RV Parks In Arlington, Tennessee

For a private full-hookup stay close to town, Memphis East Campground is the go-to, a tidy park off the I-40 east corridor with 30/50-amp service, WiFi, a pool and a fishing lake. If you want nature, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park sits about 40 minutes west on the Mississippi River bluffs with electric-and-water campsites and miles of forest trails. Another solid private option, EZ Daze RV Park, is just south of the state line with full hookups and a dog park. Between the private parks near town and the big state park on the river, you can base for convenience or for scenery.

The private parks do. Memphis East Campground offers full hookups with 30/50-amp electric, water and sewer, and EZ Daze RV Park near the state line also has full-hookup sites. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, the big public option, has electric and water hookups plus a dump station rather than full sewer at every site, which is common for state parks. If you need full hookups for a longer stay, target the private parks close to town; if you can use a dump station and want the forest setting, the state park is a great trade. Book early either way for summer weekends.

Basing near Arlington is usually cheaper than downtown Memphis. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is the best value for the setting, priced in the normal Tennessee state-park range for electric-and-water sites. Private parks like Memphis East Campground and EZ Daze RV Park run in the mid-range for full hookups, and you pay a little more for the pool, WiFi and easy highway access. Booking directly avoids third-party fees, and weekly rates make sense if you are using the town as a hub for several days of sightseeing. Spring and fall midweek dates are the cheapest, dodging both the summer-weekend premium and the crowds.

For summer weekends and holidays, reserve early. Both the private parks and Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park fill during peak season, and the state park in particular sees strong demand for its riverside forest sites, so a month or more of lead time is smart for busy dates. Tennessee state park sites book through the state parks reservation system, while the private parks take direct bookings. Midweek and shoulder-season stays in spring and fall are far easier, and you can often find open sites with just a week or two of notice outside the summer rush. If a big Memphis event is on, book sooner rather than later.

Spring and fall are the sweet spots. Both bring mild, comfortable weather, with spring green and lively and fall drier and often the nicest camping of the year around Memphis. Summer is peak season for visiting the city but it is hot and very muggy, so plan on a 50-amp site to keep the AC running and book weekends ahead. Winter is quiet and cheap, with the private parks open year-round and only some state-park loops reducing services. If your trip is built around Memphis sightseeing rather than the weather, any season works, but the shoulder months are the most pleasant.

Yes. The private parks like Memphis East Campground and EZ Daze RV Park are set up for larger rigs with full hookups and level sites, and getting there is easy on flat, RV-friendly roads with no notable low-clearance or weight limits on the main routes. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park can take bigger rigs too, though as with many state parks some sites are tighter, so check length limits when you book. I-40 and TN-385, the Bill Morris Parkway, give a straightforward big-rig approach around the east side of the metro without fighting downtown traffic. Overall this is an easy area to bring a 40-foot coach.

Not really in the immediate suburb. The Memphis metro has very limited free camping, and there is no practical boondocking right around Arlington since the area is developed. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is your closest public land, but its campground is a reservable, paid, developed campground rather than dispersed camping. For true free or first-come camping you would need to head well outside the metro to public land farther from the city. For most RVers visiting Memphis, the realistic plan is a hookup park near town or a site at the state park rather than boondocking.

Close enough to make an easy base. Arlington is about 30 miles east of downtown Memphis, a drive of well under an hour on I-40 or US-70. From there you can reach Graceland, roughly 35 miles southwest, along with Beale Street, the Memphis Zoo, the National Civil Rights Museum and the riverfront. TN-385, the Bill Morris Parkway, helps you skirt downtown traffic to reach the airport and southern suburbs. Basing in Arlington lets you enjoy a quiet, historic small town in the evenings while still doing full days in the city, which is the main reason RVers park out here instead of downtown.

Yes. The private parks near town, including Memphis East Campground, provide full sewer hookups at the site so you can empty tanks without moving. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park has a dump station at its campground, which you would use since its sites are electric and water rather than full sewer. If you are just passing through and need to dump, the private parks and the state park are your reliable options in this area. As always, follow posted dump-station etiquette, rinse and stow your hose properly, and be considerate at busy summer weekends when there may be a short line.

