Campground review · Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
The sites were nice. The resort was polished. It still did not feel like our kind of camping.
Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge makes sense for travelers who want concrete pads, full hookups, resort amenities, and quick access to town. We understand why people like it. We also knew by the time we left that it was not our place.
The short version
A good resort for someone else
Best for
Families who want clean concrete sites, full hookups, food and entertainment on the property, and easy access to Pigeon Forge.
Not our fit because
The RV area felt more like a very nicely landscaped parking lot than the roomy, wooded campground atmosphere we enjoy.
Our call
We would not go back. The unexplained charge did not help, but the bigger reason is simple: this just was not our style of camping.
First impressions
Nice sites on what felt like a flat hill
A lot looked good when we arrived. The sites were neat, the landscaping was polished, and setting up on a developed pad is certainly easier than trying to level a camper on the side of a mountain.
Here is the thing: campground atmosphere is personal. To us, this felt a little like camping on a flattened hill in a very carefully landscaped parking lot. That is not us saying the property was poorly kept—it was almost too polished for what we wanted. We missed the trees, the separation between sites, and the little imperfections that make us feel like we actually went camping.
If your perfect stay means a clean concrete pad, very little mud, organized amenities, and quick access to Pigeon Forge, everything we just complained about may be exactly why you love it.
Sites and hookups
The practical side was one of the stronger parts
The resort currently advertises concrete RV pads, 30- and 50-amp full hookups, Wi-Fi, cable, picnic tables, fire rings, bathhouse and laundry access, pavilions, and a playground. Those are useful features for a family arriving after a long tow or trying to keep a rain-heavy weekend manageable.
A developed pad removes a lot of the guessing that comes with grass or gravel. Still, ask about the full pad length, utility placement, slide clearance, and current resort fees. A site can look enormous until the truck, camper, chairs, dogs, and one child’s collection of absolutely necessary outdoor items arrive.
Shared resort amenities
More to do—but also more people using it
Camp Margaritaville combines the RV resort with a larger lodge. The current FAQ says RV guests can use amenities across the property, including the pool area, double-loop water slide, children’s zone, lazy river, pickleball, hot tub, fire pit, food options, camp store, dog park, arcade, and duckpin bowling.
Sharing with the lodge makes the amenity list longer. It also means more people may be trying to use those spaces. During our stay, some areas felt small compared with the number of guests they served, and the camping side never felt like its own relaxed little world.
That is worth knowing before you book. You are not just choosing an RV site; you are choosing the whole hotel-and-campground setup.
Pool and water areas
Fun—but concrete is still concrete
The pool, children’s areas, slide, and lazy river can make this a fun warm-weather stop. They also come with plenty of concrete. Wet feet, excited kids, and sharp turns are not always the most graceful combination.
We would bring water shoes with decent grip, keep younger children close, and remind everybody to walk even when their entire body is saying “run to the slide.” A bump or scrape can happen anywhere, but it is worth thinking about when the water area is a big reason for the trip.
Five family perspectives
The same resort, five different reviews
Jason: the site review
The concrete, hookups, and clean layout make setup predictable. The tradeoff is a more developed atmosphere with less of the wooded separation I want from camping.
Sami: the value review
A long amenity list only adds value if the family enjoys the shared-resort model and actually uses those features. Read the current fee structure before comparing the nightly rate.
Lily: the activity review
Slides, pools, a lazy river, and an arcade create plenty of choices, especially when the weather is good and the spaces are not too busy.
Happy: the senior-dog review
Concrete and short walks can be convenient, but hot pavement and limited soft ground require planning during warm weather.
Dolly: the busy-dog review
A developed resort offers endless people and carts to watch. Barkaritaville may help, but a dog who needs quiet should be placed away from the busiest paths.
The post-stay charge
What we know—and what we do not
After we left, a $35 charge showed up. Our family is not exactly famous for an early, efficient departure, so we wondered whether it might have been a late-checkout fee. That is only our guess.
We asked what it was for. The invoice we received listed it only as a “charge,” with no service, fee, or policy attached. Since nobody gave us an itemized answer, we honestly cannot say what the $35 covered.
Fees happen, and late-departure rules are fair when they are clearly explained. What bothered us was having to guess after we asked. A post-stay charge should come with more information than the word “charge.”
Questions to ask before booking
Know what kind of resort stay you are buying
- What resort fee applies to the RV reservation, and what does it cover?
- Are the pool, lazy river, arcade, and other amenities operating during your dates?
- Which amenities are shared with lodge guests?
- What are the current RV check-in and checkout times?
- Is there a documented late-checkout option or fee?
- How far is the assigned site from the pool, dog area, bathhouse, and main road?
- Is the site long enough for the camper and tow vehicle without using overflow parking?
Who may love it
Our “not again” can still be your “exactly right”
This resort may be a great fit for newer RV travelers who want predictable hookups, families focused on pools and indoor entertainment, guests meeting friends in the lodge, or anyone who mainly wants a comfortable Pigeon Forge home base.
It may be less satisfying for campers seeking trees, privacy, natural separation, a traditional campground atmosphere, or amenities sized primarily around the RV section.
Would we go back?
No—but we can explain why without pretending it is a bad resort.
The sites were nice, the property looked good, and there was more to do than at many campgrounds. It still did not feel like the kind of camping our family enjoys. Give us more trees, a little breathing room, and a campground that feels separate from the hotel side of the trip.
The unexplained $35 charge made the decision easier, but even without it, we would choose somewhere else next time. This was not our style—and figuring that out is part of getting better at planning the next trip.
Editorial note: This review reflects our firsthand stay and official resort information checked in August 2026. Policies, fees, amenities, and schedules can change. We paid for our stay and this is not a sponsored review.
Official planning links: RV sites · RV resort policies
