Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-11-2012, 12:34 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Terry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 4,923
NOW ONLINE! - Tennessee Camping Reservations - Update

We have been pushing for years to get reservations in Tennessee. All other states around us have them and it is often difficult to know if you will have a site when you show up for weekend campers like myself. We have been told they are coming for years, but it looks like we are inching ever so close.

Here is the response I received today from the State.

Quote:
Governor Haslam’s office received your email on January 3, 2012, regarding the status of camping reservations for Tennessee State Parks. They asked that we look into the issue and respond on the Governor’s behalf.

Tennessee State Parks contracted with a vendor several years ago to provide an on-line reservations systems for all campgrounds and cabins at all but six park locations. (Those other six park locations already have on-line reservations along with inns where they are co- located.) Due to many delays, we dissolved that relationship last summer and are currently in the final phase of developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for on-line reservations at those campgrounds and cabins, as well as golf tee times. This RFP should be ready to issue in January or February of 2012. We are seeking a vendor who already has on-line reservation systems placed with other entities such as ours. Hopefully, we will have something on-line in time for most of this year’s camping season. We appreciate the concern expressed in your email and want you to know it is our concern too. Thank you for taking the time to inquire about reservations and hope you continue to consider TN State Parks for any of your recreational needs. If you have any questions or need anything further don’t hesitate to contact me.

Ryan Swindell
Legislative Liaison
TN Department of Environment & Conservation


__________________
Terry
2009 Jayco 26BH
2004 Chevy Silverado 1500
2009 JayFlight Manual Library

Want to add a signature to your posts? --> Click Here
Terry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2012, 03:36 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Quahog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,526
Can you call the park directly and reserve a site that way? The RFP route will take time so it would be nice to have an alternative vs. hoping and praying.
__________________
Mike, Sue, Sissy and Little Man

2015 Ford F350 Lariat FX4 6.7 CC DRW
2015 Eagle Premier 351RSTS

Quahog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2012, 09:12 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Terry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 4,923
Nope...in all of Tennessee there are only 3 parks you can do call up reservations. One of them is near me so kind of out...the other two are really far away (I am at the far west end and you can drive 11 hours and not get to the other end!).

Really sad because Tennessee has some really nice parks, but we tend to do a lot of camping on busy weekends (kids break times, holiday weekends, etc) and without being sure of a reservation I am not driving 5 hours only to have no spot. We are close enough to Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri and Kentucky that we can get to them in just a few hours. In fact, we are heading to Arkansas for Spring Break in early March - they have absolutely beautiful parks.

I will keep wishing for Tennessee and hopefully it will be a reality soon....



__________________
Terry
2009 Jayco 26BH
2004 Chevy Silverado 1500
2009 JayFlight Manual Library

Want to add a signature to your posts? --> Click Here
Terry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2012, 09:21 PM   #4
Site Team
 
Crabman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,105
I wonder if they will adopt a site specific system like Maryland has which is really nice.You can reserve the site you want up to a year in advance, and see all the specifics for that site including maximum vehicle length, amenities, hookups, and pictures on the website.
Virginia has reservations only for the park in some of their SP`s, so all you are reserving is a place in the park, not specific sites and its first come first served.
__________________
2017 Coachmen Catalina 283RKS
2018 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2l CCSB
2010 Jayflight 28BHS (sold)
Crabman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2012, 09:50 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Terry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 4,923
Hopefully it will be like Kentucky and Mississippi who use ReserveAmerica. You can see all the details of the spot and even a picture.

Seems to me like a win-win for everyone -- I pay a few extra dollars for the reservation which goes to the reservations company and I imagine it costs the state basically nothing.



__________________
Terry
2009 Jayco 26BH
2004 Chevy Silverado 1500
2009 JayFlight Manual Library

Want to add a signature to your posts? --> Click Here
Terry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 09:37 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Terry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 4,923
WooooHoooo.....

Reservations for Tennessee are now live in most state parks! Finally after years of pushing we have arrived. $3 fee so not too bad.....



__________________
Terry
2009 Jayco 26BH
2004 Chevy Silverado 1500
2009 JayFlight Manual Library

Want to add a signature to your posts? --> Click Here
Terry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 11:12 AM   #7
Site Team
 
Crabman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,105
Yeah it took you guys awhile to emerge from the stone age. Better late then never.
__________________
2017 Coachmen Catalina 283RKS
2018 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2l CCSB
2010 Jayflight 28BHS (sold)
Crabman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 12:19 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
dalenoel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SE, MI
Posts: 3,517
$3 fee is not as bad as the Michigan $8 fee. However we can do it up to 6 months ahead. Just made all the reservations through August and don't need September thru May since school is in and I'm retired. Enjoy the convienence.
__________________
2008 Jayco 322FKS, Hemi, Hensley, Oreo the Malshi, DW and I

Tracking campgrounds with Ultimate Campground Log
dalenoel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 02:08 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Terry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 4,923
We get 12 months! Cool thing is no one really knows yet so most of the big holidays all have premo spots available!



