Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
From Maryville, US 321 N toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 1 mile straight through stoplight on Hwy 73.
Get Google DirectionsTownsend, also known as "The Peaceful Side" makes for a great base camp to visit lots of attractions in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. Get a taste of the hustle and bustle and then return to the peace and tranquility of Townsend.
This world-renowned park has something for everyone! Hike and horseback ride over hundreds of miles of maintained trails. Take an auto tour of the area and enjoy spectacular views at the many overlooks. Fish for trout on over 700 miles of fishable streams! Tour 78 historic buildings to get a taste of American history. Enjoy waterfalls, wildflowers and wildlife viewing - don't forget your camera! Open year-round. No entrance fee.
Explore and celebrate the cultural heritage of East Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains Region with a tour of the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. Featuring gallery exhibits, educational programs, demonstrations and festivals that guide you on an historic journey through time.
Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center
P.O. Box 268
Townsend, TN 37882-0268
Known as one of the most popular focal points in Smoky Mountain National Park, Cades Cove is a scenic 11 mile loop. The loop is a biker's paradise; not only is it scenic, it is closed to everyone except bikers and runners until 10am on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Cades Cove Loop Road
Townsend, TN 37882
The Smoky Mountain region is famous for the alcoholic spirits that have been distilled in the mountains for hundreds of years. Today, modern distilleries are producing moonshine in an endless array of flavors including apple pie, sweet tea, pina colada, blackberry, and many more. There are numerous distilleries in the area that offer a chance to sample moonshine.
Just down the road from the campground, you'll find distilleries that serve bourbon, gin, and flavored spirits. You can taste their spirits with a brand ambassador, fill your own bottle with a master distiller, order a signature cocktail, take a bottle home from their bottle shop, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy special events.
The lore of Bigfoot certainly runs deep in the Smoky Mountain region - and it's been rumored that he prefers the quieter side of the Smokies, which happens to be exactly where our campground is! Whether you're a true believer or not, there's no denying the presence of Bigfoot in Townsend - you can find his mugshot printed on t-shirts at gift shops, munch on treats from Bigfoot Popcorn, stay at one of a dozen nearby lodges named in his honor, grab lunch at Bigfoot Philly Cheese Steak, and so much more. If you're visiting in the month of May, you may even get to attend the annual Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Festival which includes live music by Bigfoot cover bands, presentations by famous Bigfoot researchers, a 5K race and much more.
So, as you head out into the mountains, make sure to bring some binoculars and charge your camera batteries. There's no knowing who you may run into - you may capture a selfie with the Smoky Mountains' most famous resident.
See why the Tuckaleechee Caverns are known as the "Greatest site under the Smokies". Estimated to be between 20 and 30 million years old, the Caverns are rich in history. Featuring the football stadium sized 'Big Room', 210 foot tall 'Silver Falls' and massive formations.
825 Cavern Road
Townsend, TN 37882
There are opportunities for any type of cyclist to enjoy a ride in our area. Within The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there is an 11-mile one-way road that is popular with road cyclists named Cades Cove Loop Road. This road will take you past 19th-century homesites and provides excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. If you'd like to take your bike off the road, there are also two trails that permit bicycles: the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. These two trails are relatively flat and are shared by joggers, walkers, and bicyclists. While there are no mountain bike trails in the national park, there are some options in nearby national forests. One of the most popular mountain biking destinations nearby is the Tsali Recreation Area in Nantahala National Forest.
No matter how you choose to ride, please pay attention to safety recommendations and requirements. In the state of Tennessee, children age 16 and under must wear a helmet. For more information on all of these trails, visit the link below.
The Great Smoky Mountains are home to some of the best scenic drives in the country! Since there is no entrance fee for the National Park, the only cost for drives through the park is the price of fuel. No matter which scenic drive you pick, you'll likely cross streams and rivers, climb elevation to breathtaking views, pass by popular trailheads, and maybe even spot a roadside waterfall!
