Seasonal Campsite Wait List Policy

Washington County Park & Campground

Seasonal Campsite Wait List

Rules & Regulations

Effective Season: April 1 – October 31 | In Accordance with TVA Guidelines

Approved and Adopted April 20, 2026.

Section 1: Campground Overview

Note: Per TVA guidelines, campgrounds operating under a recreation agreement with a public entity are limited to 75% of seasonal sites. 75% × 140 = 105 maximum seasonal campsites.

Section 2: Waiting List Eligibility

2.1 Who May Join the Waiting List

The following individuals are eligible to be placed on the seasonal campsite waiting list:

• Any member of the general public who is not currently occupying a seasonal campsite at this campground.
• Current occupants of short-term (non-seasonal) campsites at this campground.
• Individuals who have fully vacated a seasonal campsite may be added to the waiting list immediately upon confirmed departure.

2.2 Who Is NOT Eligible

The following individuals are NOT eligible to be on the waiting list:

• Any camper currently occupying a seasonal campsite. A camper must completely vacate their site before being added to the waiting list.
• Individuals already occupying a seasonal site cannot hold a position on the waiting list simultaneously.
• Occupants of short-term sites may NOT place their name on a waiting list for another short-term site. 

2.3 Minimum Stay Requirement

To be eligible for a seasonal campsite, all applicants must commit to the full camping season:

• Season commitment: April 1 through October 31
• Applicants who cannot commit to the full seasonal period are not eligible for a seasonal site.
• This requirement applies equally to all members of the public without exception.

Section 3: Application & Registration Process

3.1 How to Apply

All waiting list applications must be submitted online through the Washington County Park & Campground official website. Walk-in or phone applications will not be accepted for waiting list placement.

The online application must include the following information:

• Full legal name of the primary camper/applicant.
• Names of all individuals who will occupy the campsite.
• Camping unit identification: RV vehicle identification number (VIN) and/or license plate number
• Total length of camping unit in feet (required for RV length matching; see Section 4.1). Applicants must provide accurate dimensions, inaccurate information may result in removal from the waiting list.
• Contact information (mailing address, phone number, email address).
• Acknowledgment of the full seasonal commitment (April 1 – October 31).

Note: Only one application per group (all individuals sharing a campsite) and per camping unit is permitted. Duplicate registrations will be removed.

3.2 Non-Refundable Deposit

A non-refundable deposit of $50 is required at the time of application to secure a position on the waiting list. The deposit is applied as follows:

• The $50 deposit is non-refundable under all circumstances, including withdrawal from the waiting list or failure to select a site when offered.
• If the applicant is selected from the waiting list and accepts a campsite, the $50 deposit will be applied toward the first seasonal site fee.
• Payment must be submitted online at the time of application. Applications without payment will not be processed.
• The deposit requirement is the same for all applicants. No exceptions will be made.

3.3 Waiting List is Open Year-Round

The waiting list for seasonal campsites is maintained on a rolling, year-round basis. Prospective campers may add their names to the waiting list at any time throughout the year. Positions on the waiting list are assigned in the order applications and deposits are received.

Section 4: Site Assignment from the Waiting List

4.1 How Sites Are Assigned

Seasonal campsites will be assigned from the waiting list in the order in which applicants appear on the list (first-come, first-served by registration date). When a seasonal site becomes available, the campground will contact the first eligible person on the waiting list whose camping unit size is compatible with the available site, as defined by the RV Length Matching Policy below.

RV Length Matching Policy

To ensure the safe and appropriate use of all campsites, applicants will only be contacted for sites that are compatible with the length of their camping unit. Specifically, an applicant’s RV or camping unit must fall within a 5-foot range of the available site length in order for that applicant to be contacted.

Example: If a 30-foot site becomes available, only applicants with a camping unit between 25 and 30 feet will be contacted for that site. An applicant with a 22-foot RV would not be contacted for a 30-foot site, as their unit falls outside the 5-foot compatibility range.

Applicants whose unit size is not compatible with the available site will retain their position on the waiting list and will be contacted when a compatible site becomes available. Skipping an applicant due to size incompatibility does not affect their overall standing on the waiting list.

All applicants must provide the accurate length of their camping unit at the time of application. Providing inaccurate unit dimensions may result in removal from the waiting list.

Response Requirement

The applicant will have 5 business days to respond and confirm their acceptance of the site offered. Failure to respond within 5 business days will result in forfeiture of their waiting list position and the site will be offered to the next person on the list.

4.2 Carrying the Waiting List into the Next Season

The waiting list will carry over from one season to the next. Individuals who were on the waiting list and not assigned a site in the prior season will retain their position and will be given priority to select sites before any new applicants. Individuals who are offered a site and decline will be removed from the waiting list.

Section 5: Rules, Restrictions & Fairness Standards

5.1 One Application Per Camping Unit

To ensure a fair process for all members of the public:

• Only one waiting list entry is permitted per group/camping unit.
• Spouses, partners, or family members who intend to share a campsite may not submit separate applications to increase their chances or list position.
• Camping unit identification (RV VIN/tag or tent description) will be used to verify that duplicate entries are not submitted.
• Applicants found to have submitted multiple entries will have all entries removed and forfeit their deposit(s).

5.2 Non-Transferability of Campsites

Campsites are not transferrable or sellable by campers. The campground operator controls all campsite assignments.

• If an individual gives up a campsite or sells their camping unit, the next person on the waiting list will be offered that site.
• If a camping unit is sold while occupying a campsite, the camping unit must be vacated from that site.
• If there are other open sites in the campground, the sold camping unit may occupy one of those open sites. If no open sites are available, the unit must leave.

5.3 Equal Treatment

All waiting list policies, including deposit requirements, minimum stay commitments, and assignment procedures, apply equally to all members of the public. No preferential treatment will be given based on prior occupancy, personal relationships, or any other factor not specified in this policy.

5.4 Short-Term Campers on the Waiting List

Current occupants of short-term (non-seasonal) campsites at Washington County Park & Campground are permitted to be on the waiting list for a seasonal site. If a seasonal site becomes available and no one is ahead of them on the waiting list, a short-term camper may immediately relocate to the open seasonal site.

Section 6: Removal from the Waiting List

An individual will be removed from the waiting list under the following circumstances:

• The applicant accepts and is assigned a seasonal campsite.
• The applicant fails to respond to a site offer within 5 business days.
• The applicant declines an offered site.
• The applicant is found to have submitted multiple entries.
• The applicant requests removal from the waiting list.
• The applicant begins occupying a seasonal campsite at this campground (they may re-apply after fully vacating).

Note: Deposits are non-refundable in all removal scenarios.

Section 7: Public Notice & Transparency

In compliance with TVA guidelines, this waiting list policy will be made available to the public through the following methods:

• Posted on the Washington County Park & Campground official website.
• Copies provided to all current seasonal renters and to any member of the public upon request.

The campground will maintain sufficient records to document compliance with this policy and to prevent individuals from taking unfair advantage of the site assignment system. Records of all waiting list applications, deposit payments, site offers, and responses will be retained for a minimum of three years.

Section 8: TVA Compliance Statement

This waiting list policy has been developed in accordance with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) guidelines for seasonal campsite management. The goal of this policy is to prevent residential use of campsites and to provide all members of the public fair and equal opportunities to camp at Washington County Park & Campground.

This policy is subject to review and revision as required by TVA or Washington County Park Authority. Any material changes to this policy will be communicated to current seasonal campers and posted publicly prior to taking effect.