Ripplin' Waters Campground & Cabin Rental

Ryan D

Amazing Family-Friendly Campground on the River!!! We just finished an outstanding stay at Ripplin Waters RV Park and can’t wait to spread the word. They call themselves “The friendliest campground in the Smokies,” and it’s so true – from the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel like family. The entire place has a warm, kid-friendly atmosphere that’s perfect for families like ours. What really sets Ripplin Waters apart are the top-notch amenities. This campground has everything you need for fun: a great playground for the kids, a basketball court, a refreshing swimming pool, and even a huge open field where our kids could run around and play to their hearts’ content. There were days we’d start with a nice relaxing walk with our kids and end with a splash in the sparkling pool (in the summer of course) – the kids were in heaven! The park also sometimes hosts fun activities on weekends. During our stay they organized crafts for the kids, live music in the pavilion with food trucks on site, and on the morning we left they even surprised us with free donuts and coffee – such a thoughtful touch. 🏕️🍩☕ Ripplin Waters sits on a beautiful and scenic 11-acre property right along the French Broad River! In the evenings, we loved relaxing under the trees by our campfire while the kids chased fireflies. The riverbank is lined with trees and is very peaceful – there's a great spot all the way at the end of the property where you can teach your little ones how to fish, skip rocks, hunt for salamanders, and we even found some gemstones near the river bank. The grounds are immaculate – everything is clean and well-manicured, the bathhouses and laundry room were spotless (a big plus for a family). It’s clear the owners and staff take pride in keeping the park in tip-top shape. Speaking of the staff, they were beyond friendly and helpful at every turn, always ready with local tips or a helping hand if we needed anything. Liz, her daughter, and all of the Ripplin waters staff is truly outstanding and genuinely care for their visitors. Another huge plus is the location. Ripplin Waters is just minutes from Pigeon Forge and Dollywood, so you’re close to all the attractions, but it’s tucked away enough to feel quiet and peaceful. We loved that we could enjoy the serene campground environment at night and then easily head out for Smoky Mountain adventures during the day. Our site was level, easy to back into (they do also have plenty of pull thru sites available), and nicely shaded by big trees – perfect on warm afternoons. We also appreciated little conveniences like the camp store (for ice, firewood, propane, and even gem mining bags for the kids to soft through in the gem mini g station!) and the park WiFi kept the kids entertained on devices in the evenings. Overall, we give Ripplin Waters a full five stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This campground truly exceeded our expectations in every way. It’s the perfect place for families – safe, fun, and beautifully maintained. Whether you want to relax by the river or enjoy family activities like swimming and playing ball, this place has it all. We made unforgettable memories and friends here and can’t wait to come back. Highly recommended to anyone looking for an amazing camping experience in the Smokies – Ripplin Waters RV Park will not disappoint!

devkid321

1-Star Review (and that’s being generous because I can’t give 0 stars) This past winter early 2025, my mother, a disabled veteran, and I stayed at this campground while she was working in Blount, TN for the hospital system. We traveled from several states away, completely unaware of what we were walking into. The campground was entirely aware that we had our camper professionally delivered because our truck stayed in our home state due to needing repairs. At no point were we informed that the park regularly floods during heavy rain or that guests are forced to evacuate; under threat that the campground “isn’t responsible” for any damage. They also never stated that it was required to have a truck knowing we would be staying for an extended period of time. When the flooding happened, kind couple, NOT the staff, helped us move our camper in 20-degree weather, while the campground offered zero assistance. We were then forced to leave our camper in a parking lot and pay out of pocket for a hotel, because we could not stay in the frigid temperatures. The campground refused to help, refused to compensate, and frankly didn’t seem to care. Two days later, they announced everyone could return. The couple who had helped us had already left due to the same mistreatment we experienced. When we tried to return, the campground still refused to help us get back in. At that point, we decided we could no longer stay somewhere that cared this little and doesn’t warn people about the flooding. Here’s where it gets even worse: They had been charging us the long-term stay rate because we originally expected to be there for an extended period for work. But we had only stayed 16 days when we decided to leave. We asked for a prorated refund to pay for the hotel and moving cost, politely and reasonably, and they flat-out refused. Instead, they threatened to tear up the agreement we had and charge us the higher nightly short-term rate out of spite. Literally laughing at the fact that if they did that, it would have costed us even more money despite us being stranded across the street. The lack of transparency, the refusal to help during an emergency, the complete disregard for guests’ safety and well-being, and the predatory approach to billing all make this place somewhere I would never recommend to anyone. Travelers, especially those on work assignments deserve honesty and basic human decency; this campground offered neither, or even the bare minimum. They said verbatim “You both are stupid for not having a truck with you” even though we originally signed the contract with that transparency. Also, if they respond, claiming that we didn’t stay here, I will gladly provide receipts and the name of my mother who signed the contract. They are doing nothing but avoiding accountability by responding to the bad reviews they get. It was never stated that they flood and we were entirely blind sided and they are lying about their policies, because again we were transparent about not having a truck. My response to your subpar reply: This happened earlier this year, not last year. Claiming otherwise is just you dodging accountability. No one ever explained the flooding to us. We weren’t asking for special treatment, we simply couldn’t continue staying there, and your staff literally laughed in our faces and refused a refund even though the site was unusable. We’re not travelers passing through. We moved here for work, and locals; along with another park; were shocked at how you pocketed the money during an emergency. It happened. Own it. I hope people avoid your park and spare themselves the headache and the blatant lack of responsibility. Denying reality instead of addressing what actually goes on there is the worst business practice imaginable. We told you we were without a truck and being professionally set up, and you still took the money.

Campground Musician

We had a wonderful stay at Ripplin' Waters RV Park. The owners and staff were very kind and helpful. The facilities were very nice and always super clean. The property was nice and they had a lot of fun community events for the whole family. We really enjoyed the live music they had at the pavilion. It was a great stay and we will be back next time we visit the area.

Becky Heck

We were sad for the end of our camping season to arrive due to the cold weather. We took the camper home today after saying goodbye to the family we have at Ripplin Waters. They are not campground hosts, maintenance crew, or owners....they are family to us. Ripplin is the only place we want to camp because of the atmosphere and the friendships. The owners are amazing and caring people. The management is just as amazing. If you haven't tried a weekend at Ripplin, please do...just leave room for us because we will be back soon!

Tony Gray

Everything is awesome but wait! Theres a helicopter that flies over every 20 minutes. Yep a helicopter tour company across the road and the flight path is right over the park and its loud! We had spot 45 and the fly over is so loud. Other than that the park is awesome! We camped at Ripplin Waters Campground in a Travel Trailer.