Camping

If you want to be surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the Southeastern United States, plan a stay with TVA. TVA offers hundreds of campsites among its six dam reservoir campgrounds, available from mid-March to mid-November. Fees range from $12 per night for a tent-only campsite to $29 a night for a lakeside campsite with water, sewer and electric hookups.

All six campgrounds are now managed by Recreation Resource Management (RRM) under a concessionaire agreement with TVA. This has allowed an expansion of services that includes new campground stores, wireless access, an online reservation system, improved grounds upkeep and more.

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find at the campgrounds to help you make memories that will last forever:

• Watauga Campground near Elizabethton, Tenn.: The Appalachian Trail intersects with trails here, making for some truly world-class hiking. map | rates
• Cherokee Dam Campground near Jefferson City, Tenn.: With a picnic pavilion, basketball court and children’s playground, this is a terrific meeting place for a family reunion. map | rates
• Douglas Dam Headwater and Tailwater Campgrounds near Sevierville, Tenn.: Multiple boat ramps offer easy access to some of the Valley’s best bass fishing. Tailwater Campground map | rates; Headwater Campground map | rates | driving directions
• Pickwick Dam Campground near Savannah, Tenn.: The shore fishing is excellent here, and a fishing berm helps fishermen take the hooks to the fish. map | rates
• Melton Hill Campground near Lenoir City, Tenn.: High-tech energy efficiency facilities meet a beautiful natural setting at this TVA demonstration property. Click here to learn more about energy efficiency at Melton Hill. map | rates | driving directions

Fees, Reservations and Other Information

The length of stay is limited to 21 days during the high season (May 1 to Sept 30) and 30 days in the off-season (Oct 1 to April 30, excluding closure dates). In 2016, RRM will offer seasonal sites for $425 per month for a portion of the campsites at Cherokee and Pickwick. Seasonal sites allow campers to stay up to the full season (two month minimum). See the rate sheets for those two campgrounds to see which campsites are open to seasonal renting.

The new nightly rate structure is as follows:

Other information—including opening and closing dates, rules and reservation details—can be found on Recreation Resource Management’s website: camprrm.com/tva.

Campground Rules

Learn about what’s okay and what’s prohibited before you go to ensure you have a blissful, happy experience camping in the great outdoors. Everyone stays well and plays well when they follow some basic rules for keeping the peace on TVA’s recreation areas and campgrounds.

Campground rules and regulations

Rules for TVA day-use areas and picnic pavilions

Want to Rough It?

You can camp in the wild—sans facilities—on undeveloped TVA public lands. Learn more about recreational opportunities on these lands.