Reelfoot Lake State Park, a Tennessee State Park located nearby Union City

Reelfoot Lake State Park, located in the northwest corner of Tennessee, is one of the greatest hunting and fishing preserves in the nation. The lake encompasses 25,000 acres (15,000 of which are water) and harbors almost every kind of shore and wading bird, as well as the golden and American bald eagles. Other animals are also diverse and abundant here. Its many species of flowering and non-flowering plants attract botany enthusiasts from all over the country. Cypress dominates the margins of the lake, but many other trees and shrubs are also present.

Campgrounds, bathrooms, boardwalk, fishing piers and picnic areas are wheelchair accessible.

Camping

Reelfoot Lake State Park operates two campgrounds on Reelfoot Lake. All sites have 30 amp electric service, water, picnic tables and grills; all are level. These sites are rented on a first-come, first-served basis; no reservations. Stay is limited to two weeks. Both campgrounds have a small number of primitive sites with water accessible and picnic tables only. Park Rangers patrol area frequently. No alcoholic beverages allowed. Pets must be on a leash.

MAIN CAMPGROUND

Campground Location: Tennessee Highway 21-22, on southend of Reelfoot Lake

Sites: 86 (68 Paved, 18 Gravel)

-Campground Host available 24 Hours

-Camper Check-in Station with pay phones, vending, and ice nearby

-Boat Launching Ramp Area

-Fish Cleaning House with electricity, water and disposal

-Two bathhouses with showers, sinks, toilets, vending machines, washer, dryer, and dish washing area

-Dumping Station located at entrance/exit

-Bait - 2 mile (privately owned bait shops with fishing supplies)

-Boat - Available for rent from private facilities (within 1 to 5 miles)Pavilion

-Interpretive Programs during the summer months

**Please Note: Reelfoot Lake State Park's main campground is extremely busy during April and May**

AIRPARK CAMPGROUND - OPEN ALL YEAR

Location: Off Tennessee Highway 213 on northend of Reelfoot Lake. Adjacent to Reelfoot Lake State Park's Airpark Inn

Sites: 14 (Gravel)

-Boat Launching Ramp on property

-Fish Cleaning table with water on property near campground

-Pay phones on Airpark Complex Pier

-Dumping Station

-Boats and bait within 1 mile

-3500' Lighted Airstrip

-Nature Trail

**The Airpark Campground is ideal for group camping and scouts**

Area Accommodations

Rim Rock's Dogwood Cabins - Elizabethtown, IL

Cottages and Cabins

Southern Illinois Cabins with all amenities, surrounded by The Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. All cabins have air conditioning, heat, kitchen including stove, frig, microwave, coffee maker, toaster bathroom with shower, screened in porch, electric fireplace, satellite tv with HBO and DVD, all linens, cookware, plates, utensil, outside grill and picnic table.

Web Site: http://www.rimrocksdogwoodcabins.com

Doc's Lakeside Cabin - Jonesboro, IL

Cottages and Cabins

Doc's Lakeside Cabin was built in 2012 and is located in beautiful Southern Illinois. Let us welcome you to setting where you can rejuvenate your mind, body and soul.

Web Site: http://www.docslakesidecabin.com

The Davie School Inn - Anna, IL

BBs / Inns

Restored and remodeled to created an Inn with all the modern conveniences yet still leave the atmosphere of the old school house. Convenient accessibility to many Southern Illinois tourism attractions.

Web Site: http://www.www.davieschoolinn.com

Willowbrook Cabin Rental - Golconda, IL

Cottages and Cabins

LARGE 2 and 3 bedroom private CABINS located near many of the major ATTRACTIONS of the Shawnee National FOREST and the surrounding Southern ILLINOIS area. All cabins offer incredible VALUE as they are fully furnished with everything needed including full kitchens with cookware, microwave, liens, fire pits and wood, outdoor grill, satellite TV and even FREE internet. Open all seasons

Web Site: http://www.WillowBrookCabins.com

The Irish Inn - Ozark, IL

BBs / Inns

Offering a wee bit of Europe in Southern Illinois' wine country. We are located right in the Shawnee National Forest. Stay in a stone and log chalet, cool in summer with blazing log fires in winter. You will enjoy the company of a genuine Belfast-born innkeeper and a full traditional Irish breakfast. There is no extra charge for the blarney, storytelling, and good Irish luck

Web Site: http://irishinn.tripod.com

CLICK HERE for even more local accommodations

Boating

Reelfoot Lake is a flooded forest - full of submerged cypress stumps. While boating on Reelfoot , expect to hit some of the stumps. You will be okay unless you are running at full throttle. People boat on this lake using 40 horsepower motors and up, but they go slow, no water skiing or jet skiing is done on Reelfoot Lake. Canoes can be used on Reelfoot Lake. Jon boats are used the most.

Get directions
to this park:

Nearby Parks

Reelfoot State Wildlife Management Area

Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuge

Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge

Picnicking

Picnicking is very popular at Reelfoot Lake State Park. The park has five large group shelters that will accommodate large family reunions. Four of the shelters have large grills. We also have six smaller shelters with two tables each and grills. Numerous picnic tables and grills are available throughout park areas for family or visitor use. All picnic areas are located on the lakeshore and three of the areas have fishing piers. Three areas have playground units for the amusement of children in the groups. Restrooms are available in all areas.

Trails

Reelfoot Lake State Park has three hiking trails that are very popular and an auto tour that circles the lake.

The Airpark Trail is a 45 minute walk through old cypress forest and second growth vegetation. The Keystone Trail winds along the shoreline of Reelfoot Lake for 1.5 miles and is the only lakeshore trail. The Black Bayou Trail goes along the old bayou for approximately 2 miles and is an excellent bird watching and wildlife observation walk. The Auto Tour visits 12 points of interest and circles Reelfoot Lake.

