Great smokey np

We're trying to get there this Columbas Day weekend (hoping the hurricane doesn't spoil getting there from southern, ga) and staying in Crosby- we took what we could find on very short notice. Any recommendations for staying so far out? Hiking Trails or any park enterances? We like the fall craft show this time of year, we can usually find something unique there!

Thanks for your recommendations
Gaetan

And I would recommend Elvira's for eating out in the Wears Valley area. Just about any rv park in Townsend or Wears valley is good compared to the madness in Gatlinburg.

To echo some of what's been said, if you want to visit the park, hike, and enjoy some quiet, but still want a full hookup site, Townsend is the way to go. Elkmont is beautiful if you don't want the hookups. Townsend is quiet and conveniently located. I've stayed at Big Meadow Family Campground and would go back there, and there are other nice campgrounds there as well. We've been there many times and always look forward to going back.

Do the Cades Cove loop, but please don't be "that guy" that stops in the road and backs up traffic to look at a horse. Otherwise, avoid the tourist traps and enjoy the park. Think about the pioneers there and what their lives were like. Get out of the car and hike one of the trails, maybe to one of the waterfalls.

RoyB wrote:

The Townsend entrance is very close to the CADES COVE Nature motor trail which is a big attraction to see and do inside the Park.


Lots of trails to hike and several water fall sites to see inside the park. Plenty of wildlife to see as well especially at the Cades Cove trail run if you do it late in the afternoon and early evening when it starts getting dark.

Smoky Mtns is one of our Favorite places to go...

Roy Ken

Cades Cove loop road generates some bad traffic jams. Bumper to bumper at 5 mph. I was there last fall in the middle of the week and it was terrible. It took maybe 2 hours to drive around. Yes there are some interesting spots to visit but get there as early as you can. Away from there there are a lot of other good spots, trails and quite a number of homesteds to look around.

Like Ken56 says the park doesn't have a lot to see but there are some nice hikes and the visitor centers are very nice. Pigeon Forge is the nicer of the two towns and has some nice things to see and do. Townsend is nice to go thru, the Indian museum is very interesting. Don't forget Pine Mountain RV Park, nice quiet place to stay and easy to get to the NP via the Gatlinburg bypass. Have fun.

Gaetan, G'burg and Pigeon Forge are the epitome of tourist areas. The GSMNP is the most visited park in the national system and one of the few with no entrance fee so it can be quite crowded at times. Elkmont campground is in the park and has no hook ups but is excellent and you will likely enjoy it there. It also gives you the option of being close to hiking or to venture into town to see what its all about. There is not that much to see in the park in my opinion really but you surly can spend all your time there seeing all it has to offer. It is truly a beautiful park and so centrally located to a lot of interesting things in the area that you will have your choice of what ever you wish to do. I live about 25 miles away from all the craziness but I love to play tourist there myself. Come and enjoy the area.

The Natl Park sites have no hookups so if you are not staying inside the park then a good choice is to stay at the campgrounds in TOWNSEND. This gets you away from all of the tourist attractions and is very close to a Natl Park entrance.

The Townsend entrance is very close to the CADES COVE Nature motor trail which is a big attraction to see and do inside the Park.

We always stay at ELKMONT CAMP inside the park and do our grocery and supplies shopping at Townsend. The camp sites inside the park all have central rest room bldgs and water spigot available for fresh water... There is firewood available at the inside camp store but this is usually only open for business a few hours in the late afternoon. You can buy firewood at Townsend if you are camping inside the park...

Lots of trails to hike and several water fall sites to see inside the park. Plenty of wildlife to see as well especially at the Cades Cove trail run if you do it late in the afternoon and early evening when it starts getting dark.

Smoky Mtns is one of our Favorite places to go...

Roy Ken

Depends on what you are looking for, the two towns are pure tourist trap towns like you can find outside any major park. Whatever they sell is at inflated prices.

If you prefer nature then spend your time inside the park.