We are working on plans for our summer trip. We will be spending several days in the Gatlinburg, TN area in mid June. After that we'll be making our way toward Cleveland, OH.We will have several days to make that trip. We are looking for recommendations for places to stay along the way. We'd like something like a state or national park, with lots of nature, hiking, great views, etc, not just an RV park. Maybe Skyline Drive or BlueRidge Parkway?We stayed at Kanawha state forest years ago and really enjoyed that, not sure we can fit with the bigger camper now.We will be on a long trip with our younger kids, and staying at RV parks for much of it, but want to really get them some time camping closer to nature some as well.Any input and suggestions are appreciated.

We did Shenandoah NP a few years ago. Got a site along Skyline Dr. Took some nice day hikes, toured Luray Caverns, and rented a canoe at an outfitter and canoed the Shenandoah River.Max

Check out the Grandfather Mountain area next to the BRP. Julian Price State Park is close. Various hiking trails around Grandfather.

Consider Sherando Lake just south of Waynesboro, VA. You will need reservations, however, as it is popular. It is NP, not far from Staunton, home of the American Shakespeare Theater, and worth a wee side trip to take in a play.

Nantahala National Forest is roughly a 1.5 hr drive from Gatlinburg and has a number of recreational activities that may be of interest. One route you could take would be via the Cherohala Skyway which, to us, is more scenic than the BR Parkway. Take a half day (or longer) rafting trip on the Nantahala River (Nantahala Outdoor Center is our outfitter of choice but there are several options). Possibly combine the rafting with a train ride from Bryson City - the route where the train wreck from The Fugitive was filmed. Hike to the Big Trees in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.Several campground options within the NF. Cheoah Point, Tsali, Cable Cove and our favorite Horse Cove. You may be too large for most of the sites at Horse Cove but it might be worth the ride over without the camper to see if the area has any interest for you. FS81 is a Forest Service road just off the eastern end of the Skyway that is gravel but easily navigable by a passenger car which we enjoy driving.Have fun and post back with your experiences and recommendations.Al & Cindy

huachuca wrote:Nantahala National Forest is roughly a 1.5 hr drive from Gatlinburg and has a number of recreational activities that may be of interest. One route you could take would be via the Cherohala Skyway which, to us, is more scenic than the BR Parkway. Take a half day (or longer) rafting trip on the Nantahala River (Nantahala Outdoor Center is our outfitter of choice but there are several options). Possibly combine the rafting with a train ride from Bryson City - the route where the train wreck from The Fugitive was filmed. Hike to the Big Trees in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.Several campground options within the NF. Cheoah Point, Tsali, Cable Cove and our favorite Horse Cove. You may be too large for most of the sites at Horse Cove but it might be worth the ride over without the camper to see if the area has any interest for you. FS81 is a Forest Service road just off the eastern end of the Skyway that is gravel but easily navigable by a passenger car which we enjoy driving.Have fun and post back with your experiences and recommendations.Al & CindyDouble ditto. Santeetlah, Fontana and Cheoah lakes with those majestic mountains are great. There's a great Elec/Water HU campground for RVs at Fontana Village which is in the same area. Right near the dam and the fishing's great. On the lake and beautifully natural. After you're done camping there you can take US129 (Tail of the Dragon); or Cherohala Skyway; or US441 to Gatlinburg.Fontana Village Campground

Camping in or Near Blue Ridge Mountains | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

huachuca
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
Nantahala National Forest is roughly a 1.5 hr drive from Gatlinburg and has a number of recreational activities that may be of interest. One route you could take would be via the Cherohala Skyway which, to us, is more scenic than the BR Parkway. Take a half day (or longer) rafting trip on the Nantahala River (Nantahala Outdoor Center is our outfitter of choice but there are several options). Possibly combine the rafting with a train ride from Bryson City - the route where the train wreck from The Fugitive was filmed. Hike to the Big Trees in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

Several campground options within the NF. Cheoah Point, Tsali, Cable Cove and our favorite Horse Cove. You may be too large for most of the sites at Horse Cove but it might be worth the ride over without the camper to see if the area has any interest for you. FS81 is a Forest Service road just off the eastern end of the Skyway that is gravel but easily navigable by a passenger car which we enjoy driving.

Have fun and post back with your experiences and recommendations.

Al & Cindy
naturist
Nomad
Jun 04, 2013
Consider Sherando Lake just south of Waynesboro, VA. You will need reservations, however, as it is popular. It is NP, not far from Staunton, home of the American Shakespeare Theater, and worth a wee side trip to take in a play.
Rolling_Condo
Explorer II
Jun 04, 2013
Check out the Grandfather Mountain area next to the BRP. Julian Price State Park is close. Various hiking trails around Grandfather.
Smax
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
We did Shenandoah NP a few years ago. Got a site along Skyline Dr. Took some nice day hikes, toured Luray Caverns, and rented a canoe at an outfitter and canoed the Shenandoah River.

Max

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Camping in or Near Blue Ridge Mountains

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