The Best Dollywood RV Campgrounds in Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge is a mountain town area in eastern Tennessee. It’s a popular vacation destination and home to Dollywood, the amusement park created by country legend Dolly Parton. More than 3 million guests visit Dollywood to enjoy the rides, water park, and a Dolly Parton museum that displays many of her iconic costumes and musical performance memorabilia.
This area is well-known as a perfect destination for anyone who loves country music. It’s a great location with plenty of family-friendly activities and things to do for people of all ages. Popular attractions in Pigeon Forge include the iconic country music theater, Smoky Mountain Opry, the TITANIC Museum, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, the Island in Pigeon Forge amusement park, and outlet shopping malls.
With all these amazing activities and events, you will no doubt want to plan an extended stay. So, you better find a great place to rest your head at night. Of course, you could book a room at Dollywood’s resorts, the HeartSong Lodge & Resort, or Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa. Either option offers incredible amenities for the whole family, including on-site dining, shopping, and free shuttle service to the theme park.
If you like to squeeze in some luxe relaxation after hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you won’t be disappointed with a stay at either resort. That said, we’re here to talk about our favorite method of travel and accommodation and that’s RV living. So let’s explore the best Smoky Mountain RV parks and campgrounds.
RV Parks and Campgrounds Near Pigeon Forge
These RV parks and campgrounds nestled along the Great Smoky Mountain National Park provide a perfect home base as you explore the area’s incredible beauty and outdoor activities.
Pine Mountain RV Park
Location: 411 Pine Mountain Rd, Pigeon Forge, TN
Family-friendly Pine Mountain RV Park is two miles away from Dollywood and ten miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is a perfect location to experience everything the area has to offer.
Explore the breathtaking forests and hills of the Smoky Mountains. Your whole family will have an opportunity to check off their outdoor bucket list dreams.
Enjoy the amusement park, museums, water parks, and shopping. Then pack your daypack and head out for an incredible hike to the top of Clingman’s Dome. Photography enthusiasts may want to visit during Autumn to enjoy a scenic drive and capture the beautiful fall foliage, spectacular sunsets, and mountain views.
From hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, to golfing, trout fishing, and whitewater rafting, you are sure to find an adventure that suits everyone in your party.
Campground Amenities
This RV park located within the city of Pigeon Forge offers large sites with a choice of pull-through or back-in parking. Every site offers full hookups as well as cable TV, wireless internet access and a picnic table.
Here is a short list of the amenities you will find at Pine Mountain RV Park:
Campsite Features
Related Reading: RV Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Creekside RV Park
Location: 2475 Henderson Springs Rd, Pigeon Forge, TN
Rated 9.5 for its facilities, restrooms, and appeal on Good Sam, Creekside offers 112 campsites in the heart of Pigeon Forge. This family-friendly park is nestled within shady trees along Walden Creek, offering guests a great experience in the outdoors. It’s located four miles from Dollywood and the many popular attractions and activities at Pigeon Forge.
Take the Fun Time Trolley service to Pigeon Forge and enjoy an action-packed day at Dollywood Theme Park, water slide park, and music theaters, then return to peace and serenity at this small Smoky Mountain RV park. There is an outdoor pool, clean bath house, and a well-stocked camp store with firewood, ice cream, snacks, and RV accessories.
Campground Amenities
Here are some of the amenities you can enjoy at Creekside RV Park:
Campsite Features
There are 112 campsites at Creekside RV Park. Most of the RV sites are for back-in parking. Reserve early if you want to secure one of their pull-through spots.
Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg KOA Holiday
Location: 3122 Veterans Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN
Another great option for family camping is the Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg KOA Holiday family campground. Well-known for its helpful staff and large RV sites, this may be a perfect spot for your home base as you explore the local attractions.
Open year round, this pet-friendly park can accommodate big rigs. You can camp along Little Pigeon River and explore the natural surroundings with your kids. Or, enjoy plenty of other outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, horseback riding, or take the Fun Time Trolley into Pigeon Forge for a day at Dollywood and the water park.
Campground Amenities
There are many recreational activities for kids, including a playground, tractor-pulled train, gaga ball pit, lawn games, and a pool with a lazy river. It’s safe to say, it is easy to keep kids active and entertained at the Pigeon Forge Gatlinburg KOA RV Park.
This KOA Holiday campground also offers the following amenities:
Campsite Features
The campground offers many different styles and various site-specific amenities. You can check the reservation system to choose a spacious site for RVs up to 100’ in length.
