Hiking

Twice Is Nice

15 RV Sites

Twice Is Nice sits in Englewood, Tennessee, in McMinn County's southern hill country—a small camping retreat of themed cabins and full hookup RV sites in the river country between the Hiwassee and Ocoee Rivers, positioned within a short drive of some of the most varied whitewater and mountain recreation in the Southeast. The property's quiet, nature-focused character makes it a comfortable base for exploring a corner of East Tennessee that holds genuine outdoor adventure within a landscape that the major resort corridors around Gatlinburg have largely overlooked. Themed rental cabins—each uniquely decorated with rustic chic interiors and modern comforts—provide the primary accommodation at Twice Is Nice, with full hookup RV sites rounding out the options for self-sufficient travelers. Walking trails through the property lead to a pond and follow the nearby river/stream corridor, and communal outdoor space with a shared fire pit provides the evening gathering point that cabin-based camping retreats depend on. Sports courts, volleyball, and horseshoes fill the recreation roster, and the pet-friendly policy and WiFi accommodate the practical needs of contemporary camping travel. Englewood sits in McMinn County's agricultural valley country, surrounded by the ridges and creek drainages of the southern Appalachian foothills where the terrain begins the transition into the more dramatic mountain landscape of the Cherokee National Forest to the east. The region's rivers—the Hiwassee to the south, the Ocoee to the southeast, and the Tennessee River to the northwest—define the outdoor recreation landscape, each offering a different character of water experience from the Hiwassee's gentle Class I-II floats and fly fishing to the Ocoee's nationally competitive Class III-IV rapids. The Ocoee River, about 30 minutes southeast, served as the 1996 Atlanta Olympics whitewater venue and remains one of the most consistently exciting commercial rafting rivers in the eastern United States—the TVA's release schedule from Ocoee Dam creates reliable Class III-IV whitewater that makes half-day trips accessible without specialized experience. The Hiwassee River, half an hour south, offers the opposite experience: a gentle, scenic float through a wide mountain valley ideal for families with younger children and anglers targeting rainbow and brown trout in the cold tailwater below Appalachia Dam. The Cherohala Skyway, which climbs from Tellico Plains to the North Carolina state line through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests, delivers some of the most spectacular mountain road scenery in the Appalachians. Twice Is Nice operates through the Tennessee camping season with peak demand in summer and fall. The proximity to the Ocoee makes it a natural base for whitewater trips without the higher prices of the resort cabin market immediately adjacent to the river, and the Hiwassee float and the Cherohala Skyway provide full-day scenic and recreation options for non-rafting guests. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is about an hour north, Dollywood and Pigeon Forge are within reach for day trips, and the property's own quiet trails and pond offer the kind of unprogrammed outdoor time that increasingly feels rare in the organized-activity landscape of East Tennessee tourism.

from $35/night

Foxfire of Murphy RV Park

18 RV Sites

Foxfire of Murphy RV Park in Murphy, North Carolina, offers 18 full-hookup RV sites with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted up to 110 feet — a remarkable length allowance for an 18-site boutique property. Premium creekside back-ins join premium full-hookup and pull-through categories in the far western corner of the state. Eighteen sites run in premium creekside back-in, premium full-hookup, and premium pull-through categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp, sized to 110 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and site WiFi. The creekside category is worth requesting. A general store, laundry, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. With 18 sites, reserve rather than counting on availability. Pets are welcome. A creek runs the property with walking trails alongside, and a community fire pit and dog park fill the grounds. Birding and picnicking run from the site. The intimate scale and year-round operation make this a genuine home base rather than an overnight stop. Murphy is the Cherokee County seat and the westernmost city of any size in North Carolina, at the convergence of the Hiwassee and Valley Rivers near the Tennessee and Georgia lines. That tri-state position gives an outdoor variety few small Appalachian cities match: whitewater rafting, Fields of the Wood, fishing, swimming and boating, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino, and extensive hiking, with mountains and a lake nearby. Summer and October foliage drive demand. Reserve well ahead.

