Communities Near Cades Cove

Townsend, Tennessee

Townsend TN has the distinction of having the closest entrance to Cades Cove of any town near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Serene and beautiful, Townsend is promoted as the peaceful side of the Smokies, and has much to offer the Smokies visitor who just wants to get away.

Townsend is a quiet, but growing area of the Smokies.
Though it is still a sleepy area of the Great Smoky Mountains, Townsend has a growing number of businesses catering to the Great Smoky Mountain visitor. The Little River runs right through town so Townsend is a great place to find the outfitter that is right for you. There are stores and rental companies that cater to those going tubing, kayaking, or fishing.

Lodging for Smokies vacationers is available in Townsend.
Townsend has a number of hotels and motor inns. For the most part, these are set back from the highway and often have spacious green lawns with beautifully landscaped flower beds cascading down to a walking and bike path which runs the length of the town. There are also hundreds of rental cabins, cottages and chalets in the Townsend area.

Campgrounds In Townsend TN are minutes away from GSMNP
If you don't want to camp inside the park at Cades Cove campground, there are a number of campgrounds surrounding the park including some in Townsend. Among them are Lazy Daze Campgrounds, Campgrounds on the Little River, Tremont Hills Campgrounds, Mountaineer Campgrounds, and The Tuckaleechee Campground and Horse Camp.

Horseback riding is available near Townsend.
Several stables provide horses for riding near Townsend. Among those stables is Davy Crockett Riding Stable, and Cades Cove Riding Stable.

Tuckaleechee Caverns is a real wonder!
Take time to see Tuckaleechee Caverns. It is a true wonder of nature. The cavern known as "The Big Room" is one of the largest in Tennessee as well as the east!

Townsend History
Near the beginning of the last century, Townsend was a logging town and was named Tuckaleechee Cove. Later, it was renamed for Col. W B. Townsend, the president of the Little River Lumber Company and the Little River Railroad. At that time, the logging industry was the principal industry not only in Tuckaleechee Cove, but in all the Great Smoky Mountains. Thankfully, much of the land that was logged and scarred in yesteryear is now one of the healthiest forested ecosystems on the planet, The Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

The Little River Railroad Lumber Company Museum
When in Townsend, you might notice an old railroad engine. That is the engine which took loggers and logs up and down the steep Smoky Mountains around Townsend. Nearby the train engine there is the Little River Railroad Lumber Company Museum which tells about the early days in Townsend.

Cades Cove
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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Communities Near Cades Cove