I've got a couple of questions about the area. We are debating about one of the park service campgrounds because of not having hookups, or a campground outside the park that has hookups. We are going in Oct, so heating and cooling aren't an issue, but we do have a residential fridge, so we'd probably have to use a cooler since we don't have a generator.Also we normally take our golden retriever, but wondering about bears. She loves to camp, but hates to be in the camper, so she sleeps outside tethered to the steps, but goes with us when we leave the campsite.Thanks for any thoughts.

October is busy in the area. Make plans early.

bgum wrote:October is busy in the area. Make plans early.Campsites are already getting scarce, I'm hoping to get some info and have if booked tonight. Cades Cove looks to be about 75% booked already.

It might not to be a good idea to leave the dog out. Lots of skunks roaming around at night.

I think most rangers frown on dogs being outside alone.and most trails are no dogs trails, we take our two small dogs but they stay in the camper when we are not there and at night.honistly it seems to me most National Parks are not real pet friendly, but I understand why they are like that.

1stgenfarmboy wrote:I think most rangers frown on dogs being outside alone.and most trails are no dogs trails, we take our two small dogs but they stay in the camper when we are not there and at night.honistly it seems to me most National Parks are not real pet friendly, but I understand why they are like that.Thanks for the heads up on the no dogs on the trails. Looks like there are only 2 trails that dogs are allowed on. She loves to hike with us, so we will either have to leave her home , :(or go someplace else.She's really funny about the camper. We've brought her in when it was raining, or cold, and she doesn't like it. She goes to the door, and does this noise that sounds like Chewbacca in Star Wars, that is the way she tries to talk to us. If we don't let her out she will bark at us. Then we put her on the tether, and she curls up under the steps and sleeps. Maybe she can feel it moving and doesn't like it.

Smoky Mountain National Park | Good Sam Community

wowens79
Explorer III
Jun 26, 2017
1stgenfarmboy wrote:
I think most rangers frown on dogs being outside alone.

and most trails are no dogs trails, we take our two small dogs but they stay in the camper when we are not there and at night.

honistly it seems to me most National Parks are not real pet friendly, but I understand why they are like that.

Thanks for the heads up on the no dogs on the trails. Looks like there are only 2 trails that dogs are allowed on. She loves to hike with us, so we will either have to leave her home , :(or go someplace else.

She's really funny about the camper. We've brought her in when it was raining, or cold, and she doesn't like it. She goes to the door, and does this noise that sounds like Chewbacca in Star Wars, that is the way she tries to talk to us. If we don't let her out she will bark at us. Then we put her on the tether, and she curls up under the steps and sleeps. Maybe she can feel it moving and doesn't like it.
1stgenfarmboy
Explorer
Jun 26, 2017
I think most rangers frown on dogs being outside alone.

and most trails are no dogs trails, we take our two small dogs but they stay in the camper when we are not there and at night.

honistly it seems to me most National Parks are not real pet friendly, but I understand why they are like that.
rv2go
Explorer II
Jun 26, 2017
It might not to be a good idea to leave the dog out. Lots of skunks roaming around at night.
wowens79
Explorer III
Jun 26, 2017
bgum wrote:
October is busy in the area. Make plans early.

Campsites are already getting scarce, I'm hoping to get some info and have if booked tonight. Cades Cove looks to be about 75% booked already.
bgum
Explorer
Jun 26, 2017
October is busy in the area. Make plans early.

Forum Discussion

Smoky Mountain National Park

About Campground 101

Related Content

Smoky Mountains question

Great Smoky Mountain National Park (No Power

Smoky Mountain Ideas

Smoky mountain fire

Clingmans Dome and Cades Cove Smoky Mountains