from $55/night

Blue Ridge RV Resort

76 RV Sites

Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills of Fannin County, Georgia, at a Wright Mill Road address in Morganton that puts guests four miles from Lake Blue Ridge and within easy reach of the Toccoa River's recreation corridor, Blue Ridge RV Resort has assembled one of the most fully appointed private campgrounds in the North Georgia Highlands—81 full-hookup sites including 24 positions on Hemptown Creek, a stocked trout stream that runs directly through the property. The resort's private bathrooms at each site, heated pool, EV charging stations, playground, dog park, and outdoor movie programming create a resort-level environment in a mountain campground that takes Hemptown Creek's trout frontage and the surrounding Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest recreation as seriously as it takes the amenity checklist. Eighty-one full-hookup sites—including back-in, pull-through, creekfront, and buddy configurations—provide 30 and 50-amp electric, water, and sewer service alongside private bathroom facilities that distinguish the resort from campgrounds where shared bathhouses are the standard. The 24 creekfront sites on Hemptown Creek provide direct access to the stocked trout stream from the campsite itself, and fishing, kayaking, and the outdoor movie screenings that the resort schedules throughout the season give guests recreational options from active outdoor pursuit to relaxed evening entertainment. A camp store, laundry, playground, heated pool, and dog park complete the resort infrastructure for guests who want nothing beyond the property's own amenity suite during a full week's stay. Hemptown Creek, the stocked trout stream running through the resort's creekfront sites, provides immediate catch-and-release and keep-fish trout fishing in water that maintains the cold clarity of a North Georgia mountain stream throughout the season. Lake Blue Ridge, four miles from the resort, spans 3,290 acres of TVA reservoir water in the Toccoa River watershed and provides the boating, swimming, and fishing access that makes the Lake Blue Ridge recreational area the primary outdoor destination for Fannin County's summer tourism community. The lake's fishing produces rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and walleye in the cold, clear water sustained by the elevation and watershed of the surrounding mountains. The Toccoa River, ideal for tubing and limited white-water paddling, lies within easy reach of the resort and provides the river recreation that complements the lake and creek fishing. Blue Ridge, the Fannin County seat, anchors a vibrant mountain town with the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway—an excursion train running from the Blue Ridge Depot through the Toccoa River gorge to McCaysville on the Tennessee border, one of the most scenic short rail excursions in the Appalachian South. The Appalachian Trail crosses Fannin County's Blue Ridge crest within driving range of the resort, and the Bear Creek Trail system in the adjacent national forest provides hiking access to the high-elevation terrain above the resort's wooded valley setting. The North Georgia Highlands' four-season climate delivers the spring wildflower season on the Appalachian Trail, the summer mountain weather 15 to 20 degrees cooler than Atlanta's heat, and the fall foliage in October that draws the heaviest campground traffic of the year to the Blue Ridge corridor. The Blue Ridge Apple Festival in October and the holiday programming that Blue Ridge's mountain town sustains through November and December extend the camping season into the shoulder periods, and the resort's heated pool keeps guests comfortable through the cooler fall days. Reserve creekfront sites and fall foliage weekends well ahead—the combination of the trout stream, mountain atmosphere, and proximity to Blue Ridge's vibrant downtown creates demand that fills the resort's 81 sites months in advance.

Mountaineer Campground

42 RV Sites, 3 Cabins

Mountaineer Campground in Townsend, Tennessee, offers 42 RV sites and three cabins along the Little River, with 30 and 50-amp full hookups, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 50 feet. Off-river categories run from 30-amp through deluxe 50-amp, with dedicated van, pop-up, and tent sites, on the quiet western approach to the Smokies. Forty-two sites span off-river 30-amp, off-river 50-amp, off-river deluxe 50-amp, and dedicated van, pop-up, and tent categories, carrying water, sewer, and electric, sized to 50 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, BBQ pits, cable TV, and site WiFi. Having a separate category for vans and pop-ups is genuinely useful — small rigs are not charged for space they do not need. Three cabins round out the accommodations. Restrooms and showers handle the practical side. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with a playground, pavilion, and walking trails on the grounds. The Little River runs the property, giving guests fishing, swimming, and the constant sound of clear mountain water over river stones — the sensory backdrop that distinguishes Townsend camping from the commercial experience in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Hiking, biking, and birding run from camp. Townsend bills itself as the Peaceful Side of the Smokies, and the description holds. Little River Outfitters on Highway 321 and The Backcountry on State Highway 73 can help plan fishing in the park. Summer and October foliage drive demand. Reserve well ahead.

