First of all, GSMNP is amazing and blew us away. And the river running along the campground was great. We even had elk walk through one morning.
However this campground is way too cramped and too loud. The sites are on top of each other. Two nights our neighbors were starting up their fire with some device that made it roar several feet tall. The first time we actually thought our tent was on fire because their pit is so close to our tent pad and it was so bright lol.
Oh and about the fires, if you’re sensitive to smoke, avoid this one. The loop is in sort of a bowl and without wind all of the smoke from all the fires just sits there. I ended up wearing a mask most of one evening.
There is no enforcement of quiet hours at this campground. Every night people nearby (two separate groups covering all nights at two different sites) were talking loudly for much of the night. I’m a light sleeper and with ear plugs and my phone blasting white noise next to my ears, I still didn’t get any sleep.
I know it sounds like I’m just a whiner and shouldn’t be camping, but we camp a lot… not for the “camping experience” but just because we travel a lot and it’s cheaper and I do enjoy being in nature. I do fine at most campgrounds but this one was just too crowded for me.
I will say, though, that this side of the park was quieter than the other and I liked the Cherokee vibe more than the Las Vegas - style Gatlinburg.
Highlight hike was Alum Cave. Super cool!
