Camping and Glamping on the Peaceful Side

Written by: Emily Huffstetler

In just a few weeks, the summer heat will break, and East Tennessee will be ablaze with fall foliage. What better way to experience this spectacular transition than a camping trip? Since the Great Smoky Mountains is the nation’s most-visited park, it’s a good idea to start planning early.

Just outside the national park, the Peaceful Side of the Smokies offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and modern conveniences. Whether you prefer luxurious glamping or traditional camping, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Little Arrow Outdoor Resort – Townsend

This award-winning outdoor resort offers a range of accommodations, including luxury RV sites, cozy cabins, glamping lodges, tiny homes, Airstreams and vacation homes. Activities take place Thursday through Monday, including guided hikes, trivia, Family Feud, college football tailgating, bingo and crafts. They even have a Sunday morning church service.

The resort’s amenities include a 24/7 coffee lounge featuring a movie and book exchange, games and a kids’ playroom; hiking trails; a zero-entry pool with grottos, a splash pad and a hot tub; a cabana with TVs; a lookout pavilion with a double-sided fireplace, heat lamps, bathrooms, a catering kitchen and an AV system; a basketball court, gaga ball pit and a pickleball court; a dog park; a boutique; a playground; a tipi; a 24/7 laundry facility; two luxury bath houses; a community fire pit and a community garden.

Big Meadow Family Campground – Townsend

Situated on historic farmland, Big Meadow Family Campground has hosted happy campers since 1995. It offers the largest pull-through sites in Townsend, able to accommodate big rigs and RVs up to 80 feet long. For added peace of mind, the park is gated with 24-hour security. Amenities include a dog park, a splash pad and playground, a basketball court, cornhole, a gazebo with a firepit, a pavilion, a climate-controlled bathhouse and laundry room, a workout room, a camp store, cable TV and Wi-Fi.

Whispering River Resort – Walland

Whispering River Resort offers a mix of primitive campsites, RV spots and riverside cabins. It boasts over 1,000 feet of direct river access, perfect for fishing and kayaking. Other amenities include a swimming pool, a swimming beach, on-site laundry, walking trails, individual bathrooms, a dog park and a fitness center.

Vee Hollow Campground – Townsend

Located next to a 14-mile mountain bike trail network, Vee Hollow Campground is perfect for outdoor adventurers. It has over 80 full hook-up campsites with water, electricity and sewer, as well as two cabins. There’s a pool and access to the Little River for wading, tubing or fishing. Other amenities include laundry facilities, cable TV, Wi-Fi, bath houses and a pavilion. The campground is pet friendly.

Smoky Waters Campground – Townsend

Smoky Waters Campground is the newest campground on the Peaceful Side, located just two miles from the Cades Cove entrance. It sits on 40 acres of land with over 1700 feet of river access. Having recently opened, it doesn’t yet have many amenities, making it an excellent place for a more traditional and affordable camping trip.

Campgrounds In the Park

Three front-country campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are easily accessible from the Peaceful Side. Cades Cove Campground is open year-round; Elkmont Campground is open from March 14 to Nov. 30; and Look Rock Campground is open from May 20 to Oct. 26. All three have flush toilets and access to drinking water. Look Rock Campground has 10 sites with electric and water hookups. Backcountry camping is also allowed at designated sites and shelters with a permit.

Are you looking for accessible lodging on the Peaceful Side? Read our guide here. Find a comprehensive directory of campgrounds on the Peaceful Side here.

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Born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, with roots tracing back to Cades Cove, Emily Huffstetler is a proud Maryville College graduate and passionate storyteller of the Greater Smokies region.