Great Smoky Mountains

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.

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.

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)

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

^^^^X2

missnmountains wrote:
There is plenty of camping in Pigeon Forge. We stayed at one of the Gooodsam campgrounds a couple of years ago.


Ken

There is a world of difference between the Pigeon Forge and Townsend areas. Pigeon Forge is a busy area with a lot of attractions like Dollywood. Townsend is called "the quiet side of the Smokies". If your primary interest is the national park, I suggest Townsend.

In Townsend then it's Big Meadow. Nicely operated facility.
Avoid(!) Lazy Daze Campground. It's run down and lots of long term with the resulting clutter and mess around those sites. Sites are tight and close together. Poorly managed.

There is plenty of camping in Pigeon Forge. We stayed at one of the Gooodsam campgrounds a couple of years ago.

This last fall we stayed at Mountain Falls RV resort in NC. A little drive to the south end of the NP but very beautiful down there with 100's of waterfalls.

Ken

You just want to be IN Townsend?
Look at Cove Mountain or Cove Creek in Wears Valley. Easy access to the park. We recommend Elvira's for lunch.
But if you want to tube the river, something in Townsend would be closer.

We stayed at Tremont this summer when we went. Nice campground, but all are pricey in that area. Our next trip we are going to the other side of the park and we'll try Franklin, NC. sounds interesting.