Nature Programs

The Eagles are Soaring! Make your Eagle Tour reservations now for the 2004 season!!! Beginning January 2, 2004 and continuing into March, the park provides two-hour bus tours to observe bald eagles and other waterfowl.

Tours are offered at 10 a.m. Monday through Sunday with additional tours at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Buses leave from the Airpark Inn. Reservations are required for tours and there is a $5.00 charge. To make eagle tour reservations, please call 731-253-7756 or 800-250-8617.

Eagle Brochure 2004 (.pdf format)

During the winter months Reelfoot Lake is called home by approximately 200 American Bald Eagles. Bus tours to observe the eagles and waterfowl are offered daily. Experienced naturalist provide telescopes for viewing and discuss eagle ecology and lake history. It is not uncommon to see a large number of eagles and to get extremely close views. Eagles can be seen perching, flying/soaring and often snatching fish from the lake. A wide variety of programs are offered during the winter months.

We invite guest speakers to provide a program every Saturday night during the winter eagle season. They cover a wide variety of topics from live birds of prey, photography, history and of course Bald Eagles as well as other interesting topics.

One of the more popular programs features a number of live birds of prey. A park Naturalist explains the importance of these beautiful birds and visitors experience a close up and personal view of these majestic birds. This program is scheduled several times per month and can be booked for your group with advance reservations.

Pontoon Boat Cruises: Naturalists offer Pontoon Boat Cruises from May through September. These trips allow visitors to experience the beauty of Reelfoot Lake and learn about this unique area. Three-hour cruises depart daily at 9:00 a.m. and short cruises are offered on weekends and holiday afternoons. Sunset cruises are offered several times per month and moonlight cruises are offered during the full moon. The full moon rising through Cypress Trees is an awesome sight. Special cruises can be scheduled for groups. Reservations are required.

Reelfoot Lake is a photographers paradise. Special photography workshops and tours are offered by professional photographers for scheduled camera clubs or other interested groups. Our most unusual program is a Heron Rookery Swamp Tromp. We take a wet walk through the cypress swamp to a large heron rookery. Hundreds of nesting birds, large cypress trees and water knee deep make this a trip for those who like to experience nature at it's wildest. This trip is usually offered in the spring and reservation are required for individuals or groups.

Enjoy our Wetland Canoe Trips!

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews

September 11 Love the Arts and Craft show by jkjohnson

April 22 Great placeto bring a Family by Ranger

On the other hand the phone numbers and some on the information on this webpage is wrong. The 800 number and the 253-7756 are no longer used by the park. Eagle Tours are leaving from the Visitor Center.

April 6 needs improving! by concerned

My husband & I love visiting Reelfoot when we have a chance. We visited the weekend of March 31st thru April 3rd. We stayed at the cabins at the spillway,and was very dissapointed at how dirty the room was. I went out and bought some cleaning products to clean the stove and counters and bath before i unpacked. Was not supplied with enough washclothes,and when I went next door to get a trashbag while the two ladies was in the room next to us one of the women was lying down on the bed,and the room was small and they were just in the room the day before. We paid $246.93 for our stay which I think was a little high for a place that I had to clean. It was cobwebs all on the outside.I know there is brooms there to sweep down cobwebs. I know that this is a place to fish and have fun, but I like a clean place when I pay to fish and have fun.Thank you.

January 3 one of our favorite by jo

Love going there has something for all ages. Park ranger is very frindly and helpful

June 2 seen a mink i think by gp

we have camped here several times and have always enjoyed it, very quiet.

May 2 Air Park Inn - Clean & Comfortable

Buildings and grounds showed signs of age however room was clean and comfortable. Limited number of WORKING outlets in parking area to charge boat batteries. Rates were reasonable and staff were polite and nice. I will stay here again while fishing the north end of the lake. Be sure to bring extension cord if battery charging is in your plans and there is no close Wal-Mart to buy one.

Area Campgrounds

Relax Inn & Kampgrounds 650 Us Highway 61 New Madrid, MO (573) 748-5513	Hayti / Portageville KOA 2824 MO State E Outer Road Portageville, MO (573) 359-1580
KOA Campgrounds 2824 Mo State Outer Rd Portageville, MO (573) 359-0965

Area Fishing Related Businesses

Bruce's Place
115 Harrell St
Ridgely, TN
(731) 264-5060

Area Resorts and Lodging

Hamilton's Resort 4992 Hamilton Rd Hornbeak, TN (731) 538-2325	Southshore Resort Lake View Dr Samburg, TN (731) 538-2467
Blue Bank Marina 813 Lake Dr Hornbeak, TN (731) 538-2112	White's Landing 1605 State Route 21 E Tiptonville, TN (731) 253-3100
Sonny's Boys Resort 3060 State Route 21 E Tiptonville, TN (731) 253-0055	Sportsman Resort 100 Sportsmans Resort LN Tiptonville, TN (731) 253-6581
Blue Basin Cove Bed & Breakfast 100 Blue Basin Rd Tiptonville, TN (731) 253-9064	Gray's Camp 40 Grays Camp Ln Tiptonville, TN (731) 253-7813

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Directions

Reelfoot Lake State Park is located in Lake and Obion counties. The park's 280 acres are broken into 10 segments located along 22 miles of the Reelfoot Lake shoreline. The Airpark Inn is located on State Highway 78, ten miles north of Tiptonville. The other sections of the park - including the visitor and interpretive center with its auditorium, picnic and camping areas - are located along State Highways 21 and 22.