All up Tennessee boasts 56 state parks that wonderfully showcase its cultural, historic and natural heritage.
Blessed with a diverse range of landscapes, that range from soaring mountains and deep gullies to raging waterfalls and teeming woodlands, these state parks provide excellent opportunities to explore the great outdoors.
Whether you are in to hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, hunting or camping there are lots of activities you can do.
Best of all, Tennessee State Parks are open to the public every day of the week, and they are also free to enter too. So there really is no excuse not to visit them!
For residents of Murfreesboro their geographical location puts them in close proximity to a number of outstanding state parks.
If you are wanting to channel your adventurous spirit, and get out into the glorious nature Tennessee has to offer, below is a list of 10 state parks near Murfreesboro we highly recommend you visit.
Map of State Parks Near Murfreesboro TN
Here is a map of the Tennessee state parks covered in this post:
List of 10 State Parks Near Murfreesboro
These 10 state parks near Murfreesboro all offer numerous opportunities for camping, as well as various options for overnight accommodation. They can also all be easily accessed within an hour or so drive from the city.
1. Manus Road Cedar Glade State Natural Area
Distance from Murfreesboro: about 2 miles south of Murfreesboro (straight-line).
Location: Clarence Court, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130
Manus Road Cedar Glade State Natural Area is a natural area in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Manus Road Cedar Glade State Natural Area include seasonal wildflowers.
See our full Manus Road Cedar Glade State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Flat Rock Cedar Glades & Barrens State Natural Area
Distance from Murfreesboro: about 3 miles northeast of Murfreesboro (straight-line).
Location: 2526 Exeter Drive, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130
Flat Rock Cedar Glades & Barrens State Natural Area covers 846 acres in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Flat Rock Cedar Glades & Barrens State Natural Area include river access and seasonal wildflowers.
See our full Flat Rock Cedar Glades & Barrens State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Mount View Glade State Natural Area
Distance from Murfreesboro: about 4 miles north of Murfreesboro (straight-line).
Location: 966 Banner Drive, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129
Mount View Glade State Natural Area covers 9 acres in Davidson County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Mount View Glade State Natural Area include wooded landscapes and seasonal wildflowers.
See our full Mount View Glade State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Walterhill Floodplain State Natural Area
Distance from Murfreesboro: about 5 miles east of Murfreesboro (straight-line).
Walterhill Floodplain State Natural Area covers 34 acres in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Walterhill Floodplain State Natural Area include river access, wooded landscapes, and wetland habitat.
See our full Walterhill Floodplain State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Barnett’s Woods State Natural Area
Distance from Murfreesboro: about 6 miles northeast of Murfreesboro (straight-line).
Location: Arcadia Court, Briarwood, Tennessee 37130
Barnett’s Woods State Natural Area covers 40 acres in Montgomery County, Tennessee.
Highlights associated with Barnett’s Woods State Natural Area include river access, mountain scenery, and old-growth forest.
See our full Barnett’s Woods State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Cedars of Lebanon State Park
Distance from Murfreesboro: about 17 miles north of Murfreesboro (straight-line).
Location: 328 Cedar Forest Rd, Lebanon, TN 37090
Named for the fabulous eastern red cedar trees that are prominent throughout the area, the Cedars of Lebanon State Park was established in 1955.
Located in Wilson County, about a 30 minute drive north of Murfreesboro, the 1,139-acre, pet-friendly park presents stunning forests, spectacular limestone glades and rare plants.
These blend seamlessly with deep sinkholes, intriguing caves, stunning butterfly gardens and picturesque creeks. All of which combine to make it an excellent destination for hiking and photography.
Overall the park has 117 campsites across three camping areas. All these sites have grills, picnic tables, and both electric and water hookups.
In addition they also have three bathhouses with hot showers and bathrooms, as well as a laundromat and camp store.
There is also a modern group lodge onsite that can sleep up to 80 people.
See our full Cedars of Lebanon State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
7. Henry Horton State Park
Distance from Murfreesboro: about 25 miles southwest of Murfreesboro (straight-line).
Location: 4209 Nashville Hwy, Chapel Hill, TN 37034
At just over 50 minutes south of Murfreesboro, the Henry Horton State Park is pretty easy to get too.
Located right next to the Duck River, it’s a popular destination for fishing, with smallmouth and largemouth, as well as catfish and red-eye bass being plentiful.
Another Tennessee state park with a championship standard golf course onsite, The Buford Ellington course will challenge even the most experienced of amateur golfers with some 37 bunkers and forests of hardwood trees.
Featuring a landscape of dense woodlands, marvelous cedar glades, lush wetlands and even sinkholes there is plenty to explore on foot. While the kids will enjoy a number of playgrounds that incorporate splash fountains and natural surfaces.
For those looking to stay for a few days, the park has several convenient lodging options. This includes a fabulous lodge as well as eight cabins.
There are also 56 RV campsites and 10 tent campsites too, in addition to 9 primitive campsites, 3 backcountry campsites and 3 group campsites.
See our full Henry Horton State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
8. Edgar Evins State Park
Distance from Murfreesboro: about 35 miles northeast of Murfreesboro (straight-line).
Location: 1630 Edgar Evins State Park Rd, Silver Point, TN 38582
Tucked away on the shores of Center Hill Lake, within the heart of the Eastern Highland Rim, lies the Edgar Evins State Park.
Situated in steep, hilly terrain about an hour northeast of Murfreesboro the 6,000-acre park enjoys a breathtaking location which provides endless opportunities for hiking, fishing and boating.
Sitting directly on the shoreline, overlooking Center Hill Lake, the campground here consists of 60 trailer and tent campsites that come with electrical and water hookups.
They also feature three bathhouses with hot showers, as well as a sewage dump station and a small fire circle.
The park also has a sizable on-site marina which accommodates a restaurant and gift shop, as well as offering boating rentals too.
In addition it has a swimming pool and very good visitor center.
See our full Edgar Evins State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
9. Rock Island State Park
Distance from Murfreesboro: about 42 miles east of Murfreesboro (straight-line).
Location: 82 Beach Rd, Rock Island, TN 38581
Just over an hour west of Murfreesboro lies Rock Island State Park.
Nestled at the confluence of the Rocky, Collins and Caney Fork Rivers, directly on the headwaters of Center Hill Lake, the 883-acre state park is a haven for those who enjoy water based recreational activities.
Kayaking, boating, canoeing and paddleboarding is very popular here, while there is plenty of very good fishing to be had too.
One of the main highlights of the park is the Great Falls Dam, a magnificent 30-foot horseshoe shaped cascading waterfall that resides in one of the most scenic parts of the park.
For those wanting to stay overnight, Rock Island boasts two campgrounds, one of which is open all through the year. They are also equipped with electrical and water hookups as well as bathhouses with warm showers.
See our full Rock Island State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
10. Tims Ford State Park
Distance from Murfreesboro: about 44 miles south of Murfreesboro (straight-line).
Location: 570 Tims Ford Dr, Winchester, TN 37398
Tennessee is blessed with a number of fantastic lakes and one of the best of them is situated at the Tims Ford State Park.
An excellent spot for bass fishing, the lake is also a prime destination for kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing and a range of other boating activities.
Open all year-round, the park features extensive hiking trails, a marina, two pavilions and a championship standard, 18 hole golf course known as The Bear Trace, that was designed by Jack Nicklaus.
With 168 campsites available across three areas, there are also plenty of places to stay overnight.
All of them come with 30-amp electric service, as well as water hookups. While a playground, camp store and bathroom/toilet facilities are available as well.
See our full Tims Ford State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
