Need Help Choosing NC Campground Near Mountains

We enjoyed Creekwood Farm RV Campground in Waynesville, NC in the Maggie Valley area twice last summer/fall and liked it a lot. We had never been to Great Smokey Mountain, NP. (You may have already seen enough of the park from your previous TN trips.)

We had a site by the creek both times and felt it was worth the upgrade. The region, especially around Cherokee, can be very busy and bustling in the summer with all kinds of activities and attractions, but this campground was a quieter oasis.

The pluses for me: Convenient to the major highways and a short drive to Great Smoky Mountain NP for the waterfalls, hikes, etc you described. Plenty of restaurants and shops in Maggie Valley and Waynesville. I especially liked walking along the Main Street area of Waynesville to Nick & Nates Pizza and small stores.

It is a half hour up the highway to Asheville which is a great city to visit, including the beautiful Biltmore House, worth a day by itself.

You already realize that Blue Ridge stretches many, many miles from Virginia on down. Grandfather Mountain and more NC areas are further north from Asheville. Others may have some favorites in the Boone/Blowing Rock area to suggest.

Then there's the VA part of the Blue Ridge. For example, Shenandoah National Park and Valley, and sites in the region, including the Charlottesville area and Monticello.

All of those mountain destinations are popular all summer into autumn leaf season, so you are smart to book early.

Something to think about, thanks! I'll take a look at Creekwood.

Just be aware that Mountain Stream is an hour from downtown Asheville, and does involve climbing Old Fort Mtn on I-40, or a roughly two hour trip on the Parkway (You didn't say when; the BRP is closed for winter & repairs between here and there.)

NC 80 north of Mountain Stream to the BRP is _not_ recommended for RV's (narrow, steep, and curvy). If you have a toad, it is reasonably close to the BRP & Mount Mitchell State Park (highest peak east of the Mississippi), which has plenty of hiking trails. I think the Mountains-to-Sea Trail runs parallel to the BRP thru there, also. I know it does here around Asheville.

Jim, "That cheese doesn't belong to you. It's nacho cheese."

We enjoy Mama Gerties , just outside of Asheville. Beautiful park and close to the things you mentioned. Enjoy planning your trip.

Creekwood Farms in Waynesville is a nice CG and as mentioned, you can back up to a stream. Maggie Valley is minutes away with food & entertainment.
My favorite, though, is Brown Mountain Beach Resort near Lenoir, though it is actually closer to Collettesville. It is isolated and has sites right on a beautiful creek. There are hiking trails galore. And great trout fishing. It's 40 minutes to Grandfather Mountain. 20 minutes to restaurants. The owners are awesome people. Check out their website.
http://brownmountainbeach.com/

Here's the view I had to look at every morning:

Going by the name Flfamily, I will assume you have kids. We stayed at mountain stream once and there is nothing there for kids to do. The owners were rude and carried a copy of the rules around with them all the time. They told our daughter and my bosses grandkids that it was quiet time at 8:30, when the sign they were about 10 ft from clearly stated 9pm. The next day, the kids were in the stream and tossing some rocks. The owner came over (with the rules in his back pocket) and told the kids not to throw the rocks that they had to pay for them. Not once did he stop and say anything to me or my boss. And he walked right in between our two sites! They had a potluck dinner we were going to go to, but after hat we decided not to. My boss and his wife went to it and said no one would talk to them or even eat the chili they made. They believe it was some frequent stayers there or something.

With that said, you might want to check Cherokee out. There is a KOA and yogi there. I believe the KOA pads are paved. The yogi is not. We've stayed at the yogi a couple times and it's ok. Lots of activities for the kids there. There is another place in Cherokee someone has mentioned over the last few months and it appears to be nice. Not sure on activities or things for kids though. Cherokee is only about a 30-45 minute drive through the parkway. It will give you lots of options with Cherokee, the park and the gatlinburg area.

It's going to be hard to help much if you don't want to stay in the mountains.
However. There are a couple CGs in Marion that are at the base of the mountain, and around 30 min to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Tom Johnson Camping Center, has a VERY nice RV Park with paved sites. And Yogi Bear's Jellystone has a water park. Both are an easy drive to the BRP.
And then there is Catawba Falls in Old Fort.

Just so you will know. These CGs are at the bottom of the mountain, and it is from 10 to 15 degrees HOTTER at the foot of those mountains than it is up on the mountain. Up on the mountain. You will not need AC. At the bottom. You will run it constantly.

If you want the cool of the NC Mountains. You need to go up, and stay in Honey Bear. Flintlock, Boone KOA, Raccoone Holler, Grandfather Mountain, Secluded Valley, (on the river) Toe River CG, (on the river), Or one of the Blue Ridge Parkway CGs.

If you take your time. Use your gears to hold you back, Going up, and down the mountains is not hard.

A little more north on 77.

http://www.friesrvpark.com/

Try River Vista Rv Resort in Dillard Georgia. It is iur favorite place, and easy to get to from Florida and sits at the base of the Blue Ridge. It is only 45 minutes to Cheroke and hour and half to Asheville.