Generally yes. Tennessee state parks, including Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, allow leashed pets in the campground and on most trails under the usual leash-and-clean-up rules, which makes the forest a nice spot to walk a dog. The private parks near town, like Memphis East Campground and EZ Daze RV Park, are pet-friendly too, and EZ Daze even has a dedicated dog park. Some private parks apply breed or number limits, so a quick call before booking is worth it. Given the summer heat and humidity, plan your dog walks for morning and evening and never leave a pet in a hot rig while you day-trip into the city.

Plenty, split between small-town charm and big-city sights. In Arlington itself, Historic Depot Square is the picturesque town center with a preserved post office, general store and blacksmith shop, the Rachael H.K. Burrow Museum, the 1893 S.Y. Wilson store, and Music On The Square on the third Saturday May through October. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park adds hiking and paddling on the Mississippi bluffs. Then Memphis is right there for Graceland, Beale Street, the Memphis Zoo and the National Civil Rights Museum. From an Arlington base you can mix quiet evenings by the campground with full days of music, history and food in the city.

The private parks do. Memphis East Campground and EZ Daze RV Park stay open year-round, and the climate here is mild enough, with winter highs near 48F, that off-season camping is comfortable. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is generally open in winter as well, though some loops or facilities may run reduced hours or services in the coldest stretch, so check before you count on a specific site. Winter is a quiet, cheap time to base near Memphis with easy availability, a good option if you want to see the city without summer crowds, heat and humidity. Just pack for occasional cold snaps.

It depends on what you want. If your trip is all about Memphis sightseeing and you value full hookups and quick highway access, a private park like Memphis East Campground closer to town is the practical pick. But if you want to actually camp, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is the standout. Its 12,539 acres on the Chickasaw Bluffs over the Mississippi River wrap around Poplar Tree Lake with real forest, hiking, paddling and quiet that you will not get at a roadside park. The trade is electric-and-water sites plus a dump station rather than full sewer, and a 40-minute drive to the city. For nature lovers, it is well worth it.

For a private full-hookup stay close to town, Memphis East Campground is the go-to, a tidy park off the I-40 east corridor with 30/50-amp service, WiFi, a pool and a fishing lake. If you want nature, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park sits about 40 minutes west on the Mississippi River bluffs with electric-and-water campsites and miles of forest trails. Another solid private option, EZ Daze RV Park, is just south of the state line with full hookups and a dog park. Between the private parks near town and the big state park on the river, you can base for convenience or for scenery.

The private parks do. Memphis East Campground offers full hookups with 30/50-amp electric, water and sewer, and EZ Daze RV Park near the state line also has full-hookup sites. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, the big public option, has electric and water hookups plus a dump station rather than full sewer at every site, which is common for state parks. If you need full hookups for a longer stay, target the private parks close to town; if you can use a dump station and want the forest setting, the state park is a great trade. Book early either way for summer weekends.

Basing near Arlington is usually cheaper than downtown Memphis. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is the best value for the setting, priced in the normal Tennessee state-park range for electric-and-water sites. Private parks like Memphis East Campground and EZ Daze RV Park run in the mid-range for full hookups, and you pay a little more for the pool, WiFi and easy highway access. Booking directly avoids third-party fees, and weekly rates make sense if you are using the town as a hub for several days of sightseeing. Spring and fall midweek dates are the cheapest, dodging both the summer-weekend premium and the crowds.

For summer weekends and holidays, reserve early. Both the private parks and Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park fill during peak season, and the state park in particular sees strong demand for its riverside forest sites, so a month or more of lead time is smart for busy dates. Tennessee state park sites book through the state parks reservation system, while the private parks take direct bookings. Midweek and shoulder-season stays in spring and fall are far easier, and you can often find open sites with just a week or two of notice outside the summer rush. If a big Memphis event is on, book sooner rather than later.

Spring and fall are the sweet spots. Both bring mild, comfortable weather, with spring green and lively and fall drier and often the nicest camping of the year around Memphis. Summer is peak season for visiting the city but it is hot and very muggy, so plan on a 50-amp site to keep the AC running and book weekends ahead. Winter is quiet and cheap, with the private parks open year-round and only some state-park loops reducing services. If your trip is built around Memphis sightseeing rather than the weather, any season works, but the shoulder months are the most pleasant.

