The Greenbriar Campground was the Cadillac of campgrounds in the area, unfortunately we arrived on a weekend that would have been better suited to the “pontoon boat” of campgrounds.

Greenbriar is located near the Greenbriar entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, very near the arts and crafts district of Gatlinburg. Access to the facility is by a small bridge that runs over the Little Pigeon River, which splits and runs around the Greenbriar, making it an island of sorts. This is notable as nearly every campsite backs up to the river. There are a handful of internal tent sites and rentable cabins as well. But the vast majority of sites have river access, including a fire pit mounted in the rocks RIGHT ON the river. Imagine yourself peacefully sitting out under the stars, mountain peaks in view, the rush of the Little Pigeon, illuminated by the fire directly in front of you. Though the water fluctuates with rainfall quite a bit, you can always hear it from your tent or RV, which was an added bonus. During warmer months, children can play and swim in the clear and smooth stoned river. There’s also an historic swimming hole on location. Several campers even had hammocks set up between trees that hung over the water on their sites.

Sites are narrow and fairly close together, although they’ve done an excellent job of maintaining the heavy trees around the river and on the “treelawn” area which separates each site. This helps to make a narrow space seem deceptively private. These sites also come equipped with water, sewer and electric hook ups, and even a cable hookup! A newer and clean picnic table is also provided. They designate those few interior sites as “tent” - not that you cannot reserve the other sites with a tent, but because the internal sites have soft, level grass to pitch on, whereas the outlying ones have level pea gravel across the entire site. Ample space is provided for your car to park at the edge of your site - they are long and narrow. I’d recommend a base padding or doubled tarp under your tent if you choose to go that route. Stakes may not hold well in the gravel and somewhat better in the “treelawn” dividers on either side.

Activities and facilities are aptly located in the center of camp. A playground, bath house, laundry facility, game room (with one game! - but to make up for that, it also has couches and a large flat screen TV which many campers happily watched March Madness together on), as well as campstore and volleyball and basketball courts make up the internal area of the camping island, keeping the sites themselves fairly free of noise and passers by. There is also free and reliable WiFi in the campground. This is notable because the area’s mountains make reception touch and go mostly.

This was a pet friendly campground, and many campers had their dogs with them. There was also a small dog park where owners could unleash their pets and let them roam a little. In spite of this, dog barking seemed to be kept in check. It was also a family friendly campground, and the kids seemed to really enjoy the playground coordinated games and socializing.

The bath house appeared to be newer, and will trump your home facilities in many cases! Within the bath house, there are several private doors leading to your own 3 piece bath with shelving and granite counters with outlets, and a stunning double shower. In spite of a very wet and cold weekend, we were pleased at how clean these were kept, as well as the whole campground - likely due to the fine, well draining pea gravel of all the paths.

As a Dyrt Ranger, I often get the opportunity to test products on our trips. This weekend we sampled the Mountain House Turkey Dinner Casserole. Despite traveling during the last weekend in March, we encountered very wet and cold weather for the region, and a warm meal was a welcome bonus. Mountain House has a simple preparation, all that is required is hot water to prepare, and the entire prep is done within the package itself, minimizing waste and cleanup. We also ate ours right out of the package as a bowl. The package also seals if you are hiking in and have to bring your rubbish back out in a pack. The meal itself was surprisingly good for a complete rehydration kit. My husband noted that it also seems as though they may have reformulated, the the veggies were brighter and the general consistency was more appealing than we’ve experienced in the past of these types of meals. It was quickly prepared and suitable for two adults.

The campground is perfectly situated for an unending array of activities. Arts and crafts, shopping and the GSM park entrance are all within minutes, and trailheads abound. 15 mins away is Pigeon Forge and all the entertainment that area offers. Access to all is easy and straightforward. Note: Always check the Smoky Mt National Park page before heading out. Given the dramatic nature of the area, including damage and changes in the land and vegetation (which didn’t impede our enjoyment or the natural beauty of the area, by the way) from the recent fires have left some of the trails unstable and can close suddenly. Also - if you wish to hike with your dog, there is only one trail available to you which runs down the side of a beautiful river from the visitors center and lets out directly into the pretty mountain town of Gatlinburg, packed with dining, whiskey walks and various forms of minor entertainment. We went at the very start of their peak tourist season, in inclement weather, and the walks were still crowded. Further in, you will find abundant hikes of varied lengths and difficulties, and many features like waterfalls, rushing rivers, historical primitive sites and much wildlife.

Overall, it is evidence of a great campground and region that we were able to pack so much in over a 3 day weekend in spite of the poor weather and lower temps. All left feeling refreshed and happy from the Greenbriar and the Smoky Mountains.