Family Camping in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Seiverville

[sugarplum14]

We're looking at travelling to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Seiverville area with our travel trailer. We have tentatively booked a site at the River Plantation Resort, but I seem to be unable to find out a few things about the park, and was wondering if you can help.

1. Are the pools heated? Or perhaps it has been a lot warmer there than it has been here (we're located in Ontario, Canada and it has been COOL most of the summer).

2. Are there fire pits on each site? I can't seem to find any information or photos that really "show" a fire pit, but I've noticed they've mentioned they built a new fire pit for everyone to enjoy. I'd much rather have my own personal fire pit 🙂

3. Anything that is a must see in the area (keeping in mind that we're travelling with our 6 year old).


Thanks in advance!

[sugarplum14]

Thanks bigblue1234 🙂 I'm looking forward to it! Glad to hear they have 24 hour security too. We're MOST looking forward to weather warm enough to enjoy the pool! Sounds like we'll have lots to do. We're expecting to spend a fair amount of time in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg the first few days and then do more relaxing later in the week!

I was considering Dollywood but I'm not sure that we want to spend a whole day at a theme park when there are so many other things we'd like to do and see. We'll likely do the Aquarium, though - I've heard good things about Ripleys!

I did watch the videos, and looked a few up on YouTube as well - I just couldn't tell if all of the sites had fire pits or not, and I've noticed that they've added a bunch of new things since they took a lot of the photos!

[bigblue1234]

We stayed at River Plantation RV Resort and it was very nice. It has 24 hour security which means we left our golf cart, scooters, ice chests and etc out and it was all still there when we returned in the evening. It is quiet, friendly, very clean, and well taken care of. We were parked against the river. There are fire pits per space. The swimming pools were the best. Two swimming pools. One you can walk into with a water fall. The other has steps. The pools are not heated except from the sun. It has a hot tub that is great and a lazy river that is warm. The lazy river is 3 foot deep, the pools are 5 foot deep. We were there from the 20th of July until the 25th when we left to come home. It rained each day but was more of a light rain that didn't last long. The Smokey Mountains are beautiful. Wal_Mart is a mile from the resort and a zoo to be in but very nice otherwise. The Rain forest zoo is about a mile from the resort. Dollywood is a little further. But the best time to be at Dollywood is around 9am so that you can park closest to the entrance. We were in lot B. They have a trolley that takes one to and from the parking lots. The park opens at 10am and closes at 10pm. We also visited the NASCAR park. The grandkids liked to drive the race cars. The acquarium which was expensive but very nice inside. We drove through Cades Cove. Got to see the mother bear and babies. But anyway you will not go wrong in staying at River Plantation RV Resort. Enjoy your time there. Did to go to the RiverPlantationRV.com and view the video of the place?

[sugarplum14]

Thank-you longdrive! We are looking forward to the trip! Glad to hear the pools aren't freezing like the weather has been here! We will definitely check out the store as well!

[longdrive]

sugarplum: just left River Plantation about 10 days ago. I have two kids 10 & 13 and they liked the place. Lazy river was warm, one pool cold and one somewhere in the middle. Each site has a fire pit and they sell wood also at the camp store. Check out Three Bears Store (kids liked it) Thought I would stop in Nashville on the way back to Wisconsin, but stayed in the Smokies longer instead as there was so much to do.
Learn the back roads if you can, it helps LOTS.
have fun

[sugarplum14]

Thanks! We're going to do both. I know they're not far from each other, but we're looking forward to switching up the parks we're staying at for a few days! We're going to save Nashville for another time!

[Phil___Stephie]

Townsend much more in tune for relaxing. But you can still visit Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge from there.

[sugarplum14]

Thank-you ken56! No worries here about feeding bears.. I prefer to see them from a distance, and not close up!

I think we've narrowed down that we're going to do the majority of the touristy stuff the first few days we're there and then we're going to the nature based stuff (and relaxing) for a few days!

[ken56]

You will not be lacking in things to do here. There is everything from go carts to putt putt golf, There is a huge ferris wheel at the Island Entertainment complex with a Paula Deen restaurant and a Margaritaville. It is really overload on things to do. I highly recommend the Titanic exhibit and the kids may like the Wonder Works museum. Lots of dinner shows to see and all are family friendly, nothing objectionable in them. A word of caution on the wildlife, absolutely do not feed them if you see any bears. They are wild animals so treat them as such. Yes they are cute, but keep your distance.

[sugarplum14]

dancogan - sounds like a good place for us to stay! We're just looking to switch it up for a few nights instead of staying at the same park for the whole time. I've heard great things about Cade's Cove!

[dancogan]

sugarplum14 wrote:
...We are also considering the KOA in Townsend for a few days. ...

We went to Townsend- the quiet side of the park - on our first visit to SMNP about 30 years ago and were really happy we did. Almost no traffic problems, easy park entrance, very close to Cades Cove. We're not much into a lot of commercialization, so Townsend suited us well, with a 4 year old and a 1 year old. Been back both to Gatlinburg and Townsend many times since, and always prefer Townsend. JMHO

[wbwood]

I googled the park and then click on images... it shows photos from others on there.

[sugarplum14]

Wbwood - thank-you! Just waiting to hear back from them. It didn't occur to me to google map it! I have been spending too much time looking up things to do and planning our driving route!!

[wbwood]

I looked at some of the photos on their website of their sites and I didn't see a firepit on any of them...

Edit: looked at some google pics and there are a few photos of pics saying they are Plantation River and there are some metal fire rings in them. Maybe just can't be seen in all pics or maybe some sites have them and some don't. Best to get the answer directly from them.

And you will have plenty to do in that area!

[sugarplum14]

Thank-you so much everyone! It is a relief to hear that the campground DOES have fire pits - and if the weather is that warm the pool will be perfect. Sadly our summer up here has been terrible and we haven't had more than a handful of days where it was warm enough to swim!

We are also considering the KOA in Townsend for a few days. Or original plan was to hit Nashville as well but my research has lead me to believe we'll have plenty to do and see in this area and we won't need to leave!

The Aquarium is on our list and my daughter is thrilled to see a waterfall and will love the wildlife as well!

Thank-you all SO much for all your tips!
Now to plan our our route!