View of the Smoky Mountains from Tennessee
Photo by: Rene Kelley (Stock Exchange)

Good day!

Today’s AllCampgrounds blog will introduce our new National Park Spotlight feature as we move into the Great Smoky Mountains.

Around here, we think it’s pretty great that some of the most majestic natural features in the U.S. are on protected land for everyone to enjoy, so we’d like to highlight some of the best national parks.

And where better to begin than the state we’ve been touring lately, Tennessee?

Naturally, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers some of the best camping opportunities in the foothills of this picturesque range. Though it’s not the oldest national park around, its unique blend of an incredible array of animal life, breathtaking hiking opportunities, and welcoming mountain culture has come together to make it the most visited national park in the United States.

The inception of Smoky Mountains as a public park dates back to 1926. Though it was declared by Congress in that year, there was no federally owned land in the area that could serve as the “seed” of the park. The beauty of the Smoky Mountains summoned up a lot of financial support in a very short time, including a sizeable contribution by legendary industrialist John D. Rockefeller. In the 1930s, the land was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and by the mid-1970s, the park was attracting international recognition. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

All About Smoky Mountains Camp Grounds and Activities

With about 500 miles of trails appropriate for visitors from beginner to advanced, Great Smoky is a paradise for hikers, inviting you to experience closeness with the local wildlife on dozens of backcountry and developed trails. There are ten separate locations filled with developed camp grounds, all of which include restrooms: but sorry, RV fans, there are no electrical or water hookups to be found anywhere in the park. Frontcountry camp grounds can be reserved from May 15th to October 31st. See the Frontcountry Camping Fee Schedule and park maps for more information.

Many of the most challenging and rewarding trails in the park traverse the backcountry, and might require at least an overnight stay in “primitive” camp grounds and shelters. The Backcountry Camping Map comes in handy here, and also marks off the locations of all official trails. Backcountry permits are free, but some sites require advance reservation. Also be aware that, though you can have an amazing time in the backcountry, there are some specific restrictions: no tent camping, no pets, and fairly strict regulations on the amount of time you can spend at individual shelters or sites.

A Reminder to Be Bear-Aware

An earlier post discussed bear safety, but this is particularly important around the Smoky Mountains since its entire extent, pretty much, is black bear country. In short, it’s never appropriate to assume you’re completely “in the clear” with bears in this area. That means everyone needs to take precautions and know just what a bear is all about. Though they can’t see very well, the American Black Bear has some surprising talents: they can swim and climb trees, and even at a hefty 500 lbs, they run about 30 miles per hour at full tilt. Check out the previous post on bears, and consult with the local ranger station for the latest warnings before you venture out for the day.

Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee
Photo by: Horton Group (Stock Exchange)

Good morning, fellow campers!

Last time, we swung through Tennessee to get a close look at the tent camping scene there and get the scoop on some top state parks.

This time, it’s on to the best in RV parks and RV camping.

After all, as any road warrior knows, the RV camping experience is a world all of its own!

So, here’s a handful of the most-visited RV parks in the Tennessee scene. Let’s check it out …

Most of the RV camps in Tennessee are located in the eastern portion of the state, and of those, the majority are clustered around Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains. Not surprisingly, the Smokies’ brilliant peaks and old-growth forests attract adventurers, campers, and eco-tourists of all kinds. By contrast, there are relatively few RV camps in the western part of the state, around Memphis, and a scattering of others in the central region, close to Nashville. For an idea of what you’re looking at, visit the Tennessee Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, an organization with shared standards of quality and price that has member camp grounds state-wide.

Since we’re equal opportunity around here, we’ll showcase sites from around the state.

Twin Mountain RV Park: Minutes away from the Great Smoky Mountains, Twin Mountain RV is perched on the banks of Little Pigeon River. All sites come with water, electric, and sewer standard, and both 30 and 50 amp service is available. You can enjoy activities like river tubing, swimming, and even basketball and tennis. The same company also operates several other high quality properties around the state, which you can learn all about through the same site.

Nashville Country RV Park: Located just outside the city that serves as its namesake, Nashville Country is family owned and operated. With 100 sites total, Nashville Country benefits from its central location to a number of great area attractions. During a stay at Nashville Country, you can enjoy time at Mammoth Cave National Park and some of the best regional fishing at Old Hickory Lake, Good times in both Kentucky and Tennessee are within easy reach, making this a top stop for out-of-towners and locals alike.

Deer Run RV Resort: Sprawling across the Cumberland Plateau outside Crossville in east-central TN, Deer Run’s motto is “Where Camping is a Pleasure.” As you’d expect, one of the big draws is wildlife viewing, including the eponymous deer. A 25-acre lake with beachfront area is the centerpiece of resort life, and there are also some amenities that are relatively rare, including a deli and chapel.

In our upcoming posts, look for more information on camping around the Great Smoky Mountains, including the first-ever edition of AllCampgrounds National Park Spotlight and a collection of several other great camp grounds right in the heart of the range.

The trees of Tennessee
Photo by: Eric Camil, Jr. (Stock Exchange)

Tennessee may be the land of Nashville and bluegrass, but did you know it’s also a great place for camping?

On this edition of AllCampgrounds, we’ll be looking at some of the best tent camping opportunities in Tennessee.

With plenty of great rivers, mountains, and free backcountry camping at all state parks that offer it, this southeastern state is especially inviting for mountaineers and boating enthusiasts who want to get out into the wild and go camping quick.

There’s also camping potential convenient to famous landmarks like Graceland, the historic estate of Elvis Presley.

Not every state has all of its park information conveniently centralized, but Tennessee is an exception. At Tennessee State Parks Reservation Information, you can see a detailed map and index of what the parks have to offer, including breakdowns by area, activity, and availability of backcountry permits. Only two of the parks’ camp grounds offer reservations, though, which means those two are probably of greatest interest to our far-ranging camping community. These are Meeman Shelby, in western Tennessee, and Rock Island, near the middle of the state.

Meeman Shelby: With two lakes and miles of prime hiking opportunities bordering the Mississippi River, Meeman Shelby is famed for its boating and fishing. Anglers contend with record bigmouth bass, and can also try their luck catching catfish and bream. There are just under 50 campsites total, all of them including amenities like electric and water hookups, picnic table, and a grill.

Rock Island: Spectacular scenery abounds at Rock Island thanks to the presence of the Great Falls of Caney Fork River. There are so many terrific vistas here that it’s an especially popular destination for photographers, travel writers, and even newlyweds. Cabins and extensive picnic facilities round out the usual complement of features for boating and fishing. Local fish include bass and bluegill, but don’t forget your fishing license.

Big Ridge State Park: Though it doesn’t accept reservations, and might be a little bit trickier to access for campers from out of state, I can’t help mentioning Big Ridge, since it’s the site of an annual bluegrass musical festival that you just shouldn’t miss if you’re going to be in the area. Big Ridge also provides 19 rustic cabins, 50 lakefront campsites that can accommodate tent camping or RVs, and group camping for up to 120.

In our follow-up posts, we’ll be rustling up the best RV campsites throughout the state. After that, expect an in-depth feature on the Great Smoky Mountains, chock full of info including a new “spotlight” on the top national park in the state.