Clabough's Campground

Our stay was good. It was our first time camping in Pigeon Forge, we usually stay closer to Nashville in state parks. The campsites are extremely close together - everyone is packed in like sardines. We knew it would be tight from when we looked at the map when booking but whew - if you don’t know your neighbors, you will! This seems par for the course in the area. The location here compared to attractions in PF was so convenient it made it worth it.

We really appreciated the amenities - the bath house was super clean and the laundry room was nice. We loved that the campground picks up trash daily. There was an issue with the sewer in the area where we were and the campground was quick to resolve it. We also appreciated having campground staff escort us to our site so we did not have to wander with a map.

The playground is big and nice, and my nephew loved the bouncy pillow. The pool and lazy river looked really neat but we didn’t have swim gear with us since it’s fall, although we saw some people swimming so maybe it is heated?

On the other hand - The staff does not answer any email inquiries, apparently. The cancellation policy is really awfully strict. We didn’t necessarily feel super welcomed at check in.

There seem to be a LOT of long-term/permanent residents here. That always makes me uncomfortable since I feel like I’m in other peoples space, but no one was unfriendly. It did seem like the rules (which I read carefully prior to arrival) are selectively applied.

Overall it was a good trip and we wouldn’t be opposed to staying here again, but this definitely isn’t our preferred type of campground.

Spent a few days here in Sept of 2019. We camped in a tent and the weather was awesome. The Tent sites are raised beds with a gravel base. When i called and asked about the size of the tent sites i was told that the sites are 12'x12' but the two that we were on were much bigger than that. The sites had water and power and were with in reasonable walking distance to the bath house that was there at that time. The only real problem that we had was that they were building next to the tent camping sites and the workers would come in very early and very loudly. If I was to camp there again I would camp closer to the other end. 

The bath hose was very clean and tidy. I believe they cleaned it almost every morning.  The river that the tent sites bored isn't the best view but it was nice to see so many ducks. We even got a few visits from a friendly skunk, well I'm not so sure about friendly but we kept our distance and didn't get sprayed. 

We took in all of the near by amenities like Dollywood and The Island. If you're planning on having a night out and don't want to drive it was very easy to get an Uber driver.

All in all we will be back. The staff was very courteous and it was very convenient to have the gas station/convenience store as the front office. I liked having the accessibility to the main strip of pigeon forge while still being far enough off of it that road traffic didn't faze my sleep.

We stayed at Clabough's Campground for only one night. The campground sits right off the main road (Wears Valley Rd), so it is easy to find. The downside to this is traffic is easy to hear from the sites towards the entrance. The sites towards the back (section D) probably don't hear traffic at all. There is a market and gas station that you go inside to check in and get your parking pass. The market sells fishing supplies, food, firewood, camping stuff and propane. The campsites were clearly marked and easy to locate. We stayed in a tent site. The designated tent sites are very small and can only accommodate 1 tent. There is a raised area with smooth river pebbles that you set your tent on. This is nice if it rains, because all the water will drain away quickly. However, I would rather not sleep on rocks, even if they are smooth pebbles. If the raised tent area was not there, I believe we could have set up 2 tents on the site. There are many sites that are right along Walden's Creek. This is perfect for fishing of swimming right next to your site. The moving water was also pleasant to listen to at night when the campground got quiet. The water, electric and dumpsters are easily accessed. Our fire ring was delivered very quickly by friendly staff. The tent sites are a close walk to one of the 2 pools. The other pool is right behind the market. You can drive or walk to the lazy river on the campground site. The lazy river is small but the kids really enjoyed it. There is a playground, jump pillow and basketball court. The restaurant is located inside the market and is a great place to cool off and use clean restrooms. The map of the campground is easy to read and well marked. We were at tent site C23. There is no shade at this site until the afternoon and then it is perfectly shaded by the trees on the opposite side of the creek. My kids swam in the creek, which ranged from only a couple of inches deep to about 3 feet deep. The water was flowing but not crazy fast. The tent sites are right next to the pavilion, arcade and snack shop which is in the process of being re-built (June 2019). The sites in section D (144-154) are located in the trees and have good shade and also back up to the creek. The cabins looked nice from the outside and were nestled among the RV campers. The sites are a close fit, but all the sites were booked while we were there and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves! Lots of kids on bikes and scooters on the paved road throughout the campground. This campground is so close to other activities as well. We went to Smoky Mountain River Rat and tubed The Little River. Overall, this is a very nice campground with a lot of amenities. Great for families.

Product Review:

I had the opportunity to test the Grub Stick intro kit:

The Grub Stick intro kit includes 1 handle, fork, grubcage, release tool and carrying bag. We only used the grubcage to make s’mores. I don’t like making s’mores because they’re so messy but there was basically no mess using the grubcage. The retractable handle is comfortable and easy to attach. The cage is easy to open and stack food in. It snaps together with a strong grip. The release tool worked perfectly to open the cage. The handle and cage cooled down very quickly and was able to be touched within 30 seconds of taking it out of the fire. This is a product I would recommend!

Campground Review

This is a family run campground. All the employees we encountered were super nice and accommodating. They have a gas station, convenience store, grill and car wash all right close by the office. There is free BINGO on Friday nights with some nice prizes. The bathrooms were nice, clean and cool and the individual shower setup with locking doors was nice. We had some outlet issues, and the traffic on the nearby road was constant. Between a hot pop up, light and noise pollution sleep was in short supply. The location was convenient to The Island and other attractions in and around Pigeon Forge. The on site lazy river was a great way to cool off and relax.

Product Review

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. This time I got to try the Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Radio E+Ready. I love this radio! It is light, rechargeable, can be used as a charging station, has a flashlight, and picks up great. It is an emergency crank radio, and can be solar charged, so it is useful and purposeful. We enjoyed listening to music at the lazy river and at the campsite to help plan outdoor activities accordingly. You can check them out at www.midlandusa.com