Campground around Knoxville area?

[anabelle]

We will be driving from Michigan in January. So I will need to spend the night somewhere around halfway. That comes out to be somewhere around Knoxville. Are there any good, safe, clean campgrounds for tent camping in that area or within an hour north or south? Is it still cold there in the winter?

 

[TheFlame]

Go to my pigeonforge.com and search for campgrounds. We are staying at Pine Mountain RV park next week for our Christmas trip to Dollywood.(instead of going to WDW!!!-cheaper and already have season passes!)

There are quite a few nice campgrounds that are open year round. There is alot to do there and it is not far from Knoxville.

Some do not allow tents...I couldn't stay in a tent in the Smokies in January, but more power to you! Some of the campgrounds have cabins you can rent but if you want to tent camp be sure and bring lots of heaters and electric blankets! It is getting cold here(North GA) and by Christmas they will already have snow up that way.....though nothing compared to Michigan weather!

 

[the5coops]

http://www.escapees.com/parkpages/Raccoon Valley/raccoon.asp

My Aunt lives in Heiskell off I-75 which is 10 minutes North of Knoxville. When we visited her last May we stayed at an Escapees. We were the only ones there under 70 beside a young couple in a tent. It was very nice. On the same exit (Racoon Valley Road) there is another park immediately off the highway before the Escapees. Hope this helps.

Shelley

 

[4mickey2]

we've stayed at the koa just outside of dollywood. it was pretty decent. the smokie mountain national park is there (no resies for that) or you could do a google search for the tva (tennessee valley authority?). they have campgrounds right on the river/lakes. very neat place to stay....

 

[anabelle]

I couldn't stay in a tent in the Smokies in January, but more power to you! Some of the campgrounds have cabins you can rent but if you want to tent camp be sure and bring lots of heaters and electric blankets! It is getting cold here(North GA) and by Christmas they will already have snow up that way.....though nothing compared to Michigan weather!

OK, you scared me into a hotel room. It might be a bit cumbersome to pull out heaters and electric blankets for just one night. I did not have a clue it got down into the twenties in that area. My brother used to live in Athens, GA and I remember the times I went in the winter, it was not bad out at all.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

In January, I'd stick with a hotel. Pigeon Forge is nice, but out of the way if you are going down I-75(about 30min east on I-40). If you really want to camp, try the previously mentioned one off Heiskel Rd(never tried it).

 

[TheFlame]

OK, you scared me into a hotel room. It might be a bit cumbersome to pull out heaters and electric blankets for just one night. I did not have a clue it got down into the twenties in that area. My brother used to live in Athens, GA and I remember the times I went in the winter, it was not bad out at all.

I didn't mean to scare you , but it is pretty cold in January, especially at night.

We live 30 min. above Athens and we don't even KNOW what snow is compared to what you have, but we have ice storms that are worse than most snow storms!

I don't know if Pigeon Forge is out of your way, but it is a great place to visit if you have the time! Have a safe and wonderful trip!

 

[4mickey2]

don't forget that koa has kabins..

 

[Buckeyemouse]

If you are planning to drive I75 to Florida, Pigeon Forge is out of the way. I traveled in January and the weather can turn nasty. If you continue on 75 past Knoxville there are plenty of Hotels and places to eat before you get to Chattanooga. Good Luck and be safe!

 

[tinatark]

The other thing to consider, if you're thinking about staying in Sevierville/Pigeon Forge - rooms are cheap, cheap then - it's the height of the slowest part of the season, and their goal is to get people in their beds!

If you come over this way, you can also take I-40 to I-26, to I-95 - it's around 11 hours to Orlando that way, and the interstates are SO much more interesting than I-75 (after you leave Georgia, 75 is deserted, it seems!).

 

[Katie Dawn]

anabelle,
Looks like I'm a few days late on this but here's my two cents (I live in Knoxville, by the way):
1) Yes, it does get that chilly here in January/February. I don't think I would want to tent camp at that time of year either. As far as hotels in the Knoxville area - you'll be able to find all kinds of nationally known hotel chains right at interstate exits. (Specifically you'll find these hotels where I-75/275 & I-640 intersect, and where I-40 & I-75 run simultaneously) Knoxville is the crossroads of 2 major interstates that span nearly the entire country going east/west (I-40) & north/south (I-75, which is what I assume you'll be taking). Since Knoxville isn't necessarily a "tourist town," and the hotels are mostly hoping to attract those passing through, such as yourself, I think you'll find the rates pretty reasonable.
2) Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg is a great place to visit but I wouldn't recommend it in YOUR case. I agree with previous posters that you will have to drive about 30 minutes off course, get off the interstate, and then potentially drive another 30-45 minutes to get to your hotel. All in all, we'd love to have you visit Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg in the future, but I don't think it fits your needs right now.
3) If, in the future, you are going to be passing through at a warmer time of year and will be looking for a campground in Knoxville I will also recommend the Escapees RV Park on Raccoon Valley Road. DH's aunt & uncle recently stayed there and it was clean, the people were friendly (of course) & it was less than 5 miles from I-75. His aunt told us that all Escapees Parks are loosely associated with each other -- maybe they're privately owned but they all hold to certain standards?

I hope that's helpful. Please PM me if I can give you any Knoxville-related info!