This Douglas Lake RV Park is true luxury. Against the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains, the park has stunning views of Douglas Lake. Many sites have large brick outdoor fireplaces. Anchor Down RV Resort is meticulously maintained with 170 sites. It’s truly a beautiful park. We did notice that the park had a lot of “Resort Rules” and a crew running around in golf carts to monitor enforcement. The park offered golf carts for rental and campers were charged a fee to use their own golf card. Despite the rules and numerous fees, this campground is worth a visit. According to fellow campers, plan your visit far in advance for this popular park. With all the park amenities, Douglas Lake activities, proximity to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Smoky Mountain National Park, this is a great park for a week or two-week stay. The park is open March thru December 1st, but keep in mind that the lake water levels are lowered in the fall and winter.
Anchor Down RV Resort, Dandridge, TNAnchor Down RV Resort Lake Douglas view
What to do:
Enjoy all the amenities this resort offers to include swimming pool, lake swimming beach, paddle board/kayak rentals, volleyball, basketball, pickleball, gaga ball, playground, and dog park. Launch your boat or jet ski directly from the park. Rent a pontoon from the resort during the summer months or from local marinas. We rented a dog-friendly pontoon from the Mountain Harbor Marina. Our two-hour boat trip was a wonderful way to see this stunning lake.
For extended stays, check out the attractions in nearby Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Tour the Great Smoky Mountains National Park via car or hike the numerous trails. See my review for my post on the Gateway to the Smokie Mountains for more ideas.
Anchor Down RV Resort BeachAnchor Down RV Resort Walking PathAnchor Down RV Resort Dog ParkDouglas Lake
Chili & Cedar’s Review: 4.8 PAWS (out of 5 PAWS)
The Anchor Down RV Park is definitely dog friendly. There was plenty of green space and even a nice size dog park. We also had fun on the pontoon ride! Next time we want more swimming time, mom!
Chili enjoying a pontoon ride on Douglas LakeDouglas Lake, TennesseeCedar Lounging Douglas Lake, TN
Great Smoky Mountain RV Stay near the attractions of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Quiet, wooded RV park with swimming pool, laundry, dog park and full hookups.
Key Takeaways:
Close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Close to the attractions at Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg
Wooded spacious sites with full hookups
Swimming pool, bathhouse, laundry, cable & wi-fi
Enclosed dog park
Our Stay:
If you are looking for a great Smoky Mountain RV stay close to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg attractions, the Gateway to the Smokies RV Park and Campground is a great choice. The wooded, spacious sites include a concrete pad and full hookups. With 79 sites, it’s a smaller RV park that offers a quiet stay but just minutes away from Dollywood and all the attractions of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
What to do:
Take a road trip in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From the Gatlinburg entrance, stop by the Sugarland Visitor’s Center for maps and souvenirs. Follow Clingmans Dome Road through the park and stop at several scenic pullouts for expansive views of the Smokies. The seven-mile route ends at a large parking area. From there it’s a half mile walk to Clingmans Dome. Dogs are not allowed on the path to the dome. It’s a strenuous walk but well worth it. At 6,643 feet, it’s the highest point in the park. The observation tower at the summit offers stunning 360-degree views of the Smokies.
Walkway to Clingmans DomeClingmans DomeGreat Smoky Mountain Vista
Hike the dog-friendly Gatlinburg Trail that runs along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. The 1.9 mile trail runs from the Sugarland Visitor’s Center to the outskirts of the city of Gatlinburg. It’s a flat, easy hike with spots for the dogs to access the river for a quick swim.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park VistaHiking the Gatlinburg Trail
Chili & Cedar’s Review: 4.5 PAWS (out of 5 PAWS)
We liked the Gateway to the Mountains RV Park. The dog park was nice but on the small side. We enjoyed our walks around the campground. We also liked our car ride through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There were only two dog-friendly hiking trails but we really liked the Gatlinburg Trail and yes, we jumped into the river along the way! After hiking, we visited the dog-friendly Gatlinburg Brewing Company in Sevierville – nice!
Next Up: Douglas Lake, Tennessee/Anchor Down RV Resort
Great Asheville RV park location in the Blue Ridge Mountains, close to Asheville and the Biltmore Estate. With level sites and full hookups, the Rutledge Lake RV Park is a great jumping off point to explore the Asheville area.
