Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
Exploring Land between the Lakes
Land Between the Lakes is a great place to spend some time outdoors. This is an awesome, large recreational area located in Tennessee and Kentucky. They have everything you can think of for the outdoors: hiking, swimming, camping in campgrounds, backcountry camping, bike trails, ATV routes, hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, kayaking, and so much more. I have spent lots of time in this park and still have yet to peel back all of the layers.
The History
The history of Land Between the Lakes is super fascinating. The original name for the space was “Land Between the Rivers” because it was located between the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Once both rivers were dammed off, the name was changed to what we now know as Land Between the Lakes. It is now located between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, creating one of the largest inland peninsulas. Locals moved out, and the recreation area was born. The recreation area sits on 170,000 acres and has 300 miles of shoreline.
Wild Life
My favorite part of this has to be the animals! Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is home to roughly 355 animal species. This includes the best part (in my opinion), the Elk and Bison Prairie, where you can get an up-close view of these beautiful giants. During the many times I have been here, I have always been mind blown seeing these animals graze in the prairie. This is especially awesome if you’re a photographer because you get the chance to photograph these animals up close.
REMINDER: BISON ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS. PLEASE STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE UNLESS THEY ARE OVER 200 FEET AWAY. These animals, although beautiful to watch, are also dangerous if disturbed or provoked. All images Jimmy or I have taken have been from safe distances or from the car.
Camping at Land Between the Lakes
Let’s talk about camping. LBL is one of the best places in Middle TN to go camping. They have so many options available for everyone. With 1,400 campsites, LBL has four developed campgrounds, 11 self-service campgrounds, and six basic camping areas. If you need to spend a while in one place to really feel the vibe, LBL offers seasonal camping with 175 sites for three to nine months. If you’re looking for a smaller or weekend stay, they have self-service campgrounds, normally $10–$15 a night depending on which campground you choose. I have found these do go fast during the warmer months, so keep that in mind.
Our favorite way to camp at Land Between the Lakes is with the backcountry camping permit. There are five designated backcountry camping facilities that offer year-round lakeside camping; these only have a bathroom hut. The other way to use this permit is the more remote option of camping anywhere you can find a spot within the recreation area. I think this is the best option. A three-day permit here is only $10 per person, and an annual permit—if you go multiple times a year like myself—is only $50! That is an absolute steal compared to other campgrounds in Tennessee I have stayed in. You can also get all of this done online, so when you find your spot, you are good to set up camp.
CABINS! Energy Lake Campground offers 13 cabins and 35 well-defined sites. This is a great option if you are an adventurer but enjoy the glamping life more. I have yet to stay in one of these, but I would love to do so and report back. These will go fast during the summer months as well, so just be mindful when looking.
Why I Keep Going Back
Land Between the Lakes is a great choice for a quick getaway or a long stay. I love coming here and waking up to explore something new every time I visit. As a photographer, I think there is an abundance of opportunity here. Everywhere you turn, there is something new and exciting to see and photograph. Here are just some of the images I have taken here since discovering this wonderful place five years ago.
What Can You Do Here in Just a Few Hours?
Most Recent Visit: December 21, 2025
What can you do here when you only have a few hours? Glad you asked. I love this area so much that we made a pit stop from the cabin we were staying in while in Murray, KY. This area happens to be on the route back to Nashville.
We stopped in, and because it was early in the morning, I knew we would have a good shot at seeing wildlife at the Elk and Bison Prairie. We did two laps around the route and photographed the bison. This took us about an hour to complete, but keep in mind we were there longer than the average non-photographer.
After we said bye to the bison… haha, see what I did there? We headed over to the Golden Pond Visitor Center, located at the midpoint of the park. We shopped around, bought a HUGE stuffed bison, and then did about 45 minutes on the Central Hardwood Trail. This was a nice stretch out of the car.
This was not the biggest trip we have ever done, but it was a nice time getting to be back in one of my favorite parts of Tennessee.
