Shutes Branch
Old Hickory Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: OLD HICKORY, TN, TN
Price: From $50 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)
Season: May through October
Shutes Branch is located on the popular Old Hickory Lake, just a short drive outside of Nashville. There’s plenty of opportunities for boating, biking, swimming and fishing, as well as sailing.Shutes Branch offers various picnic sites, a boat launch and fishing platform. The reservable group picnic shelter holds 50 guests and comes with electric hookups.Old Hickory Lake is a 22,500 acre reservoir created by the Old Hickory Lock and Dam on the Cumberland River.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/shutes-branch to be notified when sites open up.
Shutes Branch offers diverse recreation on Old Hickory Lake including boating, fishing, hiking, and a mountain biking trail with terrain for all skill levels. Campers consistently praise the scenic water views, multiple boat ramps, fishing piers, and well-maintained facilities with a 4.6/5 rating from 478 reviews.
Wildlife alert: Great Horned Owl, Osprey, Winter Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Map Turtle, Ouachita Map Turtle, and Eastern Milksnake are present within 8km.
Insider tips for Shutes Branch: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand. Only 1 tent site available with electric hookups on select sites only; confirm hookup availability when booking. Free parking and clean updated restrooms available.
Skip Shutes Branch if: You need full hookups (water/sewer) — most sites lack these amenities.. You prefer year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only.. You have mobility concerns — steep hill to water access noted by campers..
Best time to visit Shutes Branch: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.. Weekdays — Camper reports indicate the site is calm on weekdays but can be busy during weekends and holidays..
Nearby campgrounds: Cedar Creek (Tn) (Hendersonville, TN), Lone Branch (MT. JULIET, TN), Cages Bend (GALLATIN, TN), Avondale (Hendersonville, TN).
Cell Phone Coverage at Shutes Branch
Cell signal at Shutes Branch (OLD HICKORY, TN): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage · Verizon 5G: 100%
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Shutes Branch is located on the popular Old Hickory Lake, just a short drive outside of Nashville. There’s plenty of opportunities for boating, biking, swimming and fishing, as well as sailing.Shutes Branch offers various picnic sites, a boat launch and fishing platform. The reservable group picnic shelter holds 50 guests and comes with electric hookups.Old Hickory Lake is a 22,500 acre reservoir created by the Old Hickory Lock and Dam on the Cumberland River.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with high demand.
Only 1 tent site available with electric hookups on select sites only; confirm hookup availability when booking.
Free parking and clean updated restrooms available.
Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Camper reports indicate the site is calm on weekdays but can be busy during weekends and holidays.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From downtown Nashville get on I-40 E/I-65 S for .9 miles. Follow I-40 E for 12.2 miles and then take exit 221A from I-40 E. Take Andrew Jackson Pkwy which turns into Saundersville Rd for 6.5 miles. Shutes Branch Recreation Area will be located on the right side of the road.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Old Hickory Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Old Hickory Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Shutes Branch cost per night?+
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●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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