Key Takeaways:
Close to Asheville, NC and the Biltmore Estate
Full hookups, cable, laundry, bath house
Full size pool
Our Stay:
Rutledge Lake RV Park is located 15 miles south of Asheville, North Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We chose this park for its proximity to Asheville and the Biltmore Estate. The park includes a small lake with a few short walking trails. While the park was dog friendly, the pet walking area was very dirty.
From the park, we took an easy day trip to Asheville to explore the city. Our dinner at Tupelo Honey Cafe in Downtown Asheville was excellent. The dogs enjoyed a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and a stop at the Hillman Brewing Company. We spent a day at the Biltmore Estate with a self-guided tour of the grounds, an audio tour of the house and a wine tasting at the estate winery.
What to Do:
Explore the arts and music scene of scenic Asheville. Check out the Asheville beer scene. With more breweries per capita than any U.S. city, you won’t run out of beers to taste! Bring the dogs to one of 28 dog-friendly breweries. Take the dogs for a ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hike and bike the numerous trails in area state parks and forests.
Take a day to visit the Biltmore Estate. With over 8,000 acres, this National Historic Landmark is well worth a visit. You will need to make a reservation at least a day ahead of time and plan to stay for the day. The grounds are dog friendly, and they do have kennels for use while you tour the house. Don’t forget to sign up for a wine tasting at the Antler Hill Village & Winery. We arrived several hours before our house tour appointment time and toured the grounds and the winery. Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic on the Biltmore Estate grounds.
We enjoyed our brewery stop at Hillman Brewing Company in Ashville. We also liked our ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Check out Cedar’s video: Happiness is the wind in my face. The Rutledge Lake RV park was just okay – nothing special for us.
Beautiful RV camping on Lake Murray, South Carolina. Dreher Island State Park spans three islands with 12 miles on shoreline. Many of the wooded sites are directly on Lake Murray providing easy water access and views. Dog-friendly camping with walking trails.
Key Takeaways:
Stunning views of Lake Murray throughout the park
Easy access to Lake Murray for boating, fishing or swimming
Paved, sites with electric and water
Some sites are not level or pavement needs repair
Wooded park with hiking trails
Our Stay:
Located about 30 miles south of Columbia, Dreher Island State Park spans 348 miles with 12 miles of beautiful Lake Murray Shoreline. Our wooded, lakeside site provided a nice change after recent beach stays. Many of the 97 sites provide easy access to Lake Murray with stunning lake views. Each paved site included water and electrical hookups, no sewer. Our site (96) was level, but we saw many sites in this park were not level with some of the pavement buckling. We took advantage of the chilly weather during our April stay to enjoy a wood-burning fire. As we discovered during a few of our Springtime stays in wooded state parks, pollen season has arrived. During our stay, we encountered extraordinary amounts of yellow pollen bombs. Thankfully the rain cleaned off the RV some, but left pollen debris to clog up our slide and awning. Well, that’s just the way it goes.
Dreher Island State Park, South CarolinaRV Camping on Lake Murray
What to Do:
Hike on the dog-friendly trails throughout the park. Launch your own kayak or canoe directly from your site. Use the park marina to launch your boat or rent a pontoon to explore the 50,000-acre Lake Murray reservoir. Fish or swim in Lake Murray. Enjoy the nature and woodsy camping experience of this beautiful state park.
Dreher Island State Park TrailsDreher Island State Park on Lake Murray, SC
Chili & Cedar’s Review: 4.5 PAWS (out of 5 PAWS)
We loved being back in the woods! We hiked the Little Gap Trail with mom and dad. We could jump in the lake right from our site! The cool weather was a nice change and we chilled out at the firepit.
Walking Path, Fort Fisher Recreation Area, North CarolinaHiking at Dreher Island State ParkFirepit at Dreher Island State Park
Kure Beach and Carolina Beach in North Carolina are beautiful Atlantic beach communities with excellent seafood restaurants, shopping and fishing. The Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area or the Carolina Beach State Park are good camping options to explore the area. The trails at the Fort Fisher Recreation Area are worth a visit.
