July 28, 2022

Cherokee KOA Campground Review

We are campers at heart. Dave and I go camping whenever we get the chance. As we planned our trip to Cherokee, North Carolina we really wanted to go camping. However, we had not been on a camping trip with both of our kids. When I say camping I mean in a tent, roughing it. After going back and forth we decided to look for a cabin rather than trying tent camping with 2 young kids for a week. Our family stayed at the Cherokee KOA campground and were quite impressed.

Location

Cherokee KOA is located in the small town of Cherokee, NC nestled against Great Smokey Mountains National Park. It’s the perfect home base for exploring the Cherokee and Bryson City area. The campground is located down a rural winding road. It is surrounded by a river and several small ponds which makes the overall space feel more private.

Accommodations

There are a variety of accommodation options to choose from. Bring your own tent and camper or choose to stay in one of their premium cabins along the river. Our cabin was a “Camping Cabin” with upgraded amenities. It included two rooms. One with two sets of bunk beds and the other with a queen bed and table. We also had a fridge, outdoor patio with a table, firepit and swing. The Delux cabins include a full bathroom and some have a kitchen. All the Delux cabins include air-conditioning as well.

Amenities

Golf carts, shuttle buses, bikes and tubes for tubing are just a few of the unique amenities this place has to offer. They also have WiFi, cable, 2 bath houses for those without a bathroom, firewood, ice and a store. The tent and RV sites have a max of 50 Amp and there are water pipes as well. Scattered throughout the campground are several sitting areas. One even has a cozy firepit overlooking the river. They even have a dog park!

Recreation

Enough of the boring stuff. Let’s get to all the fun activities! There is an outdoor pool and hot tub, an indoor pool and hot tub, a massive checkers board, multiple playgrounds and a little trail area. The trout ponds surrounding the campground are stocked and the river is always available for fishing with a permit. Our favorite activity was the giant jump pillow! The pillow is similar to a trampoline, but with less bounce. We started and ended everyday jumping on the pillow.

Food

Koa campground has several food options if you don’t feel like venturing out or cooking a meal. The main store has basic cooking supplies and snack foods. They also have an ice cream parlor for those hot days at the pool. Next to the pool area is the Campfire Grill which serves a variety of meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sidenote: The Grill is open only on the weekends from June 1-October 31 as of 2021. Make sure to call and ask for an updated schedule before you go! If none of these options sound appetizing, Cherokee is less than 10 minutes away with a grocery store and other restaurants.

Events

One thing we have started looking for in campgrounds now that we have kids are campground events. Recovery days are definitely a thing when you have kids. It’s nice to have a few activities to take your kids to without having to drive. Cherokee KOA provides activities every weekend for you and your family to do. They are largely themed around holidays and time of the year, but also include local cultural activities.

In the Area

Cherokee KOA Campground is a great place to stay on the North Carolina side of the Smokey’s. It’s close to Bryson City and all the activities there is to offer. Another place to visit is Mingo Falls which is down the road from the campground. Check out the Cherokee Museum and learn about the rich culture in this area. And of course, go hiking in the National Park!

Book Your Getaway Here!

If you enjoy our content, please subscribe below! Your support means the world to us 🙂

[blog_subscription_form]