Thinking of a trip to the Smokey Mountians this summer

[SDNick]

We are looking to do a ten day trip to the Smokey Moutains.  Any advice on the area?  We were thinking of staying in TN.

Thanks for the help,

SDNick

[Preacher]

We can highly recommend, Little River village Camp Ground in Townsend TN.  Here is the web site: http://www.littlerivervillage.com.  Within about 100 yards of Smokey Mt. National Park entrance and close to Cades Cove.  Restrooms are some of the cleanest we've ever seen.  Try to get next to the river.

You can check out our pictures on our website: haineswebsite.com.  Look under places we've camped then go to the Smokey Mt. Link.

[ForestCreature]

We stayed at LRV also, but that was for the rally way back... It was nice for a private CG . The sites are kind of close (ok, not kind of, they are close) if you aren't on a river site. It's a good spot for coming and going on day trips tho.

If we were to return to the Smokies, I'd prefer to stay within the NP or maybe even a State Park a little removed where we'd have just a little more space. There are some campsites that are slightly more remote, more to our liking inside the park.

We did drive all over the park , Cades Cove, Roaring Fork Motor Trail, the Dragons tail are what comes to mind . The Smokies area has plenty to keep you busy for 10 days

[AustinBoston]

We stayed at LRV also, but that was for the rally way back... It was nice for a private CG . The sites are kind of close (ok, not kind of, they are close) if you aren't on a river site.

I don't think it was a river vs non-river site; you and us (and a few others) were in pull-through sites, and those were the sardine sites.  I believe there were some larger sites in the trees that were not right on the river or right on their neighbor.

If we were to return to the Smokies, I'd prefer to stay within the NP or maybe even a State Park a little removed where we'd have just a little more space. There are some campsites that are slightly more remote, more to our liking inside the park.

For us, staying on the NC side or another area might be the thing.  GSM NP is big for an eastern park, and so we tended to sights nearer to Little River.  Staying in another area would get us seeing other parts of the park.

We did drive all over the park , Cades Cove, Roaring Fork Motor Trail, the Dragons tail are what comes to mind . The Smokies area has plenty to keep you busy for 10 days.

If you do any hiking at all and enjoy just being with nature, I'd bet it has enough to keep you busy for a month.  Personally, I've never seen a major National Park that couldn't keep me busy that long, and I have seen more than half of the National Parks outside Alaska and Hawaii.  For me, the frustrating thing has always been not having enough time.  One can always say "We'll be back some day," but the only major park I have returned to is Acadia National Park.  It's one of the smallest, and I've been there 6 times.  Every time, I've seen things and done things I had not done before.

Austin

[flyfisherman]

We are looking to do a ten day trip to the Smokey Moutains.  Any advice on the area?  We were thinking of staying in TN.

Thanks for the help,

SDNick

What did you have in mind as to what you really wanted to get into ... hiking, sight seeing, fly fishing, spending as much time as possible in the hammock(?)

And how about the amenities ... do you have to have electrical hook-ups?



Fly

[tlhdoc]

If you are not set on camping in Tenn., you might want to consider www.flamingarrowcampground.com . We stayed there 2 years ago. The sites were nice sized and the bathrooms were clean morning, noon and night. They do not provide planned activities, but they do have a swimming pool and provide sports equipment for you to plan your own activities. The campground is located near Cherokee, NC.

[brainpause]

I also can recommend Little River Village. Recent buzz at TPUC.com is that they were bought by KOA, but the same family will still be running it. Hopefully, it will be nothing more than a yellow sign out front. The river sites are really nice. Best bathrooms you'll find.

Larry

[dcampbell1969]

If you don't mind not having hook-ups or showers on site, then I'd recomend Elkmont in the Smokies.  Nice campground with the Little River(and I do mean little) running through the CG.  Close to lots of trail heads and a few swimmin' holes(if you can take 42 degree water).

[SDNick]

Thanks for all the help.  

I guess I should add more details in what we are looking to do.  My wife and two girls (7 &10) like to swim, hike, fish (just getting into fly fishing), bike, seeing wildlife.

We do not need hook ups, electical would be nice but not necessary.

Thanks,

SDNick
(aka David)

[cyclone]

I second the suggestion for Elkmont if you don't care about hook-ups (or showers).  Otherwise, I will also throw in a suggestion for Little River Village.  I camped there way back at that rally, too.  I normally do not choose to camp in private campgrounds (ever, if I can help it) but in the Smokies that's about all there is IF you want to take a shower.  I have camped in Pigeon Forge, outside Gatlinburg and at LRV.  I would choose LRV simply because I loved being away from all the traffic.  Townsend is great!

[flyfisherman]

You'll be hard pressed to beat the Davidson River National Forest Campground  (Pisgah Nat'l Forest). The Davidson River (good trout fishing) flows right through the C/G. Although there's no electrical hook-ups, they do have hot showers. The place is top notch, rates are less compared to private C/G's and the sites are larger; plus there's a guard at the gate at night ... great family campground. The town of Brevard is just a little way down the road with Asheville the other way.  Lots of places to see and things to do.




Fly

[fritz_monroe]

I'm glad this topic came up.  We aren't doing a trip here this year, but it's a possibility next year.  Thanks to all for the recommendations.

In looking up the National Forest, I came across this site.  Lists information about all the camping in Pisgah National Forest.  Cool site..

[ntxgrandma]

Can't help with the campground because the only time we were through there, we were hoteling it, but there is a wonderful Native American museum in Cherokee, NC.
Sherri
 

If you are not set on camping in Tenn., you might want to consider www.flamingarrowcampground.com . We stayed there 2 years ago. The sites were nice sized and the bathrooms were clean morning, noon and night. They do not provide planned activities, but they do have a swimming pool and provide sports equipment for you to plan your own activities. The campground is located near Cherokee, NC.

[cyclone]

BTW, Little River Village is now the Townsend KOA.  Their rates have increased when compared to the '07 rates shown on the LRV website.  Much as I love the Smokies - I don't think I want to pay nearly $60/night to camp there.

[ForestCreature]

BTW, Little River Village is now the Townsend KOA.  Their rates have increased when compared to the '07 rates shown on the LRV website.  Much as I love the Smokies - I don't think I want to pay nearly $60/night to camp there.

For 60 bucks a night, I want a hot tub on my site!

I couldn't bring my self to pay that much to camp anywhere!
We gagged on the cost to camp there for the rally (if I recall it was about 25 then), if it weren't for the rally...we'd of kept on going.