Related Reading: An Experience at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Gatlinburg East / Smoky Mountain KOA Holiday
Location: 4874 Hooper Hwy, Cosby, TN
Previously known as Smoky Mountain Premier RV Resort, the Smoky Mountain KOA is located approximately 30 – 45 minutes by car to Dollywood Theme Park and Splash Country Water Park, this campground is in the town of Cosby, Tennessee. If you want to be in the center of Pigeon Forge, this park may not be your first choice. But, we love that this pet-friendly campground is set on 16 acres within proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is directly across the road from Gatlinburg East KOA.
Note that a deposit is required when reserving an RV site, tent site, or cabin accommodation.
Activities
You can enjoy amazing outdoor activities, including rafting, river tubing, fishing, and zip lining. There are many other area attractions such as live entertainment, seasonal events, and shopping centers. If you have kids, consider an afternoon at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, which is about 16 miles west of the park.
Campground Amenities
This RV park is open year-round and offers guests several great amenities, including cable TV, Wi-Fi, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, and a dog park, among other features.
Here is a short list of the amenities you can enjoy while staying at the Gatlinburg East Smoky Mountain KOA.
Campsite Features
Roamstead
Location: 4946 Hooper Hwy, Cosby, TN
Another option down the road from Gatlin East KOA is Roamstead. This pet-friendly campground is unique in many ways. You’ll notice a purposeful design with modern loft-style cabins and yurts within the campground. RV and tent sites are also available.
In addition, as a member of the Friends of the Smokies, Roamstead plays a part in helping the National Park Service preserve and protect the extraordinary wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The program raises funds and awareness to restore and maintain trails, provide education, and build infrastructure to increase handicap-accessible access points within the park.
Activities
There are plenty of activities to please any outdoor enthusiast. Roamstead is located within 30 minutes from the Sugarlands Visitor Center (main entrance to the National Park), Greenbrier entrance and Cosby entrance. You will have many options for hiking, picnics, and wildlife spotting.
If you choose to start your day with a moderately challenging hike, you will be happy to know Roamstead offers easy access to the 6.6-mile Maddron Bald trail. The popular Clingman’s Dome (1.3-mile out and back trail and the highest point in the park) and Abrams Falls (5.0-mile out and back trail) hikes are only a short drive away.
Multiple creeks run through the property making it a perfect place for kids to explore, wade in the cool water, or drop a fishing line (catch and release only). Contact the property to request assistance booking whitewater rafting, fly fishing, tubing, or mountain biking.
Campground Amenities
Roamstead offers many amenities to help you relax in a clean and comfortable setting after your day of exploring the great outdoors. The campground offers a clean bathhouse stocked with personal care products, wi-fi, dump station, and laundry room.
Campsite Features
Smoky Bear Campground & RV Park
Location: 4857 East Parkyway, Gatlinburg, TN
Smoky Bear Campground is located 18 miles outside of Pigeon Forge in the Northeast section of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Although smaller compared to the other campgrounds on our list, Smoky Bear offers a lot of quality with RV sites, tent sites, and cabins.
It’s close to both downtown Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, but be prepared for more traffic when heading to the Pigeon Forge area.
RV sites are level, protected by mature trees, and have plenty of room for your family’s enjoyment. You can select from concrete padded pull-through sites or gravel back-in sites. Unless you rely entirely on solar power, a nice feature of this campground is that every site offers shade.
This is also a great park to consider for your next family reunion. Book the clubhouse for special events or to gather with new friends.
Campground Amenities
Campgsite Features
Pigeon Forge Local Attractions and Resorts
Here is a short list of the amazing activities and resorts offered throughout the Pigeon Forge area.
What is Your Favorite Pigeon Forge Campground?
Have you been to a Pigeon Forge RV Park recently? We would love to hear whether or not you enjoyed your visit, if the campsites were clean, and if you spotted a particular site you would hope to reserve on your next visit.
Don’t forget to leave your campground review or comments below. Any review you leave can help another RVer as they plan their trip to the Great Smoky Mountains.
Thank you!
The Best RV Parks & Campgrounds
After graduating with a degree in animal behavior, Isabel allowed herself some time to get closer to nature. She took a leap to the European countryside and hiked her way through Switzerland, Italy, and Portugal before returning to the US. It’s clear now she was meant to be an outdoorsy gal as she spends her days camping and hiking the trails along both coasts and cozies up to the campfire with pen and paper to chronicle her travels. TREKKN is fortunate to have her on the team.
