RV Dump Stations in Tennessee  

Taking a shower, washing your dishes, or using the restroom with complete privacy are some of the perks of RV life, but that convenience also comes with a price. What goes into those RV holding tanks must come out…before you return your rental.

The extra weight of full holding tanks sloshing around as you drive Tennessee’s hilly terrain can take a toll on brakes, alignment, and steering, and the excess weight can contribute to overheating and other breakdowns. Filled tanks add 1,000 to 2,000 pounds to your rig’s gross vehicle weight (GVW), dramatically increasing your braking time and distance.

Knowing where the nearest dump station is before heading homeward is essential to enjoy the best fuel mileage in your RV. Make a dump plan so you don’t drive miles out of your way to find a station and end up adding unnecessary dollars to your vacation costs.

Where Can I Find RV Dump Stations Near Me?

At the Campground

The most accessible RV dump stations in Tennessee are at the campground itself. Many have a pull-through dump station. Campgrounds usually provide the dump station free for registered guests. 

Land Between the Lakes in northwestern Tennessee has three free dump stations, whether or not you stay the night. The locations are North Welcome Center, South Welcome Center, and Golden Pond, south of the Hunter Check Station.

At Great Smoky Mountains National Park, five of 10 developed frontcountry campgrounds offer free RV dump stations with potable water: Cades Cove, Cosby, Deep Creek, Look Rock, and Smokemont campgrounds. Those at Smokemont and Cades Cove are open year-round. 

There’s an additional seasonal dump station across the road from the Sugarlands Visitor Center, so if you’re just passing through, you might schedule this scenic pit stop along the way. Entrance to the park and use of the station is free. However, you might need a parking pass if you plan to leave your rig in one place for more than 15 minutes at a time. 

In Cities Across Tennessee

Many RV Resorts and campgrounds in or near Tennessee’s largest cities have free dump stations for their guests. 

KOA has 16 locations across Tennessee, including Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City, and other areas proximate to sightseeing attractions. The nationwide campground chain has free dump stations and onsite amenities that vary at each location. They also offer a rewards program where you can earn discounts and free nights through customer loyalty. 

Nearby Campgrounds

If you’re boondocking, look for RV parks along your way. Many, if not most commercial campgrounds have a nominal rate of around $20 to pull in and use their dump station. Check the park’s website or call ahead to save yourself the frustration of being turned away with a full tank in a park where the dump station is for guest use only.

As far as RV dump stations in Tennessee go, government campgrounds run by the Tennessee Parks Department, National Forest, National Parks, or Army Corps of Engineers are likely to have a dump station that you can use for little or no charge. Not all campgrounds have one. Save yourself a drive up winding Tennessee roads with full storage tanks by researching the government entity that manages the land where you plan to camp. A call to the primary office can direct you to the nearest dump station. 

T.O. Fuller State Park near Memphis caters to RVs with sites up to 85 feet and a central dump station near the entrance to the campground. 

Near the Interstate

If your campground doesn’t offer a dump station, and you can’t find any others nearby, you’re likely to find places along the local interstate that do. Although it might seem intuitive to head for a rest area to dump your tank, no rest areas in Tennessee are equipped with RV dump stations. 

Love’s Travel Stop has multiple locations across the state that provide RV dump services. You can also fill your propane tank, restock groceries, and do light maintenance if needed. Let your dog stretch his legs at the dog park, do some laundry, and snooze in the RV-friendly 24-hour parking. Thirteen of the 20 Love’s Travel Stops located in Tennessee have RV dump stations.

PS: Check Out These RV Dump Station Tips! 

Dumping sewage and effluent can seem dirty, but the process is pretty clean if you know what you’re doing. However, wearing rubber gloves and even a pair of rubber boots won’t hurt so that any effluent droplets can be easily washed away. 

• Your rental should come with the proper sewer hose for emptying the tanks. A garden hose for rinsing the tanks is helpful in case the dump station doesn’t have one on-site (don’t use the freshwater fill hose!) Check with your host to see what hoses are included in your rental so you can buy anything you might need.
• Keep the valves closed at your campsite, and don’t open them until you are connected securely to the dump station. Connect the three-inch sewer hose to your holding tank first, then extend it to the opening of the dump station (usually a hole in the ground). 
• Use the hole’s lid or another weighted object to securely hold the sewer hose to prevent splashing or effluent from draining onto the ground. 
• Remove the holding tank outlet cap and connect your three-inch sewer hose to the outlet of your holding tank. Extend the hose to the opening of the dump station, which is usually a hole in the ground that is slightly larger than the three-inch hose.
• Empty the black tank first, then the grey water tank. This lets the soapy grey water wash any residue from the sewer hose.
• If there’s no line behind you, refill the tank partway to rinse out any sludge if potable water is available. Skip this step if people are waiting to use the dump station.
• Don’t dump anything in the station other than black and grey water.

 

If you’re still wondering, “where can I find everything I need to know about RV dump stations,” check out these RV Dump Station Basics.