Help me plan my June 2017 vacation to North Carolina

[jloftin60]

My wife and I plan to travel from SW Louisiana in a Motorhome pulling a toad to go see waterfalls and blooming Rhododendrons. We plan to be gone 2-3 weeks.
Here is my plan so far. Travel to Franklin, NC, use that as a base for a few days.
Then head north to Cherokee, NC, River Valley CG. At all my campgrounds I want to park near running water, (stream, small river, etc) with trout.
What did I miss in Georgia and where to go from Cherokee?
My preferences are a running stream at my back door, waterfalls, spring flowers, and wildlife. Where do I need to go and what time in May - June do I need to be there?
Thank you for your help.

[floridaflash]

We have a vacation home in Franklin. It is a great base for exploring Waterfalls. Make sure to take the trip from Franklin to Highlands... not in the Motorhome though! We occasionally park our RV at Rose Creek Campground when we are passing though. It's about a quarter of a mile from our house which we can't get the RV to. We have not camped there but just keep the RV there for a week or so. Nice owner and seems to be a nice enough campground. Hope you have a great time in our second home town.
David

[PanJH]

I'll second a stop in Highlands. Also, if you are into American Made motorcycles, Wheels Thru Time in Maggie Valley is a great place to spend a few hours. Also in Maggie Valley there are a few CG's that meet your criteria of being on a running stream with fishing.

[Kxbronco]

Might want to check this out. I'm sure there are some decent campgrounds around there.

Rhododendron Festival | Roan Mountain TN

[h20ski]

Check out Bryson City, NC and the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad.


Great Smoky Mountain Railroad


Great kayaking in that area.

[jmck1737]

Franklin is a great base. We were there for 10 days last year at the Great Outdoors RV resort just outside of town and have already booked 2 weeks there in July. No stream but super clean, pool and convenient to everything in the area. I agree on the waterfalls south on 28 towards Highlands. Lots of nice small towns in area.

Wheels through time museum in Maggie Valley is great. Cherhola Skyway north of Franklin is also a great drive.

Fantastic food at decent prices at Cafe Rel on Main Street in Franklin and is connected to a gas station. Also a brew pub there with very good beer.

enjoy your trip.

[Springdale1]

We camp at the KOA in Cherokee, nice campground with some very nice site right on the Ravens fork river. We will be there ago in July for our 3rd year and my sister and brother in law have been going there for about 20 years now, a lot to do and see in the area and a short drive to Gatliburg.

[Superslif]

Do you need a full service campground, or could you do dry camping?

[goldwingman]

If you are going north after Cherokee, stop in Asheville. I've camped in a CG on the French Broad River. Actually, there are two. You can Google them and find them on maps.
If you can do without the sound of the water in exchange for convenience to downtown, Bear Creek RV Campground is an excellent facility.
If you are headed south after Cherokee, go to Helen, GA. Excellent State Park, Ocoee, I think, just a few miles from the lovely, Alpine Swiss Themed town.
Good luck, and happy trails.

[jloftin60]

I prefer water and electricity.

[Jake21]

Check out Cardinal Ridge rv park in Franklin. Wonderfully unlike any park we have stayed in.