Great Smoky Mountains

Branching out a bit and looking at Sevierville, River Plantation RV Resort. Thoughts?

We have had several rallies at RiverPlantation. Nice park and facilities. They are getting greedy and trying to put sites in every open space now. All hookups you could want, cable, easy to hit satellite in the backside of the park, not as easy where the trees have matured. The problem with RP is the access in and out during traffic time. Turning left coming out, and with the drive just below the crest, it can be a pain getting a big rig and towed out safely. I have turned right and gone up to the shopping center and turned around to come back south. (We usually come in from the park side of town)

What are you looking for in visiting the area? If its outdoor activities and peace and quiet then don't stay in Sevierville or Pigeon Forge area. Townsend is the "quiet side" of the Smokies, very nice and is still not so far away from a day trip into G'burg and PF and has access to the National Park.

On the other hand, if you want to be in the center of all the tourist things to do then by all means stay at any of the parks in town. A lot of them have trolley stops that, if you are able to do a lot of walking, you won't need to drive into all the traffic. The traffic can be overwhelming to some folks who may not be used to heavy traffic and going slow to get somewhere. There is so much to do here that you can't do it all.

Think about how you want to experience the area and decide accordingly. All the parks in Sevierville and PF are decent. Check out towards Cosby on RT.321 too. Anchor Down is worth a look.

Jamie, take a look at Pine Mountain RV park, quiet, clean, on the trolley stop if you want to investigate the surrounding area and easy access to the Smoky Mtn. NP via the Gatlinburgh bypass. Nice RV park.

352 wrote:
Franklin NC. A very different way of life there. It is the way it used to be. Trust me.

I agree after spending 20 years of camping and renting cabins in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Wears Valley and Townsend area it's changed so much and has become so commercialized it seems as tho we are visiting Panama City Beach Fl. Finally after fighting traffic for over an hour on a holiday weekend just to go five miles between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg we started to branch out to the North Carolina side in and around Bryson City, N.O.C., Nantahala, Franklin, Lake Fontana area. We love that area and it's more "the way it was" and to us just as beautiful and in some cases more beautiful. Just depends on what's important to you I guess.

floridacamper wrote:

352 wrote:
Franklin NC. A very different way of life there. It is the way it used to be. Trust me.

I agree after spending 20 years of camping and renting cabins in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Wears Valley and Townsend area it's changed so much and has become so commercialized it seems as tho we are visiting Panama City Beach Fl. Finally after fighting traffic for over an hour on a holiday weekend just to go five miles between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg we started to branch out to the North Carolina side in and around Bryson City, N.O.C., Nantahala, Franklin, Lake Fontana area. We love that area and it's more "the way it was" and to us just as beautiful and in some cases more beautiful. Just depends on what's important to you I guess.

Have you all been to the waterfalls? I think there are five in that general area. Check them out. You will not be disappointed.

352 wrote:

floridacamper wrote:

352 wrote:
Franklin NC. A very different way of life there. It is the way it used to be. Trust me.

I agree after spending 20 years of camping and renting cabins in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Wears Valley and Townsend area it's changed so much and has become so commercialized it seems as tho we are visiting Panama City Beach Fl. Finally after fighting traffic for over an hour on a holiday weekend just to go five miles between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg we started to branch out to the North Carolina side in and around Bryson City, N.O.C., Nantahala, Franklin, Lake Fontana area. We love that area and it's more "the way it was" and to us just as beautiful and in some cases more beautiful. Just depends on what's important to you I guess.

Have you all been to the waterfalls? I think there are five in that general area. Check them out. You will not be disappointed.

This area in the Great Smoky Mountains is home to 250 Waterfalls and the Nantahala Gorge Nantahala Outdoor Center is one the prettiest and neatest rivers Ive seen up there. And don't get me started on the lakes up there, absolutely Gorgeous and crystal clear.

It's all according to what you want, If you want quiet and nature, or the town activities, we have been camping in the Smokies 29 times in our 30 years of marrage and have tried many many of the CG's in PF and the suroundings but prefer the National Park CG's even though they have no hookups, but we are more into hiking anf bird watching than shopping and ridding go-karts ( even though there is nothing wrong with go-karts ), we usually make one trip into town for a couple shops and our favorite places to eat along with stocking up on candy/chocolate. smokemont is our favorite CG in the NP.



If we stay in town we stay at a good friends CG, The Foothills RV park & cabins, it is on the very east edge of PF spots are nice and roomey,nice pool, small enouph to be kinda lazy and not busy all the time, very nice bathrooms, what we like about it is when you want to go to GB you don't have to drive through PF and you can get to the park via the bypass very quickly.



this spring we are staying in Cataloochee CG on the Maggie Valley side.

Might want to make reservations early as there is a complete eclipse in August and this area is in the center of it. Expecting many visitors.

To change directions we are looking at doing some flyfishing while there. Any suggestions for a beginner?