from $37/night

Talona Ridge RV Resort

120 RV Sites

Talona Ridge RV Resort in East Ellijay, Georgia, offers 120 full-hookup RV sites with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, ADA-accessible sites, and rigs accepted up to 103 feet — exceptional capacity for a mountain property. Eagle Crest back-in, buddy, pull-through, and premiere motorcoach pull-in categories join a pool, hot tub, fitness center, and bar on the ridgeline. One hundred twenty sites span Eagle Crest back-in, back-in buddy, pull-through, and premiere motorcoach pull-in categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with site WiFi, sized to 103 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Accessible sites are available. The premiere motorcoach pull-in category is built for large coaches, and 103 feet backs that up. A general store, laundry, propane fills and exchange, restrooms, showers, firewood, and a pet washing station handle the practical side. The resort has three physical levels, each with its own pricing — check the map before booking. An outdoor pool and hot tub and sauna anchor the property, with a fitness center, bar, pavilion, sports courts, pickleball, walking trails, hiking, mountain biking, golf cart rentals, and a dog park besides. Pets are welcome. The elevated sites command sweeping views of the North Georgia Appalachians above the Cartecay River valley, in Gilmer County's apple-growing highlands. Fall foliage and apple season drive the sharpest demand from Atlanta. Reserve well ahead for October weekends.

from $105/night

Nantahala Ridge Campground

3 RV Sites, 5 Cabins

In the deep river canyon where the Nantahala flows cold and clear through a corridor of rhododendron and hemlock in the heart of the Southern Appalachians, Nantahala Ridge Campground occupies a prime position just minutes from both the Nantahala Outdoor Center and the town of Bryson City in Swain County, North Carolina. The campground serves as a gateway to whitewater paddling, mountain biking, trout fishing, and hiking in one of the most scenically concentrated outdoor destinations in the Eastern United States—a corner of the mountains where the Nantahala National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park converge within a short drive of every campsite. Five cabin rentals provide roofed alternatives to RV and tent camping for guests who want the mountain setting without the gear. Full-hookup RV sites with 50-amp, 30-amp, and 20-amp electrical service, water, and sewer connections serve motorized campers, with Wi-Fi keeping guests connected throughout the grounds. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring, and laundry facilities support extended stays in the canyon. The five tiny-home-style cabins are equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi, private fire pits, and all the essentials for a comfortable mountain retreat—a polished alternative for guests who prefer a roof and a bed over a sleeping bag and a slide-out. The Nantahala River is the campground's defining natural neighbor—a federally designated Wild and Scenic corridor whose eight miles of continuous Class II and III whitewater draw hundreds of thousands of paddlers, tubers, and rafting guests annually. The Nantahala Outdoor Center, less than a mile from camp, provides guided rafting trips, kayaking instruction, and rental equipment for the full spectrum of river experience from complete beginner to competitive paddler. Mountain biking on the Tsali Recreation Area trails—nationally recognized singletrack loops above Fontana Lake—adds a complementary high-speed dimension to the river-focused itinerary. Bryson City, the charming county seat of Swain County five minutes east, has grown into one of Western North Carolina's most beloved mountain towns, anchored by craft breweries, local restaurants, and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, whose excursion trains wind through the Nantahala Gorge on a route that reveals the canyon from a perspective inaccessible by road. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the United States, begins just north of Bryson City at the Deep Creek trailhead—one of the park's quieter and most scenic entry points. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' Qualla Boundary and cultural center lie minutes west, providing a living introduction to the history and artistry of the mountain's original inhabitants. Spring and early summer bring peak whitewater conditions as snowmelt and rain fill the Nantahala to its most dynamic levels, while fall delivers the spectacular foliage that turns the gorge walls gold and crimson from mid-October through early November. Summer is the busiest season at the river and in Bryson City's dining district, making early reservations essential for cabin sites and the most desirable full-hookup pads during peak holiday weeks. The campground's proximity to both the river and downtown allows guests to park the vehicle, walk to the put-in and the brewery on the same evening, and wake up to the sound of whitewater the next morning.

