No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Cook Day Use Area continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 338 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 31 open for online reservation · 1 reserved · 26 closed · 280 unavailable (cause unspecified).
Where the open windows are
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 31 fall on weekdays and 0 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 unavailable.
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 |
|---|---|
| COOK1 | 16 |
| COOK2 | 15 |
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 snapshotThe next bookable date is Sep 21. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
All 2 day-use units with current availability
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| COOK1 | 16 | 4 dates | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8 +4 more |
| COOK2 | 15 | 4 dates | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8 +3 more |
About Cook Day Use Area
Overview
Cook Day Use Area is a lakeside oasis in the hills of middle Tennessee, providing visitors with countless recreational activities on the lake and in the surrounding woods and grasslands.
Recreation
The lake provides a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities for millions of visitors each year. Because of its temperate climate and relatively long recreation season, visitors have numerous activities to choose from, including fishing, hunting, picnicking, boating, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing.
Fishing opportunities abound at J. Percy Priest Lake, with a wide variety of species available, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, striped bass, Cherokee bass and white bass. Other species such as catfish, bluegill, bream and trout provide excellent opportunities for younger anglers.
A large sandy swimming beach provides guests of Cook Day Use Area with convenient access to swimming and comfortable sunbathing.
The Three Hickories Nature Trail is a 1.6 mile nature trail located in a wooded area within Cook Recreation Area.
Facilities
Cook Day Use Area offers two large group shelters for day use, which can accommodate 75 and 100 guests, making it an ideal spot for large parties and family functions.
A large playground surrounded by lush, grassy areas are perfect for children to run around and enjoy the outdoors.
Natural Features
J. Percy Priest Dam and Lake was one of the first Corps of Engineers lakes to have recreation as part of its mission. The dam, completed in 1968, impounds 42 miles, with 14,200 surface acres of water.
In soothing contrast to the sparkling waters of the lake are the adjacent 19,087 acres of grasslands and woodlands.
A highlight of the region, the Cedar Glades Natural Area, is home to countless wildlife and plant species, including the Tennessee coneflower.
Nearby Attractions
J. Percy Priest Lake is conveniently located about ten miles east of downtown Nashville, offering visitors countless cultural activities and the conveniences of a metro area.
Cook Day Use Area is also close to the Hermitage, the historic home of President Andrew Jackson.
Getting there
From downtown Nashville, TN, take I-40 east for 7 miles to exit 221B. Turn right on Old Hickory Boulevard, left on Bell Road, right on New Hope Road and right on Stewarts Ferry Pike. Follow the signs to the picnic shelters.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Photo gallery
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Cook Day Use Area?
Reservations for Cook Day Use Area are made through Recreation.gov. 90.8% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation; 31 of 338 remain open. 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 15:19 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.
Which month has the most availability at Cook Day Use Area?
October 2026, with 17 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 34.
When is the next open date at Cook Day Use Area?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Let the app watch this shelter
Choose the reservation dates you want at Cook Day Use Area.
Campsite Sniper can monitor this facility and notify you if a selected date becomes available.
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.