$50 / night

Camper submitted image from Ragland Bottom - 1

Camper submitted image from Ragland Bottom - 2

Nature

Camper submitted image from Ragland Bottom - 3

Facilities

Camper submitted image from Ragland Bottom - 4

Roads

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Water

Established Camping

Ragland Bottom

12 Reviews

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

There will be a Halloween Campsite Decorating Contest on Saturday, October 26, 2024. All votes must be cast with the Park Attendants by 5:00 pm on Saturday. Be the best decorator this Halloween season in your campground and receive a free night on us (refunded)!

About

US Army Corps of Engineers

Center Hill Lake

Overview

Ragland Bottom Campground is located on the shores of the scenic Center Hill Lake on central Tennessee's Highland Rim. The lake stretches 64 miles up the Caney Fork River, where visitors come to enjoy boating, fishing and water sports. The 415 miles of forested shoreline provide excellent hiking, hunting and camping opportunities.

Recreation

Boating, waterskiing, canoeing and fishing are popular activities on the water. Anglers will find bream, walleye, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish and white bass. Below the dam, the Caney Fork River is one of the most productive trout fisheries in the state. Nine miles of hiking trails meander around the lake. The Red Post Trail is a short, but steep, two-mile trail that loops above the campground. Hikers who brave the moderately difficult climb are rewarded with beautiful overlooks of the lake and nearby Sligo Bridge and Marina.

Facilities

This waterfront campground offers 40 sites with water and electric hookups, as well as 16 primitive tent sites. A large group day-use picnic area is available as well, with water and 15-amp electric hookups. Amenities like flush toilets, showers and drinking water are provided, creating a comfortable camping experience for guests. A boat ramp, volleyball court, basketball goal, playground and hiking trail are all conveniently located within the campground. The adjacent day-use area has a group picnic shelter, boat ramp, and swimming beach.

Natural Features

Center Hill Lake is surrounded by lush mixed hardwood forests in the hilly Highland Rim region. Beautiful dogwoods bloom in the campground in springtime. Whitetail deer, wild turkey, squirrels and rabbits roam the wooded hills around the lake.

Nearby Attractions

Burgess Falls State Park is a 25-minute drive from the campground. Here, the Falling Water River drops approximately 250 feet, creating numerous breathtaking waterfalls. Hiking trails and overlooks help visitors enjoy the scenery. The large Native Butterfly Garden is a popular attraction within the park.

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Location

Ragland Bottom is located in Tennessee

Directions

From Smithville, Tennessee, take US-70 east for 8 miles. Turn left on Ragland Bottom Road and follow signs to the campground, located one mile from Sligo Bridge.

Address

1410 RAGLAND BOTTOM RD
Sparta, TN 38583

Coordinates

35.9774 N
85.7208667 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Unknown
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

Market
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
WiFi
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE

$50

/ night

First Come - First Served

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Contact

General Info

Paul B.

Ranger

Reviewed Oct. 2, 2023

Lakefront COE

This campground is another wonderfully affordable COE with gorgeous lakefront sites offering amazing views and water access on Centerville Lake. Electric and water hookups at each site. Large boat trailer parking on site. Bathrooms were clean. There was also a washer/drawer on site.

Site6

Month of VisitOctober

Marvin J.

Traveler

Reviewed Nov. 23, 2022

Wonderful place to camp next to lake.

This little campground is a hidden gem. The hosts are very helpful and friendly and the campground is well kept. Bath houses clean. Playground areas for the kids. Reasonably priced. A market a mile away that has a grill and most Necessities. So convenient.

Site25

Month of VisitJuly

Jan K.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 25, 2021

Pretty but snug

This would be a great place for boats, fishing and swimming. We just stopped over for 2 nights because we were tired of driving, so we didn’t partake in any water activities. Beautiful lake though. The property is on a hillside with about 5 rows of tiered campsites. It felt a bit snug for me with little space between me and my neighbors. Nice and shaded, and the first 3 rows had lake views. The trees blocked our view but I was happy with the shade. Very nice & helpful hosts that walked us to our (drive through) spot. Bathrooms & showers were clean. Add a quick trip (20 min drive) to Burgess Falls - beautiful!!!

Site37

Month of VisitNovember

Bill P.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 9, 2021

Great getsway

The drive in and out is rather steep but doable. The sites are great.