from $49/night

Pigeon Forge RV Resort

182 RV Sites

Pigeon Forge RV Resort in Tennessee offers 182 RV sites in the heart of the Sevier County resort corridor, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, cable TV, ADA-accessible sites, and rigs accepted to 65 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout, open all year. Signature, Deluxe, Deluxe Micro, and creekfront partial-hookup categories join a pool, mini-golf, and 13 private bathrooms. One hundred eighty-two sites span creekfront grass partial hookup, deluxe back-in full hookup, deluxe micro back-in full hookup, deluxe pull-through full hookup, and Signature back-in full hookup categories, carrying water, sewer, and electric where noted with cable TV and site WiFi, sized to 65 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Two things worth knowing: the creekfront category is partial hookup rather than full, and the Deluxe Micro tier right-sizes for compact rigs. Accessible sites are available. A general store, laundry, dump station, and firewood handle the practical side. The bathhouse has 13 private bathrooms, each with its own shower. Four people are included per site, each additional person is $7 per day, and eight is the maximum. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with mini-golf, volleyball, golf cart rentals, a pond, creek, playground, pavilion, community fire pit, dog park, and snack bar filling the grounds. Fishing, hiking, biking, and live music round it out. Dollywood, the Parkway, and the park's busiest entrance are all at hand. Summer and fall foliage drive demand hard. Reserve well ahead.

from $51/night

Knoxville Campground

43 RV Sites

In Clinton, Tennessee—10 miles north of Knoxville off Interstate 75 in Anderson County where the Tennessee River Valley's ridges, the Tennessee Museum of Appalachia's folk heritage collection, and the Norris Dam's 1936 TVA engineering represent the specific convergence of Appalachian cultural heritage and New Deal infrastructure that the greater Knoxville metropolitan area offers within a 20-minute drive—Knoxville Campground provides full hookup RV sites with 50-amp service, four cabin types, a club room, laundry, arcade, and the I-75 access that makes it the most convenient family campground for northbound and southbound travelers needing a Knoxville-area base. Family-owned and operated by Kiefer Campgrounds, the property is open year-round and golf cart friendly. Full hookup RV sites with water, electric, and sewer connections provide 50-amp service capable of running the largest modern motorhomes and fifth wheels in all weather conditions. Cabin accommodations span four configurations—Rustic Cabins for the nature-forward guest, Mini Deluxe Cabins sleeping three, Deluxe Cabins sleeping four, and Super Deluxe Cabins sleeping six—giving families and groups the enclosed lodging alternative without requiring RV equipment. Hot showers with air conditioning serve the shared hygiene need year-round. A newly remodeled club room houses pool tables, card tables, and arcade games providing indoor entertainment for evenings and rainy days. On-site laundry handles the extended-stay practical requirement, and free WiFi covers the property for connectivity. Tent sites in a designated wooded area serve the lightweight camper. The campground is pet-friendly throughout. The Knoxville metropolitan area's outdoor recreation landscape begins immediately outside the campground. House Mountain State Natural Area—the highest point in Knox County—provides the ridgeline hiking with panoramic valley views that the eastern Tennessee geography makes available within a 20-minute drive. The Tennessee Riverboat Company's operations on the Tennessee River provide the scenic waterway experience that the river's industrial and natural history makes particularly interesting in the Knoxville context, where the TVA's dam system transformed the river from a flood-prone seasonal problem into the managed reservoir system that now anchors the region's recreation economy. The Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue provides the wildlife encounter experience that brings families with young children specifically to the Clinton area. The Tennessee Museum of Appalachia—one of the most complete collections of Southern Appalachian folk and material culture in the United States—occupies the nearby community of Norris and provides the cultural programming that makes Anderson County more than just an I-75 stopping point. The Museum of Appalachia's working farm, the dozens of reconstructed historic cabins, and the artifact collection assembled over 50 years by John Rice Irwin create a cultural property of national significance accessible within 15 minutes of the campground. Knoxville Campground is open year-round in eastern Tennessee's four-season climate. The campground's I-75 off-ramp proximity makes it equally functional as a one-night transit stop or a multi-day Knoxville-area base. The spring wildflower season in the surrounding ridge terrain, the summer river recreation calendar, and the fall foliage color across the Appalachian ridges that visible from the Anderson County ridgelines create the seasonal programming that makes return visits practical. Reserve your 50-amp site, map the House Mountain trailhead for the morning, and let Clinton's position as a Knoxville-area gateway earn the convenience and character that interstate access and Appalachian heritage together provide.

