3 Smokies camping, glamping sites named in best

Readers voted on picks from USA TODAY editors

With fresh air, beautiful views and countless hiking trails, the Great Smoky Mountains are perfect for any campground getaway. Several camping sites and resorts in Smokies received recognition in the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards road trip categories.

Little Arrow Outdoor Resort in Townsend received two top 10 spots. Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort in Sevierville and Camp LeConte in Gatlinburg made the cut, too.

The winners were up against tough competition all over the country. Nominees are selected by a panel of editors and readers vote on who makes the top 10 list in each category.

Check out the East Tennessee road trip winners in the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards:

Best Glamping Spot

Little Arrow Outdoor Resort in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains landed as the No. 7 best glamping destination. The Townsend community is known as the “peaceful side” of the Smokies.

The outdoor resort features RV sites, Airstreams, cabins, tiny homes and glamping tents. Luxury tents have heating and air conditioning, plush bedding, private bathrooms and a small kitchen. Resort guests also enjoy access to a coffee lounge, swimming pool, splash pad, dog park, playground, laundry facilities and a basketball court.

1. Sky Ridge Yurts (Bryson City, North Carolina)

2. Beaver Island Retreat (Beaver Island, Michigan)

3. Piney River Ranch (Vail, Colorado)

4. Treebones Resort (Big Sur, California)

5. Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo (River Ranch, Florida)

6. Nomad Ridge at The Wilds (Cumberland, Ohio)

7. Little Arrow Outdoor Resort (Townsend, Tennessee)

8. The Destination (Dadeville, Alabama)

9. The Resort at Paws Up (Greenough, Montana)

10. Borealis Basecamp (Fairbanks, Alaska)

Best RV Campground

Tent sites, full RV hookups, a natural lazy river and fly fishing makes Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort (No. 9) a perfect campground stop.

1. Inn Town Campground (Nevada City, California)

2. Jellystone Park Pelahatchie - Yogi on the Lake (Pelahatchie, Mississippi)

3. Camp Fimfo Texas Hill Country (New Braunfels, Texas)

4. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Mill Run (Mill Run, Pennsylvania)

5. Lake Raystown Resort (Entriken, Pennsylvania)

6. North Texas Jellystone Park (Burleson, Texas)

7. Spacious Skies Campgrounds Minute Man (Littleton, Massachusetts)

8. Fernwood Resort (Big Sur, California)

9. Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort (Sevierville, Tennessee)

10. Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph (Santa Claus, Indiana)

Best Luxury RV Resort

The spa services available a Little Arrow Outdoor Resort help the resort earn it second appearance on this year’s 10Best road trip list in the luxury RV resort category, coming in at No. 10. But guest also can enjoy the hiking trails all around and activities like bingo and trivia, all while basking in Appalachia beauty.

1. Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Cabana Cabins (Auburndale, Florida)

2. Motorcoach Country Club (Indio, California)

3. Firefly Resort (Fredericksburg, Texas)

4. Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort (Las

Vegas, Nevada)

5. Normandy Farms (Foxboro, Massachusetts)

6. Camp Fimfo Texas Hill Country (New Braunfels, Texas)

7. Dark Sky RV Campground (Kanab, Utah)

8. The Waves RV Resort (Naples, Florida)

9. Bluewater Key RV Resort (Key West, Florida)

10. Little Arrow Outdoor Resort (Townsend, Tennessee)

Best Vintage Trailer Hotel

Camp LeConte in Gatlinburg has three retro themed camper sites for guests: Glamping at Tiffany’s, Miss Daisy and The Ruby Slipper. And all guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, a swimming pool and a picnic pavilion, regardless if you stay in a camper, safari tent, treehouse or a tent.

1. The Vintages Trailer Resort (Dayton, Oregon)

2. Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground (Buellton, California)

3. SkyStream Resort at SkyPark Camp + RV Resort (Skyforest, California)

4. Asheville River Cabins (Arden, North Carolina)

5. Sou’wester Historic Lodge & Vintage Trailer Resort (Seaview, Washington)

6. Hart’s Camp (Pacific City, Oregon)

7. AutoCamp Yosemite (Midpines, California)

8. AutoCamp Cape Cod (Falmouth, Massachusetts)

9. Lake Bastrop North Shore Park (Bastrop, Texas)

10. Camp LeConte Luxury Outdoor Resort (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)

The USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlights the best in travel, food and drink, and lifestyle. A panel of industry experts nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across a wide range of categories every week. 10Best editors then vet these nominations and select a final set of nominees to be presented to the voting public for four weeks.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com . On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208 .

BRIANNA PACIORKA/NEWS SENTINEL Little Arrow Outdoor Resort in Townsend was named the No. 7 best glamping spot in the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best awards. The resort features Airstreams, RV sites, cabins, tiny homes and glamping tents. The resort also nabbed a sport in the luxury RV resort category.