IL to Pigeon Forge TN

Townsend has some good parks and it is much quieter than right in PF. You might want to check out Cosby area too. It is located east of G'burg on 321 and has some good choices in CG's too and removed out of the crazy busy and a tad bit closer than Townsend.

rvten wrote:
I think Townsend is right up your alley than. A lot of local entertainment if your into old mountain music.

++++1 on Townsend.

I think Townsend is right up your alley than. A lot of local entertainment if your into old mountain music.

Thank you so much for such great information.
I've heard Townsend area was a good place to stay. We were thinking of leaving on a Friday and arriving in TN on Saturday. Now I'm thinking maybe arriving later on Sunday may be better? I'm pretty patient, so slow moving traffic doesn't really bother me. We were looking at Up the Creek CG, but I think it's right in PF. I think I'd rather camp outside of the mayhem and just drive to attractions. Only places I know I'd like to go so far is the Smokey Mountain National Park and Gatlinburg.

Depends on where you are staying. We stayed at Smokey Bear RV Park, about 20 minutes east of Gatlinburg. We came in on I-40 and took US 321 to the CG, which is also East Parkway and goes right into Gatlinburg. Avoided PF. Actually we avoided PF and Seiverville the entire week. Unless you have kids, you would not be missing anything.

We left at 5:00 AM and that road is pitch black at night and narrow, so we went through PF and Seiverville on the way back instead. No one on that road at 5:00 AM. ;)

As far as the Interstates and mountains go, we hardly knew we were climbing if not for the scenery. It's nothing compared to towing a trailer west of Denver on I-70.

It does depend on if you want to be close to town and on the trolley route or if you want some tranquility during your stay. Lots of options on campgrounds that are dependent on where you want to be. Exit 407 (rt.66) is the main exit for the area and has some nice CG's right off it if you don't mind being north of Pigeon forge. Traffic is still an issue. I have seen it backed up on I-40 and bumper to bumper all the way into Pigeon Forge....10 miles worth and more.

There is no real good way to avoid towing in the traffic, lots of RV's do it so don't be intimidated by it, just bring your patience along with you. Explore the area using Google maps to see the locations of the CG's and relation to the attractions.

As for using exit 415 I'm not so sure you want to do that as the "back way" will have you saying "where the heck am I?" Its not difficult but being unfamiliar may cause you some unneeded strife. And yes, I live here too. Any more questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Towing through Pigeon Forge is not too bad as long as you don't try to arrive on the weekends especially Fridays because that is when most tourist arrive in the area but middle week is not quite as bad. You can also avoid exit 407 off of I40 and come in the back way by taking exit 415 and take the back way in and avoid the tourist. Trust me I live here.

We only have a small OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer and visit SMOKY NATL PARK ELKMONT CAMP alot coming in from Virginia. Haven't really found a way to go around Pigeon Forge or Gatlingburg to get to where we want to go coming in from the North...

Its sort of like pick your poison haha...

My Illinois family that lives in Effingham ILL comes into I40 from I75 somehow... Never did map out their routes from Central Ill to I75 which runs through Indiana... I imagine I64 perhaps... They like to use I75 to get down to their favorite get-a-way spot North of Tampa FLA... They have the big Montana 5th wheel setup.

Roy Ken

Depends if you want in the middle of it all or do you like quite and peaceful

Summer an Fall heavy traffic in Sevierville and PG. Hill no problem. Suggest staying in Townsend area. From what part of IL.?