Smokey Mountains area

[garmp]

Thinking about some time in October going to the Smokey Mountain area with our 26' Class C. It's been years since we've last been there and thought it time to revisit. Can only imagine it has changed some. Our last trip was in the 80's with a pop-up tent, so our needs/wants have changed. And so we're looking for ideas/locations. Tennessee, North Carolina or where ever.
Not big on private campgrounds and much prefer state or COE or even municipal parks. Electric is a must. Want to avoid the tourist traps, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, etc. Just quiet pleasant campgrounds to plop for a week or so. Maybe a nice local eatery or two wouldn't hurt. Sights are always a plus, as long as there are no bill boards or neons. Trails of moderate exertion are always welcome. DW is a water fall nut, so they're also preferred.
Thanks

[magnusfide]

You can camp right next to Fontana Dam at Fontana Village Campground.
Nice place; clean though not fhu. Electric and water HU with a dump station. One of our favorite quiet spots.

[ken56]

Look in the Townsend area. Called the quiet side of the Smokies. Close to the park and good restaurants in the area. The best part is a lot less traffic. Easy to make a day trip into the crazy in Pigeon Forge and then bail out back to peace and quiet.

Another option is Anchor Down in Dandridge. There is Panther Creek state park in Morristown. We like that when we can't travel far away from home. 9 full hookups so check early to see if available. Like someone else said, it's leaf looking time so it will be busy.

We also like the Maggie Valley area. A few nice campgrounds there too and fairly quiet at that time.

[pbeverly]

Up The Creek is a really nice private campground and I tried to avoid those as well. It is in Pigeon Forge but you can get into the National Park without going thru Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg.

Sites 16, 17, & 18 are the best. Large sites on a creek.

Up The Creek

We are looking for something on the NC side for 2023 and struggling to find something we are happy with. We want an FH site.

[Busdriver]

In October you will need to made your plans early, Oct is the busy’est time for the area, leaves turning

[2112]

riltri wrote:
Great map that shows NC waterfalls.


https://www.wncwaterfalls.info/map.html

Excellent Map

Thank you

[riltri]

Great map that shows NC waterfalls.


https://www.wncwaterfalls.info/map.html

[ferndaleflyer]

Western NC is loaded with water falls

[bgum]

Maggie valley and book early as all of the mountains are busy.

[Dutch_12078]

One of our favorite places in that area is the concessionaire operated Lake Powhatan Recreation Area campground near Asheville, NC in the Pisgah National Forest. We particularly like the large sites and foliage in the mostly full hookup mis-named Lakeside Loop. Hint: It's not lakeside. 😉

Lake Powhatan Recreation Area