Advice for South East points of Interest

[S-n-L]

Hello everyone and thank you for reading and responding to my post.

This coming spring, we will be traveling from Austin, TX to Burlington Vermont spending a few weeks passing through the areas of the Great Smoky Mtn NP, Shenandoah NP, Blue Ridge Parkway, etc.

Our major focus going through this area will be the National Parks however I am interested in what are the other must-see attractions going through this area? We plan to stop a handful of times for a few days to tour each individual area by car.

We will be 65 feet long with the coach and car, so I know there are some areas we will need to avoid with the rig but can tour with the car. Our route will focus on Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia. We will be traveling diagonally through AL but going through either the east or west sides of most of these states.

Our interests focus on hiking, sightseeing natural places, food, Kitchi things, history and Iconic Americana places.

Thanks so much for your input,
Stuart & Leslie

[Americanrascal]

Savannah, GA; Charleston, SC; Stone Mountain, GA;

Kennesaw Mountain, GA

Helen GA; Callaway Gardens (Pine Mountain GA); Warm Springs and the Little White House;

Blue Ridge Mountains of North GA; Lookout Mountain and Cloudland Canyon; US Infantry Museum, Columbus, GA;

Just to name a few

[mricet1005]

For Smoky Mountains I like to stay at Twin Creek Resort in Gatlinburg. Closest campground to NP entrance. Last fall I stayed on the west end of the Smokies at Whispering River Resort. Much quieter but close to Cades Cove area of the NP and also nice scenic drive in Toad - the Foothills Parkway. The campgrounds in NP can’t handle your rig.

[mricet1005]

Eastern KY is nice and really like the Red River Gorge area if you like hiking and scenic drives. Stayed at Natural Bridge State Park. Campground a little tight for big rigs. Not sure on private campgrounds in area. Further west, Lexington area of KY nice and stay at KY Horse Park CG. While there visit a few bourbon distilleries.

[mricet1005]

Blue Ridge Pkwy not accessible in RV nor Shenandoah Skyline drive. Stay along I-81 and do side trips into those areas.

[S-n-L]

Thank you all for such great suggestions. I have my hands full for checking these places out and planning our trip.

Stuart

[George Schweikle]

"Not accessible" Really?. Perhaps you mean there have been some "Recommendations" not to drive. I understand the original poster's rig is 65 ft. long overall but, some years ago, we drove the entire length of both in 23 ft. Midas Mini motorhome. After that, we have driven some sections of the BRP in our 26 ft. Winnebago Chieftain and 28 ft. Safari Trek.

Back to the OP's question, the Kentucky Horse Park is a good place to visit, and the campground is also good. Home | Kentucky Horse Park
Another interesting spot is a retirement home for old race horses Welcome to Old Friends Equine - A Retirement Home for Thoroughbred Race Horses Old Friends Equine

The General George Patton Museum at Ft. Knox is a big attraction, but closed for renovation until may 1 Home | Patton Museum

And, there is always the Bourbon Trail https://www.kentuckytourism.com/dini...SAAEgK5hvD_BwE

Originally Posted by mricet1005

Blue Ridge Pkwy not accessible in RV nor Shenandoah Skyline drive. Stay along I-81 and do side trips into those areas.

[mricet1005]

Originally Posted by George Schweikle

"Not accessible" Really?. Perhaps you mean there have been some "Recommendations" not to drive. I understand the original poster's rig is 65 ft. long overall but, some years ago, we drove the entire length of both in 23 ft. Midas Mini motorhome. After that, we have driven some sections of the BRP in our 26 ft. Winnebago Chieftain and 28 ft. Safari Trek.

