Campsite on Douglas Lake; image by Jeaneane Payne

Spring has arrived and the Tennessee Valley Authority’s seasonal campgrounds are ready and waiting for visitors to return to the outdoors. The 2019 camping season opened Friday, March 15, and runs through Nov. 15.

TVA provides more than 80 public recreation areas, including campgrounds, day-use areas and boat ramps across the Tennessee Valley. Recreation Resource Management LLC, will again be managing the TVA campgrounds on our dam reservations:

• Cherokee Dam - Cherokee Reservoir in Jefferson City, Tenn.

• Douglas Dam Headwater - Douglas Reservoir near Sevierville, Tenn.

• Douglas Dam Tailwater - Douglas Reservoir near Sevierville, Tenn.

• Melton Hill Dam - Melton Hill Reservoir near Lenoir City, Tenn.

• Watauga Dam - Watauga Reservoir near Elizabethton, Tenn.

TVA’s Pickwick Dam Reservation Campground near Savannah, Tennessee was severely impacted by the recent flooding in the Tennessee Valley and is currently closed. TVA staff and the campground operator are working together to assess the damage and determine next steps. For updates, visit TVA’s camping web page at www.tva.gov/Environment/Recreation/Camping. You may also contact the Public Lands Information Center at plic@tva.gov or 800-882-5263 for information.

The six TVA campgrounds hosted a record 113,000 overnight stays in 2018 at a total of 355 campsites, most capable of accommodating tents, pop-up trailers and recreational vehicles. Each campground provides restrooms, potable water, showers, grills, picnic tables, RV dump stations, and nearby boating and fishing access. Most campsites have electrical service, except for a few tent-only campsites.

The rates for an RV site range from $15 to $29 and a tent site ranges from $16 to $18. Additional services, such as electricity, water, sewer or premium waterfront campsites, are available depending on the site.

Full details of all camping fees and policies can be found in the camping section of TVA’s website or on RRM’s website.

Camping with campfires is a traditional way of enjoying the outdoors. However, imported firewood can introduce insects that kill trees. To prevent the spread of these destructive pests, TVA recommends buying firewood that is cut locally, preferably within the same county where it will be burned.