Spring in the Smoky Mountains

[Camsmom]

Hello All
Looking for a few tips here. We are planning a spring camping trip to the Smoky Mountains in May. We are travelling from Ontario, and will have approx 12 days for the little trip. We figured 2 down 2 back leaving us 8 days in the area. We were thinking we would start around Asheville NC and finish near Knoxville. We want to do the Blueridge parkway, but will be pulling a 21 ft Rockwood Mini Lite. Should we set up for 2-3 days at a time at a campground and just take the truck to explore the parkway. Should we set up in the National Park. What about staying around Pigeon Forge for a couple of days. We really don't know that much about the area, we have always travelled more to the coastal areas, but thought a trip to the mountains would be a nice change.
We are looking for a balance of seeing the natural beauty of the area, exploring some history and sight seeing, some hiking, and of course always room for a little shopping. Our camping options are open, we can be set up for no services at all, but also don't mind balancing that with a few days of conveniences.
Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks!

[Camsmom]

We will be long gone by the time your memorial day weekend comes, we are leaving the area the weekend before that, our Canadian Victoria Day weekend. If we concentrate on the western end and make pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area our home base, would it be worth spending any time up in the Dandridge area? Just curious, our first time in the area. We could reverse our direction as suggested, start in the west on the weekend of May 10/11, if we started up in Dandridge or perhaps Townsend we could then be in Pegeon Forge/Gatlinburg for the 5 days during the week and head east towards home. Looking to be home by the end of Tuesday the 20th. If we left on the Friday we would have 5 days to get home, could do the BR PKWY at whatever pace we wanted until we got sick of it or needed to get home. I will check out Twin Creeks in Gatlinburg as well.
Thanks, Lynda

[LindaAnn]

If you do plan a few days in Gatlinburg, I'd like to suggest Twin Creeks RV Park. We have stayed there--nice quiet park, pretty creeks, pool, FHU, and the Trolley makes a stop there. I used the trolley to go downtown to visit all the neat little shops--I think it was maybe $1...saves looking for parking places. The trolley also goes to several other areas--like Dollywood, and the Arts & Craft area. You can check out the Gatlinburg Trolley online and it will give their scheduled stops.

If you are interested, there are several waterfalls around the town of Cherokee.

[wbwood]

For what it's worth, I would plan the majority of my time in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/National Park area and then venture out from there. Unless you plan to drive the entire length of the parkway, I would just access it on a day trip out around cherokee, nc (south end of the park). And go up a little. Maybe as far as Asheville if you want. Besides the Biltmore, I think you will find that there is a lot more stuff (and sometimes the same activity) as there is in the Asheville area. There is so much to do around the Gatlinburg area and within a short drive from there to do.

As far as pulling the TT, I wouldn't have an issue with it. 21' would be easy on it. Your main concern will be heighth. Figure out the heighth of your TT (tallest point - AC, etc) and then go to http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/tunnel-heights.htm and see what the heights are there. You will see a minimum (sides) and maximum (in the middle). You may need to run it down the middle of some and just wait for traffic to slow before you do it.

Also, be advised there is usually some sort of construction and closures on the parkway. There will be detours that take you off the barkway and then back on at some point.

[magnusfide]

Can-AmDuo wrote:
Just a reminder May 23-26 is Memorial Day Weekend. Try to be in camp May 22 and leave May 27. Guaranteed that Pigeon Forge/ Gatlinburg will be wall to wall people with the accompanying traffic jams.

IMHO I would do your trip in reverse. Pigeon Forge first, then GSMNP, then up the Blueridge to Asheville and points north.

Whatever you decide, have a safe and enjoyable trip.

I second that suggestion. If you want to see PF/Gatlinburg, do it during the weekdays and before the weekend wall of people descend on the place. The traffic can back up ten miles going into that valley on weekends.

The merchants will be less harried and more friendly during the week too.

[Can-AmDuo]

Just a reminder May 23-26 is Memorial Day Weekend. Try to be in camp May 22 and leave May 27. Guaranteed that Pigeon Forge/ Gatlinburg will be wall to wall people with the accompanying traffic jams.

IMHO I would do your trip in reverse. Pigeon Forge first, then GSMNP, then up the Blueridge to Asheville and points north.

Whatever you decide, have a safe and enjoyable trip.

[Camsmom]

Thanks again for all the replies. Planning is going well, thinking a few days around Asheville, will stay there and explore with a home base, a couple of days in the NP and then a few days in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge area. Favourite parks?. We are thinking we will spend a few days in the park at the campgrounds with no services so some creature comforts and a resort style park in the touristy area would be ok! More park suggestions welcome.

[Tennessee_Nomad]

As some others have said, Pigeon Forge has some very nice RV parks but getting in and out can really try your patients. If coming in on a weekend or holiday I would suggest arriving late at night or very early morning. Call the park and let them know what you are doing and I'm sure they will work with you, late or early. We stayed at Clabough's Campground one weekend and left about 11am and it took us roughly 2 hours to get from Pigeon Forge back to I40.

I suggest eating at Joe's Crab Shack. I always get Joe's Classic Steampot, and a couple or three beverages. Good eats!

