Douglas Dam Tailwater Campground sits along the French Broad River at the base of Douglas Dam, offering waterfront camping with convenient access to both water recreation and the Great Smoky Mountains. Most campsites are within 300 feet of the shoreline with several providing direct river views. The area typically experiences mild weather from March through October, with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F during the day.
What to do
Watch dam water releases: At Douglas Tailwater Campground, campers can witness the impressive sight of scheduled water releases. "Woke up early enough to watch them release water from Douglas Dam," notes Christopher L., who enjoyed the engineering spectacle from site #21.
Fish the French Broad River: The river below Douglas Dam offers productive fishing spots accessible right from the campground. Susan E. shares, "I backed up to the French Broad River in this immaculate campsite with super friendly hosts," adding that the location provides excellent angling opportunities throughout the day.
Explore historic structures: At Elkmont Campground, visit the nearby Daisy Town ghost town. "The campground has a wonderful area and the history of the place is amazing," explains Amy P., referring to the collection of historic vacation cottages that once housed prominent Knoxville families.
Tube the Little Pigeon River: Several campgrounds offer easy river access for tubing. "During the summer campers get an hour of tubing or kayaking in the Little Pigeon River as part of their reservation," mentions Julie about Duvall in the Smokies Campground.
What campers like
Private bathroom facilities: Greenbrier Campground offers unusually upscale bathroom facilities. "The bath houses were awesome with individual rooms equipped with toilet, sink and shower," writes Elizabeth B., highlighting a feature that tent campers particularly appreciate.
Trolley access: Some campgrounds provide convenient public transportation. "The campground offers full hookups, PRIVATE bathrooms with great showers, ice and firewood sales, shuttle to downtown, and waterfront sites," explains Erica F. about Greenbrier's transportation options that eliminate parking hassles.
Evening activities: Scheduled entertainment keeps campers engaged after dark. "They also have free movies, concerts, etc. in the evenings at the pavilion," notes Gary P. about Clabough's Campground, which offers programming throughout the week.
Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk provide opportunities to spot local fauna. "What a great campground!! This is away from the craziness of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. It puts you back into the outdoors as the National Parks should be," shares Jeremy H. about Cades Cove Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Many campgrounds close during winter months. "Stayed for 6 days In October, Excellent Campground, quiet and slow. No Over the air TV reception, Cell service is spotty," reports Al B. about Douglas Dam Tailwater Campground.
Road noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience traffic noise. "Bridge nearby is a bit noisy if that bothers you," warns Gary D. about Douglas Dam Tailwater, while John W. notes some tent sites at another campground experience noise from "tractor trailers backing up."
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly 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!" advises Beth H., adding, "A tip to get reservations! Call and put your name on a waiting list for the dates you need."
Wi-Fi limitations: Internet access varies widely between campgrounds. "Despite a very wet and cold weekend, we were pleased at how clean these were kept, as well as the whole campground," mentions Erin H., who found that Up the Creek RV Camp provides reliable internet while other campgrounds restrict streaming.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Several campgrounds feature water activities for children. "My kids loved it and so did we and will definitely be back on our next trip," shares Tommy R. about Greenbrier, which has a swimming hole that Emily G. describes as "amazing" despite being "ice bucket challenge" cold.
Activity schedules: Check for campground-organized events. "Very kid friendly KOA. Was always very busy with comers and goers due to the area being touristy," explains Laurie B., noting that organized games keep children entertained throughout the day.
Bike-friendly areas: Some locations offer dedicated cycling times. "On certain days they close off the loop of Cades Cove for bicycles to be able to ride. At the store near the campground they rent bikes for a reasonable rate," shares Jeremy H., describing a popular family activity.
Playground facilities: Look for campgrounds with play structures. "Great spot with good access to pigeon forge, gatlinburg, and seveirville. Some spots are tight but the blob trampoline made my kids stay!" mentions Michael J. about Clabough's various recreation options.
Tips from RVers
Site width considerations: RV sites vary significantly in spaciousness. "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," explains Erin H., describing how landscaping creates privacy at Greenbrier despite close quarters.
Cable and utility connections: Many campgrounds offer full hookups plus extras. "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," notes Erin H., detailing site surfaces at Greenbrier.
Off-peak advantages: Consider camping during shoulder seasons. "We stayed here over Christmas time in a 20' travel trailer. Very clean with heated bathrooms washing machines and other amenities," reports Larry M. about his winter stay at Greenbrier when crowds were minimal.
Pet exercise areas: For pet-friendly camping near Sevierville, Tennessee, look for designated dog zones. "There is a small dog park where owners could unleash their pets and let them roam a little," notes Taylor M. about Up the Creek, adding "This is seriously the quietest campground I've ever been to."
