With winter a fading memory, campers should be more than ready to return to the great outdoors. The Tennessee Valley Authority’s seasonal campgrounds are ready and waiting.
TVA’s 2015 camping season opens Sunday.
“Recreation is an important part of TVA’s mission to provide environmental stewardship and economic development,” said Rebecca Tolene, TVA vice president of Natural Resources and Real Property Services. “Those who enjoy one of TVA’s campgrounds, or the hundreds of campgrounds and marinas run by commercial and public operators in the area, contribute significantly to local economies as they take advantage of the natural beauty of the Tennessee Valley.”
TVA provides more than 80 public recreation areas, including campgrounds, day-use areas and boat ramps. The six TVA campgrounds alone hosted about 45,000 overnight stays in 2014.
During the 2015 season, which runs through Nov. 15, a new campground concessionaire, Recreation Resource Management LLC, will be managing the six TVA campgrounds co-located with our dam complexes:
- Cherokee Dam - Cherokee Reservoir in Jefferson City, Tn.
- Douglas Dam Headwater - Douglas Reservoir near Sevierville, Tn.
- Douglas Dam Tailwater - Douglas Reservoir near Sevierville, Tn.
- Melton Hill Dam - Melton Hill Reservoir near Oak Ridge, Tn.
- Pickwick Dam Tailwater - Pickwick Reservoir near Savannah, Tn.
- Watauga Dam Tailwater - Watauga Reservoir near Elizabethton, Tn.
The campgrounds have a total of 355 campsites, all capable of accommodating tents, pop-up trailers and recreational vehicles. Each campground provides restrooms, potable water, showers, grills, picnic tables, dump stations, and nearby boating and fishing access. Most campsites have electrical service, except for a few tent-only campsites.
In addition to RRM’s on-site management, a new camping fee structure will be used in the six campgrounds this season. The base rate for an RV site will be $14 and a tent site will be $10. TVA will continue to honor Golden Age, Golden Access, America the Beautiful Access Pass and America the Beautiful Senior Pass discounts for 50 percent off the base camping rate.
Additional services, such as electricity, water, sewer or premium waterfront campsites, will have separate charges that will only be collected if the camper chooses to take advantage of them. No discounts are offered on additional services.
To ensure that as many campers as possible enjoy these recreational facilities, individual users are limited to a maximum 21-day stay during the peak season from May 1 to Sept. 30. The maximum stay is extended to 30 days during off-season periods.
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.