Riverview Campground

You can begin your vacation with a visit to Warriors' Path State Park; it’s under an hour's drive away when you camp in an RV near Jonesborough. The park takes its name from the old trading route that became significant during the Cherokee War. Nowadays, the park is threaded with 12 miles of hiking and biking trails. You can rent a kayak, canoe, and paddleboard or launch your own vessel on the Patrick Henry Reservoir. The surrounding woodlands are also a natural resting point for many bird species that migrate in the colder months.

You can’t leave the area without a visit to Cherokee National Forest. Encompassing over 600,000 acres in eastern Tennessee, the forest is a hotspot for recreational activities. Its diverse waterways offer opportunities for whitewater rafting, motorized boating, swimming, and tubing. With over 600 miles of trails suitable for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, as well as ATV routes, there’s something for everyone in this immense forest. Hikers can choose from gentle to challenging day hikes or multi-day treks. Within the forest is a 150-mile section of the Appalachian Trail.

You can spend an entire vacation exploring the high mountains and woodland roads. If you’re pushed for time or prefer a more relaxing experience, take your RV rental for a drive along one of the scenic byways. There are several that traverse the park. One of the most spectacular is the Cherohala Skyway, which connects Cherokee to Nantahala National Forest via a 5,000-foot pass. This route is dotted with hiking trail starting points and outlooks where you can watch for birds or soak in the view.

Also nearby is Roan Mountain State Park, a 2,000-acre state park that sits between the shadow of a 6,285-foot peak and a snaking river. There’s a plethora of outdoor adventures to be had in all seasons. During the wintertime, the slopes of Mount Roan are ideal for cross-country skiing, while the migration season is the best time to spot birdlife. The park is home to 174 species of bird, as well as black bears, white-tailed deer, and box turtles. Discover the stunning forest on 12 miles of hiking trails that range from easy to strenuous or pedal along three miles of mountain biking paths. There’s something to please every type of explorer while camping at Riverview Campground.

While you have a campervan rental in Washington County, don’t miss the chance to visit the county seat. Downtown Jonesborough is speckled with restored 19th-century buildings and quirky attractions. Search out the town’s traditional sweet shop, stop for a beer and live music at the local brewery, or shop antiques and crafts inside a converted saloon.

Inside the oldest commercial building in Jonesborough is the Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum. This is the same inn that famously hosted America's seventh president, Andrew Jackson. The museum is made up of a series of Victorian-era rooms and a parlor that has been restored to grandeur. Along with rotating exhibitions, the site regularly hosts local events, community discussions, and kids’ activities, such as scavenger hunts.

If you’re spending the evening in Jonesborough, then why not take a look at the theater box office? There are plays and musicals performed at the town’s theater, or you can hear a story retold at the International Storytelling Center. A unique event in Jonesborough is the National Storytelling Festival that takes place in October each year. For three days, stories from a wide range of demographics, music, and poetry are recited from an outdoor stage. Hearing live storytelling is sure to make your vacation with a Jonesborough camper rental a memorable one.