Little River Campground — Hotel in Maryville

Generally, we recommend this campground and had a great experience. Here’s a few bits of info for other families planning!

Pros:

-A big pro was that the campground is right on the main drive of Townsend, but set back past the cabins so it doesn’t feel like it (as long as you stay on the other side from the swimming pool). -The hookups were very easy to access and well maintained. -The campground is fairly small, so it’s never super busy and everyone is near the a bathhouse if you need that. -The river! It is literally RIGHT there, we had so much fun in it! There’s lots of deeper and shallower areas, so fun for all. There are several access points along the river for swimming, wading, and tubing. -It is also right by a farm which made for some fun little walks. We did the hayrack ride on Friday night and got to feed some animals which was a fun treat! -Our site (121) had ample space. All spots have a nice table and fire pit. -Spots are on grass/gravel and shade trees are plentiful. -The staff couldn’t have been more accommodating and kind. We had several lovely chats and we never had an issue that wasn’t taken care of quickly. -Townsend was a really wonderful little town. After driving a lot in the area, we feel like we struck gold when we chose this town. If you are wanting something quieter than Galinberg or Pigeon Forge, Townsend is the way to go. The people here were incredibly kind and helpful. You are also very close to the National Park and Cade’s Cove.

Cons:

-While our space was quite large, some aren’t. Generally, the ones right off the river and right by the farm are quite small. If you don’t plan to spend a lot of time at your campsite you’ll be fine, but some are really very close to their neighbor’s hookups. (I will say that we’ve stayed at some campgrounds with small sites and a lot of it may be what you are used to). If you want a larger space, choose one in the middle two rows. -Their communication isn’t great leading up to the stay. We had no confirmation outside of our PayPal transaction, and when I needed to contact them via email I’d wait days for replies. Not a deal breaker, but be aware. -No laundry on site, but there is a laundry mat just about five minutes...

We stayed at Little River Campground in Townsend, TN for six nights in our 38-foot fifth wheel with a rear patio. We booked Site 103, a riverfront site with full hookups. While the riverfront location is definitely charming, it comes with a few caveats.

The campground is modest and quite tight - big rig owners, take note. The trees add to the scenery but are positioned in a way that makes maneuvering and backing into your site challenging. Even though Site 103 is considered riverfront, the layout means neighboring sites (like Site 100) can partially block your view. Our patio was down, but our river view was still obstructed by another camper.

The site has a small concrete pad, but most of the area is gravel and dirt. Be sure to bring plenty of leveling blocks, stabilizers, and a mat unless you enjoy mud as a décor choice inside your RV.

The campground has a pool, several outdoor bathrooms/washrooms (which we didn’t use), and a small on-site farm that seems perfect for families with young children. Note that dogs aren’t allowed on the farm trail, so we weren’t able to explore it ourselves, but it’s a nice feature for those traveling without pets.

There are also miles of beautiful, well-maintained bike trails right outside the campground - perfect for a peaceful ride through scenic Townsend. The town itself is quiet, picturesque, and full of charm, with plenty to explore at a relaxed pace. And if you’re looking for something more fast-paced, Pigeon Forge is just a short drive away.

It’s definitely a great spot for families, especially those with tent setups, who make up much of the riverfront crowd. For RVers, expect tight parking, limited space for tow vehicles, and possibly needing to park elsewhere depending on your site.

All in all, it’s a cozy campground in a gorgeous area - just go in prepared, especially if you’re in a larger rig or...

I had booked to stay here and unfortunately had to cancel, I called cancelled and was told I would be refunded minus a 50.00 cancellation fee which I was ok with. Well that was on 05/30 and here it is 6/12 and I still have yet to receive my money. I called and spoke to the reservation lady Jenny on 6/8 who said my paperwork for refund was sitting on the owners desk waiting to be processed as she is the only one who handles PayPal refunds but she would let her know. I mean are you kidding me? Making someone wait that long is absolutely insane and makes me so happy we ended up not staying here with this kind of customer service. I filed a complaint with PayPal and I guess that’s how I will have to get my money back since the owner can’t act in a timely manner!

Update on 6/13 I called Jenny yet again and was told a different story this time, the owner refunded my money on 5/30 and PayPal had it on hold they could never provide me any documentation of a refund or even that I cancelled the reservation how shady is that? Just kept saying the owner was the only one that could provide me documentation. Usually a conformation is sent I looked in all my email boxes and nothing. Again requested the owner to call me since Jenny couldn’t help me and she wouldn’t. So I called PayPal and was told they never refunded the money on their records, and it definitely wasn’t on hold and documentation should have been sent automatically to my email if a refund was issued which it wasn’t so the Owner is a liar!!! I got my money back no thanks to anyone here, PayPal approved my dispute and immediately refunded me. Campers Beware...