Campsite at Douglas Dam Tailwater campground. Image courtesy of Recreation Resource Management.

With the arrival of warmer weather and spring just around the corner, the Tennessee Valley Authority’s seasonal campgrounds are ready and waiting for visitors to return to the outdoors.

TVA’s 2016 camping season opens Tuesday, March 15 and runs through November 15.

“Our region has some of the most beautiful scenery in the southeast and we want people to get out and enjoy it,” said Rebecca Tolene, TVA vice president, Natural Resources. “Recreation is a key part of TVA’s mission and we continue to invest in the many opportunities to experience the natural beauty of the Tennessee Valley.”

TVA provides more than 80 public recreation areas, including campgrounds, day-use areas and boat ramps.

Recreation Resource Management LLC, will again be managing the six TVA campgrounds co-located with its dam complexes:

Cherokee Dam - Cherokee Reservoir in Jefferson City, Tenn.
Cherokee Dam Campground has 44 camp sites, plus 5 primitive. All sites have electric and water hook up with 4 sites meeting ADA guidelines. Most of the campsites have beautiful lake and mountain views. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire pit/grill. There is a bathhouse with warm showers and flush toilets. A dump station is located in the campground at no charge for those who are camping. The campground has a picnic pavilion, basketball court and children’s playground.

Douglas Dam Headwater - Douglas Reservoir near Sevierville, Tenn.
There are 65 campsites plus 4 primitive sites. All campsites have electric and water hook up and 2 sites meet ADA guidelines. There is a public boat ramp and a parking lot; two bathhouses with warm water and flush toilets. Most sites have a picnic table, fire pit or grill combo. There is no charge to use the campground’s dump station by those who are camping.

Douglas Dam Tailwater - Douglas Reservoir, Sevierville, Tenn. There are 60 campsites; 44 include electric and water. There are 16 primitive tent sites, a small playground for children, 2 bathhouses with warm showers and flush toilets. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire pit or grill combo. A dump station is located in the campground for campers at no charge. Just outside the campground, you will see a public Look Out Point with day use picnic tables, a large group pavilion and restroom facility. The pavilion can be reserved for a nominal fee; when not reserved, it is available first come. This look out area has an awesome view of the Douglas Dam, reservoir and long range mountain views.

Melton Hill Dam - Melton Hill Reservoir near Oak Ridge, Tenn.
There are 55 campsites, 9 with electric, water & sewer (4 of which meet ADA guidelines); 13 sites have no amenities (9 of which are tent only waterfront sites); 2 bathhouses with warm showers and flush toilets. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire pit & grill combo. There is no charge to use the campground’s dump station by those who are camping. •

Pickwick Dam - Pickwick Reservoir near Savannah, Tenn.
The campground has 92 interior campsites. Each site has electric and water hook up and four of the sites meet ADA guidelines. Nine additional tents sites are located close by and are directly on the waterfront; three bathhouses with warm showers and flush toilets. Each campsite is graveled with a picnic table, fire pit, grill or combo. • Watauga Dam - Watauga Reservoir near Elizabethton, Tenn. Watauga Dam Campground has 29 tent and RV sites, many of which are right on the river. All RV sites have electric service and water and three have sewer connections as well.

Improvements are being made at these campgrounds, including upgraded tent camping sites, renovated restrooms, and a new camp store at Melton Hill.

The six TVA campgrounds hosted over 30,000 overnight stays in 2015. The campgrounds have 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, dump stations, and nearby boating and fishing access. Most campsites have electrical service, except for a few tent-only campsites.

The base rate for an RV site will be $14 and a tent site will be $12. Additional services, such as electricity, water, sewer or premium waterfront campsites are available at an extra charge.

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. Pickwick Dam and Cherokee Dam campgrounds will offer a limited number of seasonal sites this year. 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.