Site1 lake

Month of VisitAugust

Marissa G.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 5, 2021

Campground is okay

The camp host is as sweet as can be. I have nothing but nice things to say about him. The campground however is not as nice. We were at site 33 it was left trashed from I assume previous guests. The bathroom was not clean. People are not respecting this campground. The site was also only shaded during the morning hours. Mid day toward late evening it’s very sunny and no shade.

Site33

Month of VisitAugust

(9) View All

Grant B.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 2, 2021

Beautiful Scenery and Friendly Staff

We really enjoyed our text stay at Ragland Bottom campground. Even with it being a holiday weekend, the bathrooms were incredibly clean and the site did not feel crowded. We stayed at tent only site 22 and it had power and water. The gravel was on the coarser side and the pad was a bit rocky, but I was able to stale our tent out with a 2lb mini sledge. I did not like that the fire rings were located outside the tent pads, but they did have rock surrounds and a grill. The site also had a charcoal grill and wood railing along one side which came in handy for hanging towels and such to dry. Plenty of shade and the views were very nice.

Site22

Month of VisitJune

(5) View All

Nate H.

Legend

Reviewed Sep. 30, 2020

Awesome lake

Ragland Bottom is a great lakefront campground. It’s a very popular spot, and you’ll need to book well in advance. The lakefront sites all have water access right from the site, so you can launch a kayak, or throw out a line, or just go for a swim right from your site. Mostly all the non-waterfront sites have a view of the lake. You really can’t get a bad spot here. There’s nice hammock trees in the campground, and at most sites. The sites have fire rings and picnic tables. The bathrooms were clean and practical. The campground has a day use area, and a playground. Great spot for lake camping!

Month of VisitJuly

(14) View All

Amurican L.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 26, 2020

Deep in the Heart or Tennessee!

Snuggle deep in Ragland bottom Tennessee this nice Corps of Engineer campground is nestled. The campground is very well-kept. With plenty of room on the camping pads for all types and sizes of RVs. The area is absolutely stunning and beautiful. it is also within a close distance of Sparta Tennessee and has many local convenience stores in the area.

(8) View All

Mandy C.

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 23, 2020

Nice Campground for families or couples

We have camped here many times and have always had a great time. Clean restrooms and friendly campers and host. Have this campground booked a few times for this camping season.

Lori H.

Legend

Reviewed Jun. 18, 2019

Quiet Campground on the lake!

Ragland Bottoms is such a fun place to camp! The campground is right on Center Hill lake, and the lake is really nice and clean! We stayed on site 10, and had the perfect lake front spot! I know that sites 1-15 are all lakefront sites with electricity and water, and they book up fast, so if you want one of those you need to plan to book well in advance. They have walk in tent sites, as well as lake view electric sites.

There is a playground and sand volleyball court, boat ramp, and a hiking trail. Fishing is allowed in the lake, as well as swimming, kayaking, boating. Really great spot to spend a few days!

(15) View All

Jennifer R.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 3, 2018

Quiet little campground

Quiet campground, water view is blocked by overgrowth on the water sites.

Month of VisitJuly

Shelly S.

Legend

Reviewed May. 13, 2018

Hide away

Ragland Bottom Campground is a nice place hid-away between Sparta and Smithville, Tn. Luckily The Dyrt has added a “directions” button that gets you there or you might miss it because there is no sign that I saw.

As with all US Army Corps of Engineers areas it has some rules that a little more strict than most state parks.(one is only 2 dogs allowed in day use/campground) The day use area has a fee which is included in you campground fee if your staying for a few days. There is also an annual fee for the day use area that applies to all the Corps sites. (In TN at least)

The retirees at the front gate are friendly and very informative. The couple I spoke to know the area pretty well too because they let me know where several attractions are. This campground is pretty cool in the way the sites are set up. RV’s are at lake edge, there are several walk in tent sites near the lake too. If you have your watercraft along direct put in is possible but it’s rocky. I didn’t walk the shore so I’m not sure how easy the out in would be. There are RV sites up the hill and then a long loop along the hill top where you can park next to your tent site and have a nice view if the area and excellent shade.

Site 48 and 51 would be the least private they are right on the road near the front gate. Site 55 is very private but the farthest from the showerhouse.

Things to do in the area aside from watersports, Burgess Falls State Park. A little busy but worth the visit. If you don’t mind a technical hike Windows Falls Natural Area is part of Burgess excellent hike with some awesome natural features. No dogs in the natural area.

Site45

Month of VisitJune