Townsend was chartered and incorporated in 1921 by the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company. The owner of the company was Colonel W.B. Townsend, so this recently established town was named after him. The logging and lumber industries thrived in the area thanks to the railroad and the utilization of the band saw. After conservationists sounded the alarm about too much deforestation taking place in the area, Colonel Townsend sold thousands of acres that became part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Today, Townsend is one of three entrances to America’s most frequently visited national park. It’s also conveniently close to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, which are just 30 and 45 minutes from Townsend, respectively. Knoxville is also within 45 minutes of Townsend. Townsend may only be home to 550 people, but it still has some interesting local attractions. A must-see is the Townsend Visitor Center, which contains information and exhibits about Townsend itself as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Don’t forget to visit the gift shop, which is packed with local goods and souvenirs. Another excellent place to visit in your Townsend, Tennessee RV rental is the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. This museum features a variety of artifacts left behind by the Native Americans who once lived in the area. If you go behind the museum, you’ll get to see multiple preserved historic buildings that are outfitted with accurate period furnishings. If you want to learn more about the history of logging and railroads, then you should visit the Little River Railroad & Lumber Museum. At this museum, you’ll view exhibits about Colonel Townsend’s role in shaping this area and tour a logging locomotive from that time period.
An hour southwest of Townsend is the entrance to Nantahala National Forest, which is next to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The more than 600 miles of trails featured here provide stellar views of lakes, waterfalls, rivers, and gaps. Nantahala River Gorge is a great place to go fishing; numerous other rivers and streams also provide quality locations to drop a line. Other fun activities here include whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and big game hunting. Pisgah National Forest is roughly two hours and 40 minutes east of Townsend. Within this park’s more than 500,000 acres, you’ll find awesome attractions like Black Mountain and the Cradle of Forestry, which was America’s first forestry school. Mountain biking, road cycling, hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding are all possible on the numerous trails here. If you want to hit the water, then you can go swimming, boating, and tubing in this forest. Next to Nantahala National Forest is Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, which is Georgia's sole national forest. This forest’s nearly 867,000 acres are accessible by about 850 miles of trails and thousands of miles of rivers and streams. Wildlife viewing is popular here thanks to the wild turkeys, deer, raccoons, and birds who call this Georgia forest home. Other popular activities here include geocaching, stargazing, and swimming.
Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival – Townsend hosts this annual celebration of hot air balloons in the middle of August at the Townsend Visitors Center. Live entertainment, a beer tent, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and arts and crafts vendors are all featured here.
Grains & Grits – Another awesome event held at the Townsend Visitors Center is this tribute to craft spirits and tasty food. Local restaurants and regional distillers combine forces each November to provide delicious fare to those 21 and older while live music plays in the background.
Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair – In July and October, the Gatlinburg Convention Center hosts some of America’s top craftsmen and artisans. Top-notch shopping, fun and educational features for children, and live music shows are all part of this Gatlinburg festival.
The entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just five minutes from downtown Townsend. This 500,000-acre national park can be explored by hiking, biking, horseback riding, auto touring, and boating. If you stop by in the fall, you’ll get to see some of this region’s famous autumn leaves. Mammoth Cave National Park is about four hours northwest of Townsend and features the longest-known cave system. Areas like the Rotunda, Gothic Avenue, and Frozen Niagara are open to the public via a variety of cave tours. Once you’ve finished checking out the caves, you can spend some time on the trails and rivers of this park. If you travel about four and a half hours northeast of Townsend, you’ll reach the entrance to New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. This relatively new national park’s 70,000 acres are home to New River Gorge and the New River, so it’s an excellent place to go rafting, kayaking, and canoeing. The gorge’s walls are made of hard sandstone, so they’re ideal for rock climbing.
Big Ridge State Park is approximately an hour and 20 minutes north of Townsend and is located on the Norris Reservoir. The lake is a popular place to go swimming, boating, fishing, and paddling. More than 15 miles of trails of varying levels of difficulty take visitors along lakeshores, roadbeds, and hollows. You can park your Townsend, TN RV rental at one of the 50 campsites here. Amenities for campers include full hookups, a dump station, and modern restrooms. About an hour and 10 minutes north of Townsend is Panther Creek State Park. More than 1,400 acres of land around Cherokee Reservoir provide ample space for water sports and recreation. Over 30 miles of pathways on 17 separate trails take hikers through a variety of environments; horseback riding and mountain biking trails are also available. You can go swimming here on the shores of Cherokee Reservoir and in a sizable swimming pool. You’ll find Norris Dam State Park roughly 20 minutes west of Big Ridge State Park. Norris Dam created the Norris Reservoir, so this park is a tribute to the dam and the workers who built it. If you want to learn more about Norris Dam and the surrounding area, you should check out the Lenoir Museum Cultural Complex. Hikers can set out on 15 separate trails. Mountain bikers can use 11 of these trails, while horseback riders can use five.
You can reach the Foothills Parkway by traveling 10 minutes northwest of downtown Townsend. This roadway runs along the northern part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for 33 miles. Stunning views of the Tennessee Valley and the Great Smoky Mountains make this an awesome place to go for a scenic drive. If you’d like to stretch your legs, you can walk, bike, or ride on one of the multiple trails you can access from the parkway. The entrance to the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is two hours north of Townsend on the Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia borders. The Cumberland Gap is the original "Gateway to the West" since it was a popular location to cross the Appalachians for pioneers, Native Americans, and hunters. Today, you can walk on 85 miles of trails and explore 14,000 acres of wilderness. You should also check out Hensley Settlement, which is a preserved settlement from the early 1900s that showcases rural mountain life during that time period. Andrew Johnson National Cemetery is an hour and 40 minutes northeast of Townsend. This tribute to America’s 17th president features Johnson’s homes, grave, and tailor shop. You’ll be able to tour President Johnson’s 1850s homestead, pay your respects at his grave, and take a stroll around the premises.
One of the nicest RV campgrounds in the Townsend area is Honeysuckle Meadows RV Park, which is located about 10 minutes outside of town off Highway 321. Back-in and pull-through sites are both available, as are full hookups for larger Class A motorhomes. Cable and Wi-Fi are offered, and a restaurant is on the premises. Smoky Bear Campground & RV Park is 45 minutes east of Honeysuckle Meadows on Highway 321. This amenity-rich campground boasts a perfect score from Good Sam and a stellar reputation among its guests. A clubhouse, a book and DVD library, a hot tub, a playground, and a heated pool are all featured here. Just half an hour northeast of Townsend is Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort. This campground is close to top attractions in Pigeon Forge like WonderWorks Pigeon Forge, the TITANIC Museum Attraction, and the Hollywood Wax Museum. Big rigs are welcome here, as are pets. A lazy river winds its way around the resort, so be sure to rent a tube or pack your kayak in a toy hauler to take a turn or two.
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 Townsend, TN, 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 Townsend?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Townsend 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 Townsend?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
