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A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Army Corps of Engineers campground

Poole Knobs

Army Corps of Engineers campground in J Percy Priest Lake, Rutherford County, Tennessee. 520 feet. 3.4 miles from La Vergne.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Army Corps of Engineers J Percy Priest Lake
Elevation
520 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
77 37 standard electric, 22 standard non-electric, 9 group standard electric
Longest rig
40 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
Electric, Water
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Rutherford County

Overview

Poole Knobs Campground is a lakeside oasis in the green hills of Tennessee, providing campers with countless recreational activities on the lake and in the surrounding woods and grasslands.

Recreation

The lake provides a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities for millions of visitors each year. Because of the temperate climate and relatively long recreation season, visitors have numerous activities to choose from, including fishing, hunting, picnicking, boating, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing.

Fishing opportunities abound at J. Percy Priest Lake, with a wide variety of species available, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, striped bass, Cherokee bass, and white bass. Other species such as catfish, bluegill, bream and trout provide excellent opportunities for younger anglers.

Facilities

Poole Knobs Campground offers 87 shady and spacious campsites, along with one larger group camping site. The campground features drinking water, a dump station, flush toilets and hot showers, creating a comfortable camping experience. A boat ramp is provided, allowing guests to take advantage of the vast, sparkling lake. The group campsite can accommodate up to 40 campers, making it an ideal spot for family parties.

Natural Features

J. Percy Priest Dam and Lake was one of the first Corps of Engineers lakes to have recreation as part of its mission. The dam, completed in 1968, impounds 42 miles, with 14,200 surface acres of water. In soothing contrast to the sparkling waters of the lake are the adjacent 19,087 acres of grasslands and woodlands. A highlight of the region, the Cedar Glades Natural Area, is home to countless wildlife and plant species, including the Tennessee coneflower.

Nearby Attractions

J. Percy Priest Lake is conveniently located about ten miles east of downtown Nashville, offering visitors countless cultural activities in addition to the conveniences of a metro area.

The description, directions and fees are the Army Corps of Engineers’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • horseback riding
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Poole Knobs

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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