Jacksonville to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Road Trip Guide
Introduction
This family-friendly 470-mile adventure from Jacksonville to Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes you through Georgia's Historic Savannah, South Carolina's scenic lakefront parks, and into America's most visited national park. The best time to travel is April through October, when mild weather favors comfortable RV driving and campground availability peaks. Key highlights include Savannah's historic district, Dreher Island State Recreation Area on Lake Murray, and the Smokies' 800+ miles of hiking trails, making this journey perfect for families, first-time RVers, and nature lovers seeking an accessible Southeast escape. Plan 3-4 days for a relaxed pace with your rental RV.
Ready to roll? Start your journey with Jacksonville RV rentals and discover why this route is a family favorite among Southeast road-trippers.
Point of Interest
Savannah Historic District
Your first major stop brings you to one of America's most charming cities, approximately 2 hours north of Jacksonville. Stroll through 22 historic squares draped in Spanish moss, tour the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, and explore Forsyth Park's magnificent fountain. Kids love the riverfront with its candy shops and street performers. Trolley tours provide easy, entertaining history lessons without walking fatigue. Several RV-friendly options await nearby, including Savannah South KOA just outside town with full hookups and a lakeside location, or Skidaway Island Campground for a more natural setting. Don't miss the American Prohibition Museum for an educational, family-appropriate history experience.
Edventure
While Camping at the Dreher Island State Park, or as you pass through the City of Columbia, be sure to take in EdVenture, a hands-on art and science, fun-filled children's museum. This wonderful, award-winning children's museum is home to “Eddie”, who at 35000 pounds, and 40 feet tall, is the world's largest 10 year old! Kids can explore Eddie inside and out, climb up Eddie’s vertebra, or slide down his giant digestive tract.
The museum also features nine interactive workshops where your family members can try their hand at building, crafting, and creating. The Busy Bee Farm provides a farm to table dining experience, and there are fun cooking labs for the culinarily inclined. The landscaped grounds are abundant with butterflies, and visitors to Edventrue can also access the South Carolina State Museum and Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park at the same site without having to park twice.
The large parking lot can accommodate moderately sized RVs, but it gets busy, so you will need to get there early to secure a large enough spot, or leave your RV at a nearby campground. Spend a day at the kid's museum and riverfront on your way through Columbia for an unforgettable day of activity and discovery!
Columbia & Dreher Island State Recreation Area
Midway through your journey (about 4 hours from Jacksonville), South Carolina's capital offers perfect lunch and leg-stretching opportunities. EdVenture Children's Museum delights kids with hands-on exhibits, including "Eddie"—the world's largest child sculpture at 40 feet tall. For overnight stays, Dreher Island State Recreation Area on Lake Murray provides over 100 paved RV sites with water and electric hookups. The island setting offers swimming, fishing, and playgrounds—perfect for burning off kids' energy before continuing north. Columbia campgrounds also include Little Cedar Creek Campground with pond swimming and family-friendly amenities.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Elkmont Campground
Your destination! Elkmont ranks as the park's largest and most popular campground with 220 sites accommodating RVs up to 32 feet. Located eight miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, this forested campground puts you within hiking distance of Laurel Falls and Elkmont's historic district. Sites include fire rings and picnic tables with nearby restrooms and coin-operated showers. Reservations open 6 months in advance and book quickly for summer dates. Elkmont Campground provides an excellent base for exploring Cades Cove Loop Road, Clingmans Dome, and kid-friendly trails.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Smokemont Campground
For North Carolina-side access, Smokemont offers 142 year-round sites near the Cherokee entrance. This campground works well for families preferring the less crowded Carolina side with easy access to Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum—where kids can see historic log cabins and farm animals. Sites accommodate RVs up to 35 feet with the same basic amenities as Elkmont. The Bradley Fork Trail starts right from the campground for easy nature walks with children.
Gatlinburg & Gateway Town Amenities
When you need a break from rustic camping, gateway towns offer resort-style RV parks with full hookups. Gatlinburg East/Smoky Mountain KOA features a swimming pool, disc golf, and playground—perfect for families wanting more amenities. Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA puts you near Dollywood theme park and countless family attractions. Newport/I-40/Smoky Mountains KOA offers excellent interstate access if you're just passing through for one night.
RV Rentals in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC
Summary
Your destination, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, sits right on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. This magnificent park is a great RVing destination with majestic mountains, wonderful waterfalls, and sparkling waterways. The park is very popular and receives more visitors annually than any other park in the US. Visitors can take scenic drives, hike the plethora of trails, scan spectacular vistas from lookout points, view beautiful wildflowers and abundant wildlife, or discover the remnants of pioneer settlements.
There are several campgrounds that accommodate RVs of about 30 to 35 feet in length to choose from for overnight camping. The Smokemont and Elkmont Campgrounds are open all year long and have 142 and 220 sites respectively. Campsites do not have hookups but there are many amenities at the campgrounds including restrooms with running water. Remaining campgrounds are open during the peak seasons only.
The Abrams Creek Campground has 16 sites for smaller RVs, the Cataloochee Campground accommodates RVs up to 31 feet in length with 27 sites, and Balsam Mountain Campground has 46 sites and accommodates 30 foot long units. Bears are an issue in the park and campers are advised that they should keep food items in bear-proof containers. Reservations are recommended at Great Smoky Mountain National Park campgrounds, due to the high number of visitors the park attracts.
Looking for an RV to camp here? Find RVs in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park area here. Families will enjoy the many activities and wonderful camping opportunities at Great Smoky Mountains National Park after their fun-filled trip from Jacksonville, Florida.
