Ideas for Smokey Mountains Basecamp Early April? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Ken Cindy Ditka and Sox · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ideas for Smokey Mountains Basecamp Early April?

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

The update reported yesterday was that I-40 would most likely not be open by April. ‘Just passing that info along as a NC local. BTW, I’m sure you know it is I-26 down from Ashville to South Carolina, not I-29. (Probably just a typo.)

You can continue on I-40 east, over to Kingsport, and then pickup I-26 south from there assuming I-40 is still closed.

Many ways to the Rally, pick the one that’s best for you. But I will make a friendly bet I-40 won’t be open till May, at the earliest. Hope I’m wrong, but I know that road and it is a real problem.

See you in SC!

Bill

Gypsy Turtle 2 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cindy,

I think we saw the same report as Bill and the pictures they showed, if current, didn't look promising at all. The detour around it isn't too bad. We had to take it the day it happened. Luckily we came through a few hours later smile

You'll lose an hour or so, but it's certainly doable.

Looking forward to meeting you at the rally. I remember when we were rooting on the Tarheels together a couple years ago. We certainly won't have to worry about that this year! cry

Let's just say it hasn't been their year. hmm

~gail

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

This site will give you all the latest info on the routes in NC. http://www.ncdot.org/

You'll notice that off on the left side of the page they have a link to the I-40 repairs. Then there is another link for further reading about the latest developments and dates.

Jim

Readytogo · RV-Dreams Family Member

There are alot of campgrounds in the Pigeon forge area. We stayed at Creekside during the Christmas holiday several years ago. Very clean. The only complaint we had was the site we were on was very tight. It wasn't crowded so it wasn't an issue for us. There are campgrounds in the National Park. Cades Cove is awesome. There are no hook-ups. Even if you don't camp you still need drive through the 11 mile loop through Cades Cove. There is a hike to a waterfall. Many different hikes to waterfalls throughout the Park. I love the area. I went to college in the area and would go to the mountains all the time. Hope you have great weather.

Sylville · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have enjoyed staying at Cascade Lake Recreation Area CG a few times near Brevard. It is up a mountain and the CG can be a little tight for big rigs. I think they open on April 1. They are a PA CG and offer the discount Sun-Thur.

Another nice and easy place to stay is Davidson River CG. It's very level and is only a mile away from Hwy 280/64. I think it's part of the Pisgah National Forest. There are a few electric sites but it is mostly boondocking. There is a visitor's center/ranger station not far from it.

Wherever you decide to stay, please consider a visit to Brevard in Transylvania County. It is known as the Land of Waterfalls and has many wonderful day hikes and some beautiful falls. Check out http://www.visi****erfalls.com/ for some good info. The travel planner gives more detailed info.

We look forward to meeting you and others in SC.

-- Edited by Sylville on Thursday 25th of February 2010 09:52:15 PM

Sylville · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well Howard's filter is working good. :) That's really visit waterfalls.

Ken Cindy Ditka and Sox · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Bill, Gail, Jim, Dale and Bev and Gin & Syl,

How wonderful to get so many helpful responses!!

Yes, I typo'd and do know its I-26, not I-29.
I appreciate the updates on the campgrounds and the I-40 status....arghhh!!

It looks like to stay to our schedule we will need to detour north off of I-40 on I-81 and then back down on the Carolina side of the mountains on I-26. Several notes I've seen online also indicate they may be enforcing trucks and motorhomes staying to posted detours on the Interstates. I guess they are trying to keep the larger vehicles off the smaller mountain highways because of the added traffic the I-40 closing would cause.

After doing more research based on your inputs, we've also seen now that many of the GSMNP sites like Cades Cove are closed in April/May timeframe as they have apparently received a nice chunk of funding for renovations from the stimulus package. Glad to hear the money is going to improvements there and would love to hear that they've improved campsites to make sites larger since I know the federal park sites have limited availability for 40 ft motorhomes.

Also really liked the waterfall url, and got a good laugh out of seeing it how it was 'filtered'!!

Based on your very helpful info, I think we will stop for an overnight somewhere past Knoxville, close to the interstate, then take a fresh start the next day and make our way over to Fletcher Lake RV Park, Fletcher, NC which is only a 1/2 hour drive from Brevard. That should position us for some exploring in the Transylvania Country area as Gin and Syl suggested.

I'm getting really excited about our first 'extended' RV trip and can't wait to meet you all at the rally!!

Hugs, C