from $58/night

Creekside RV Park - TN

106 RV Sites

Creekside RV Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, offers 106 full-hookup RV sites along Walden's Creek, with 30 and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 45 feet behind a gated entrance. Creekside categories at both amperages join standard full-hookup and pull-through tiers, with a lazy river, outdoor pool, zip line, and mini-golf. One hundred six sites span 30-amp full hookup, 30-amp creekside full hookup, 50/30-amp full hookup, creekside full hookup 30/50-amp, and pull-thru full hookup categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with cable TV and site WiFi, sized to 45 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. The creekside categories put you on the water and are worth requesting early. A general store, laundry, dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. Rates run by season — roughly $55 for 30-amp and $60 for 50-amp in early spring, rising to $60 and $65 through the summer, with separate fall pricing. A lazy river and outdoor pool anchor the summer, with a zip line, mini-golf, pavilion, walking trails, and on-site dining filling the grounds. The creek supports fishing, canoeing, and kayaking, with hiking, biking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, live music, and productive birding nearby. A golf course and skiing are close. Four miles from Dollywood puts the resort inside the most entertainment-dense corridor in the southern Appalachians, with the national park's 521,000 acres just beyond. Summer and fall foliage drive demand hard. Reserve well ahead.

from $55/night

Holy Smokies RV Park and Glamping

14 RV Sites

Along the calm waters of Walden's Creek in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Holy Smokies RV Park and Glamping provides a tucked-away, creek-side retreat that delivers the full Smoky Mountains camping experience while maintaining walkable distance from the entertainment corridor that has made Pigeon Forge one of the most visited resort destinations in the American South. The combination of full hookup RV sites, stylish glamping tents, and a fully furnished camper rental—each positioned to emphasize the creek's natural soundtrack over the road noise—gives guests a variety of accommodation styles without compromising the peaceful character that makes the property work as a genuine escape from the traffic and commercial density of the Parkway. RV sites with full hookups and level pads accommodate a range of rig sizes, and the property's creek-side layout gives even the most straightforward site a natural dimension that generic RV pads can't replicate. Glamping tents offer a step up in comfort and visual character for guests who want a designed outdoor experience, and a recently remodeled furnished camper rental provides a fully self-contained option with a queen bed, pull-out couch, kitchen equipped with microwave, oven, stove, and Keurig coffee maker, toilet, and shower. A pristine bathhouse with new facilities, complimentary WiFi, on-site laundry, and a community fire pit complete the property's infrastructure. The staff's attentiveness and the park's consistently clean, well-maintained condition are among the most frequently mentioned qualities by returning guests. Walden's Creek provides the campground's defining natural character. The creek's gentle current, shaded by rhododendron and hemlock along the bank, creates a microclimate that stays noticeably cooler than the surrounding Pigeon Forge commercial zone even on the hottest summer afternoons—the kind of woodland creek atmosphere that earns the term "hideaway" without overpromising. Bird life along the creek corridor includes the common summer residents of the Smokies foothills: wood thrushes, Louisiana waterthrushes, belted kingfishers, and the occasional great blue heron working the creek margins in the early morning. Dollywood, the best-reviewed theme park in the country by multiple major industry rankings, is just minutes from the campground—accessible without the complicated logistics of arriving from farther out the Seaway Trail. The Island in Pigeon Forge, with its observation wheel, restaurants, shops, and evening fountain shows, provides the family entertainment anchor that the Parkway corridor is built around. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance at Gatlinburg is a short drive for hiking, wildlife viewing, and the scenic drives through the park that constitute one of the most rewarding outdoor experiences available from the Pigeon Forge base. Waterfalls, historic mills, and the diversity of the Appalachian ecosystem await guests who step onto a park trail. Holy Smokies RV Park and Glamping is open year-round, and the Pigeon Forge calendar generates demand across all four seasons—from summer theme park visits to fall foliage on the Smokies' world-famous color displays to the winter holiday programming at Dollywood that fills the corridor from Thanksgiving through New Year's. Book your creek-side site early for fall and summer, and let Walden's Creek provide the natural counterpoint to everything the Parkway has to offer.

