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Little Arrow Outdoor Resort and Townsend-Great Smokies KOA both house glamping accommodations near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, providing upscale alternatives to traditional camping. Little Arrow features luxury yurts with comfortable beds, climate control, and private decks overlooking the natural landscape. Townsend KOA complements the area with premium glamping tents situated alongside the Little River, offering electricity, real mattresses, and furnished outdoor spaces. Both locations include modern bathhouse facilities with clean showers and toilets, while maintaining proximity to natural attractions. One guest shared, "Townsend KOA is one heck of a family getaway spot with the River flowing behind the park, great outdoor playground and pool."
Proximity to Cades Cove and Spruce Falls creates ideal basecamp locations for Smoky Mountains exploration from these glamping sites. Guests at Little Arrow can enjoy year-round access to resort amenities including a camp store stocked with essentials and luxury touches. The Little River provides opportunities for tubing, fishing, and kayaking directly from the glamping sites, particularly at the KOA where riverside accommodations offer scenic views and easy water access. According to a camper, "We had a spot right by the water and wonderful view, we were able to go tubing and kayaking right by our camper and go hiking in the park not far from the campground." Both properties maintain well-kept grounds with fire pits and picnic areas, striking a balance between outdoor immersion and comfort not typically found in standard camping arrangements.
"The only bad part was the non quiet hours- so It was loud at night. But the campsites are far apart, easy walking distance to bathrooms."
"There are no hook ups for electric and sewer here, nor are their showers."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"We were impressed with the paved parking space, picnic table, fire pit and level tent pad. It looks like these are very new. Proximity to cades cove loop was great."
"The one lane, one way, circular drive around Cades Cover is scenic but can get very crowded and cars will stop for any wildlife, go early..."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"When we first started going here it was a small family owned business and it has certainly changed since KOA took over but I think they’re all positive, just less of the charm."
"The Townsend KOA is located close to the entrance of Cades Cove. It has many rv, tent, and cabin sites. The sites on the river seem to be the best."
"Really friendly staff. Nicely stocked store. Clean and large laundry room with TV. We loved the lazy river in the pool. Our site was concrete and level but as with most KOAs not cheap."
"Very clean and spacious bathroom/showers, staff great and perfect distance to tourist and Nature destinations"
"Glamping, cabins, airstreams…something for everyone! There are so many options for activities here to keep the whole family happy.
The bathrooms are really nice."
"Tiny homes, glamping tents, and cabins for rent. Then there are on river and off river RV sites. The on river rv sites have a gazebo over the picnic table."
from $60 - $185 / night
Check Availability"Our oldest rented a bell tent, and when I say they are the cutest camping spot, I am not exaggerating. The bell tents sit on the river and away from all the RV sites."
"We stayed 3 nights in the Baby Bear bell tent with our small children and it was perfect. We ended up arriving later than expected and the hosts were wonderful. Very nice and helpful our whole stay."
from $35 - $258 / night
Check Availability"it's a bbit claustrophobic, each site being quite close to the other. We were tent ccamping, and iit appears that most of the sites are a better desiggned for RV camping."
"Lovely campground on the river and close to amenities. Biking, hiking, tubing, swimming."
from $44 - $140 / night
Check Availability"We paid extra to get the upgraded spot which included a picnic table, grill, and fire pit. The pool was closed, but it was storming the majority of our trip."
"Great location and the staff was friendly but that’s the pros."
from $51 - $171 / night
Check Availability"Tucked away in quiet town of Townsend TN on Hwy 73, the campground has tent sites and RV hookups. There are toilets and a shower for each restroom."
"Office staff was friendly and helpful, we ended up with a riverside lot which was pretty nice, had a firepit and a table with chairs setup."
"Bath house was OK. On the good side there were lots of families and pets. Playground with bounce house. Pool and basketball courts. Office staff was efficient and helpful."
"It feels like you are away from the busy area but still close by to all the action. Friendly staff and great pool."
from $30 - $71 / night
Check Availability
ScoutFamily friendly Glamping campsites with solar shower, queen bed, memory foam mattress, night stands, all the essential cookware, campfire and grill, bathroom facilities, extra 4 person tent. A secluded, quiet and peaceful Private campground with fishing in their 3 acre pond and Miles of hiking Trails. Perfect getaway!
