Need Help Choosing NC Campground Near Mountains

[FLfamily]

I know there's a thread going about Boone, NC and I've read through it and researched, but I'm still unsure. We usually go to the Smokies in TN but next year we want to try NC (and Townsend KOA is booked the week we want). We've never been to NC and the Blue Ridge mountains so I'm pretty clueless about where to stay, but I thought someone here might be able to steer me in the right direction.

We don't necessarily want to be up in the mountain, but more at the base (like at Townsend, TN) so that we don't have to drive the motorhome up the mountain.
We like paved sites with full hookups (premium sites I suppose). On a river would be nice.
Within 30 minutes (preferably) to get to hiking trails, falls, sight seeing destinations, places like Grandfather Mt., etc.
Within 30 minutes to restaurants, we were able to drive to Gatlinburg or Pigeon for dinner from our Townsend location. So some place like that.
We don't have pets, so that's not an issue.

Mountain Stream looked like it was our type of campground but it looks too far away from hiking and mountain activities, although it's not too far from Ashville either which would provide restaurants. Does anyone have another suggestion?

Thanks!
Connie

[Ivylog]

Since you will be in Atlanta there is no need to go to NC to get everything you want as Vogel SP is 2 miles from the AT and 2 hours from Atlanta using I-75/575/76. Plenty of good restaurants in Blairsville 20 minutes away and Jim's Smoken Q (very good BBQ) is only 10 minutes . Make reservations ASAP and there are plenty of mountains, waterfalls, trails. If you cannot get into Vogel try Trackrock CG.

[Kate_and_Ed]

You may have already read Biltmore/Asheville topic under search. Camper from NJ and others like East Asheville KOA on Swannanoa River. Jeremy has a blog and there site was right on river ...he shows very funny tubing trip right from his site down the Swannanoa. Offers advice and he and family have stayed at Mama G's too. I'm a FL girl living in NC so enjoy!

quote:

We have stayed at Mama Gerties and The Swannanoa KOA--both are nice but we really preferred the KOA. Good location and a pretty park with nice owners. There is noise from the highway and noise from the train at night (train noise at Mama Gerties as well) but we really liked it there. I put up several posts on our family travel blog with lots of photos of our site and the campground in general. scroll down a ways to find the Asheville stuff. I liked our site right on the river--it was narrow but very long leading down to the water. Great coffee shop right up the road as well called Dynamite Roasters. Everything is up on the blog. My in-laws live in Asheville so we have made about a dozen trips and have documented a bunch of them.

Feel free to ask any other questions about the KOA or the area in general.

Best--Jeremy livelylittlecampers

[wbwood]

campkrazy wrote:
We always use Cherokee as a base.camp. cooler temps. Close to BRP. Big Cove road is nice and its cooler than in town. River Valley has nice large paved pads. On the river. KOA also. We prefer Yogi in the smokies but they do not have paved pads you can get right across from the river on lrg pull thu sites with gravel. There is mingo falls to hike up to on Big Cove road. We go up and play around in the water.Asheville is about on hrs drive. You can ride up on parkway then drive back on the bypass. Good day trips. Cataloochee valley was beautiful. We rode there last summer. About hr half drive.

We like Yogi as well. We normally go during the cooler months (October, but that river that flows beside it would be very refreshing during the hot months. With small kids, I would think that Cherokee would be a great base camp. Not too far from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, etc....Can even drive over to Asheville if you want.

[campkrazy]

We always use Cherokee as a base.camp. cooler temps. Close to BRP. Big Cove road is nice and its cooler than in town. River Valley has nice large paved pads. On the river. KOA also. We prefer Yogi in the smokies but they do not have paved pads you can get right across from the river on lrg pull thu sites with gravel. There is mingo falls to hike up to on Big Cove road. We go up and play around in the water.Asheville is about on hrs drive. You can ride up on parkway then drive back on the bypass. Good day trips. Cataloochee valley was beautiful. We rode there last summer. About hr half drive.

[ccarrington99]

FLfamily, you will enjoy Mama Gertie's. Would suggest unloading the toad at the entrance, but other than that you should have a great time there. Not much for kids there, but there is plenty to do in Asheville. Make sure to go into downtown and if you like craft beer they have some great brewery's there too.

[wbwood]

FLfamily wrote:
Brian thanks for letting me know, I'll be sure to avoid downtown Asheville. We're coming from Atlanta, map quest says I-85 to I-185 then various highways before reaching I-26 then more highways before getting on I-40 for a few miles.

Jim- thanks for the tips.

I'm not saying to avoid downtown Asheville. I just wanted to point out the atmosphere there for those who may have never been there.

[Terryallan]

wbwood wrote:

FLfamily wrote:
Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I've read them all and researched them all. I think I've landed on Mama Gertie's and I think the location will be perfect for us. We do have a 7 1/2 year old but the fact that it's not really "kid friendly" (according to the reviews I've read) isn't an issue as we won't be spending a lot of time at the campground and will have lots to do all around us. One issue I read several times was how steep the road is into the campground as the campground is on the side of the mountain. We drive a 35 ft motor home towing a car. We're Floridians, so not used to steep inclines driving the motorhome 😉 How much of a concern do think this will be? Also, the website campground map is tiny. Are there any sites better then others? It appears they have some paved sites? And I read they added some new sites as well. Oh and we'll be there in July. Any info would be appreciated! Happy New Year!