Key Takeaways:
Beautiful Atlantic Ocean Beaches
Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area is open to military ID holders
Paved, spacious sites with full hookups
Walk, bike or take a golf cart to restaurants and shops
Close to historic Fort Fisher Recreation Area
Our Stay:
The Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area is a nice stay for active/retired military or DOD civilians. With clean, level sites and full hookups, this campground is a perfect location to explore the Kure Beach/Carolina Beach area. Our site was a short walk to the Atlantic Ocean. There are also several cottages available for rent. The area is bicycle and golf cart friendly with many options for good restaurants and shopping. For non-ID card holders, we recommend the highly rated Carolina Beach State Park a few miles north of Kure Beach.
Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area
What to Do:
Lounge on the beach or take a dip in the ocean. Fish from the beach or the Kure Beach Fishing Pier. Explore the historic sites and beautiful ocean and marsh views at Fort Fisher Recreation Area. Taste local seafood at Michael’s Seafood Restaurant in nearby Carolina Beach. Buy local produce, baked goods, coffee, homemade dips and craft beers at the Veggie Wagon. Stand in line for donuts at Brits Donut Shop – worth the wait!
Fort Fisher Recreation Area, North CarolinaFort Fisher Recreation Area, North CarolinaFort Fisher Recreation Area, North Carolina
Chili & Cedar’s Review: 4 PAWS (out of 5 PAWS)
Our stay was very nice. The Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation area was dog friendly, and we took many long walks through the park. We really loved our trail walk in the Fort Fisher Recreation Area. No beach time for us at this stop — dogs are allowed on Kure Beach from Oct. 1st to March 31st. Dogs can enjoy the nearby Carolina Beaches before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
Walking Path, Fort Fisher Recreation Area, North Carolina
The Barefoot RV Resort in North Myrtle Beach is the perfect location to take in the sights and attractions and beaches of Myrtle Beach. This newer resort with paved sites and full hookups is conveniently located to walk, bike or take a golf cart to restaurants, shops and beaches. Short drive to the best dog park ever!
Key Takeaways:
Newer Resort in North Myrtle Beach
Paved, spacious sites with full hookups
Walk, bike or take a golf cart to restaurants and shops
Heated Pool
Half mile from Atlantic Ocean Beaches
Short drive to the best dog park ever!
Our Stay:
The Barefoot RV Resort is a newer resort in North Myrtle Beach with easy access to the Atlantic Ocean Beaches and all the attractions of Myrtle Beach. We appreciated the level sites and grassy areas for the dogs. This is a family friendly resort with a heated pool and child play areas. Many campers rent golf carts and drive to nearby restaurants and shopping areas in Barefoot Landing.
Our highlight of this stay was the Barc Parc South dog park in Myrtle Beach, a 14-acre park surrounding a large lake. This off-leash fenced dog park is worth a visit to Myrtle Beach! Dogs can run around the lake, swim and just be dogs. On the north side of the city, Barc Parc North provides a 3.3 acre off-leash, fenced park with separate areas for large and small dogs. Both parks are great options for a fun dog outing.
Barc Parc South – Myrtle Beach Dog ParkBarc Parc South – Myrtle Beach, SC
What to Do:
Go to the beach – the Myrtle Beach area spans 60 miles of beautiful Atlantic beaches. Take in a show at the Carolina Opry or Alabama Theater. Enjoy numerous family attractions throughout the Myrtle Beach Area. Golf at any of the 90+ golf courses. Go to the best dog park ever – Barc Parc South!
Playtime at Barc Parc South, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Chili & Cedar’s Review: 4.8 PAWS (out of 5 PAWS)
After numerous beach stays, we are done with the sand and the surf. We enjoyed the sand free RV pads and the easy walk to the dog area at the Barefoot RV Resort. We LOVED the Barc Parc South – although it was several miles from the RV Park, we had the best time ever! We’d come back to Myrtle Beach just to go to this park. After walking the trails, meeting new dog friends, chasing balls and swimming in the lake, we were ready for a nap. But wait, our special day was not over. Our next stop was the Dirty Dawg Pet Wash & Boutique in North Myrtle Beach for spa day!
Swimming at Barc Parc South, Myrtle BeachSpa Day – Dirty Dawg Pet Wash, North Myrtle Beach, SCChili & Cedar On the Go
