Our Trip to Jellystone Campground in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
This week the girls and I snuck away for a two day camping trip with friends from our homeschool co-op to JellyStone Pigeon Forge. Here’s our experience and how we spent most of our time while we were at the campground.
Day One
Nora, Sadie, and I left home around 11 am on Monday to hit the road for our 90 minute drive over to Pigeon Forge. But first, we spent the morning packing up our bags and our pick up. Thankfully, packing for multiple people has become easier over time with the help of this checklist I keep in the notes section of my phone:
After tidying up, and saying goodbye to Roxy and Lola, we were on the road! The drive was a straight shot on Interstate 40, easy peasy. When we arrived on Winfield Dunn Parkway, the first order of business was lunch. And, you know I could not pass up the opportunity to stop at Chick-Fil-A. Not a local spot, I know but it had been a long time since we last indulged and I had a craving.
After we filled up on nuggets and sweet tea (for me), we headed to Publix for some food shopping. We grabbed some quick breakfast bites (muffins and cereal), bread for PB sandwiches, milk, snacks (cookies, chips, fruit, etc), turkey burgers, hot dogs, and drinks (water, and Capri Sun Roarin Waters which the girls have been loving lately), and headed to the campground to check in (an hour early).
Upon arrival, you check in at the gift shop where you can purchase firewood, a smores kit, ice, and souvenirs. If possible, I recommend bringing as much as you can with you. However, there is a sign that prohibits the use of outside firewood on site.
The campground is smaller than I anticipated, located off of Veteran’s Blvd, and nestled very close to DollyWood. You can hear the screams from visitors enjoying the amusement park from our cabin. Speaking of our cabin, here’s what it looked like before we unloaded the car:
The Boo Boo Cabin at Jellystone
It was a tight fit for the three of us but, we can’t complain because there were families of six staying in a cabin the very same size. When I asked how they were managing, one family compared their stay to playing tetris with their belongings and family when everyone was inside.
Some things we packed/purchased to make our stay a bit more comfortable are:
A candle for the bathroom
Plastic cutlery, cups and plates
Paper towels
Dish Soap + sponge
Liquid hand soap
Clorox Wipes
Small throw blankets from home for each bed
After everyone was settled, the girls changed into their bathing suits and it was off the pool. This campground has two inground pools available to its visitors. The pool we frequented had a bath house right next to it – there were four individual full sized bathrooms. Each with a shower, changing area, and air conditioning.
We stayed at the pool until it was time for our homeschool co-op potluck dinner. A member of our group stayed by the catch and release pond. A perfect spot, to let the kids roam free, and try their hand at fishing. It’s where Nora caught three fish! Afterwards, we headed to the office picnic area to watch a movie. Then, it was time for bed to rest up for another fun filled day.
Day Two at Jellystone
The girls and I had breakfast at the cabin. I wanted to keep it simple, so it was cereal, fruit, and mini muffins. However, every cabin is equipped with a grill, and some of our friends were making bacon, sausage, and eggs, which smelled sooo good. The grill can be used for cooking or roasting smores. Neither of which we had the opportunity to do even though I was prepared with firewood to make it happen.
The mornings were a bit chilly so, the girls and I started the day at the campground playground. Until we saw our friends start to head over to the pool, then it was up to the cabin to get some gear to join them. We stayed at the pool until it was time for lunch. Then, having been nonstop since we arrived the girls and I relaxed until it was time to head out to the Lumberjack Feud.
Since we went with our homeschool co-op, we received a group discount for our tickets. We all had a great time at the interactive show. The girls and I had never seen a sporting event quite like it, and I would recommend it. Especially if you are traveling to Pigeon Forge with kids.
Once the 90 minute show was over, we headed back to the campground for a community dinner by the pond. The girls played with their friends, and we didn’t make it back home until just about 10 pm.
Day Three
It was time to check out, and though we were invited to breakfast, the girls and I were cooked and ready to be home again. So, we hit the road by 7:15, and were back home by 9 am.
During our stay at Jellystone Pigeon Forge, we spent most of our time at the campground. But, there are a ton of attractions to visit right at your doorstep – DollyWood, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, The Lumberjack Feud, Gatlinburg, Anakeetsa, and so much more. What made our stay great was the opportunity to visit the campground with our homeschool community. But, if we had gone on our own, I know we might have explored just a bit more. Have you ever stayed at a Jellystone campground?
