Pigeon Forge/ Gatlinburg KOA

PIGEON FORGE/ GATLINBURG KOA

With so many things to see and do in and around the Smoky Mountains, it’s important to find a centralized base camp. While there are no shortage of campground in the area, some are better than others. Most of the time, it comes down to what amenities are (or aren’t) important to you. We were particularly intrigued by the lazy river at the Pigeon Forge KOA and had to check it out! Think the KOA might be right for your trip? Read on to find out all the details.

CAMPGROUND CONTACT INFO

Pigeon Forge/ Gatlinburg KOA
3122 Veterans Boulevard
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
800-562-7703
koa.com/campgrounds/pigeon-forge/

OVERALL RATING

4.5/5

PRICE

$
We paid an average of $50 per night in March

BOOKING

Booking is very simple with KOA. You can book through the app, online or by phone. If you’re a KOA rewards member, each qualifying stay will earn you points that can be accumulated for free nights, free annual renewals and more. This KOA is packed full of family friendly features and does fill up quickly, especially during peak season. 

CANCELLATION POLICY

Moderate. Their website states there is a $10 charge if you cancel 14 days or more from your reservation date. If less than 14 days, there is no refund. This varies per each KOA and may also be different if you are a KOA VIP. 

LOCATION

Pigeon Forge KOA is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This campground has a great central location- minutes from Dollywood, the Pigeon Forge Parkway and within walking distance of The Old Mill complex. 

Gatlinburg or Anakeesta on your list? A short 20 minute drive will put you right in the heart of historic Gatlinburg where you can take a scenic chair lift up to Anakeesta. 

If hiking the Smoky Mountains is more your style, the Pigeon Forge KOA also puts you within a 30 minute drive of the Smoky Mountain National Park. 

A few fun facts- Smoky Mountain National Park is the #1 most visited national park in the US. It is also completely free to visit, whereas most other national parks require an admission fee or park pass. The “smoke” from the Smoky Mountains is really created from VOCs that are emitted from the local plants and trees.  

SITES

Pigeon Forge KOA offers sites with full hook ups including 30/50 amp service, water, sewer, cable and wifi. Sites are available to accommodate big rigs, however, if the campground is full, it may be difficult to maneuver a large rig into your spot. The campground roads are on the narrow side and the sites are closer together than most privately owned campgrounds or state park campgrounds, but we felt they were standard and comparable to other KOAs at which we’ve stayed.  Pigeon Forge KOA also has several sites available overlooking the river or with KOA patios attached.

AMENITIES

While Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have countless activities available, even if you never left the Pigeon Forge KOA, you wouldn’t have a shortage of things to do. 

Our family’s favorite amenity, by far, was the lazy river. Grab an inner tube and relax as you float along the river and soak up the sun. The lazy river is connected to the main pool, so when you’re ready to do some swimming, it’s easy to cross over. A hot tub, pool bathrooms and an expansive sun deck complete the pool area. 

Several different playground areas are available so there’s something for kids of all ages. From a gravity rail, to swings and slides to a giant bounce pillow, kids can spend hours enjoying the fresh air and outdoors. A few times throughout the day, a train takes little ones on a ride through the campground. 

Looking for more? Pigeon Forge KOA also has fishing, bike rentals, a community fire pit, laundry facilities, basketball, corn hole, movie nights and a pet playground. 

GOOD FOR KIDS

Yes. The Pigeon Forge KOA is very kid and family friendly. The majority of their activities are geared towards families to ensure everyone has fun during their visit. 

GOOD FOR PETS

Yes. We, along with most other guests, found it the perfect place to bring our furry friends. The campground is spacious with plenty of areas to walk and play. 

GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

As with any trip, planning and having a strategy is key to success.

If you’re wanting to hike the Smoky Mountains, be sure to check the national park website for updates including road and trail closures. We went in the spring time during good weather and assumed the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail would be open so we could hike to Grotto Falls… but it wasn’t. 

Traveling into and out of Gatlinburg can be a slow process. Gatlinburg is a very popular tourist destination with thousands of people flocking there every day. However, the road system and infrastructure wasn’t built to accommodate this many people. If you try traveling during peak times, you could wind up sitting in traffic for a few days. Our advice? Go early or wait until later in the day when there are fewer people. 

WOULD WE STAY AGAIN?

Yes. Though we generally prefer private campgrounds or state park campgrounds, we had SUCH a great time at the Pigeon Forge KOA. We spent hours floating in the lazy river and playing by the pool. The central location made it quick and easy for us to reach all our desired destinations. And, we enjoyed being able to walk to The Old Mill complex for dinner, ice cream and shopping. 

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