These Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Are Perfect For RV Owners

Smoky Mountain campgrounds are becoming more crowded every year. Last year more than 11,000,000 people visited it!

We’re here to help you quickly find the best Smoky Mountain campgrounds that meet your needs.

From free to expensive, this list has everyone covered.

Also, each site has a specific “Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Vibe” score. This score is rated 1-10 and is based on price, location, amenities, and previous reviews.

Let’s do this!

Elkmont Campground

PRICE: Around $20 per night

Ideal For: Tent, Van & RV Owners – those who want to be in the heart of the park.

Pros: This campground is located inside the National Park and has multiple trails connected to it. Even though it’s a huge campground, the sites are spaced out nicely, and many have creek front access. The campground is kept very clean.

Cons: No cell connectivity. If you need cell service for work or emergency, this site might not be for you. Also, if you have a huge RV, you may not fit within the 35ft max length.

Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Vibe: 9.1/10 This campground represents Smoky Mountain vibes very well. Trail access and beautiful scenery is as good as it gets.

Smokemont Campground

PRICE: Around $20 per night

Ideal For: Van camping, RV camping & Tenting

Pros: This is another excellent site inside the National Park. It’s a very peaceful campground with stream access and hiking trails. If you want to be where all the outdoor-activity action is, this campground is for you.

Cons: No hookups for RVs, no showers in the bathroom, and no cellular connectivity. You might not want to spend your entire vacation here, but a few nights could be fun.

Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Vibe: 8.5/10 Despite the lack of modern amenities, this campground has tons of good vibes.

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Dumplin Valley Farm

PRICE: Around $35 per night

Ideal For: RV Owners & Truck Campers – This is a great spot after a long drive into town.

Pros: This private campground is beautiful. It has a view of the Smoky Mountains and lush grassy sites with room to spread out. Dumplin Valley can be a great basecamp for your National Park adventures. It has robust cell connectivity, too!

Cons: You’ll be a reasonable drive from the heart of the National Park.

Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Vibe: 7.4/10 This campground gets a high score because of its scenic and unique qualities. It loses points due to its location.

Santeetlah Lake

PRICE: Free!

Ideal For: Class B RV Owners & Van Campers

Pros: The price is pretty awesome! Also, the sites are located right on the waterfront. Hiking access is available from the sites.

Cons: While the sites are on the water – you can’t access them directly by car. Vehicles have to park on the side of the road. No RVs recommended here.

Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Vibe: 8.6/10 Free & beautiful with access to water & hiking. Perfect for tenting in the Smoky Mountains

Little Arrow Outdoor Resort

PRICE: Around $80 per night

Ideal For: Luxury campers of all kinds. This resort can accommodate most RVs.

Pros: Little Arrow has completed a round of renovations that drastically improved the bathhouse and public spaces. Sites are spaced apart nicely, and, to top it off, they host food trucks on the weekends.

Cons: It’ll cost a pretty penny.

Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Vibe: 6.7/10 The site gets massive points for style and class. But, the prices make it hard to justify if you’re planning a rustic camping trip.

Greenbrier Campground

PRICE: Around $50 per night

Ideal For: Family Campers wanting close access to Gatlinburg

Pros: The bathhouses are pristine, the wifi works great, and the staff is friendly. If your Smoky Mountain camping trip leans more on the tourist side of vacationing, Greenbrier Campground should be the right fit.

Cons: This campground won’t have those off-grid camping vibes.

Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Vibe: 7.3/10 Gatlinburg is fun! And, if you want to hike and shop, give this campground a try.

Indian Creek Campground

PRICE: Around $35-$55 per night

Ideal For: RV owners who want to explore the less-touristy side of the Smoky Mountains.

Pros: The site has a river running by it – suitable for fishing. It also has nearby access to so many hiking and biking trails. This is a private campground with a lot of “national park” vibes.

Cons: Facilities are a bit dated, and the camp store is a little overpriced.

Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Vibe: 8.2/10 Beat the crowds and enjoy a little peace!

Tsali Campground

PRICE: Around $20 per night

Ideal For: This is a campground for the camping purist. It has the quintessential Forest Service vibe with a touch of nostalgia.

Pros: So many outdoor activities! Bike trails, hiking trails, water activities, and good-old family bonding are easy to do at Tsali campground.

Cons: There are no hookups at the campsites, and all spots are first come first served.

Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Vibe: 9.9/10 It doesn’t have the amenities of a private campground, but it does have all the feels!

Anchor Down RV Resort

PRICE: Around $75 per night

Ideal For: RV Travelers looking for luxury.

Pros: This resort is fantastic. The sites are level, have full hookups and are well-groomed. The amenities include a pool with waterslide, tennis courts, rec area, beach area, dog park, and fishing trail.

Cons: It’s not inside the National Park.

Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Vibe: 7.2/10 This park delivers a high-end experience and keeps you in the Smoky Mountains spirit.

Cades Cove Campground

PRICE: Around $10-$20 per night

Ideal For: Cade Cove is another campground for the camping-purist. If you want to see wildlife up close and personal, it’s for you!

Pros: This affordable campground will get you connected to nature. You may even see a few bears! Tubing, hiking, and biking are a few of the popular activities.

Cons: It might be hard to get your big RV here. Also, cell reception is spotty at best.

Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Vibe: 8.4/10 Get connected with nature and don’t spend a fortune doing it!

Imagination Mountain Camp Resort

PRICE: Around $60 per night

Ideal For: Families! This park is excellent for the whole family and caters to kids! They offer RV sites, tent sites, and cabins.

Pros: Lots of activities on site. They offer nightly movies, a game room, an ice cream parlor, and even a mini-golf course. There are also less populated hiking trails nearby.

Cons: You’ll have to drive a little ways to get to the National Park.

Smoky Mountain Campgrounds Vibe: 8.9/10 Getting the whole family to explore the Smoky Mountains easily is a challenge, Imagination Mountain makes it a breeze!

The Best Free Camping in America

To be honest with you, we hate paying for camping. There are so many free campsites in America (with complete privacy). You should give it a try! A matter of fact, these free campsites are yours.

Every time you pay federal taxes, you’re contributing to these lands.

Here’s our list of the 20 Best Free Campsites in the USA.

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