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Tennessee Campground Seasons
When Tennessee campgrounds open and close each year, from each campground’s published season.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 4.0), Wikimedia Commons
Open and close dates for Tennessee campgrounds
87 campgrounds publish a season. Some dates are for the 2026 season and are labelled that way on the official page.
| Campground | Managed by | Season |
|---|---|---|
| David Crockett Campground 1 | State park | Mar 1 to Nov 3 |
| Cherokee Dam Campground | TVA | Mar 15 to Nov 15 |
| Douglas Dam Headwater Campground | TVA | Mar 15 to Nov 15 |
| Douglas Dam Tailwater Campground | TVA | Mar 15 to Nov 15 |
| Melton Hill Dam Campground | TVA | Mar 15 to Nov 15 |
| Old Forge Campground | National forest | Mar 15 to Dec 15 |
| Pickwick Dam Campground | TVA | Mar 15 to Nov 15 |
| Watauga Dam Campground | TVA | Mar 15 to Nov 15 |
| Rock Island Tent Camping Area | State park | Mar 16 to Nov 1 |
| Defeated Creek Park | Corps of Engineers | Mar 18 to Nov 8 |
| Anthony Creek Horse Camp | National Park Service | Mar 27 to Nov 8 |
| Cages Bend | Corps of Engineers | Apr 1 to Oct 28 |
| Cedar Creek (Tn) | Corps of Engineers | Apr 1 to Oct 28 |
| Lock A | Corps of Engineers | Apr 1 to Oct 30 |
| Seven Points (Tn) | Corps of Engineers | Apr 1 to Oct 29 |
| Little Oak Campground | National forest | Apr 6 to Nov 2 |
| Salt Lick Creek | Corps of Engineers | Apr 8 to Oct 4 |
| Floating Mill Park | Corps of Engineers | Apr 9 to Oct 31 |
| Long Branch (Center Hill Lake) | Corps of Engineers | Apr 9 to Oct 31 |
| Ragland Bottom | Corps of Engineers | Apr 9 to Oct 31 |
| Dale Hollow Damsite | Corps of Engineers | Apr 10 to Oct 25 |
| Harpeth River Bridge Campground (Tn) | Corps of Engineers | Apr 15 to Oct 30 |
| Obey River Park | Corps of Engineers | Apr 17 to Oct 25 |
| Backbone Rock Campground | National forest | Apr 27 to Oct 13 |
| Cardens Bluff Campground | National forest | Apr 27 to Oct 13 |
| Dennis Cove Campground | National forest | Apr 27 to Oct 13 |
| Bumpus Mills | Corps of Engineers | May 1 to Sep 7 |
| Lillydale Campground And Day Use | Corps of Engineers | May 1 to Sep 20 |
| Poole Knobs | Corps of Engineers | May 1 to Sep 29 |
| Horse Creek Campground | National forest | The campground portion of the rec site is scheduled to open on May 5, 2026. The pavilion has been closed indefinitely du |
| Paint Creek Campground | National forest | May 5 to Oct 24 |
| Rock Creek Campground | National forest | Seasons of Use: Spring Opening May 5th, 2026 (Campground) Entrance gate opens at 7 AM and closes at 10 PM. Check out 12: |
| Round Mountain Campground | National forest | May 5 to Oct 1 |
| Anderson Road Campground | Corps of Engineers | May 15 to Sep 29 |
| Willow Grove Campground | Corps of Engineers | May 15 to Sep 7 |
| Abrams Creek Campground | National Park Service | Abrams Creek Campground closes seasonally. See exceptions for exact dates of operation. |
| Bandy Creek Campground | National Park Service | Year-round |
| Big Oak Cove Campground | National forest | Seasons of Use: 5/22/2025 Check in: 2:00 p.m.; Check-out: 12:00 p.m.; Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. |
| Birch Branch Campground | National forest | Year-round |
| Boswell Landing Self-Service Campground | National forest | Year-round |
| Cades Cove Campground | National Park Service | Year-round |
| Cades Cove Group Campground | National Park Service | Open mid-March through October 31st. |
| Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas | Corps of Engineers | Year-round |
| Chilhowee Campground | National forest | Seasons of Use: 4/14/2025 – 10/20/2025 Check in: 2:00 p.m.; Check-out: 12:00 p.m.; Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 |
| Cosby Campground | National Park Service | Cosby Campground closes seasonally. See exceptions for exact dates of operation. |
| Dale Hollow Lake, Primitive Camping | Corps of Engineers | Year-round |
| David Crockett Campground 2 | State park | Year-round |
| Davis Branch Campground | National forest | Year-round |
| Donley Cabin | National forest | Check in: 2:00 p.m.; Check-out: 12:00 p.m.; Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. |
| Edgar Evins Main Campground | State park | Year-round |
| Elkmont Campground | National Park Service | Elkmont Campground closes seasonally. See exceptions for exact dates of operation. |
| Elkmont Group Campground | National Park Service | Open late April until October 31st. Reservations required. |
