We are planning on heading to Gatlinburg next year. Our time frame would be from mid-June until late August, as we still have 1 in high school.Is there a better time of year to visit the area, or for our time frame, would it be all the same?Anyone there over the July 4th holiday? Do they do anything special (fireworks) for the 4th?We are leaning towards the last week of June/1st week of July time frame, but unsure if it be more crowded than normal, or just average for the summer season...

They hold the first 4th of July parade in the country at 12:01 Am ON THE 4TH. It's gonna be really crowded that time of the year.

We always go down in the late SEP early OCT time frame when the kids go back to school...However Gatlinburg is always crowed on the weekend nights with groves of folks running up and down both sides of the main road...We like to stay in the TOWNSEND area. TOWNSEND is more of the easy going side and has several nice camp grounds with hookups and creek side camp sites. Close enough to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge runs when you want to do that...We also love the ELKMONT Camp inside the Natl Park.. ELKMONT does not have electric hookups but does have bathhouse with available fresh water you can tote to the trailer. When we want to mix-in with the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge crowds we like to stay at RIVER EDGE RESORT which is just as you come into Pigeon Forge from the Gatlinburg side. A very nice campground with full hookups and a 5-star bath house... Been going to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge areas both Tent-RV Trailer camping as well as Log Cabins since the early 70's. It is truly a magical place to visit for us.Roy Ken

We are a couple hours from there, so we go quite often. It is normally crowded, no matter what time of year, but the summer months are pretty busy, as is the fall during "leafing season".There are many, many camping choices to choose from and they cover about a 60 mile radius of Gatlinburg/PF. If you want rustic, Elkmont is the place to stay, but it is dry camping and usually can be very humid and hot. In town, there are so many campgrounds to choose from, most with FHU. If the campground is in town, the trolley stops there, so that shouldn't be a contributing factor of staying there. Our favorite is Pine Mountain RV Park for it's convenient location, FHUs, 3 pools and hot tub (one of which is indoor) and great for the fall and winter months.

'We also love the ELKMONT Camp inside the Natl Park.. ELKMONT does not have electric hookups but does have bathhouse with available fresh water you can tote to the trailer. "The bathhouse only has bathrooms and limited electrical outlets. Don't confuse it his with a bathhouse that has showers.

Gatlinburg is always crowed but around the 4th its VERY bad.My suggestion would be to get there a few days before the 4th to get settle in before most traffic arrives.I have seen traffic so bad you have to wait in line to get off the interstate!

Time of year for Gatlinburg? | Good Sam Community

TNRIVERSIDE
Explorer
Dec 20, 2013
'We also love the ELKMONT Camp inside the Natl Park.. ELKMONT does not have electric hookups but does have bathhouse with available fresh water you can tote to the trailer. "
The bathhouse only has bathrooms and limited electrical outlets. Don't confuse it his with a bathhouse that has showers.
Merrykalia
Explorer
Dec 20, 2013
We are a couple hours from there, so we go quite often. It is normally crowded, no matter what time of year, but the summer months are pretty busy, as is the fall during "leafing season".

There are many, many camping choices to choose from and they cover about a 60 mile radius of Gatlinburg/PF. If you want rustic, Elkmont is the place to stay, but it is dry camping and usually can be very humid and hot. In town, there are so many campgrounds to choose from, most with FHU. If the campground is in town, the trolley stops there, so that shouldn't be a contributing factor of staying there.

Our favorite is Pine Mountain RV Park for it's convenient location, FHUs, 3 pools and hot tub (one of which is indoor) and great for the fall and winter months.
RoyB
Explorer II
Dec 20, 2013
We always go down in the late SEP early OCT time frame when the kids go back to school...

However Gatlinburg is always crowed on the weekend nights with groves of folks running up and down both sides of the main road...

We like to stay in the TOWNSEND area. TOWNSEND is more of the easy going side and has several nice camp grounds with hookups and creek side camp sites. Close enough to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge runs when you want to do that...

We also love the ELKMONT Camp inside the Natl Park.. ELKMONT does not have electric hookups but does have bathhouse with available fresh water you can tote to the trailer.

When we want to mix-in with the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge crowds we like to stay at RIVER EDGE RESORT which is just as you come into Pigeon Forge from the Gatlinburg side. A very nice campground with full hookups and a 5-star bath house...

Been going to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge areas both Tent-RV Trailer camping as well as Log Cabins since the early 70's. It is truly a magical place to visit for us.

Roy Ken
TPUC
Explorer
Dec 20, 2013
They hold the first 4th of July parade in the country at 12:01 Am ON THE 4TH. It's gonna be really crowded that time of the year.

Forum Discussion

Time of year for Gatlinburg?

About Campground 101

Related Content

That time of the year

Gatlinburg to Sarasota

Gatlinburg mobil mechanic

Route from Maine to Gatlinburg? Least traffic?

Year Round Living