Distance from McMinnville: about 53 miles west of McMinnville (straight-line).
Location: 4209 Nashville Hwy, Chapel Hill, TN 37034
This state park is another one that has a championship standard golf course within its grounds. It features fairways that are lined by a spectacular row of hardwood trees, and have no less than 37 bunkers, and is a fantastic place to play a round.
Those who love nature will enjoy plenty of opportunities to hike around the lush wetlands and bosky woodlands of the park. While kids have plenty of fun at the various playgrounds, splash fountains, and soft, natural surfaces that are scattered within it.
The park has plenty of accommodation options for those who want to extend their stay here. This includes 56 RV campsites and 10 tent campsites. As well as 3 group campsites and 3 backcountry campsites. You can also choose to stay in one of eight cabins or a fabulous lodge, should you want too.
See our full Henry Horton State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
