Public Vs. Private Owner Campgrounds?

Originally posted by furpod Tars, have you ever stayed at the Indian CG just before Balsam Mountain?

No, but there is a back road that ends on the inside of that CG that I take pretty often with my FJ Cruiser, so I drive through it from time to time.  There are some beautiful sites in there and I've never seen it particularly crowded.  It seems somewhat dispersed anyway.  I have no idea how well it's run or what amenities they may have.

TT

I actually like both roads to Cataloochee, but I don't take the one to or from Cosby too often.  The road in from the east is a great ride too, but not one I'd be delighted to tow the rpod on.  Especially if I thought I was going to camp at Cataloochee and found out I couldn't.

Surely they'd let you in if the campground was open and not full, but I don't know.  If I knew there were no knuckleheads coming the other way it would be tolerable, but still not delightful. 

It's a long way back out if you get there and you can't stay too.

For a fairly isolated campground I much prefer Balsam Mountain anyway, but we almost always go to Cataloochee every time we're in the Smokies, several times a year.

We've never stayed a Big Creek.  We've been up there and it's on my list to explore more someday.  If you like that side of the Park and some fairly serious isolation, I think it would be a good one.  We tend to prefer places like Smokemont where it's relatively centrally located with access to restaurants etc.

As long as I'm rambling, we very much prefer the NC side of the Park.  G'burg and Pigeon Forge are not our kind of destinations.  I have a long history with Elkmont and a special love for it, but Cherokee, Sylva, Bryson City, the BRP, Fontana Lake, the Nantahala, Heintooga Rd, and the stark differences between Cataloochee and Cades Cove versus amusement parks and pancake restaurants on the TN side make it an easy choice for us.

TT

Tars Tarkas - Thanks for the FYI.  Being that we live pretty close to Cataloochee we go to check out the elk every know and then.  I end up biting my nails every time we drive there  and would never attempt to pull our trailer on those "roads".

Considering your location, I suggest, as soon as you get it sorted out, for the real off grid experience, and great camping, Cataloochee and Balsam Mountain. Quiet, small, no hookups, low camper count.

I will add a plus one for the KOA campgrounds. We have never used them before, most of our camping had been state park trips but on our first run with the r-pod we were traveling from Texas to the Grand Canyon so we needed some stops along the way. Our first layover was a KOA our second layover was an independent campground, both were nice and had their own personalities. We ended up staying at several more KOAs on the journey and found all of them good places to be. KOA does have a discount card program, it costs $30 but saves you 10% on the nightly rate. It paid for itself on our first trip.

As for what type of site, we tried to make sure that every other stop had full hook ups, that gave us the option to be able to dump if we needed to. Bottom line, anywhere in the Pod is a good place to be.