Watauga Dam Tailwater Campground
Community Reviews
Been here? Share the conditions.
Reviews, ratings & photos are added in the free Snoflo iOS app — rate a spot, tag the conditions, and your visit is verified by location. Add or manage your reviews from the app.
Watauga Dam Tailwater
The campground offers amenities such as grills, picnic tables, fire rings, and modern restrooms. The campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and there are 28 sites available for tents and RVs. The area's unique feature is the two-mile-long tailwater stream, which flows directly below the dam and provides excellent trout fishing opportunities.
The best time to visit Watauga Dam Tailwater Camping Area is during the summer months from June to August when the temperature ranges from 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. In the fall, the temperature ranges from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, providing ideal conditions for hiking and exploring the area's fall foliage.
An interesting fact about the area is that it's home to the Watauga River, which was named after the Cherokee word Watawah, meaning "beautiful waters." The river is known for its excellent trout fishing, and the surrounding area offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities for visitors.
What's on-site at Watauga Dam Tailwater
Key facilities Snoflo tracks for this campground. Confirm with the operator before booking -- amenities can change seasonally.
Plan your trip down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max so trends jump out at a glance.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks. Hover any point for the full breakdown.
Other campgrounds in the area
Snoflo-tracked campsites within driving distance of Watauga Dam Tailwater, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Retreat Lake | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Blue Springs Gap Cabin | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Comers Rock | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Comers Rock Recreation Area | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Comers Rock Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Raccoon Branch Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Nearby streamflow
USGS streamgauges within reach of Watauga Dam Tailwater -- pulled live from the National Water Information System.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Doe River At Elizabethton | 293 cfs | → |
| Watauga River At Elizabethton | 393 cfs | → |
| Watauga River Near Sugar Grove | 130 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Bristol | 15 cfs | → |
| Nolichucky River At Embreeville | 2,020 cfs | → |
| S F Holston River Near Damascus | 225 cfs | → |
Nearby snow depths
NRCS SNOTEL stations within reach of Watauga Dam Tailwater -- relevant when planning a shoulder-season or alpine trip.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack | 24h Snowfall | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Creek Coop | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Burkes Garden | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Whitetop Coop | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Galax Water Plant | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Bluefield | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Jefferson 2 E | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, boat launches, and paddle runs so a camping night can grow into a full weekend.
Parks
- Wilderness Little Dry Run
- Wilderness Garden Mountain
- Wilderness Raccoon Branch
- Hungry Mother State Park
- Wilderness Beartown
- Wilderness Hunting Camp Creek
Boat launches
- Rural Retreat Lake
- Hungry Mother State Park
- Cox's Chapel Road Grayson County
- Ivanhoe Boat Launch
- Mouth Of Wilson
- Riverside Boat Ramp
Points of interest
- Wukz
- Big Pinnacle
- New River Outdoor Adventures
- Jackson Ferry Shot Tower
- Whitetop Mountain Observation Site
- Historic Crab Orchard Museum
Paddle runs
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
- Green Cove--Jefferson Nf Near Confluence Of Star Hill Branch To Confluence With Whitetop Laurel
- The U.S. Route 460 Bridge In Glen Lyn, Virginia To The Maximum Summer Pool Elevation Of Bluestone Lake, South Of Hinton, West Virginia
Camping essentials & Leave No Trace
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Take all trash, food scraps, and gear back with you to keep campsites clean and protect wildlife.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe animals from a distance, store food securely, and never feed wildlife to maintain natural behavior and safety.
- Know before you go
- Check weather, fire restrictions, trail conditions, and permit requirements to ensure a safe and well-planned trip.
- Minimize campfire impact
- Use established fire rings, keep fires small, fully extinguish them, or opt for a camp stove when fires are restricted.
- Leave what you find
- Preserve natural and cultural features by avoiding removal of plants, rocks, artifacts, or other elements of the environment.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Watauga Dam Tailwater as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, snowpack, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Watauga Dam Tailwater
Can I make reservations at Watauga Dam Tailwater?
This campground does not appear to accept reservations -- it's typically first-come, first-served. Arrive early on summer weekends.
How fresh is the weather data on this page?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from the NOAA / yr.no public feeds. Streamflow data is pulled live from USGS streamgauges and snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network.
What's the best time of year to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation. For longer trips, the 5-day hourly meteogram shows snow + rain accumulation hour-by-hour.
How do I get to Watauga Dam Tailwater?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the campground.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed through the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this campground, set a threshold (temperature, snowpack, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other campgrounds near here
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within driving distance of Watauga Dam Tailwater.
Create a free account, or sign in.
Get the free Watauga Dam Tailwater report — alerts, favorites, and history & forecasts, plus the free iPhone app.
Pick your camping window two weeks out.
Snoflo Premium adds 15-day forecasts at every campground, weather alerts for your saved spots, and full seasonal history.