Openings · last 7 days
13
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 13 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-122390
When Cardens Bluff Campground reopens
Cardens Bluff Campground's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
28
Openings · last 90 days
29
Only 29 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 – Oct 12, 2026 · of 42 monitored sites
Of the 975 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 12, 2026): 388 open for online reservation · 486 reserved · 101 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative). Of the facility's 42 monitored sites, 37 can be reserved online and 2 are first-come, first-served (3 closed).
Where the open windows are
60.2% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 388 of 975 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 12, 2026Not open online60.2%
Open site-nights388 / 975
Reserved (of online inventory)486 / 874
Weekday openings299
Weekend openings89
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 299 fall on weekdays and 89 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026October holds the most room. 201 of 468 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 37 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 009 | 20 |
| 007 | 19 |
| 005 | 17 |
| 010 | 17 |
| 001 | 16 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights 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 dateTue · Sep 22
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
The next bookable night is Sep 22; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
388 open site-nights across 35 sites at Cardens Bluff Campground, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 75 2-night, 67 3-night, 9 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 22 at site 003.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 57 ft. 7 sites take 25 ft, 5 sites take 35 ft, 4 sites take 40 ft. 30 sites of 37 have no recorded maximum and are not counted.
All 35 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 009 | Not recorded | None | 20 | 16 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +8 more |
| 007 | 50 ft | None | 19 | 16 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5 +7 more |
| 005 | Not recorded | None | 17 | 12 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +5 more |
| 010 | Not recorded | None | 17 | 12 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +5 more |
| 001 | Not recorded | None | 16 | 8 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +4 more |
| 003 | Not recorded | None | 16 | 10 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5 +4 more |
| 006 | Not recorded | None | 16 | 12 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5 +4 more |
| 017 | Not recorded | None | 16 | 7 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8 +4 more |
| 020 | Not recorded | None | 15 | 6 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 5, Oct 6 +3 more |
| 042 | Not recorded | None | 15 | 5 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 9 +3 more |
| 013 | Not recorded | None | 14 | 5 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +2 more |
| 030 | Not recorded | None | 14 | 5 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +2 more |
| 018 | Not recorded | None | 13 | 6 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8 +1 more |
| 019 | Not recorded | None | 13 | 6 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8 +1 more |
| 021 | Not recorded | None | 13 | 5 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +1 more |
| 033 | Not recorded | None | 13 | 5 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8 +1 more |
| 034 | Not recorded | None | 13 | 5 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8 +1 more |
| 016 | 30 ft | None | 12 | 11 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 12 |
| 015 | Not recorded | None | 11 | 5 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 12 |
| 023 | Not recorded | None | 10 | 4 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 |
| 036 | Not recorded | None | 10 | 5 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 12 |
| 038 | Not recorded | None | 10 | 5 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 12 |
| 024 | Not recorded | None | 9 | 5 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 12 |
| 028 | 35 ft | None | 9 | 5 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 12 |
| 027 | 40 ft | None | 8 | 4 nights | Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8 |
| 039 | Not recorded | None | 8 | 5 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 8, Oct 12 |
| 040 | Not recorded | None | 8 | 4 nights | Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 12 |
| 014 | Not recorded | None | 7 | 5 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 7, Oct 12 |
| 035 | Not recorded | None | 7 | 3 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 12 |
| 022 | Not recorded | None | 5 | 4 nights | Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 12 |
| 025 | 40 ft | None | 5 | 4 nights | Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 12 |
| 029 | 30 ft | None | 5 | 2 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 12 |
| 026 | Not recorded | None | 2 | 2 nights | Sep 30, Oct 1 |
| 002 | 57 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Oct 12 |
| 032 | Not recorded | None | 1 | 1 night | Oct 12 |
About Cardens Bluff Campground
Overview
Cardens Bluff Campground is now re-opened as of Thursday 9/3/26. If you have reservations starting Thursday 9/3/26, or after, your reservations are still active and good to go. At nearly 2,000 feet elevation, Cardens Bluff Campground is located on a peninsula overlooking the 6,430-acre Watauga Lake in Carter County, TN. There are 43 sites, primarily for tent camping. There is a bathhouse with showers and flush toilets. No electrical hookups are provided. Day use areas are located nearby for those wanting to take advantage of swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities. Campground Hosts are on site to answer questions and assist with your visit.
Recreation
Boating is popular for visitors to Cardens Bluff. Numerous campsites provide easy water access for kayaks, canoes and motorized boats. Swimming and fishing are also very popular activities at Cardens Bluff. Watauga Lake provides notably clean water for recreating.
Facilities
There are 43 campsites within Cardens Bluff Campground. Each section of the campground has flush toilets. In addition, there is an accessible shower house with eight showers for use by registered campers only.
Natural Features
Watauga Lake is a 6,430-acre hydroelectric reservoir managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority and surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest. Directly across the lake from the campground is the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness area, a rugged, undeveloped mountain range with only the Appalachian National Scenic Trail within its boundaries.
Nearby Attractions
The nearby Rat Branch Boat Launch is an easy quick drive from the campground for campers with motor boats. Shook Branch Swim Area is also nearby on the shores of Watauga Lake. Big Laurel Branch and Pond Mountain Wilderness areas are located north and south of the campground for more rugged, backcountry hiking.
42 monitored sites2 FCFS sitesRVs up to 57 ftNo hookups12 shadedWaterfrontLakefrontPets OKFire pitsMax party 5
Getting there
From Elizabethton, TN take US 19E/321 south 5 miles to Hampton. Turn left on 321/67 travel approx. 4 miles to the campground entrance on the left.
4400 Unicoi Drive, Unicoi, TENNESSEE 37692423-735-1500
Auto TouringBikingBirdingBoatingCanoeingFishingHikingKayakingMountain BikingNon-Motorized BoatingScenic DriveSwimming
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-122390 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-122390 · Cardens Bluff Campground · Unicoi TENNESSEE12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Cardens Bluff Campground?
Reservations for Cardens Bluff Campground are made through Recreation.gov. 388 of 975 tracked site-nights are currently open (39.8%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 29 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground 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 Cardens Bluff Campground?
Campsite Sniper detected 13 site-date openings at Cardens Bluff Campground in the last 7 days, 28 over 30 days and 29 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Cardens Bluff Campground?
67 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 22 at site 003. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Cardens Bluff Campground fit a 35-foot RV?
5 of the 37 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 57 ft. 7 of those 37 sites have a recorded maximum length and 30 do not; they are not counted as fitting.
Which month has the most availability at Cardens Bluff Campground?
October 2026, with 201 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 468.
When is the next open date at Cardens Bluff Campground?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Tue, Sep 22 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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