Bird Freak wrote: Elkmont would be great. Thats when the lightning bug mating season is. If you have never seen this it is amazing!
Yeah if you can get a RSVP!
I started trying 6 months before 2nd week of June, everyone was beating me to the push of the button (also think people were "Backing" into time slot they really wanted). Of Course I wanted riverside / generator section. There were a few general campground available, but for us being on the river is "Home".
We have been camping in early June LONG before it became known about the Firefly's......Well not the same since.
Balsam sounds like our kind of campground. However we are a bit nervous about planning on a campground like that because you can't reserve a site. Coming all the way from Texas, we do like to know we will have a site.
But, having said that, we are also keen on camping in the kinds of places we like and the view and seclusion of Balsam sounds just right to us.
So my question. If we show up on a mid-week day in mid June (say around the 14th), how likely are we to get a site? I see there are only 46 sites in the campground. Think we can get one of those?
Tromba wrote: Thanks for all the replies, everyone!
Balsam sounds like our kind of campground. However we are a bit nervous about planning on a campground like that because you can't reserve a site. Coming all the way from Texas, we do like to know we will have a site.
But, having said that, we are also keen on camping in the kinds of places we like and the view and seclusion of Balsam sounds just right to us.
So my question. If we show up on a mid-week day in mid June (say around the 14th), how likely are we to get a site? I see there are only 46 sites in the campground. Think we can get one of those?
Thanks again for all your help with this. sent u PM ..
Tromba wrote: Thanks for all the replies, everyone!
Balsam sounds like our kind of campground. However we are a bit nervous about planning on a campground like that because you can't reserve a site. Coming all the way from Texas, we do like to know we will have a site.
But, having said that, we are also keen on camping in the kinds of places we like and the view and seclusion of Balsam sounds just right to us.
So my question. If we show up on a mid-week day in mid June (say around the 14th), how likely are we to get a site? I see there are only 46 sites in the campground. Think we can get one of those?
Elkmont and Smokmont will probably be crowded. On the S side of Smokiie near Bryson City, I believe is a nice NP.. I dont recall the name. It is just in the park a couple miles. Not so well known and off the main road.
Elkmont would be my pick... We have stayed there many times through the summer months and the tree cover is excellent. Just zoom in on the mtn site using GOGGLE MAPS and you can see the site road in only a couple of places because of the dense tree cover. It is like a tropical forest their after it rains. The trees will drip water for days it seems. There is also a pretty large creek/river (whatver they call it) that runs through the camp ground and just hearing the noise of the roaring water will keep you cool...
You might want to check your dates for the Syncronized Lightning bugs week in June. This is the only place in the US where this occurs (I think ) and everything around this area fills up real quick. It is centered at ELKMONT so you can only guess how crowded it is around there during that week. Check google or call the Park Service on when it is this year...
Some folks that really really has to have hookups camp at the last camp site leaving Townsend TN just before you get to the Smoky Park Natl Park. It is a real nice camp ground with hookups and has the same creek/river flowing though the edge of it as well... Townsend is off the beaten path of the Gatlingburb/Pigeon Forge tourist hype and is has nice camping surroundings there. When we camp at Elkmont this is the town we go to for supplies and everything.
Have fun in the Smokys... It is a very special spiritual place for us to vist..
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - PM me Roy and Carolyn
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