Campsites near Rutledge, Tennessee sit within the rolling foothills of the Smoky Mountains at elevations between 1,000-1,200 feet. The region experiences mild winters with occasional snow and hot, humid summers with temperatures frequently reaching the upper 80s. Area campgrounds typically maintain gravel roads with moderate grades that can become muddy during the frequent summer thunderstorms common from June through August.
What to do
Fishing access on Douglas Lake: Two Rivers Landing RV Resort offers direct riverfront views with dedicated pull-in sites for class A motorhomes. "Half of the spots face the river (pull in). All concrete and level, large sites. Great water pressure. Lots to do in the area," notes a visitor to Two Rivers Landing RV Resort.
Bluegrass festivals: Dumplin Valley Farm RV Park hosts annual bluegrass festivals that attract visitors from across the region. "We would love to come back for their bluegrass festival," mentions a reviewer who stayed at Dumplin Valley Farm RV Park. The events typically run Thursday through Saturday in September.
Water recreation: The new Forest Grove RV Resort features an onsite water park. "The water park is great for kids and it has a restaurant and an ice cream shop. It's spacious and the people who work there are so friendly," shares a recent visitor to Forest Grove RV Resort.
What campers like
Creek access: Several campers appreciate the peaceful water access at sites away from the main tourist areas. "This is a small, quiet campground just outside the craziness of Pigeon Forge. There are no real amenities, so you need a self contained camper. It is dog friendly, clean and has many creek side sites," says one reviewer from Up the Creek RV Camp.
Public transportation: Many visitors value the convenience of local shuttles. "Trolley stop directly by office so no need to drive down into Pigeon Forge. And above all the most outstanding customer service," reports a camper at Riveredge RV Park, noting the time and money saved by not driving into town.
Privacy landscaping: Campgrounds in the area often use natural barriers between sites. "The sites have hedges on either side, which make the sites more private. Although the sites are very narrow," notes a camper at Two Rivers Landing RV Resort. Several parks feature similar vegetation to create separation between camping spots.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Many campgrounds book completely during peak seasons. "It is so hard to get a reservation here, so we decided to take what we could get so we could try it out! A tip to get reservations! Call and put your name on a waiting list for the dates you need. If they have cancellations, they call the people on the list instead of releasing the dates on the website," advises a visitor to Anchor Down RV Resort.
Site restrictions: Campgrounds enforce varying equipment policies. "Your 3rd class would be the pop up campers and conversion campers. Sorry guys you are not allowed in the park," explains a reviewer about Two Rivers Landing RV Resort. Several parks have minimum rig requirements or specific vehicle restrictions.
Late-season availability: Southlake RV Park often has openings when other parks are full. "We were expecting many people over the 4th of July holiday but were pleasantly surprised to have only a few other guests. Very soft green grass over the entire RV park," reports a visitor who found last-minute accommodations.
Tips for camping with families
Splash pad amenities: Multiple family-friendly parks offer water features beyond standard pools. "Our son had a ball playing in the pool and splash pad. After hours we went to the arcade and played. The bath house was super nice," shares a parent who stayed at Riveredge RV Park.
Halloween activities: Seasonal camping during October includes special events. "Every Saturday in October, campers decorate their site and hand out candy to the costumed campers! My kids LOVED that. We have already booked for this next October and plan to make it a tradition!" exclaims a family who visited Anchor Down RV Resort.
Limited bathroom facilities: Some parks have minimal services relative to their size. "There is no restroom even close to the playground area. Thankfully we didn't have a bathroom emergency with our toddler," cautions a parent about one park, recommending families stay closer to central facilities.
Tips from RVers
Self-registration options: Several rv sites near Rutledge, Tennessee offer flexible check-in procedures. "We are very laid back in our approach to camping as you will notice first thing upon arrival when you will probably find the office unoccupied. If that is the case, you can utilize self-registration and chose your own campsite," explains the owner of Dumplin Valley Farm RV Park.
Streaming restrictions: Some campgrounds limit bandwidth-intensive activities. "Only draw back is their no streaming WiFi policy. I'm fine with giving up technology for a week but camping with a 5 and 6yo is challenging without streaming capabilities," notes a visitor to Up the Creek RV Camp, recommending families bring offline entertainment.
Exterior antenna benefits: Cell coverage varies significantly across the region. "Cell Data signal isn't great here either. I have a dual LTE router that I was only getting ATT 3G signal with normal antennas but once I connected the exterior antenna I had been waiting to install I got 4 bars ATT LTE (105 dbM) so I can pull a ratty 30Mbps down and 15Mbps up," shares a technically-minded RVer at Southlake RV Park.
