Gatlinburg and The Great Smoky Mountains

[bdhoun]

I'm thinking of taking the family to the Smokie Mountains for 2 weeks next summer. I'm thinking of the Gatlinburg area, but am open for more suggestions. We want to see the sights, do some hiking, catch some attractions and eat out a few times. Please give me some suggestions. We'd love being in the National Park, but for a 10 day stint, I think we would want hook-ups.

[djsamuel]

Some nice campgrounds in Townsend, TN plus it is very convenient to the park, especially Cades Cove. We've stayed at Big Meadows Family Campground as well as the Little Arrow Resort. Both were excellent. My favorite place to go.

[Campfire_Time]

For any hiking anywhere in the park, get to the trailheads as early as possible otherwise parking is non-existent. By 9:00 am is too late.

[Dick_B]

Two weeks sounds like a long time. But, for ideas, do a Google search for `______ tourism' and put the city, state, or area in the blank space AND let the family (read kids) do some of the planning.

[haste_maker]

You may want to look in the Maggie Valley area...many campgrounds there.

[agesilaus]

One thing, unless you get to GSMNP on an off season be prepared for horrific 5 mph or less traffic in Cades Cove itself, not the CG. Makes YNP look like an empty freeway. The worst traffic I know of in a NP.

[bgum]

Alamo
Harpoon Harry's
Bennetts
No way Jose
Pine Mountain RV Park
Iin either in pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg

[DouglasC]

The campgrounds within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are nice but like campgrounds in most all the National Parks, have no hookups. There are numerous commercial RV parks in the area, mostly in Townsend, Pigeon Forge or Sevierville - - and a few in Gatlinburg close to the park. Generally the closer you are to the park the more expensive the RV parks are.

There are numerous hiking trails and waterfalls to visit within GSMNP, as well as Newfound Gap at the TN/NC state line and Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the U.S. east of the Mississippi. One of your 1st stops should be at the Sugarlands Visitor Center just inside the park, a couple of miles from Gatlinburg. There you can pick up a free newspaper ("Smokies Guide") that has a map of the park and much information about the park including information on Ranger led hikes.

Lots of attractions for the kids, mostly in Pigeon Forge and scores of great restaurants in the area to eat at.

[agesilaus]

There are some excellent CG inside the park, Cades Cove is popular along with Elkmont and Smokemont. They call it the Great Smoky Mountains BTW.