__________________
Terry
2009 Jayco 26BH
2004 Chevy Silverado 1500
2009 JayFlight Manual Library

Want to add a signature to your posts? --> Click Here
Terry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 03:12 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
dalenoel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SE, MI
Posts: 3,517
Have fun getting the best sites. You know that won't last too long. Campers can't keep a secret and will let all their friends, family, and even aquaintenances know about the new setup.
__________________
2008 Jayco 322FKS, Hemi, Hensley, Oreo the Malshi, DW and I

Tracking campgrounds with Ultimate Campground Log
dalenoel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 05:48 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
CruizinKim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Southwest OH
Posts: 786
Tennessee, here I come! Lol! Well, actually I will be there Easter week but we booked through a private CG in Pigeon Forge.
__________________
Kim
2012 Jayflight 32bhds
CruizinKim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2013, 04:33 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
RoyBraddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: King George
Posts: 2,761
I have been reserving sites at Smoky Mtn Natl Park-Elkmont and also at RiverEdge in Pigeon Forge for years... I'm guessing you guys must be talking about something else...

Roy Ken
__________________
Roy and Carolyn
I claim Horse Creek Country in Southern Ill - Momabear is from North Texas
We live in King George VA
RETIRED DOD DOAF DON CONTRACTOR Electronics Tech 42YRS

"We're burning daylight" - John Wayne
2008 STARCRAFT 14RT OFF-ROAD POPUP with PD9260C and three 85AH 12VDC batteries
2010 F150 FX4 5.4 GAS with 3.73 gears - Super Cab - Towing Package - 2KW Honda EU2000i Gen
K9PHT (since 1957) 146.52Mhz
"We always have a PLAN B"
RoyBraddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2013, 07:10 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Terry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 4,923
NOW ONLINE! - Tennessee Camping Reservations - Update

Yep. Talking about the state parks. Up until recently only 3 took reservations and it was manually by phone.



__________________
Terry
2009 Jayco 26BH
2004 Chevy Silverado 1500
2009 JayFlight Manual Library

Want to add a signature to your posts? --> Click Here
Terry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2013, 07:15 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
RoyBraddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: King George
Posts: 2,761
Thanks Terry
__________________
Roy and Carolyn
I claim Horse Creek Country in Southern Ill - Momabear is from North Texas
We live in King George VA
RETIRED DOD DOAF DON CONTRACTOR Electronics Tech 42YRS

"We're burning daylight" - John Wayne
2008 STARCRAFT 14RT OFF-ROAD POPUP with PD9260C and three 85AH 12VDC batteries
2010 F150 FX4 5.4 GAS with 3.73 gears - Super Cab - Towing Package - 2KW Honda EU2000i Gen
K9PHT (since 1957) 146.52Mhz
"We always have a PLAN B"
RoyBraddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2013, 07:23 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Millington
Posts: 173
Terry,

Thanks for the info, this is GREAT news.

Gary
__________________
2014 Ford F-250 Lariat Crew Cab 4X4, 6.2L gasser, 3.73
2013 Jayco White Hawk 28DSBH

2012 Ford F-150 Lariat Supercrew 4X4, 3.5L Ecoboost, 3.73 (traded)
2005 Jayco 1207 (second PUP)
1976 Coleman Brandywine (first PUP)
katgar05 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2013, 06:39 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Terry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 4,923
NOW ONLINE! - Tennessee Camping Reservations - Update

I have been talking with my state senator and his office sent me the press release yesterday ( he is great and still campaigns door to door). It should start getting more active soon as the word gets out.

I am really pleased with how this turned out. It shows that contacting you local officials really can make a difference. I have to say I like when govt work as expected.



__________________
Terry
2009 Jayco 26BH
2004 Chevy Silverado 1500
2009 JayFlight Manual Library

Want to add a signature to your posts? --> Click Here
Terry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2013, 07:13 PM   #17
Junior Member
 
Sassy16's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atoka, TN
Posts: 14
I am so glad they finally did this. It has made our planning much easier.
Sassy16 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2013, 07:36 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Jayco 228's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Posts: 267
NOW ONLINE! - Tennessee Camping Reservations - Update

Wow that is cheap. Here in Alberta we pay $12 reservation fee and a $5 fee to make a change. We can book 90 days in advance. Plus we pay anywhere from $9-$12 for a bundle of kindling they call fire wood. Not too many years ago our provincial parks were free with all the wood you could burn. The politicians really screwed our parks system up.
__________________
Jeff
2012 Toyota 4-Runner SR5
2012 Jayco Jay Feather Ultra Lite 228

Jayco 228 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:33 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.