Looking for suggestions? The Little River Road is relatively close to our campground and connects the Cades Cove area to the Sugarlands Visitors Center near Gatlinburg. The secnic drive is approximately 25 miles in one direction, or 50 miles round trip. The road tracks alongside the Little River, generally keeping to a low elevation. You'll pass by beautiful sections of the park like Tremont, Metcalf Bottoms, Elkmont, and the Townsend Wye swimming area. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day adventure viewing Cades Cove's wildlife and historic cabins.
Tubing the Little River is the most popular water activity in this area. Our KOA is located on the Little River, so tubing fun is just a short walk away! Ask one of our staff about local tube rentals.
While fireflies (or lightning bugs) light up the night sky across the Eastern US, the Great Smoky Mountains offer the chance to view a natural phenomenon known as the Synchronous Fireflies. The national park is home to at least 19 species of fireflies, but there is one species that uniquely synchronize their flashes. Male beetles in the species Photinus Carolinus will display a flash pattern of 5-8 flashes, followed by a pause of roughly 8 seconds. When the bioluminescence event first beings after dusk, the flashing appears random but as more males join the light display, the flashing becomes more uniform, and soon entire sections of the forest pulse with light.
It's difficult to plan a trip that guarantees an opportunity to view this unique display of nature. The mating season of the Synchronous Fireflies only lasts for 2-3 weeks in late Spring, typically landing somewhere between the last week of May and the third week of June. Seasonal changes in weather and temperature affect the exact timing of the display. Due to high interest in the event, admission is also limited to guests who enter and win a lottery for vehicle passes. (Submit your application between April 28 and May 1, 2023). 100 vehicles are awarded the permits each night of the display. However, if you're planning a visit to The Smoky Mountains in late May or June, we certainly recommend checking the National Park Website for a chance to see this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is filled with hiking trails ranging from easy to primitive. There are gentle hikes for the first-timers and backwoods hikes for the hardcore. The hiking trail choices include Schoolhouse Gap at four miles, Russell Field at ten miles and the Thunderhead, 14 miles of hard, but rewarding work.
This small town's history goes back hundreds of years. First called Tuckaleechee Cove by the Cherokee, white settlers began arriving in the late 1700s. Around 1900, there was a logging boom and the town was named after the Little River Lumber Company president, W.B. Townsend. Since the 1930s, when the national park was created, Townsend has been a major portal into the park. Enjoy the rich Appalachian culture, beautiful scenery and wonderful people of Tennessee.
Visit this museum for a view into the history and people of this beautiful region! Enjoy the collections of photos, papers, tools and artifacts as well as a vintage caboose, flatcars, steam engine and more! Open Monday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm; Sunday, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm in June, July, August and October and Saturday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm; Sunday, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm in April, May and September. This attraction is located in Townsend.
If fishing is your thing, then we have plenty of it! You can fish right from our campground, or if you like fly-fishing put your waders on and take a trip into the national park. We have several local shops that cater to the fisherman's needs. You could stop by The Backcountry, which is just a short ½ block walk from our campground, or visit the Little River Outfitter Shop where they have fly fishing classes.
106 Town Square Drive
P.O. Box 505
Townsend, TN 37882
Townsend offers several horseback-riding stables within just minutes of our campground. Horseback riding is just one way to enjoy the true beauty of what the Great Smoky Mountains have to offer. Some of our favorite stables are: Cades Cove, Davy Crockett, and Packs Stables.
Sevierville, named the county seat in 1795, suffered fires and floods through its history, but has come through stronger than ever. It is famous for shopping, outdoor adventures, great attractions and museums.
For those of you that love to golf, Townsend has a wonderful golf course located at the Laurel Valley Community Club. It boasts a scenic 18-hole course, along with a pro shop and club rental. The course is bordered by the Smoky Mountain National Park and the Laurel Lake Nature Preserve, offering gorgeous views and many opportunities for wildlife sightings.
702 Country Club Drive
Townsend, TN 37882
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