Tennesseans went camping last year and spent money doing it.
A new report from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) said Tennessee State Parks set camping records, recorded 34.7 million park visits, and had an economic impact of $1/84 billion in 2020. Camping volume at state parks last year recorded
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee State Parks hosted a record number of campers in 2020, as people searched for ways to have fun safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, which runs the state park system, June, July and October of 2020 were the top three busiest camping months in state park history.
The trend continued in November, when parks sold 36,000 camping nights. The number is a record for November and more than double the amount sold in 2019.
“We’ve seen unprecedented numbers,” Bledsoe Creek State Park manager Chris Thurman said.
In the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, record numbers of people “stayed home” in tents, campers and RVs they took with them to Tennessee’s state parks.
Camping in the last two months of 2020 reached historic highs in state-run parks, according to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation that oversees them. Four of the top 10 camping months ever in state parks happened in 2020, most likely driven by visitors seeking the outdoors during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement, TDEC Commissioner Jim Bryson attributed the surge to the search for well-being.
“The impact of COVID-19 simply underscores a
Editor’s Note — This story was current at the time of last publication on November 16 and will be updated periodically. However, you should still check with the official state websites before you commit to travel plans, especially as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.
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SAN ANTONIO – It’s officially fall and temperatures are (slowly) dropping, meaning it’s the time of year when it’s pleasant enough to head outdoors without immediately bursting into a sweat.
And with the majority of Texans stuck indoors during the coronavirus pandemic, crisp and fresh air will give social distancers a nice respite from the confinements of their homes — as well as the ever-evolving news cycle of 2020.
We’ve compiled a list of Texas state parks around the San Antonio area that are perfect for a quick autumn outdoor getaway.
Overnight camping is now allowed at these parks
