CG help for familty trip to Smoky Mountains

[icebox114]

Hello all, planning on a trip to Smoky Mountains for Spring Break with the family. 11, 10, 7 y.o. girls, wife, in a PUP. Need CG recommendations, looking for as "natural" as possible with electric, water, and showers. Riverside would be nice. I understand that within the NP is out due to no hookups. Kinda wanna stay away from glorified parking lots, and nothing too touristy. Plan on doing hiking with the kids, might bring kids bikes to tool around the CG. Any help with possibilities would be much appreciated.

[dodge_guy]

I also highly recomend the Jellystone in Cosby TN. Very nice place with sites along a nice creek. The Campground backs to the the NP and has trails that go out from there!

Great place!

[rode2nowhere]

I was trying to get there in july,,,,,,

[mikestock]

Tubing is a big thing in Townsend, TN area, but if you're talking Spring break you will need wet suits.

[Thom02099]

HappyCamper89 wrote:
Tremont Outdoor Resort, Townsend Tennessee. Nice riverfront sites. Bike trail stretches the entire length of the town. Only 7 or 8 miles from Cade's Cove. Google it if you haven't heard of it. Lots of nice hiking trails there and just a beautiful area. Campground borders the national park.

+1 on Tremont. Stayed there many years ago, Townsend touts itself as the "quiet" end of the park, or at least it did at the time. And it was. Very peaceful, great location for a family, sorta rustic feel but also with amenities. Minutes to the entrance of the Park and a short drive to Cade's Cove. Also within an easy drive to the more popular areas of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge; you can still experience the touristy stuff if you want, and then go back to a peaceful campground for the evening.

[rode2nowhere]

I also was considering pigeon forge area for the 4th of july week but from what I have read the traffic is horrible....maybe Nashville?

[icebox114]

Thank you all, each and every one of you, for replying with some great recommendations for CGs. I've been checking out each one over the last few days, sounds like I can't go wrong with any of them.

[wbwood]

We've stayed at jelly stone in Cherokee a couple times. About 13 years ago in a pop up with a site right on the creek there. And then a few years ago in a TT we had. Enjoyed both times. Our daughter really liked it.

[camperforlife]

autiger74 wrote:
We like Townsend KOA. Located on Little River. A 3 mile bike path nearby. 1 mile from the park.

One of the nicest KOA's we have ever camped. It is right on the river and do have some riverfront sites. We will be there for 5 days in May. Tremont is nice but if there is any chance you will have to cancel your reservation, they keep the entire amount which you do have to pre-pay.

Townsend is close to Cades Cove. In Townsend there is a bike trail, lots of great hiking nearby(PM me if you want suggestions) river tubing rentals nearby as well. There is also a cave tour just at the edge of Townsend. It only takes about 20 minutes or so to drive to Gatlenburg or Pigeon Forge if you want the crowds & shopping.

[huachuca]

Cheoah Point is a USFS campground located in Nantahala National Forest that seems to fit most of your requirements. No river or creek at the campground but a nice lake with swimming and beach. The Nantahala river is nearby with excellent white water rafting for all skill levels. Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is a few miutes away - good short trails. Longer trails in the area. Tsali is another USFS campground in the NF and is a mecca for mountain bikers. Less than an hour to the National Park. GSMNP railroad is a nice day trip from Bryson City to Nantahala Village and back - the train wreck in The Fugitive was filmed ther. Check out the FS Horse Cove campground while in the area. No electric or showers but our favorite.

[autiger74]

We like Townsend KOA. Located on Little River. A 3 mile bike path nearby. 1 mile from the park.

[modern_family]

We too stayed at jellystone. Had a very nice site on the stream. To this day (2 years later) this was my sons favorite site ( he was 9 at the time) the sites are a bit close together, but great surroundings and very nice people all around us and staff.

[bodyshop_bob]

pee-paw wrote:
Up the Creek RV Park in Pigeon Forge is out a little ways and more natural. No Pool.

Up the Creek is a wonderful RV Park but it does not have any bath house, either. The OP has a PUP and is looking for bath house, creek and space for his kids.

[Tennessee_Nomad]

We stayed at Clabough's Campground for a weekend. Sites C1 to C10 are on a creek/stream. I think we stayed in C5 or C6. The creeks not really big enough to fish in but it's nice. Those sites are kind of small but we had no problems in a 28ft TT. It's just a block or two off the main parkway in Pigeon Forge. Has lots of trees in the campground. Look at their campground map on their website and hit it with google maps and zoom in and you can see the campsites pretty good.

[pee-paw]

Up the Creek RV Park in Pigeon Forge is out a little ways and more natural. No Pool.