Douglas Tailwater Campground

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• The Douglas Tailwater Campground is located on the tail end of the dam, dispersed by the banks of the French Broad River. The campground is 20 miles from Pigeon Forge, TN, and 30 miles from Gatlinburg, TN. Just before entering the campground, stop by the overlook to observe stunning views of the reservoir.

  Features

  • Bird Watching
  • Boating
  • Fishing
  • Grills
  • Hiking/Trekking
  • Kayaking
  • Pet Friendly
  • Showers
  • Store
  • Wildlife Watching

  Facilities

  

  Campground (61 total sites)

  This is a beautiful and popular campground with most of the sites laying directly on the waterfront. The campground has a total of 61 campsites; of these, 58 include electric and water, 2 meet ADA guidelines, and 3 are primitive tent sites. The campground has a small playground for children. There are 2 bathhouses in the campground with warm showers and flush toilets. The entry road is paved, and sites are graveled with each having a picnic table, fire pit, or grill combo. A dump station is located in the campground for campers at no charge. Prior to entering the campground is a public Look Out Point with day use picnic tables, 2 large group pavilions, and a restroom facility. The pavilion may be reserved for a nominal fee, or is available on a first come basis when not reserved. This look out area has amazing views of the Douglas Dam, reservoir, and long-range mountains.

  Additional amenities include: public day use fishing area, boat ramp, restroom facility, and a small store. The campground is in close proximity to the tourist areas of the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge.

  All sites require a 2-night minimum stay. Please call the campground directly to request an exception if you wish to stay for just 1 night.

  View Fee Schedule

  Reserve Campground Now

Campground rules are provided to campers upon check-in. Vista Recreation, in a partnership agreement with TVA, provide these facilities for your convenience and enjoyment. The successful operation of this area depends on your cooperation and compliance of the following:

• Sites in the campground are able to be reserved, some are on a long-term basis, and some are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please ensure sites are not reserved before occupying a site.

• Unattended camping vehicles and equipment cannot be left at a site unless fees are paid. Rented campsites must have a camping unit present to show the site is taken.

• ADA accessible sites are reserved for persons with a state-issued ADA license plate or mirror tag. The person who has been issued the tag must be occupying the site and may only rent 1 campsite per visit.

• Campers with an America the Beautiful card discount may only rent 1 campsite per visit. Please be prepared to present a photo ID along with the pass in order to receive the discount rate. The pass is eligible for one site per stay only. Douglas Dam Tailwater Campground does not honor America the Beautiful Annual Pass, America the Beautiful Annual Senior Pass, America the Beautiful Military Pass, and America the Beautiful Volunteer Pass.

• No more than 2 camping units are allowed per site, with only 1 unit being a wheeled or mobile camping unit. For campers under the age of 18, a tent is allowed for immediate family residing in the same household.

• Camping is permitted at designated (numbered) sites only. A maximum of 8 people are allowed per campsite. Designated non-profit groups, such as scout troops or church groups, will be allowed some exemptions.

• All vehicles, including visitors, must display a parking pass in order to park in the campground. A maximum of 3 vehicles are allowed per campsite (if space permits). Vehicles are considered to be any of the following: boat trailers, wheeled camping units, automobiles, or motorcycles.

• No washing of campers, vehicles, or boats is allowed in the campground.

• Golf carts are permitted for use by Vista/TVA authorized personnel only. Motorized scooters are only allowed for those individuals with mobility impairment. Bicycles, skateboards, or scooter riding is prohibited from dusk to dawn. Safety helmets should be worn.

• The maximum camping stay is 21 consecutive days unless renting a long-term site. The camper and camping unit must leave the campground for a minimum of 14 days before returning. Other TVA Campgrounds are available for stay during this time (exception: Douglas Headwater and Douglas Tailwater are considered one campground for this interchange).

• Check-out time is 12:00 PM. and Check-In time is 1:00 P.M.

• Visitors are permitted between the hours of 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM

• Quiet hours are from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Please turn off any music, generators, or disruptive lighting by 10:00 PM.

• Campers who are disruptive, intoxicated, or behaving in an obscene or profane manner will be reported to the TVA Police, asked to vacate the premises without reimbursement, and will be subject to a ban from a facility operated by Vista Recreation in a partnership agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

• Place all trash in dumpsters except fish debris. Please contact the campground hosts on duty for pick-up and disposal of fish debris.

• Campfires must be contained in metal fire rings. All firewood must be pre-cut and not include construction debris or pallets. No out-of-county firewood is allowed to be brought into the campground. Do not cut, damage, or drive nails into trees. Please do not burn trash in fire rings.

• Observe posted speed limit signs throughout the campground.

• All appliances must be kept inside the camping unit (no freezers or refrigerators are to be outside).

• Satellite dishes, power cords, and pet crates must remain within the impact zone of the campsite.

• Dumping waste or gray water onto the ground is prohibited.

• Alcoholic beverages and fireworks are not permitted on TVA property. Firearms are prohibited in recreation areas except in hunting season excursions, and are permissible only if they are unloaded and properly cased. State and federal laws apply.

• Pets: Only 2 pets are allowed per campsite; pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet or crated at all times. Please see further rules listed under "Pets" upon clicking "Reserve Now" and viewing "Terms of Service".

EV Charging Policy

Protecting our environment is and always has been a priority for Vista Recreation, and we are researching the addition of EV charging stations in our campgrounds; however, there are currently no EV charging capabilities at our facilities.

While many of our campgrounds have electrical pedestals to power RVs, these pedestals function differently than EV charging stations. RV electrical pedestals are designed for non-continuous loads, not the constant electricity flow required to charge EV batteries. It is essential to know that plugging your EV into a 30-50 amp electric pedestal designed for RV usage can permanently damage your vehicle, as well as the campground's electrical system. Even if your vehicle came from the manufacturer with a charging converter, it does not change the way electricity flows through the electrical infrastructure.

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