Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-121940
When Watauga Point Recreation Area reopens
Watauga Point Recreation Area's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
0
Openings · last 90 days
42
Only 42 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027 · of 2 monitored sites
Of the 366 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 35 open for online reservation · 10 reserved · 319 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative) · 2 closed.
Where the open windows are
90.4% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation. 35 of 366 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Not open online90.4%
Open reservation dates35 / 366
Reserved (of online inventory)10 / 45
Weekday openings24
Weekend openings11
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 24 fall on weekdays and 11 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027November shows no online availability. 0 of 60 tracked reservation dates are open there — 60 on sites not offered online.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 2 day-use units| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 0 | None open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked date. Christmas: no online availability on any tracked date. New Year: no online availability on any tracked date.
Availability by day-use unit
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Unit | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| Watauga Point Recreation Area - Shady area | 19 |
| Watauga Point Recreation Area - Pavilion | 16 |
The 2 day-use units with the most open reservation dates in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Sep 21
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
November0 of 60 · not offered online
The next bookable date is Sep 21; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
35 available reservation dates across 2 day-use units at Watauga Point Recreation Area, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
All 2 day-use units with current availability
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga Point Recreation Area - Shady area | 19 | 9 dates | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 4, Oct 5 +7 more |
| Watauga Point Recreation Area - Pavilion | 16 | 6 dates | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +4 more |
About Watauga Point Recreation Area
Overview
Watauga Point Recreation Area is open for the 2026 season. Watauga Point Recreation Area is located on the southern shore of Watauga Lake in Carter County. Large shade trees scattered throughout grassy areas provide a park setting for picnicking and sunbathing. In addition to picnic facilities, there is a lake and a gravel trail that loops through the nearby forest.
Facilities
Watauga Point Recreation Area has one pavilion with electricity, a shady area, accessible flush toilets, and several other picnic tables and pedestal grills spread throughout. There are six picnic tables and two large grills at the pavilion. The shady area has five picnic tables and two grills. The pavilion and shady area are both reservable. Please make sure you are reserving the right thing (either the pavilion or the shady area) when making your reservation.
Natural Features
At more than 1,900 feet in elevation, Watauga is the highest reservoir in Tennessee. This scenic 6,400-acre reservoir is managed for flood management, power generation, aquatic ecology and recreation. Watauga Point overlooks the reservoir and the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness Area on the opposite shore.
Nearby Attractions
Both water-based and land-based recreation activities abound near Watauga Point Recreation Area. Forest Service facilities within three miles include Cardens Bluff Campground, Rat Branch Boat Ramp, and Pond Mountain Shooting Range.
2 monitored unitsDay use2 shadedWaterfrontLakefrontPets OK
Getting there
From Elizabethton, take US 19E/321 south for five miles to Hampton. Turn left on US 321/TN 67 south for six miles, then turn left into Watauga Point.
4400 Unicoi Drive, Unicoi, TENNESSEE 37692423-735-1500
BoatingCanoeingFishingHikingKayakingNon-Motorized BoatingScenic DriveStar GazingWater Access
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-121940 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-121940 · Watauga Point Recreation Area · Unicoi TENNESSEE10 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Watauga Point Recreation Area?
Reservations for Watauga Point Recreation Area are made through Recreation.gov. 90.4% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation; 35 of 366 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 42 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick the unit on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Watauga Point Recreation Area?
Campsite Sniper detected 42 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Which month has the most availability at Watauga Point Recreation Area?
October 2026, with 20 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 62.
When is the next open date at Watauga Point Recreation Area?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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Pick dates
Choose the reservation dates you want at Watauga Point Recreation Area.
Watch
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Get the ping
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.