Cherokee/Great Smokies KOA

Lauren Wilson

My family and I love KOAs and often visit them when traveling. However this place falls very short. We got a “deluxe cabin” and when I say It was beyond gross, that’s truly being kind. The room stunk of sewage and was clearly coming up the drains. The shower curtain was riddled with mold, there were lights broken and exposed, the ac hardly worked, no blanket on the bed, rat poop everywhere. Just awful. When we complained, the rude staff offered to come work on it. They proceeded to stick air fresheners everywhere trying to cover up the smell, sprayed air fresheners in the sinks to try to cover up the sewage problem, and offered us a fan for the ac unit with a change filter sign flashing. We finally said enough was enough and insisted they give us another cabin. Not that this other cabin is much better and mold coats the nasty shower curtains. The staff was rude and could not have cared less. For $200 a night I could have stayed in a decent hotel without the filth. Highly recommended avoiding this place.

Prithvi Raj

Nice Location, But Cabins Need Attention The Cherokee KOA is in a good location, and the overall campground is nice. However, the cabins were not very clean. We found spiders and webs under the beds, which is not safe for kids. If you’re renting a cabin, make sure to check the hygiene carefully before booking, and always look under the beds. The campground itself is good, but the cabin cleanliness needs improvement.

Demi Noren

** Great Campground, But Cabin 223 Was a Health Hazard** We just got back from a stay at this KOA. The campground itself is absolutely beautiful and well-maintained. The activities for kids were fantastic, our family loved the bounce pillow and safe biking areas. The river access was a huge plus, perfect for the kids to fish and explore. It’s a great spot for families looking to enjoy nature and stay active. Unfortunately, our experience in cabin 223 was extremely disappointing. The cabin was filthy. There was visible mold in the shower, on the curtain, behind the kitchen sink, and even inside the provided shampoo and conditioner dispensers (which still had very old product in them). Thick dust covered the blinds, ceiling fan, and walls. The bed had a huge dip in the middle, making it extremely uncomfortable to sleep on. We were shocked by the lack of cleanliness, especially considering the otherwise high standards of the campground. It’s clear the cabin had not been properly cleaned or maintained in quite some time. We would absolutely return to this KOA for the activities and the beautiful setting, but we will never stay in those cabins again unless we know they’ve had a serious improvement in cleanliness and upkeep.

Wendy Nowell

We camped here for a week in July. Our RV site was level and roomy. This huge campground has nice paved and level roads, great for walking or running, especially early in the morning before everyone is up and about for the day. Besides the two pools (indoor & outdoor) and other amenities, there were many extra activities organized for children during our stay. The dog park, while small especially for a campground of this size, was clean and shady. The campground store is nicely kept with a variety of useful items. The staff was friendly and non intrusive. My only complaint is that the restrooms/shower houses needed attention. The restrooms nearest the store and pool area were very dirty, and one was missing a way to secure the door. The others, while cleaner than these, still weren't in great condition. I would've expected them to have been better maintained due to the exterior appearance of the buildings and grounds and when compared to other KOAs we use. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay and will likely return for another one before the end of the year.

Richard Holden

My wife and I stayed in a deluxe cabin by the creek with our two dogs. We had plenty of space, and the amenities were good. We enjoyed the quiet and being able to sit on our deck and watch and listen to the water as it ran past. We will be leaving to go home relaxed and recharged. Our dogs are older so they were happy to just take a stroll through the campground. We really enjoyed our stay.