First trip to Smokey Mtns...

[stowaways]

We're slowly making our way to the Smokies with a few stops to visit friends along the route. Would love any recommendations for areas, attractions or campgrounds not to be missed. And of course, any routes that's might require nerves of steel! 😁

[Alice&Billis]

Be sure to stop at the Pigeon Forge Pottery. Good quality and durable mugs...mine are still in service from a family vacation in 1964. The ski lift to the top of the mountain is fun too. Have a good time!!!!!!

[karenjude]

We like the Elkmont campground in the park. Sites by the river are beautiful. At night you can see the synchronized fireflies though not sure they do their thing this time of year. No electricity in the campground though and I think no water hookups either. Can't remember. But it is a beautiful area!
Outside of the park it's very commercial And overdeveloped in my opinion. But it should be much less crowded this time of year which will make it nicer.

[xrvr]

top of Georgia airstream park just north of Helen, ga. Seven bucks a night for basic full service camping. Good base point for doing the area. See their website. Helen, ga is a takeoff on alpine Germany, fun for adults and kids. Jim

[Bill M.]

Misty River RV park on 321 on the way to Townsend is a very nice private RV park fairly close to the GSNP. And the Townsend side of the park and entrance is much less commercially developed than Gatlinburg and close to Cades Cove. If you trout fish this is a good area. Gatlinburg has its attractions. Ubergatlinburg is making snow now. The aquarium is okay. For Gatlinburg there are a several private campgrounds on 321 at Pittman Center. Crazy Horse is one that we have stayed at several times. We have stayed at 3 others along here. All were good. I just do not recall the names. There are a couple of pretty nice campgrounds on the road between the interstate and Pigeon Forge (rt 66?). I think the one we stayed at is Little River Campground. From there you can do the Pigeon Forge shopping thing, if that is of interest. Smokemont campground on the Cherokee side and the drive over 441 is relatively easy and spectacular. Clingmans dome well worth the time. There is a pretty good KOA in Cherokee. It is a good place to launch a trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway after a Smokies visit. A little hard to find. And if you end up in Ashville, the Biltmore is certainly woth a day and the farmers market a lunch.

[jcanavera]

We've stayed at Crazy Horse also. Full hookups there. Far enough outside of Gatlinburg to be nice and quiet. Probably would stay there again on our next trip to that area.

Jack