You are going to the mountains, so you will encounter steep hills. That's to be expected. Not sure which route you are taking there, but it you come up I-77 to I-40 and head west, just know that that there's a long incline/decline just past old fort heading in towards Asheville. Or if you are coming up I-26, there is another steep grade before getting to Asheville as well. You are going to have to face them one way or another.

As far as Asheville goes, if you go downtown, just beware that it's an "alernative" type place. Don't be suprised if you come across open expression of gay/lesbianism, hippies, those that are alternative dressed and shops which carry some, um "adult" things in them. It's not all like that, but it pops up when you last expect it. We don't have an issue with it, but some with small children may.

My thoughts as well. You may as well stay up the mountain. Unless you stay in Marion, or Old Fort. And as I say. It's a lot cooler up the mountain. Especially in the NC High Country around Boone, Blowing Rock, and Linville.

There is a CG in Lenoir just at the foot of the mountain off 321. No hill to climb to get there. Green Mountain RV Park Resort. www.rvonthego.com/north-carolina/green-mountain-park/?. ,,,,,And a short drive up 321 to Blowing Rock, and Boone.

[roverdover]

We stayed this past summer at the NASCAR (it has another name, but I don't recall what it is) in Maggie Valley. We enjoyed the stay. We had sites right on the creek. The creek sites are very narrow. They also have pull through sites that are not creek-side. There are a lot of permanent folks there, but they were very friendly. The pool was dug-up. Not the best place we have ever stayed but would again to visit the area. Be aware that a lot of business in Maggie Valley are closed and some are closed certain days (restaurants).

[FLfamily]

Brian thanks for letting me know, I'll be sure to avoid downtown Asheville. We're coming from Atlanta, map quest says I-85 to I-185 then various highways before reaching I-26 then more highways before getting on I-40 for a few miles.

Jim- thanks for the tips.

[wbwood]

FLfamily wrote:
Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I've read them all and researched them all. I think I've landed on Mama Gertie's and I think the location will be perfect for us. We do have a 7 1/2 year old but the fact that it's not really "kid friendly" (according to the reviews I've read) isn't an issue as we won't be spending a lot of time at the campground and will have lots to do all around us. One issue I read several times was how steep the road is into the campground as the campground is on the side of the mountain. We drive a 35 ft motor home towing a car. We're Floridians, so not used to steep inclines driving the motorhome 😉 How much of a concern do think this will be? Also, the website campground map is tiny. Are there any sites better then others? It appears they have some paved sites? And I read they added some new sites as well. Oh and we'll be there in July. Any info would be appreciated! Happy New Year!

You are going to the mountains, so you will encounter steep hills. That's to be expected. Not sure which route you are taking there, but it you come up I-77 to I-40 and head west, just know that that there's a long incline/decline just past old fort heading in towards Asheville. Or if you are coming up I-26, there is another steep grade before getting to Asheville as well. You are going to have to face them one way or another.

As far as Asheville goes, if you go downtown, just beware that it's an "alernative" type place. Don't be suprised if you come across open expression of gay/lesbianism, hippies, those that are alternative dressed and shops which carry some, um "adult" things in them. It's not all like that, but it pops up when you last expect it. We don't have an issue with it, but some with small children may.

[Handbasket]

Unhitch the toad on the flat at the office.

Hiking... Mama G's is about 15 minutes from the Folk Art Center on the P'way. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail runs right thru the parking lot, and parallels the P'way for miles, tho' the best parts are 10-20 miles away in both directions from the FAC. It's about 1.5 hours to DuPont State Forest where there are numerous waterfalls on hiking trails; no CG there, tho'.

We did have a huge free music-food-art festival downtown the last weekend in July, but last year was the end of it. It's still being decided if it'll be replaced.

Jim, "Struggling hair farmer."

[FLfamily]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I've read them all and researched them all. I think I've landed on Mama Gertie's and I think the location will be perfect for us. We do have a 7 1/2 year old but the fact that it's not really "kid friendly" (according to the reviews I've read) isn't an issue as we won't be spending a lot of time at the campground and will have lots to do all around us. One issue I read several times was how steep the road is into the campground as the campground is on the side of the mountain. We drive a 35 ft motor home towing a car. We're Floridians, so not used to steep inclines driving the motorhome 😉 How much of a concern do think this will be? Also, the website campground map is tiny. Are there any sites better then others? It appears they have some paved sites? And I read they added some new sites as well. Oh and we'll be there in July. Any info would be appreciated! Happy New Year!

[2wheelglider]

Try River Vista Rv Resort in Dillard Georgia. It is iur favorite place, and easy to get to from Florida and sits at the base of the Blue Ridge. It is only 45 minutes to Cheroke and hour and half to Asheville.

[Pirate1]

A little more north on 77.

http://www.friesrvpark.com/