Yes. The private parks like Memphis East Campground and EZ Daze RV Park are set up for larger rigs with full hookups and level sites, and getting there is easy on flat, RV-friendly roads with no notable low-clearance or weight limits on the main routes. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park can take bigger rigs too, though as with many state parks some sites are tighter, so check length limits when you book. I-40 and TN-385, the Bill Morris Parkway, give a straightforward big-rig approach around the east side of the metro without fighting downtown traffic. Overall this is an easy area to bring a 40-foot coach.

Not really in the immediate suburb. The Memphis metro has very limited free camping, and there is no practical boondocking right around Arlington since the area is developed. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is your closest public land, but its campground is a reservable, paid, developed campground rather than dispersed camping. For true free or first-come camping you would need to head well outside the metro to public land farther from the city. For most RVers visiting Memphis, the realistic plan is a hookup park near town or a site at the state park rather than boondocking.

Close enough to make an easy base. Arlington is about 30 miles east of downtown Memphis, a drive of well under an hour on I-40 or US-70. From there you can reach Graceland, roughly 35 miles southwest, along with Beale Street, the Memphis Zoo, the National Civil Rights Museum and the riverfront. TN-385, the Bill Morris Parkway, helps you skirt downtown traffic to reach the airport and southern suburbs. Basing in Arlington lets you enjoy a quiet, historic small town in the evenings while still doing full days in the city, which is the main reason RVers park out here instead of downtown.

Yes. The private parks near town, including Memphis East Campground, provide full sewer hookups at the site so you can empty tanks without moving. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park has a dump station at its campground, which you would use since its sites are electric and water rather than full sewer. If you are just passing through and need to dump, the private parks and the state park are your reliable options in this area. As always, follow posted dump-station etiquette, rinse and stow your hose properly, and be considerate at busy summer weekends when there may be a short line.

Generally yes. Tennessee state parks, including Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, allow leashed pets in the campground and on most trails under the usual leash-and-clean-up rules, which makes the forest a nice spot to walk a dog. The private parks near town, like Memphis East Campground and EZ Daze RV Park, are pet-friendly too, and EZ Daze even has a dedicated dog park. Some private parks apply breed or number limits, so a quick call before booking is worth it. Given the summer heat and humidity, plan your dog walks for morning and evening and never leave a pet in a hot rig while you day-trip into the city.

Plenty, split between small-town charm and big-city sights. In Arlington itself, Historic Depot Square is the picturesque town center with a preserved post office, general store and blacksmith shop, the Rachael H.K. Burrow Museum, the 1893 S.Y. Wilson store, and Music On The Square on the third Saturday May through October. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park adds hiking and paddling on the Mississippi bluffs. Then Memphis is right there for Graceland, Beale Street, the Memphis Zoo and the National Civil Rights Museum. From an Arlington base you can mix quiet evenings by the campground with full days of music, history and food in the city.

The private parks do. Memphis East Campground and EZ Daze RV Park stay open year-round, and the climate here is mild enough, with winter highs near 48F, that off-season camping is comfortable. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is generally open in winter as well, though some loops or facilities may run reduced hours or services in the coldest stretch, so check before you count on a specific site. Winter is a quiet, cheap time to base near Memphis with easy availability, a good option if you want to see the city without summer crowds, heat and humidity. Just pack for occasional cold snaps.

It depends on what you want. If your trip is all about Memphis sightseeing and you value full hookups and quick highway access, a private park like Memphis East Campground closer to town is the practical pick. But if you want to actually camp, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is the standout. Its 12,539 acres on the Chickasaw Bluffs over the Mississippi River wrap around Poplar Tree Lake with real forest, hiking, paddling and quiet that you will not get at a roadside park. The trade is electric-and-water sites plus a dump station rather than full sewer, and a 40-minute drive to the city. For nature lovers, it is well worth it.

Yes — there are free RV waste disposal options available near Arlington.