Smokies

[campingdadof1son]

Does anyone know of what they think is the best campground in the Tennessee side of the Smokies. Thanks

 

[jdrum3]

Elkmont campground is excellent, popular, but quiet. Go around Father's day and check out the synchronous fireflies event. It's amazing, should be information around the national park's website.
Have fun.
Jamie Smith

 

[campingdadof1son]

Thanks, I 've stayed at Smokemont and really like it but looking for showers too.

 

[ChateauFive]

Twin Creek RV Resort in Gatlinburg....2 miles from downtown on Hwy 321 N, also 1202 E. Parkway

They have car rentals right there, we rented a Jeep Wrangler for a day and had a blast. There is also a Trolly stop at the front gate. Very friendly staff and the restrooms were super clean

1-800-252-8077

They are Good Sam and Woodall rated excellent and also ChateauFive rated 10.9 out of 10 possible

 

[DaveInTN]

I would agree on Twin Creek if you want to be close to Gatlinburg. If you want a quieter locale, I like the KOA in Townsend. They have riverfront sites that are pretty nice.

 

[ChateauFive]

I thought Twin Creek was quite, maybe it was the time of year.
The showers are great.

We did KOA in P.F. and was not impressed.... (We love KOA's)

 

[YensidCamper]

I agree with DaveinTN the KOA in Townsend is awesome. I don't normally like the KOA's because the can be like a trailer park instead of camping. This KOA is a little tight but the riverfront sites are amazing and if you love tubing this is the place to be. There are a few more I like in Townsend similar to and close to this KOA, but can't remember their names.

If you just want to explore Pigeon Forge and don't mind a moderate parking lot feel then the KOA in Pigeon Forge is good. One block from the strip and very close to Dollywood.

 

[campingdadof1son]

Thank you everyone, I'll look into the Koa Townsend, I'll be tenting, so I don't think twin will work.

 

[ChateauFive]

I have heard the Townsend one is nice. We stayed at the KOA in Pigeon Forge and although it was nicely located the noise from the main strip was to loud and it wasn't as clean as we come to expect KOA's to be....a bit rutty on some of the lots.

the bus to Dollywood is right outside the main gate and the Trolly station is within walking distance

 

[DaveInTN]

I thought Twin Creek was quite, maybe it was the time of year.

You're right..I should clarify. The campground at Twin Creek is quiet, and very convenient to Gatlinburg. I meant that if you want to be in a quieter community, Townsend is a quiet little place compared to the areas along the Parkway in Gatlinburg/PF. Townsend is quite close to Cades Cove.

 

[YellowXterra]

Townsend is great area, if you are interested in the Cherokee side then River Valley is great!

 

[starbuc71]

If your looking for peace and quiet and do not require full hook ups I prefer the Cosby campsites in the national forest. They are similar to Elkmont but a lot quieter. Cades Cove is nice but super busy at many times of the year. We always stay at Smoky Bear campgrounds. They are located on route 321 about 6-7 miles outside of Gatlinburg. The place is very seculded and the owners Barry and Chong are super nice people. There are only about 50 sites with about 8 or so being pull throughs for larger RV's All sites are full hook-up except the tent area. Very nicely landscaped and very wooded whicgh we like. We looked for a long time to find a nice campground in the Smokies like Smoky bear. I belive the website is www.smokybearcampgrounds.com

 

[ChateauFive]

You're right..I should clarify. The campground at Twin Creek is quiet, and very convenient to Gatlinburg. I meant that if you want to be in a quieter community, Townsend is a quiet little place compared to the areas along the Parkway in Gatlinburg/PF. Townsend is quite close to Cades Cove.

Is this the one (Townsend) you drive by when your going into the Cades Cove area? There was one we seen that look really nice but there was so much traffic we couldn't turn around and check it out.

 

[KyGirl]

If you don't need hookups for an RV or anything, I would definitely stay in one of the campsites in the park. Elkmont is our favorite too but it's already booked full for much of the summer. I saw online that they're doing road construction near there this summer too. Cades Cove is nice because it's so close to Cades Cove itself. And we really like the quietness and first come first serve policy at Cosby but it's pretty far from lots of things in the park and from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. So I'd say any of the NPS campsites but especially Elkmont if you can get a site there. The waterfront ones are especially nice. FYI though, the park campsites do have bathrooms with toilets and sinks but no showers. We're pretty stinky by the time we leave there!

 

[kristinleigh]

Tremont Hills Campground in Townsend is our absolute favorite! It is the last campground in Townsend before you go into Cades Cove. It is on the Little River and we always request a site on the river....full hookups and a deck. It is my favorite place besides Ft. Wilderness, of course!

 

[ftwildernessrick]

Twin Creek is great if you want to stay at Gatlinburg. Years ago it used to be part of the old Venture Out Campground chain. http://twincreekrvresort.com/

Our favorite in Pigeon Forge is Creekstone Resort, now called Twin Mountain RV Resort. Now this is an older campground but has been fairly well mantained and almost completely shaded. This best part of this is that you can get a site that backs up to the Little Pigeon River. This is a neat place if you like to inner tube, provided they are not having a dry spell.

http://www.creekstonecamping.com/

 

[minniebeth]

Thanks for posting great ideas~