| Fiery Gizzard Foster Falls Campground | State park | Year-round |
| Gatlin Point Self-Service Campground | National forest | Year-round |
| Holder Cove Campground | National forest | Year-round |
| Holly Flats Campground | National forest | Seasons of Use: 5/21/2024 – 11/19/2024 Check in: 2:00 p.m.; Check-out: 12:00 p.m.; Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 |
| Indian Boundary Campground | National forest | Seasons of Use: 4/18/2024 – 11/5/2024 Check in: 2:00 p.m.; Check-out: 12:00 p.m.; Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 |
| Jacobs Creek Campground | National forest | JACOBS CREEK CAMPGROUND IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO EFFECTS FROM HELENE. Gate opens at 7 AM and closes at 10 PM. All gues |
| Jake Best Campground | National forest | Seasons of Use: 3/6/2024 – 11/19/2024 Check in: 2:00 p.m.; Check-out: 12:00 p.m.; Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 |
| Long Hunter Backcountry Campground | State park | Year-round |
| Look Rock Campground | National Park Service | Look Rock Campground closes seasonally. See exceptions for exact dates of operation. |
| Lost Creek Campground | National forest | Year-round |
| McNabb Group Camp | National forest | Check in: 2:00 p.m.; Check-out: 12:00 p.m.; Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. |
| Meriwether Lewis Campground | National Park Service | Year-round |
| Montgomery Bell Campground (Four Mile Creek Campground) | State park | Year-round |
| Natchez Trace Camping Cabins | State park | Year-round |
| Natchez Trace Cub Lake Campground 1 | State park | Open seasonally (dates not published). |
| Natchez Trace Cub Lake Campground 2 | State park | Open seasonally (dates not published). |
| Natchez Trace Pin Oak Campground | State park | Year-round |
| Natchez Trace Wrangler Campground | State park | Year-round |
| North River Campground | National forest | Check in: 2:00 p.m.; Check-out: 12:00 p.m.; Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. |
| Old Stone Fort Campground | State park | Dump station open year-round; shower building closed December, January, and February. |
| Parksville Lake Campground | National forest | Seasons of Use: 2/23/2024 – 1/20/2025 |
| Pickett CCC Memorial Campground | State park | Year-round |
| Pickwick Landing Bruton Branch Recreation Area | State park | Year-round |
| Pickwick Landing Campground | State park | Year-round |
| Piney Campground | National forest | Piney Campground is open March – November. Check-in is 4:30 p.m.; check-out is 3:30 p.m. |
| Rock Creek Campground | National Park Service | Campground is open year-round. |
| Rock Island Main Campground | State park | Year-round |
| Rough Ridge Campground | National forest | Year-round |
| Spivey Cove Campground | National forest | Seasons of Use: 5/21/2024 – 11/19/2024 Check in: 2:00 p.m.; Check-out: 12:00 p.m.; Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 |
| Standing Stone Main Campground | State park | Year-round |
| State Line Campground | National forest | Year-round |
| Station Camp Campground | National Park Service | Campground is open and on the reservations system year-round. Sites not reserved may be obtained on a first come-first s |
| Tennessee Highway 50 Bicycle-only Campground | National Park Service | Year-round |
| Thunder Rock Campground | National forest | Seasons of Use: 2/23/2024 – 1/20/2025 |
| Young Branch Horse Camp | National forest | Year-round |
What the agencies say about seasons
All Tennessee State Parks are open for recreational activities during the winter. Most cabins, campsites, lodges, golf courses, and restaurants are open year-round. Please check with the individual park to determine the availability of specific amenities. Source
Advance reservations are required year-round at all campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Source
TVA campgrounds are open from March 15 to November 15. Source
TDF publishes a Weather-Related State Forest Closure Information page. Source
Questions about Tennessee campground seasons
When do Tennessee campgrounds open?
State park campgrounds are mostly open year-round. TVA campgrounds open March 15 and close November 15. Many national forest campgrounds open in April or May.
When do TVA campgrounds close?
November 15.
Are state parks open in winter?
Yes. All Tennessee State Parks stay open; most campsites are open year-round.
Where can I camp in winter?
Where do the dates come from?
Each campground’s official page, checked November 14, 2026.