Advice for traveling through the Smokies (Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Sevierville TN)

Nichols780 · 09-18-2023, 07:43 AM

Going to the Smokey Mountains soon. I'll be pulling my Micro Minnie FLX 2306 BHS. Wanting to stay in the National Park for a night or two. Question is what is towing through the foot hills like? I have friends and family telling me not to do it that my truck will struggle really hard. (I have a 2022 Chev. Colorado). What advice do you all have with midsize trucks? I feel it can make it, but perhaps I am too optimistic. For those of you familiar with his channel, Traveling Robert on YouTube has made that trip in his old Colorado, but he didn't post much insight about the towing experience.

**creativepart** · 09-18-2023, 08:29 AM

I've driven through there, but it was years ago in a car. I'm positive LOTs of RVers drive through the area. I'll let others with more experience respond.

Be aware that it is VERY as in extremely busy and the Fall can be peak season there. I believe you'll find that reservations well in advance are pretty necessary. Sometimes it's easy to pick one spot to use as a home base and travel via your tow vehicle on day trips out from home base.

Lots of options in Gatlinburg/Sevierville. We stayed at a lovely resort just a couple miles north of Gatlinburg in Dandridge, TN at Anchor Down RV Resort.

https://www.anchordownrvresort.com/

Our first stay was during the week and it was wonderful. The second time we went was on a weekend with a UT(Tenn) vs Texas A&M football game and that wasn't pleasant at all. So, because of that I'd check the UT football home game schedule.

Morich · 09-18-2023, 09:27 AM

Lots of folks make it fine and the Smokies are not as much challenge as the Western mountains as the up and down is much more likely to be in shorter stretches. those shorter stretches can be quite steep and seem very crooked.
The big difference is that things are much shorter! You might get a five mile downhill but that is much easier on you and vehicle than a 10-15 miles hill!

But the overall challenge will be knowing what the trailer/tow combo load has.
We can take two exact setups and one may load and tow so totally different that it may require some personal experience to find how it works.

How you drive and brake is often a big difference and there is really no way to know what you do or don't know!

Sometimes we worry about going up but if not prepped well we get in more trouble coming down as we don't handle the speed well.

be happy · 09-19-2023, 03:08 AM

I just left that area two weeks ago. Now my MH had no problem with any of the hills the smokies put in front of me. I do not think they were any different than my home mountains the Ozarks.

All aside I saw many rig set ups traveling the route, seemed folks were doing ok. Be ready for 6 lanes of backed up traffic in Pigeon Forge and 2 lanes in Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg parking fee $20.00 with lots of walking. Smoky Mountain NP was well worth the drive.

Good Luck

Marine359 · 09-19-2023, 08:38 AM

We live close to the Smokies and travel through the Smokies frequently towing our Micro Minnie 2108DS with our 3.6L Canyon. The truck is very powerful, and we’ve never had any torque issues on steep grades. Keeping the tranny in low range helps. Best performance between 3000 to 4000 rpm. The motor doesn’t like to be revved at 5000 rpm for very long. On downgrades, keep the tranny in low range and downshift as needed to keep speed under 50mph on interstate, and under 40mph on state roads. Passage through the park is slow, and roads are not suitable for big rigs. We haven’t towed all the way through the park. Just take our truck. We won’t tow through Gatlinburg because the 2 lane road is narrow and lots of pedestrians just j-walk into the street not knowing that I can’t stop the rig on a dime. Takes 30 minutes to squeeze through town. Pigeon Forge is congested, but ok to tow through. Sevierville is wide open 4-6 lanes. I-40 passage from Sevierville to Asheville not difficult, however an accident or rock slide will stop traffic for hours. Wayz doesn’t seem to help.

Since you’re coming from Charleston, your biggest concern should be I-26 between Hendersonville and Asheville. The road is still (5 years now) under construction, and there are some patches with serious issues. Near airport Road is the worst.

Rockies are more demanding. But our Canyon has handled them well. Never a problem going uphill, but as mentioned, long downgrades are a challenge. On the very long downgrades we downshift to the lowest gears on the 8 speed tranny,alternately tap the trailer brake controller, and the truck brakes, trying to keep speed below 40mph. Fortunately, there are turnouts to pull over and cool the brakes. Long steep uphills, we can still do 45-50mph.

Tireman9 · 09-24-2023, 04:13 PM

If you will be on any part of BlueRidge Pkwy or Smokes extension be sure you know your ACTUAL height. There are some tunnels at southern end that are low.

https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/parkway-maps/

GrumpyVet · 09-24-2023, 05:27 PM

We left there two days ago. Depends on what you want to do and where you are staying. Pigeon Forge/Sevierville traffic has died down a bit since the Rod Run is over. Still a bit heavy tho in the afternoon/evening. Gatlinburg is and I think always be a mess. The city runs a free shuttle from the visitor's center to downtown and the is lots of free parking. Pigeon Forge has a transit shuttle that will take you all over for $3 per day, even goes to the popular campgrounds. You can also take the PF shuttle to the transit center and then take a shuttle to Gatlinburg. Parking EVERYWHERE in Gatlinburg seems to be $20 (they suck). I personally would not want to take an RV into the National Park but would stay outside somewhere and drive in. The roads are narrow and twisty with some recommend @ only 15 mph in some of the curves. Whether driving to Cades Cove or to Clingman's Dome there is lots of slow traffic and did I mention the curves? The road to Roaring Forks is NOT RECOMMENDED for RVs. There is a sharp turn, with a wooden bridge where RVs can't pass, since it is a one lane road, they have to shut it down and you have to get towed out (HUGH $$$), and according to our guide you get fined. Thete is a campground on the way to Cades Cove Loop but I know nothing about it. Seems mostly scrawny trailers where around that area. You have to have a parking permit to park more than 15 minutes in one spot. $5 per day, $15 per week, or $40 annually. We went with the annual because the park needs money. Best wishes.

Jakm · 09-24-2023, 10:29 PM

We travel from the Myrtle Beach area to the Smokies regularly and prefer to stay on this side of the mountain in the Cherokee KOA. There are several other campgrounds in the valley. I40 out of Asheville to Rt.74 to 441 which takes you right into the Cherokee Casino. From there it’s a day trip over Newfound Gap on Rte. 441 that drops you down the other side into Gatlinsburg.(not with the RV). Another day trip from there to Maggie Valley by way of Rte.19. (again not with the RV). As mentioned I40 around to Seveirville follows the Pigeon River and an easy traverse. Riverside RvPark just north out of town makes a nice base camp if you want to do the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinsburg thing and it’s just down the street from the Smokey Mountain Knifeworks. Lots of antiques in that area and you can access the northern end of the Art Loop without going into the rat race.

Greg121 · 09-25-2023, 05:38 AM

I'd stay well away from that area not because of the grades, narrow, curvy, load and height restricted roads but the congestion. What they have jyst isn't worth the aggravation

FT RV · 09-25-2023, 10:03 AM

Just went all through there and I was glad I wasn't towing anything, but I am from the north east where we dont really have terrain like that. Your truck can likely handle it but it'll be an experience for sure, a white knuckle one.