KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ― 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 our dam complexes:

• 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 Oak Ridge, Tenn.
• Pickwick Dam  -  Pickwick Reservoir near Savannah, Tenn.
• Watauga Dam  - Watauga Reservoir near Elizabethton, Tenn.

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.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving more than 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.