TravelerThis is an excellent campground! It’s really woodsy and the creek is fabulous. Nice laundry facilities. Especially nice are the tent sites. They seem to have some of the most scenic spots. The Sanctuary area is awesome and the tent sites are right on the creek. It is for those with no pets or kids and is limited to 2 people per site. It’s a quiet zone. There is one tent cabin and 4 tent sites with water and electric. You CAN park at your sites. We weren’t sure before if it was a walk in area. The bathhouse for this area has two toilets and two showers.Each is completely private. There are outlets and sinks in all four. There is also a very nice sink and counter on the end for dishwashing. It’s all in excellent condition. Very nice picnic tables too. They were easy to wipe off. Sites S1-3 have an awning/ shelter. S4 does not but is much larger. S4 is higher up so you look down on the creek. It is more off by itself. S1 even has access to a 2nd picnic table close to the creek. It is the smallest as far as tent space. We would love to visit again!
GuideMy husband and I stayed here for my birthday in one of the camping cabins. We will definitely be back now that we have our A-frame camper. The campground is beautiful with a mountain stream flowing through the entire campground. Immaculate bathhouses and wonderful owners. Great store onsite and lots to do in the surrounding area.
LegendCamp Leconte Luxury Resort is located in Gatlinburg near the Greenbriar area of the Smokies. It’s a fairly small campground right on the Parkway. It’s close to town, but far enough away to avoid traffic. The campground has nice, paved spots for rv’s. It has glamping tent cabins, as well as vintage campers. There is a camp store, but the campground is not far from a grocery store and liquor store. There’s a trolley stop nearby also, so if you’d like To go to the strip, you can take the trolley and not worry about parking. There’s a nice pool and playground. Very clean campground.
LegendI highly recommend this glamping spot. It could not be more perfect. This spot is new, and the set up is awesome. Perched on top of a hill, the site has great sunrise views. The glamping tent is very high quality, with a covered porch, two comfy beds, and a wood burning stove, so camping is possible year round. a fire pit is out front of the tent too.
The spot has great hammock trees, as well as spots for tents for extra room.
The property has a one mile hiking trail. There are restrooms and an outdoor shower justba short walk, or drive down the hill. The is a cabin, and event venue on site also.
The area is close to The Great Smoky Mountains, and also Downtown Knoxville. A perfect spot for a nice glamping getaway.
LegendI highly recommend this glamping spot. It could not be more perfect. This spot is new, and the set up is awesome. Perched on top of a hill, the site has great sunrise views. The glamping tent is very high quality, with a covered porch, two comfy beds, and a wood-burning stove, so camping is possible year-round. a fire pit is out front of the tent too. The spot has great hammock trees, as well as spots for tents for extra room. The property has a one-mile hiking trail. There are restrooms and an outdoor shower just a short walk or drive down the hill. The is a cabin, and event venue on-site also. The area is close to The Great Smoky Mountains, and also Downtown Knoxville. A perfect spot for a nice glamping getaway.
ScoutOwners are very friendly. Our tent campsite was very secluded, included a fire pit, picnic table, over looking deck, running water and electric. Loved hearing the running creek from our tent site. Very clean bathrooms. Highly recommended!
ScoutMy family and I have been camping at this campground for over 25 years now. When we first started going here it was a small family owned business and it has certainly changed since KOA took over but I think they’re all positive, just less of the charm. The sites along the river are by far the best, and the cost is reflective of that. They upgraded the bathhouse to be climate controlled recently... the best upgrade!!! The location is superb, right outside cades cove and a five min drive from put in for tubing down the river and one of the few places you can simply tune to without having to pay a service to shuttle you one way or the other. The staff is amazing. Definitely a must stop!
GuideWe stayed for a week on an RV back in site. The sites can be soemwhat close together, but with this mostly just being home base, we didn’t find it to be a problem. Our oldest rented a bell tent, and when I say they are the cutest camping spot, I am not exaggerating. The bell tents sit on the river and away from all the RV sites. They even include 2 full size beds and lamps/nightstands. The entire grounds is surrounded by a river that has a swimming hole and can be traversed in a tube. The playground is large and our son was there multiple times a day. They have a movie in the park each Friday and offer church services on Sundays. The trolley runs through the grounds and into downtown gatlinburg, but takes about 30 minutes to get to town. The bathrooms/showers are all private stalls and pretty well maintained. We will definitely be visiting again in the future.
