I have been camping several times in my life. Most have been good experiences. Some have proven not be so great. I have had some run-ins with weather conditions and some not so friendly people at times. But I wanted to share my thoughts about a wonderful place that is located in the heart of The Great Smoky Mountains—Riverbend Campground in Pigeon Forge, Tennesee (right next door to Gatlinburg, of course).
When you first enter Pigeon Forge, you make a right turn at traffic light #1 (you couldn’t ask for any easier directions)! Follow that road for about a mile and at the “bend” in the road, you will see the sign for the campground on your left. As you enter, you will see the office on the left hand side with someone to greet you and make sure everything is good to go with your stay.
One of the major things that I love about Riverbend Campground is the cleanliness of the facility and the grounds. It is immaculate. There is never trash on the ground or any sign of clutter. Their maintenance staff works around the clock to make sure this place is up to par.
There are over 100 sites to choose from and I think the sites are just around $30 a night…that is a real steal! The sites have the usual electric and water hookups, as well as cable television and Wi-Fi internet too.
Some of the lots run along the river (hence the name, Riverbend). When you are sitting in your lawn chair, you can hear the sounds of the water flowing across the rocks. This is one of my favorite sounds—so peaceful! When you are settled at your site underneath the shade of the huge ‘ole trees and have lived in those spots for years, you feel so relaxed.
I love that the location of the campground is so convenient. It is right in the middle of everything, but you don’t feel like you are in town at all. When you are camping, you forget that there are thousands of people just a mile or so away in their cars, shopping, and being tourists. But if you want to go be a tourist, it’s just a minute away. It’s truly the best of both worlds.
The restrooms are just as clean as the grounds. They are equipped with private showers and stalls for your privacy and convenience. I have never been in the restroom there when it wasn’t clean. You just don’t find that all the time.
Many people come to Riverbend and don’t even leave the campground. There are several events and concerts scheduled throughout the year and they are FREE.
Rex McCarter is the owner—he is a local man who lives on the property. He is well known throughout town as an honest, upstanding business man. I personally have had several dealings with him and he is always top notch…would recommend him to anyone!
When the sun begins to fall in the evening, the smell of hamburgers and hot dogs fill the air and the smell of wood burning to follow when night finally falls. Those smells combined with the sites of the mountains and the sound of the river make this place a memorable experience. Riverbend Campground also provides Sunday church services.
So if you are in need of a place to camp when you are in The Smokies, give Riverbend a try—I highly recommend it!