New changes to Smoky Mountains campground reservations
Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced today that visitors will be able to reserve specific campsites now and will be able to make those reservations one month earlier than previously available.
Here’s the press release:
Starting February 7 campers planning a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and many other federally-managed recreation areas will be able to make their campsite reservations on-line at www.Recreation.Gov and by phone toll-free at 1-877-444-6777 up to six months before their arrival.
Managers at the Smokies say that the new National Recreation Reservation System will offer many advantages to the public in addition to allowing them to make their reservations a month earlier than they could under the previous reservation system.
According to Assistant Superintendent Kevin FitzGerald, “The feature most campers will probably like best is that they will be able to select a specific campsite rather than just choosing a date and having a site assigned to them upon arrival. Up to 80% of our visitors have been here before and often have a favorite site or campground loop that is “home” to them. The change will also allow those who like to camp with other friends or extended family groups to book sites right next to each other if they plan ahead and book early.”
Under the new system campsites become available each day at 12:01 a.m. for arrival up to six months later. Just after midnight on February 7, for example, users will be able to book sites for check-in for dates through August 7, and on February 8 they will be able to access arrival dates up through August 8. Managers expect that, since on-line reservations can be made around the clock, the most sought-after sites on peak weekends will go to on-line registrants and could be booked when toll-free phone reservation lines open at open at 10 a.m. each day.
In addition to offering reservations at individual sites at the Park’s Cades Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont Campgrounds, which operate under reservation system from May 15 through October 31 each year, the Smokies also has group campsites and picnic pavilions which can now be reserved up to 12 months in advance.
“The Smokies has group campsites at seven different campgrounds that accommodate parties of 15 to 30 people, such as scout troops or church groups. Our six picnic pavilions are in high demand for things like convention groups and family reunions.” FitzGerald continued, “People planning these larger group events often start working on them a full year in advance, so now they’ll be able to nail down when and where they’ll take place early so they can move on to planning the other details of the gatherings.”
Park managers say that beyond the benefits to campers at the Smokies, people will now have much more information to help them book campsites, tours and other facilities all across the country.
“If you are planning a vacation for next summer,” FitzGerald said, “you’ll be able to go to www.Recreation.Gov and make reservations for facilities all across the U.S. Along with booking your campsites, you’ll find directions to get there, maps and photos of the campgrounds, and information on the amenities in the campgrounds as well as tips on nearby attractions. People have come to expect that sort of information when they book hotel rooms, so we are moving to keep pace with the public’s expectations.”
As an alternative to booking on-line, reservations may also be made toll-free at 1-877-444-6777 at the National Recreation Service System daily from 10:00 a.m. to midnight (EST). The change will not affect the use of the Park’s other seven campgrounds which will remain first-come-first-served. Camping fees at the Smokies will also remain at the same levels as in 2006.
August 14th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
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