With just 2,500 residents, Sylva is a small town in the Appalachian Mountains that's big on charm. The must-see spot here is on historic Main Street, and it's the Jackson County Courthouse. Built in 1914, this structure is widely considered to be the most photographed of all courthouses in the state of North Carolina. You can climb 107 steps from Main Street to get here. If you do, look back to get a great view of the mountains beyond downtown Sylva. The Visitor Center at 773 West Main Street can give you plenty of ideas for things to do.
Another draw is the Pinnacle Park Trail, a 7-mile hike that takes you up more than 3,000 feet. Your reward for hiking this old logging road is a panoramic view of Sylva and the surrounding Scotts Creek Valley. The 1,529 acres at the top of the trail is a park with streams and waterfalls. Pinnacle Park Trail is the only Certified Forest Therapy Trail in the state.
Main Street is the place to dine, and you can't go wrong with Lulu's or Guadalupe Cafe. If you want to enjoy the type of down-home cooking the locals have loved since 1926, check out The Coffee Shop, especially for their homemade pies. Baxley's Chocolates is another place to satisfy your sweet tooth. Innovation Brewing has homemade ginger ale and several ciders. Balsam Falls Brewing has six staple beers and a rotating selection of beers on tap. If you want to grab an award-winning beer off of Main Street, check out the family-friendly Nantahala Brewing Company Sylva Outpost on Grindstaff Cove Road.
Foothills RV Park & Cabins is a scenic place to stay where you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the surrounding Smoky Mountains. Enjoy full-hookup sites featuring concrete patios, Wi-Fi, cable television, fire rings, and picnic tables. The back-in sites also give you access to showers, a pool, and full hookups.
Camp Riverslanding is in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This is a great location to base your Great Smoky Mountains adventures, and Pigeon Forge and nearby Gatlinburg have plenty to see and do as well. In the camp, enjoy the fishable river, a playground, a game room, and a pool with a splash pad. Other amenities include Wi-Fi, a dog park, cable television, an on-site store, and showers.
Pine Mountain RV Park is close to Sevierville and Gatlinburg in Tennessee. This location has both pull-through and back-in sites and provides guests with access to showers, a pool, cable TV, Wi-Fi, and full hookups. Take advantage of the camp store, on-site fishing and hiking, and horseback riding.
Black Rock Mountain State Park is the highest-elevation state park in Georgia, and it also has some of the most stunning scenery. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, the park boasts roadside overlooks with 80-mile views. You can enjoy the local beauty on hiking trails that wind through forests with streams, waterfalls, and wildflowers. Black Rock Mountain, which rises 3,640 feet above sea level, provides a refreshing escape from the summer heat. During the coldest weather in winter, the park is usually closed, so make sure to check before your visit.
Moccasin Creek State Park is in northeast Georgia, just over 70 miles north of Athens. Despite its modest size of only 32 acres, it's a beloved spot among campers because of its prime location right next to Lake Burton, which offers some of the best fishing in the state. With the closest community of Clarkesville located 20 miles to the south, visitors to this park have the opportunity to immerse themselves in serene surroundings away from the hustle and bustle of civilization.
Table Rock State Park, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western South Carolina, is home to Pinnacle Mountain, a 3,415-foot peak that rises higher than any other point in the state. The 3,000-acre park has trails suitable for hikers of all skill levels, with breathtaking views and picturesque waterfalls. Developed amenities include modern campsites and recently renovated cabins, which can host a variety of events, such as weddings, meetings, and receptions. Multiple outdoor activities are available in this unique corner of the state, which offers a striking contrast to the rest of South Carolina.
Andrew Johnson National Cemetery is in Greeneville, Tennessee. This site honors the 17th U.S. president who led the United States following Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Johnson had two homes here. Explore the cemetery with a self-guided walking tour or a highly informative ranger-led program. You can visit a period-specific tailor shop or Andrew Johnson's grave in this national cemetery bearing his name.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a beautiful 469-mile scenic road that winds through the Appalachian Mountains. Along the drive, you'll be treated to stunning vistas of cozy valleys and towering mountain ridges. The parkway ranges from a low of 649 feet near the James River to a high of 6,047 feet at Richland Balsam. As you drive through some of the world's oldest mountains, be sure to check out the Folk Art Center in Asheville. Visit Mt. Mitchell, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River, for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The parkway extends all the way into Virginia, making for an epic road trip. However, due to the constant elevation changes, the weather can be highly variable, so dress in layers. It's also important to note where you can find food and gas along the way.
The Foothills Parkway skirts the northern edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The western section of the parkway is often referred to as the Knoxville Parkway by locals, while the eastern stretch is more commonly known simply as The Parkway. Although the route is incomplete, you can still enjoy stunning views in two directions. Look to the north to take in breathtaking views of the Tennessee Valley, and gaze southward for views of the majestic Great Smoky Mountains.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, located in northern Georgia, has two sections. Chattahoochee boasts tall peaks that are perfect for mountain hiking, while Oconee is flatter, with some small hills. Together, they cover nearly 900,000 acres with opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, and camping. This national forest is full of scrubby woods — you'll find kudzu, privet, and Japanese honeysuckle, with occasional dogwood or wild cherry trees.
Nantahala National Forest spans more than half a million acres in southwest North Carolina. Here, you'll find three ranger districts across six different counties. This forest's national designation dates back over a century, and it is a prime destination for white-water rafting, fishing, and camping. Trout fishing is very popular in the streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes in this national forest. With over 600 miles of hiking trails, you'll have plenty of options to choose from. You can also explore awe-inspiring views from the comfort of your vehicle along the scenic drives.
Pisgah National Forest covers more than 500,000 acres of land close to Asheville, North Carolina. It was home to the first school of forestry, which is now a historic site. Here, you can climb high mountain peaks, hike numerous trails, or stop and gaze at the tall waterfalls cascading down the mountainsides. The forest also boasts numerous campgrounds where you can rest and relax — some of them are equestrian camps. If you're in the area during spring, check out Looking Glass Rock Trail, near Brevard, for a spectacular wildflowers display, but the view at the end of the trail is worth the hike any time of year. If you're closer to Black Mountain, take a hike on Catawba Falls Trail to see the waterfall.
Only 30 minutes from the state capital of Columbia, Congaree National Park was named for a Native American tribe and is South Carolina's only national park. You'll find some of the East Coast's tallest trees here and can see a forest, swampy floodplain, and the Congaree River during your visit. Hikes and tours help you learn about the park and its ecosystem. Some more interesting activities include night tours like the Owl Prowl, where you can learn about nocturnal animals, or wilderness canoe tours through the swamp. This area is notable for the humid weather that's common at this park for most of the year.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park gets more visitors every year than any other national park. Infinite ridges of forested terrain create panoramic views with beautiful skies above and quiet valleys below. More than a half-million acres of protected space await you, with three primary entrances. Enter from Townsend or Gatlinburg in Tennessee or Cherokee in North Carolina. You can enjoy the park plenty from your vehicle and also go hiking, biking, horseback riding, and fishing there.
New River Gorge National Park is in southern West Virginia. It's only been a national park since 2020, but the gorge itself has been carved out for eons. Come for the activities on the water, or enjoy the 70,000 acres on both sides of the river for hiking and camping. The carved-out canyon stands in stark contrast to the gentle Appalachian ridges and rolling hills around this park.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Sylva, NC, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Sylva?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Sylva from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Sylva?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
