Reviews
Cherokee/Great Smokies KOA
User Reviews
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.
Susan Maass
I booked this trip rather last minute so I wasn’t able to get a huge site which was fine. We were put in a nice site on the pond which we were very happy with. Nice level site. The only issue anyone might have with the pond sites is some road noise. I was very grateful they accommodated us and didn’t expect the perfect site with such a late booking. This park is very large and very well kept. Lots of nice cabins and activities for everyone. The reason I only gave 4 stars was a situation with the laundry which I used twice as we’re on a six month trip. The laundry closest to me as closed to be used by housekeeping only which meant I had to drive to the next nearest one. No biggie. Lots of washers and driers but the facility needed a bit of attention as it as a bit unkempt. Also, the change machine was broken. I asked one of the employees and was sent to the other laundry at the other end of the campground to use that change machine. Drove down there, no machine. Went to office, waited in line only to be told she had no money in the register. Literally, no money. People were trying to buy things and the poor girl had no cash. I had three loads of laundry I was desperate for quarters to finish drying. She called the owner on speaker phone saying she had no money and needed help and was told she would be there as soon as possible she had a doctors appointment. I felt badly for the employee and left. Other than that, great experience. Great location. Friendly helpful staff. Immaculate grounds. I would definitely go back again.
Tanya Martin
We had a great experience staying in North Carolina at the KOA! The cabin had everything we needed including our own restroom/shower, kitchen etc. It was just the two of us, but there was also a room with two bunks off to the side for anyone traveling with their kiddos. We went in the fall so of course the color of the trees was a sight to see. They had things decorated neatly and the staff there were all kind and helpful. We will definitely visit there again in the future!
Angie Atchley
Beautiful property. Friendly staff. Convenient to local attractions. Bathrooms are clean and modern. Tile showers..hot water.. Nice laundry rooms with washers and dryers. Its March 7th...cold and rainy. This place is nearly empty...calm and quiet. I'm enjoying the fresh air, the mountain view and the smell of blazing campfires. I will visit again in the Summer.
Rhonda W
Really enjoying the campground so far. Nice concrete pad for your camper. On third day experienced a power outage due to work on another site. We missed their call so still waiting to see how this turns out tonight. I will be pretty upset if it’s not resolved in time to straighten my hair tomorrow. Will update their rating up or down depending on the resolution of this issue. Also we were able to view the Elk referenced on a sign in the campground and they were amazing!
Consuelo Loftis
BED BUGS!!! CABIN 286!!! WE WERE EATEN ALIVE MY BED BUGS!!! Used to be a great place when privately owned now it's corporate owned☹️. Registration people are unnecessarily rude over the most mundane requests. The two ladies at the counter when we checked in were absolutely hostile. There is NO customer service anywhere. Bathrooms were a nightmare no soap no hand sanitizer no toilet paper. I resorted to using the restroom beside the cabin we had rented. Snack bar employee at the pool area had the worst attitude I have ever experienced in another human being. Its heartbreaking to see this place take such a turn. KOA needs to review the management at this location.