[magnusfide]

Definitely avoid pulling your TT on the Blue Ridge Parkway because at that time of year (and also in autumn) traffic is so heavy that its often crawling or at a stand still. The suggestion to use your tow vehicle to see sights on the Parkway is spot on for that reason. Find a campground you can return to at the end of the day and leave your trailer there as a base camp so that you can do spontaneous stops if the mood hits you to see a place that might not accommodate a trailer in tow.
Among the many sights and experiences to see and do:
-train ride and train museum in Bryson City, NC
-Fontana Dam in Fontana NC
-Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest outside of Robbinsville, NC
Note: we prefer the western NC side of the Smoky Mtns as it's less noisy, less of a tourist-trap feel than Gatlinburg area and more emphasis on culture and history on the NC side. Bryson City and Asheville both have excellent restaurants and wine retailers.

Go to this link to see more activities and attractions on the NC side of the Smokys. Many of them are not crowded either as EVERYONE tends to flock to Cades Cove, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge on the TN side of the Smokys.
http://www.westernncattractions.com/

[RGar974417]

Your trailer is small so towing on the Parkway should be no problem.The Parkway is much nicer than Skyline Drive and we towed the whole thing with our 25 ft TT.There are 2 campgrounds not too far off the parkway in the Virginia section which we really like.Towards the northern end is Sherando Lake.Has electric hookups,water hydrants in each loop,shower houses and dump station.It has 2 lakes one with a nice beach.The other campground which is a little more south is Goose Point.The one loop is right on the lake.Again electric hookups,bath houses and beach.A number of sites sit right on the edge of the water.

[RGar974417]

Your trailer is small so towing on the Parkway should be no problem.The Parkway is much nicer than Skyline Drive and we towed the whole thing with our 25 ft TT.There are 2 campgrounds not too far off the parkway in the Virginia section which we really like.Towards the northern end is Sherando Lake.Has electric hookups,water hydrants in each loop,shower houses and dump station.It has 2 lakes one with a nice beach.The other campground which is a little more south is Goose Point.The one loop is right on the lake.Again electric hookups,bath houses and beach.A number of sites sit right on the edge of the water.

[RoyB]

alot of Wildlife and Bikers also use the parkway. Some are hard to see at times so keep an eye out for them...

Like others have said there is no hookups at the camp grounds on the Parkway. There is a camp site abut every 50 miles down the parkway which were originally designed for tent camping. You do see small trailers at them now. There is also limited gasoline facilities. Maybe just three for the whole 450 miles of it... Speed limits is max at 45MPH but alot of 15MPH and 20MPH curves. There are some tunnels and they are built with the high point in the middle so sometimes you may want to hog the center line to keep from dragging the sides. The tunnels are short length for the most part...

Access except at the main highways that cross over the parkway can be real steep and winding roads just before you get on the parkway. Always plan to get on and off at the major road exits...

We have driven the whole 450 miles from VA to NC a couple of times mainly TENT CAMPING. I have gone to several of the camp grounds and camped with my OFF-ROAD POPUP of late... We will camp in Pigeon Forge TN with hookups sometimes and drive up and down the Smoky Mtn park roads and then maybe run the parkway back to Ashville and bring I40 back to Pigeon Forge. Seems like most of our trips all go Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge... This is magic place for us since back in the 70s...

One of my favorite camp ground is on SKYLINE DRIVE at LOFT MTN that connects to the Blue Ridge Parkway at I64/Afton Mtn. We usually go there two or three times a year. Another very great camping site is Serando Lake just off the parkway near Afton Mtn.

Some camp grounds have a close by way-station with a restaurant and some supplies. Most camp grounds will have a central toilet house and water to haul to your trailer - maybe some camping supplies. Some places get crowded at times as well... Generators are allowed in certain sections of course have generator run time restrictions. We can re-charge our battery banks in a short three hour generator run time during the day using smart mode charging techniques with no problems.

enjoy the parkway...
Roy Ken

[djsamuel]

Townsend,TN is a great area. Nice and quiet and very convenient to Cades Cove.

[Argie7]

GSMNP is a great place to visit. Lots of stuff to do, and previous posters already gave you nice tips. Just a few more:
- The National Park campgrounds are strictly dry camping (no W/E or sewage). They are in beautiful settings, next to the road, but no services at all. Except for the summer months (June through August) reservations are not a must.
- If you are comfortable towing in mountainous, narrow, curvy roads, tunnels and bridges should not be a big concern for towing your trailers. Just take it easy and slow. There are plenty of lookouts to stop and enjoy along the way
- If you need cell phone reception, it will be iffy in a lot of places, so plan accordingly
- Lots of nice trails to hike right of the campgrounds at Elkmont, Julian Price, Linville Falls
- Morning fog can be expected in the Spring. Again, just plan for it and it will be fine.
Enjoy your trip !

[Camsmom]

Thanks for initial replies, great info. We are ok with pulling the trailer along narrow roads, was just concerned if there were some low bridges or tunnels that would limit the trailer. We are planning on going in late spring, mid to end of May so hopefully winter will be long gone by then with lots of spring flowers. Are there lots of RV's of various types travelling along the parkway? I had read that there was camping along the parkway, campgrounds without services. How do these work, first come first served? If so would they fill up quickly in May?
We were thinking it would be nice to spend the first part of our week travelling the parkway and in the national park, then spend the last few days in the more touristy area around Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg.