If the northern states are too cold and the southern states are too populated with snowbirds, perhaps meeting in the middle is the answer for a winter season camping adventure.
Tennessee State Parks thinks that is the way to go and are offering a 30-percent winter camping discount from Nov 29 through end of February 2020. This is the first year this discount has been offered, according to park officials.
The discount applies to 30 of Tennessee State Park campgrounds,” confirmed Josh Gibson, director of marketing for the state’s parks. “We have 36 parks with campgrounds offering a variety of tent and RV camping. We have two other parks that only have backpacking sites.”
Not all campground sites are included in this offer. An official list is provided below.
Tennessee’s state parks take in a variety of terrain, from the Smoky Mountains in the east to the rolling hills of central and west Tennessee. These changes in terrain are likely to affect the winter experience for campers, but Gibson said it won’t be too bad for those who take advantage of the offer.
“The type of winter sort of depends when you consider the mountains of East Tennessee and the lower hills of West Tennessee,” Gibson said. “The West and Middle will see more rain and highs in the 30-50s for most of the winter. “East TN will see more snow. The whole state will probably see a couple weeks in the winter of highs in the 10-20 range.”
Cub Lake hiking trail in Natchez Trace State Park [Photo/TN State Parks]
Tennessee State Parks can trace their founding to 1937. In addition to parks with campgrounds, state park properties include historic sites, parks with inns and conference centers, and other public spaces. Among the features offered by these diverse locations are 1,300 miles of trails and more than 80 waterfalls accessed via state park lands.
Open year round and with no access fee, the Volunteer State is always a smart choice for experiencing the outdoors. Winter may actually be a better time to enjoy nature, Gibson suggested.
“There is a lower volume of visitors, access to sought-after sites, and these discounts certainly are reasons to visit,” he said. “Hiking is one of our greatest attractions, and the experience is often better in the winter.
“You’ll have fewer bugs and wider views as the decreased foliage opens up the vistas,” he continued. “Because winter is often a wet season, the volume of the water flowing over our waterfalls is often higher. If it stays below zero for 10-14 days you’ll even have the chance to chase frozen waterfalls.”
Parks participating in the winter discounts, including several Mobile RVing Preferred Properties, are:
· Big Hill Pond State Park
· Big Ridge State Park
· Bledsoe Creek State Park, a Mobile RVing preferred property - is rich in history. It was once a prime hunting ground for the Cherokee, Creek, Shawnee and Chickamauga Native American tribes. Once English settlers arrived to the area, the once great herds of animals were dispersed, never to return.
· Chickasaw State Park
· Cove Lake State Park, a Mobile RVing preferred property, boasts 606 acres are situated in a beautiful mountain valley on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau. Scenic nature trails lead through a diversity of wetlands and woodlands offering wildlife viewing for the nature enthusiast.
· Cumberland Mountain State Park
· David Crockett Birthplace State Park
· David Crockett State Park, a Mobile RVing preferred property, has two campgrounds with a total of 115 sites designated for campers.
· Edgar Evins State Park
· Fall Creek Falls State Park, a Mobile RVing preferred property, is Tennessee's largest and most visited state park, encompassing more than 26,000 acres on the eastern top of the rugged Cumberland Plateau. This park is laced with cascades, gorges, waterfalls, streams and lush stands of virgin hardwood timber,
· Fort Pillow State Park, a Mobile RVing preferred property, is located on the western edge of Tennessee, approximately 40 miles north of Memphis. Fort Pillow State Historic Park is rich in historic and archaeological significance. Steep bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River made this area a strategic location during the Civil War.
· Frozen Head State Park, a Mobile RVing preferred property, is located in Wartburg, Tennessee in the southern extreme of the Cumberland Mountain Range with 14 mountain peaks at or above 3,000 feet elevation. It consists of approximately 24,000 acres of relatively undisturbed forest.
· Henry Horton State Park,
· Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park
· Indian Mountain State Park, a Mobile RVing preferred property, is a 200-acre park located in Campbell County near Tennessee’s northern border. It serves as a living demonstration of how good environmental practices can reclaim wasteland and convert it to beneficial use.
· Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, a Mobile RVing preferred property, is a 12,539-acre hardwood bottomland bordering the mighty Mississippi River 13 miles north of Memphis featuring mature Bald Cypress and Tupelo swamp. Most of the facilities are on top of the majestic Chickasaw Bluffs that rise from the bottomlands.
· Montgomery Bell State Park
· Mousetail Landing State Park
· Natchez Trace State Park
· Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park
· Panther Creek State Park
· Paris Landing State Park, a Mobile RVing preferred property, offers 45 sites with water and electric (30 amp), and 18 primitive campsites. There are two bathhouses and a dump station open March through November. Campsites can accommodate RV's up to 38 feet in length.
· Pickett CCC Memorial State Park
· Pickwick Landing State Park, a Mobile RVing Preferred Property, is a wooded campground with 48 sites, each equipped with a table, a grill and electrical and water hook-up. Bathhouse and dump station are centrally located.
· Reelfoot Lake State Park, a Mobile RVing Preferred Property, operates two campgrounds on Reelfoot Lake. All sites have 30 amp electric service, water, picnic tables and grills; all are level.
· Rock Island State Park
· South Cumberland State Park
· Standing Stone State Park
· Tims Ford State Park, a Mobile RVing Preferred Property, is located on the Tims Ford Reservoir. The 2,200-acre state park sits in the shadows of the Cumberland Plateau in south-central Tennessee. The Tims Ford Lake is considered one of the most picturesque lakes in Tennessee and is regarded as one of the top bass fishing and recreational lakes in the region.
· Warriors’ Path State Park, a Mobile RVing preferred property, was named for the Great Cherokee War and Trading Path. Since that time, the park land has known a long history of travelers and is still a pathway for modern-day outdoor enthusiasts. The 950-acre park is located on the shores of the Patrick Henry Reservoir.
Campers may register online or by phone to get the discount, which is valid only at the participating state parks. Those who register online should use the promotion code WINTER19 at payment to receive the offer. Those who register by phone must mention “Winter Camping Deal” when making a reservation.
The discount is based on availability and is not valid with other discounts at the parks. The discount is not valid on reservations made prior to Nov. 1.
For more information on the winter camping discounts and contact information for the parks, visit tnstateparks.com/winter-camping-deal.
Gibson said there are no restrictions on the offer, other than the normal length of stay. “We don’t allow stays longer than 28 days,” he concludes.