Back to the OP's question, the Kentucky Horse Park is a good place to visit, and the campground is also good. Home | Kentucky Horse Park
Another interesting spot is a retirement home for old race horses Welcome to Old Friends Equine - A Retirement Home for Thoroughbred Race Horses Old Friends Equine

The General George Patton Museum at Ft. Knox is a big attraction, but closed for renovation until may 1 Home | Patton Museum

And, there is always the Bourbon Trail https://www.kentuckytourism.com/dini...SAAEgK5hvD_BwE

I was factoring in the size of the OP’s rig. Yes I understand many rv’ers in smaller rigs regularly travel the Blue Ridge Parkway.

[colorfinger]

If you end up in North Carolina, the Road to Nowhere is an interesting stop and piece of Americana.

https://www.greatsmokies.com/gsmnp/road-nowhere.html

[Cooperhawk]

We travel the East quite frequently as we have relatives and friends to visit there. If you go along the coast, which I assume you may not be, I would recommend Savannah and Charleston for sure. Also we fell in love with Myrtle Beach last year.

On your route though I would recommend the KOA at Harper's Ferry, WV. It is located on top of the mountain overlooking the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers where they join. There is a National Park there and in fact the camp ground has trenches from the civil war within its boundaries. The CG is clean and well run.

From that base you can do day trips to Antietam, Sharpsburg, Manasas, DC, Frederick, Md., and numerous other places. Shenandoah National Park, (Skyline Drive) is within an easy drive just to the south.

We have stayed there on different occasions and found it to be an ideal base. I used to live and work in the DC area and I loathe getting any closer to the area unless in a car and not during rush hour.

https://koa.com/campgrounds/harpers-ferry

[Dropthejacks]

Originally Posted by S-n-L

Our route will focus on Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia. We will be traveling diagonally through AL but going through either the east or west sides of most of these states.

As a resident of North Carolina I feel slighted!!! LOL

Hopefully you will stop in and see us. Some areas I would recommend would be the Great Outdoors RV Resort in Franklin, which puts you within easy striking distance of great little mountain villages like Highland, Sylva, Dillsboro, etc. You have Cherokee with the Indian Reservation and Casino. Asheville is the craft beer capital east of the Mississippi River if you're so inclined, and the Biltmore Estate is there along with many other stops in the area. The Boone and Blowing Rock areas are also among our favorites. You haven't had breakfast until you sit down at the Daniel Boone Inn in Boone. Blowing Rock is a beautiful village in the mountains and the area has excellent wineries scattered among the mountains. I have had our rig on the Blue Ridge Parkway and was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a rocking chair factory the whole time, just waiting to come around a curve to find one of those beautiful, low, arched-rock tunnels they are known for. I personally would tour the BRP in my car and leave the RV in the campground. I think you will find it more enjoyable and less nerve racking. Enjoy, I'm sure it will be a great experience .

[Big Dude]

For your trip, I think the GSMNP area is a must, including Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, a drive up to New Found Gap and Clingman's Dome, Cades Cove, and much more. We like to stay at River Plantation due to it's proximity to everything, large sites, and quit location down by the river.

[mricet1005]

Originally Posted by Big Dude

For your trip, I think the GSMNP area is a must, including Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, a drive up to New Found Gap and Clingman's Dome, Cades Cove, and much more. We like to stay at River Plantation due to it's proximity to everything, large sites, and quit location down by the river.

I agree that GSMNP would be a great destination. I prefer Twin Creek RV Resort in Gatlinburg to any of the places in Sevierville or Pigeon Forge. Much closer to the National Park entrance and don't have to fight as much traffic getting to and from the park. May just be my interests but I don't find anything of interest in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville - too fake and hokey for me.

If you really like quiet, you can stay on the west side near Townsend/Walland. Quick access to the NP, especially the beautiful Cades Cove area with far fewer crowds. I stayed at Whispering River RV Park last fall and found it nice and peaceful.

[Jthigh]

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC. Klingman’s Knob in Smokey Mountains.

If you end up traveling on the east side of the Smokeys in Cherokee National or Pisgah NF, check out Jocassee Gorges. That area is considered the land of water falls. Plenty info on the web about the area.