Need a little of advice

[chris174]

Been camping for 2 years now looking to take my first big trip to the Smoky Mountains from Chicago. Any tips or suggestions it's about a 11-hour drive. Will I be driving up and down mountains excetera?

[Superslif]

Remember they had a big forest fire down there last summer.

How many day? Do you need a full service campground or like to get closer to nature and stay inside the Smoky National Park.

The drive down is no big deal. Being close to 600 miles that makes for a long day. Might take you a half of a day just to get out of area Chicago traffic.

We did 11 days in the Smoky's a few years back. We did 8 days inside the park (dry camping) and 3 nights in a Gatlinburg campground.

There are 10 campgrounds inside the National Park, but only 5 for RV's. The others are for very small RV's or tents. We stayed at Elkmont National Park Campground located 15 minutes outside of Gatlinburg and 4 nights on the southern side of the Smoky's at Smokemont National Park Campground.

Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville are very busy, very touristy...June thru Oct.

Many people will visit "The Smoky's" but never step foot inside the National Park.

Our IRV2 2012 Smoky Mt. picture gallery

[chris174]

Originally Posted by Superslif

Remember they had a big forest fire down there last summer.

O curve ball thank you do you know where about the fire was

[Superslif]

All over....Big story last late summer early fall. Gatlinburg was largely "saved", but the surrounding areas many cabins, forests and other structures were gone.

Just go on Youtube Gatlinburg fires

[Electra 225]

The fire came right up to Gatlinburg. Some businesses were lost, rental cabins burned, etc. It got pretty bad, especially with 14 lives lost....I believe that was the number.

They're making a comeback now quickly and are open for business. Dollywood is running except closed today early due to high winds that went through east TN.

Don't let it stop you, come on down. Check with chamber of commerce Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.....they can give you real time info on the area, and the Smoky MTN National Park info....with perhaps park ranger office phone number. Lots to do here, safe travels!

Edit: yes, what Jim said.....(jumped in before I finished typing )
Best regards,
W.D.

[Kxbronco]

Don't let the fire last Nov. 28 stop you from going. While there were lots of buildings destroyed, most of them were residential buildings. While this is certainly bad for the ones that lost homes or rental property, it should not impact your visit much at all. In fact, the more people that visit the better for the community as it is a tourism town.

I live about 40 miles from G'burg and have been there a couple of times since the fire. Head on down and have a good time! Your $$$ will be much appreciated by the community.

[xrated]

I live in Maryville, TN...about 30 miles from Gatlinburg as the crow flies. The fires were devastating as far as property damage and loss of human life. 14 people were killed and around 2800 homes and or businesses were affected...some destroyed. Almost nothing in downtown Gatlinburg was damaged, as the fires were mostly in the surrounding areas where many of the private houses and rental cabins are/were located. I've been seeing commercials on the T.V. for the last several months to come on down to Gatlinburg....we're open for business. Having said that, it wouldn't hurt to make some phone calls and check if you have particular locations you want to visit or stay.

As far as the drive down, you will definitely get into the mountainous areas before you get too far into TN. A couple of different ways in from the Chicago...down I-57 almost all the way to S. IL and then I24 the rest of the way and on into KY and then into Nashville. Nashville is where you would pick up I-40 and go East all the way to the exit for Gatlinburg (exit 407 going south). The other way would be to take I-57 down to I-64 and go east through Louisville, then Lexington, then take I-75 all the way South to Knoxville, then pick up 40 East to exit 407 and south through Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, then Gatlinburg. In my opinion, the I-75 route is more scenic than going through Nashville then coming East, but the downside is that way is more moutainous (thus more scenic). Hope this helps and remember, the wild fires that they had last fall really hasn't impacted the tourism as much as some might believe.

[Superslif]

Personally that wouldn't stop me from going....Unless the park itself was shut down. I'm fairly sure they have been working hard to open the park and as many trails as possible.

[Bamaman]

Before you make your trip, it would be nice to know what campgrounds you're going to be staying in and reservations made.

The Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg tourism office can tell you names of the local commercial campgrounds. Some are reasonably priced, and some are priced out of sight. Like previously mentioned, there are a number of park campgrounds with marginal hookups, etc.

Chicago to Pigeon Forge is approximately 570 miles, and most of the drive is typical midwest. The preferred route would be interstate down to Louisville and then go east to Lexington where you'd pickup I-75 into Knoxville. Then switch to I-40 east about 30 miles to the Kodak-Sevierville exit. You're about 10 miles from Pigeon Forge on a busy 4 lane highway.

The real mountains are south of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Up until then, you'll be going through rolling hills on I-75. It's not a very demanding drive--other than being long. You might also consider breaking it up into a 2 day journey.

Good luck to you. We visit the area a couple of times per year, and I've stayed there probably a 100 times over the years.

[Electra 225]

Hey there "X",
I know what Murvil is...gotta say it right!
We're between Murvil and Greenback, (Maryville zip code)

We split time between Iowa farm country and East TN when not goin' down the road living in the coach of course.

Best regards!
W.D.

[chris174]

Originally Posted by Kxbronco

Don't let the fire last Nov. 28 stop you from going. While there were lots of buildings destroyed, most of them were residential buildings. While this is certainly bad for the ones that lost homes or rental property, it should not impact your visit much at all. In fact, the more people that visit the better for the community as it is a tourism town.

I live about 40 miles from G'burg and have been there a couple of times since the fire. Head on down and have a good time! Your $$$ will be much appreciated by the community.

Thanks

[chris174]

Originally Posted by Bamaman

Before you make your trip, it would be nice to know what campgrounds you're going to be staying in and reservations made.

The Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg tourism office can tell you names of the local commercial campgrounds. Some are reasonably priced, and some are priced out of sight. Like previously mentioned, there are a number of park campgrounds with marginal hookups, etc.

Chicago to Pigeon Forge is approximately 570 miles, and most of the drive is typical midwest. The preferred route would be interstate down to Louisville and then go east to Lexington where you'd pickup I-75 into Knoxville. Then switch to I-40 east about 30 miles to the Kodak-Sevierville exit. You're about 10 miles from Pigeon Forge on a busy 4 lane highway.

The real mountains are south of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Up until then, you'll be going through rolling hills on I-75. It's not a very demanding drive--other than being long. You might also consider breaking it up into a 2 day journey.

Good luck to you. We visit the area a couple of times per year, and I've stayed there probably a 100 times over the years.

Thank you where staying at the koa in Crosby Tennessee ever been?

[chris174]

Originally Posted by xrated

I live in Maryville, TN...about 30 miles from Gatlinburg as the crow flies. The fires were devastating as far as property damage and loss of human life. 14 people were killed and around 2800 homes and or businesses were affected...some destroyed. Almost nothing in downtown Gatlinburg was damaged, as the fires were mostly in the surrounding areas where many of the private houses and rental cabins are/were located. I've been seeing commercials on the T.V. for the last several months to come on down to Gatlinburg....we're open for business. Having said that, it wouldn't hurt to make some phone calls and check if you have particular locations you want to visit or stay.

As far as the drive down, you will definitely get into the mountainous areas before you get too far into TN. A couple of different ways in from the Chicago...down I-57 almost all the way to S. IL and then I24 the rest of the way and on into KY and then into Nashville. Nashville is where you would pick up I-40 and go East all the way to the exit for Gatlinburg (exit 407 going south). The other way would be to take I-57 down to I-64 and go east through Louisville, then Lexington, then take I-75 all the way South to Knoxville, then pick up 40 East to exit 407 and south through Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, then Gatlinburg. In my opinion, the I-75 route is more scenic than going through Nashville then coming East, but the downside is that way is more moutainous (thus more scenic). Hope this helps and remember, the wild fires that they had last fall really hasn't impacted the tourism as much as some might believe.

Thanks a bunch where staying at the koa in Crosby

[Kxbronco]

Chris174, I assume you mean Cosby? They did have some fire in the Cosby area, but nothing like G'burg.