Camping in Tennessee: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across Tennessee's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from March to May and from September to November, with average highs of 61 to 84 F and lows of 40 to 63 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from November to March, most often in January, when they average 17.4 a month. State park sites are booked through Tennessee State Parks reservations.
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The best months for camping in Tennessee
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in Tennessee is mild March to May and September to November. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan49° / 31°Freezing nights
- Feb54° / 34°Freezing nights
- Mar63° / 41°Freezing nights
- Apr72° / 50°Mild
- May80° / 59°Mild
- Jun88° / 67°Hot
- Jul90° / 71°Hot
- Aug90° / 70°Hot
- Sep84° / 63°Mild
- Oct74° / 51°Mild
- Nov61° / 40°Freezing nights
- Dec52° / 34°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Knoxvilleelevation 962 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48 F | 30 F | 18.5 |
| February | 53 F | 33 F | 13.8 |
| March (mild) | 61 F | 40 F | 7.5 |
| April (mild) | 71 F | 48 F | 1 |
| May (mild) | 79 F | 57 F | 0 |
| June | 86 F | 65 F | 0 |
| July | 88 F | 69 F | 0 |
| August | 88 F | 68 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 83 F | 61 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 72 F | 49 F | 0.7 |
| November | 60 F | 38 F | 9.1 |
| December | 51 F | 33 F | 16 |
Memphiselevation 254 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51 F | 33 F | 14.9 |
| February | 56 F | 37 F | 10 |
| March (mild) | 64 F | 44 F | 3.5 |
| April (mild) | 73 F | 53 F | 0.2 |
| May (mild) | 82 F | 62 F | 0 |
| June | 89 F | 70 F | 0 |
| July | 92 F | 74 F | 0 |
| August | 92 F | 73 F | 0 |
| September | 86 F | 66 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 75 F | 54 F | 0.1 |
| November (mild) | 63 F | 43 F | 4.3 |
| December | 53 F | 36 F | 11.5 |
Nashvilleelevation 600 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49 F | 30 F | 18.8 |
| February | 54 F | 33 F | 14.2 |
| March (mild) | 63 F | 40 F | 7.4 |
| April (mild) | 73 F | 49 F | 0.9 |
| May (mild) | 80 F | 58 F | 0 |
| June | 88 F | 66 F | 0 |
| July | 91 F | 71 F | 0 |
| August | 90 F | 69 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 84 F | 62 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 74 F | 50 F | 0.7 |
| November | 61 F | 39 F | 8.4 |
| December | 52 F | 33 F | 15.8 |
How to book a state park campsite in Tennessee
Tennessee State Parks takes reservations through Tennessee State Parks reservations.
How far ahead you can book
Reservations for campsites may be made up to one year prior to arrival date.Tennessee State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
How many sites
There are thirty-seven (37) campgrounds in Tennessee State Parks.Tennessee State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from Tennessee State Parks pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Camping outside a campground in Tennessee
Camping for more than 14 days in developed and dispersed areas. Camping in any location is limited to 14 consecutive days.USFS, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires when you camp in Tennessee
Campfires in state parks and forests
In designated camping and picnic grounds when the fire is confined in a fireplace provided for the use of visitors, or grills, or in locations marked by the Superintendent; orTennessee State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Where fire restrictions are posted
If hazardous fire weather poses an uncommonly severe risk, the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the State Forester, may issue a burn ban for specific counties at the request of county mayors. The Governor may also issue a burn ban on a regional or statewide basis.Tennessee Division of Forestry, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: Tennessee Division of Forestry.
Tennessee camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in Tennessee. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.