Recommended sites in the Smokeys

[loyalnine]

Hey everyone! We're taking a family road trip the end of march and looking at spending a night or two just east of Knoxville in the Smokeys. Anyone have any recommendations? Preferably somewhere that has free dispersed/primitive camping where we can just roll in and set up without having to worry about hitting a ranger station first.

 

[greatgibbs10]

Are you wanting to stay on the Tennessee side of the Smokies or will you be staying on the NC side of the Smokies?

 

[loyalnine]

After exploring our options, I think we're going to go to Mammoth Cave.

 

[m&m_overlander]

Are you wanting to stay on the Tennessee side of the Smokies or will you be staying on the NC side of the Smokies?

Hey Melissa, if the answer woulda been the NC side, what would you have had info wise? I’m in Cherokee and looking to get started but could use some help.

 

[huachuca]

Check with a USFS district office for Nantahala, Pisgah and/or Cherokee (TN) NF for current conditions. Pisgah announced several openings as of today but I'm not sure about the other two. FS81 (starts behind the kiosk at the beginning of the Cherohala Skyway outside Robbinsville) has several dispersed sites along Santeelah Creek and you can continue along it into TN and Cherokee NF without hitting pavement.

 

[m&m_overlander]

Check with a USFS district office for Nantahala, Pisgah and/or Cherokee (TN) NF for current conditions. Pisgah announced several openings as of today but I'm not sure about the other two. FS81 (starts behind the kiosk at the beginning of the Cherohala Skyway outside Robbinsville) has several dispersed sites along Santeelah Creek and you can continue along it into TN and Cherokee NF without hitting pavement.

Hey Al, thanks for this. It’s a great starting point. I wasn’t sure how to even begin without heading far off to an off road park.