TX to NC: Any suggestions for Highlands or Franklin NC area?

[barrettjl]

Hi All,

We'll be traveling to Highlands NC this summer from Central Texas (our first big trip with the new Airestream!).

Any recommendations on campgrounds in the Highlands or Franklin area would be appreciated. We would like to stay close to Highlands since we will be there to visit relatives. Searching I found several, and wondered if anyone had any experience or others to recommend:
Cullasaja River RV Park
Old Corundum Millsite Campground
Franklink RV Park and Campground

Also, any suggestions on things to see or places to stay along the route from TX to NC?

Thanks in advance!
Jeff

[karenjude]

Highlands is such a beautiful area! Our friends have a timeshare there so we haven't camped in Highlands itself. We have camped in Franklin NC at Standing Indian Campground - a national Forrest campground. Very lush and pretty but it may be too far out for your needs - check it out on the map. Lots of nice hikes right at the campground although there are lots of nice hikes in that area in general.

Cashiers is right near Highlands - you may want to check there for camping.

A must do - there is a restaurant in Franklin that is one of our very favorite restaurants - Cafe Rel. It's hard to find as it's attached to a gas station, in fact you can enter from the gas station also. The food is fabulous - last time I was there I had double thick pork chops with a delicious apple brandy sauce. Their menu is huge and they do everything well. The owner/chef apprenticed at the exclusive Greenbrier Resort in W VA and has worked at other prestigious restaurants so the food is top notch. The place is small and cute - lots of atmosphere. Casual. We introduced the Springstream and Falluminum rally crowd to it and now there's a large group that goes at each rally.

No reservations and you usually have to wait in line outside to get in. They don't take credit cards but have an ATM in the gas station.

Enjoy your time in Highlands. It's one of the prettiest areas in NC

[barrettjl]

Thanks for the recommendations!

I should have mentioned, we'll need hookups, at least electric to run the AC. I read good reviews about Standing Indian CG, but they don't have hookups.

[karenjude]

I understand. If you get stuck though and can't find a campground w hook- ups you may want to consider one without electricity. It's much cooler up there particulary in the higher elevations. We went to Standing Indian last year when we couldn't take the hot humid weather in Atlanta anymore last summer and we were pleasantly surprised at how much cooler and drier it was in the mountains.

Enjoy your trip!

[SmokelessJoe]

Jeff, if you're from TEXAS remember that them's MOUNTAINS up there! Long, steep up and down runs.

Sergei

[Maybe Later]

I'm not exactly sure which way you will be approaching Highland, but in North Georgia there are numerous good choices. Dillard, GA is just a few miles from Highlands and there is a good campground there named River Vista Mountain Village on Hwy 106 that goes to Highlands. Just north of Helen, GA is the Top of Georgia campground that is for Airstream only which is quite nice. If you are near Hiawassee, GA, Georgia Mountain Fair Campgrounds is on Lake Chatuge and is a great place. It also is the home of Springstream which will start April 13th and there will be lots of Airstreams attending.

This is just a few choices as there are many good places in the North GA mountains and in NC to camp. There is an excellent web site to check out campgrounds named RV Park Reviews :: Home. Have a great time while you are in this part of the country.

Barbara, Walter & Coco (fur child)