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If you don't mind being without hook-ups, the park service offers three free campgrounds along the Trace.  Meriwether Lewis, Jeff Busby, and Rocky Springs.  First come first served.  No registry required.  No reservations.  Each campground has flush bathrooms (no showers), and a fresh water spigot.

We stayed at Meriwether and Busby.  We really liked Meriwether.  Nice paved parking spots, and every site had practically new picnic tables, fire rings, and trash bins.  Tucked in the woods and very pleasant. The campground hosts were friendly and outgoing, and kept the facilities spotless. Mind you, we went in the off season, so weather was perfect, no bugs, and no crowds.  Summer could be quite different.

The Busby site was a bit smaller, and not nearly as well laid out.  The hosts there weren't near as outgoing or on top of keeping things as tidy.  But for free, no complaints.  We  hiked the trails and had a pleasant stay.

I would have liked to have stayed at Rocky Springs, but we had to get to someplace with internet and cell access for my husband's job.  But we did drive through the campground on our way by.  It was nicely spread out and wooded.

We ended up at Natchez State Park.  I wasn't overly impressed with it.  It has two sections….  One with wooded tent sites, next to an area with full timer set-ups, and the other section was a loop with full hookups and rather crowded sites.  It wasn't someplace I would return to.

Hope this bit of info helps.  Have a great trip! 

Post edited 6:28 pm – March 11, 2012 by Mike J

Thank you both. With a 14RB, being w/o hook-ups is a bit daunting, especially since we will have been on the road from Seattle via San Antonio, Austin, to the Trace.

The two places that work for us are just what you mentioned, Riverview and Natchez Trace RV Park (hope not too tight for a 14'), then to Nashville where we have family (Springfield, actualy).

Being very new at this, we rely almost entirely on Sam's Club and Woodall's tome, then looking at the site's webpage and trying to read between the lines and the reviews. But that's half the fun.

Mike 

darylin said:

Mike

Have you checked out the "ReserveAmerica.com" site? You list the state and then it shows the state parks with availability and in some cases, pictures of the sites. I've only been doing the camper thing for about 8 months and love it so far.

Darylin

That looks like agreat resource, and I'ved already started looking at what it offers. Many thanks.

I think that we may have one month's jump on your eight months. It is fun.

Mike

Oh and I would suggest rvparkreviews.com for more information on campgrounds.