Cook Day Use Area
J Percy Priest Lake — lakeside, hiking
Location: HERMITAGE, TN, TN
Price: From $50 per night
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (7 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.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.J. Percy Priest Dam and Lake was
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cook-day-use-area to be notified when sites open up.
Lakeside location on J. Percy Priest Lake offering scenic shoreline views with access to boating, hiking, swimming, and picnicking. Great family-friendly day use area with playground facilities.
Wildlife alert: Coyotes present in area. Also common: Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Bluebird, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Milksnake, Pond Slider, and Spiny Softshell.
Insider tips for Cook Day Use Area: Visit Monday-Wednesday for no entry fees Book early as this is a federal campground with only 2 tent sites Parking is within feet of the water with direct beach access
Skip Cook Day Use Area if: You have pets - campground does not allow dogs despite conflicting online information. You need hookups - no hookups available. You visit outside May-October - seasonal operations only.
Best time to visit Cook Day Use Area: Monday-Wednesday — No entry fees on these days according to camper reviews. May through October — Official operating season.
Nearby campgrounds: Seven Points (Tn) (HERMITAGE, TN), Anderson Road Campground (NASHVILLE, TN), Smith Springs (Antioch, TN), Poole Knobs (LAVERGNE, TN).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cook Day Use Area
Cell signal at Cook Day Use Area (HERMITAGE, TN): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.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.J. Percy Priest Dam and Lake was one of the first Corps of Engineers lakes to have recreation as part of its mission.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryVisit Monday-Wednesday for no entry fees
Book early as this is a federal campground with only 2 tent sites
Parking is within feet of the water with direct beach access
No entry fees on these days according to camper reviews
Official operating season
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
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.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — J Percy Priest Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at J Percy Priest Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Cook Day Use Area cost per night?+
What season is Cook Day Use Area open?+
Does Cook Day Use Area have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cook Day Use Area?+
How do I make reservations at Cook Day Use Area?+
What is the cell service like at Cook Day Use Area?+
What season is Cook Day Use Area open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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