from $36/night

Raccoon Mountain Caverns & Campground

55 RV Sites, 9 Cabins, 22 Tent Sites, 5 Glamping Sites

Raccoon Mountain Caverns and Campground in Chattanooga, Tennessee, offers 55 full-hookup RV sites, nine cabins, 22 tent sites, and five glamping sites at the entrance to a 5.5-mile guided cave system, with 30 and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 60 feet. Compact and deluxe pull-through categories join rustic back-in sites, with a pool, fitness center, and clubhouse. Fifty-five sites span compact pull-thru, compact pull-thru max tow, deluxe pull-thru, and rustic back-in categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with cable TV and site WiFi, sized to 60 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. The compact max-tow category is a thoughtful distinction for smaller rigs with a vehicle in tow. Nine cabins, 22 tent sites, and five glamping sites round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, propane fills, dump station, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. Three policies to know: no hammocks or car camping on any site, no tents on RV sites, RVs manufactured before 2000 require photo approval, and you must be 21 to book. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with a fitness center, clubhouse, pavilion, basketball, shuffleboard, corn hole, walking trails, hiking, a playground, and dog park besides. Sleeping beside the cave entrance is the singular draw — one of the Southeast's most accessible wild cavern experiences, with Lookout Mountain and downtown Chattanooga close. Summer and fall foliage drive demand. Reserve well ahead.

from $27 $23/night

Appalachian Springs Outdoor Resort

69 RV Sites

Appalachian Springs Outdoor Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, offers 69 full-hookup RV sites with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 74 feet, near Dollywood in the heart of the Smoky Mountain corridor. Small and large basic and premium back-ins join pull-throughs, with an outdoor pool, clubhouse, and creek on the property. Sixty-nine sites span small basic back-in, small premium back-in, large basic back-in, large premium back-in, and pull-through categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp, sized to 74 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and site WiFi. Sizing sites by both rig length and premium tier is genuinely useful — you pay for the space you need rather than a flat category. Cabins round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. An outdoor pool anchors the warm months, with a clubhouse, pavilion, walking trails, and dog park across the grounds and a creek running the property. The resort also serves as a wedding venue. Pets must be leashed or penned when outside your camper, and guests are asked to be considerate of neighbors. Pets are welcome. Pigeon Forge offers the most activity-dense day-trip range of any campground corridor in the eastern United States. Great Smoky Mountains National Park's trails, Dollywood's rides and festival programming, and the Parkway's entertainment and dining strip are all minutes away. Summer and October foliage drive the heaviest demand in one of the country's busiest tourist corridors. Reserve well ahead for both.

from $57 $50/night