Glamping opportunities near Townsend, Tennessee offer direct access to Great Smoky Mountains National Park at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 feet. The "peaceful side of the Smokies" maintains milder temperatures than neighboring Gatlinburg, with summer highs typically reaching 85°F and winter lows rarely dropping below 28°F. The Little River flows through multiple campgrounds, creating natural swimming and tubing options during summer months when water levels are optimal.
River activities: Tubing and fishing can be done directly from several glamping sites near Townsend. At Greenbrier Campground, "The swimming hole was a blessing durning the hot days! (Think ice bucket challenge). The tubing was fun for the older kids and adults," according to Elizabeth B. River-based activities don't require additional equipment rental at some locations.
Historical exploration: Visit Elkmont ghost town within walking distance of camping areas. "Once you've set up camp, walk or drive down the road toward the Little River and Jakes Creek trails. Follow the signs for additional parking and you'll find yourself at the end of a road lined with assorted cottages and cabins that used to be vacation homes," notes Jean C. from Elkmont Campground.
Cades Cove wildlife viewing: Located 20 miles from Townsend, this valley offers exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. "I have never seen more black bear. It was a very safe distance we watched them about a football field away across a field pretty amazing experience," says Ashley Y. The loop road allows for safe observation from vehicles.
Private bathroom facilities: Many glamping locations near Townsend feature upgraded bathroom amenities. At Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, "The bathrooms were FABULOUS. SERIOUSLY. I've never wanted to bathe I'm a campground bathroom before, but I do it out of necessity. Well these bathrooms were luxurious and modern and so SO clean," shares Jenny J.
Community gathering spaces: Campgrounds offer social areas beyond individual sites. "There is a community firepit with rocking chairs around it, and it looks like it came out of a Martha Stewart magazine," notes a reviewer about Little Arrow. These spaces provide opportunities to meet other travelers.
Peaceful atmosphere compared to Gatlinburg: Townsend maintains a quieter environment than nearby tourist hubs. "If you're going to go to Smokie Mountain National Park, the is the side to stay on. Gatlinburg is absolutely nuts while Townsend is about 1000% calmer," explains Steve D. from Townsend-Great Smokies KOA.
Reservation requirements: Popular glamping spots fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. "Make your reservations far in advance this is a destination!" advises Ashley about Cades Cove Campground. Most locations require booking 3-6 months ahead for summer and fall weekends.
Road conditions: Access to certain areas involves winding mountain roads. "Had a great stop at this campground! Loved how close it was to the Cades Cove Road to tour for the downtime. Took a while to get into and out of though. Long and windy road to get to the area," explains Aliy L.
Varying cell service: Connectivity differs significantly between locations. "We needed to work and do school while there and the Verizon cell service was limited and the WiFi signal was not great at our rig," reports John from Townsend KOA. Many campgrounds offer WiFi at central facilities but not throughout the property.
Playground access: Several glamping locations near Townsend feature play areas for children. Townsend KOA is "one heck of a family getaway spot with the River flowing behind the park, great outdoor playground and pool," according to reviews. These amenities provide entertainment between park excursions.
Educational opportunities: Incorporate historical elements into family activities. "The campground has a wonderful area and the history of the place is amazing," shares Amy P. about Elkmont Campground. Many sites offer junior ranger programs and guided nature walks during summer months.
Site selection tips: Choose locations based on family needs. At Mountaineer Campground, "I really liked that they have a family restroom that is separate from the regular men's and women's bathroom. They will even come around and pick up your trash if you have it set out by the pavement by 10am," notes Cynthia S.
Site leveling considerations: Some campgrounds require extra equipment for proper setup. At Mountaineer Campground, one reviewer mentioned, "Only surprise was unlovely site, our neighbor had to loan blocks to set camper." Bringing leveling blocks is recommended for most locations.
Utility hookup reliability: Full-service sites offer varying quality connections. "Approx 20 miles from main visitor center. The scenic drive increases congestion and traffic. Camp store is near campsites. Also a ranger station. Several hiking trails are accessible from campground. All driveways shaded, paved, and level," reports Kim L. about Cades Cove, noting the infrastructure quality.
Specific site recommendations: Some locations have standout spots worth requesting. "We had a spot right on the river. The staff is very helpful and accommodating. We needed to work and do school while there," shares a reviewer about their river-front accommodations. Corner sites typically offer more privacy and space for outdoor living areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Townsend, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Townsend, TN is Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a 4.7-star rating from 126 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Townsend, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 88 glamping camping locations near Townsend, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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