Townsend has the distinction of having the closest entrance to 
Cades Cove of any town near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Townsend is promoted as the "Peaceful Side of the Smokies", and has much to offer the Smokies visitor who just wants to get away from all the hustle and bustle.
Townsend is a relatively quiet, but growing area of the Smokies.
Though it is still a sleepy area of the Great Smoky Mountains, Townsend has a growing number of businesses catering to the Great Smoky Mountain visitor. For instance, in Townsend you will find a variety of gift and specialty shops offering vacationers everything from art to walking sticks. The Little River runs right through town so Townsend is a great place to find the outfitter that is right for you. There are stores and rental companies that cater to those going tubing, kayaking, or fishing.
Lodging
Townsend has a number of hotels and motor inns for the Smokies visitor. For the most part, these are set back from the highway and often have spacious green lawns with beautifully landscaped flower beds cascading down to a walking and bike path which runs the length of the town. There are also hundreds of rental cabins, cottages and chalets in the Townsend area.
Smoky Mountain Bed & Breakfast
Campgrounds
Townsend TN campgrounds are minutes away from GSMNP. If you don't want to camp inside the park at Cades Cove campground, there are a number of campgrounds surrounding the park including some in Townsend. Among them are Lazy Daze Campgrounds, Campgrounds on the Little River, Tremont Hills Campgrounds, Mountaineer Campgrounds, and The Tuckaleechee Campground and Horse Camp.
Horseback Riding
Several stables provide horses for riding near Townsend. Among those stables is Davy Crockett Riding Stable, and Cades Cove Riding Stable.
Tuckaleechee Caverns is a real wonder!
Take time to see Tuckaleechee Caverns. It is a true wonder of nature. The cavern known as "The Big Room" is one of the largest in Tennessee as well as the east!
Townsend History
Near the beginning of the last century, Townsend was a logging town and was named Tuckaleechee Cove. Later, it was renamed for Col. W B. Townsend, the president of the Little River Lumber Company and the Little River Railroad. At that time, the logging industry was the principal industry not only in Tuckaleechee Cove, but in all the Great Smoky Mountains. Thankfully, much of the land that was logged and scarred in yesteryear is now one of the healthiest forested ecosystems on the planet, The Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
The Little River Railroad Lumber Company Museum
When in Townsend, you might notice an old railroad engine. That is the engine which took loggers and logs up and down the steep Smoky Mountains around Townsend. Near the train engine, there is the Little River Railroad Lumber Company Museum which tells about the early days in Townsend.
Accommodations
Gilbertson’s Lazy Horse Retreat………………..865-448-6810
Highland Manor Motel………………………….865-448-2211
Pioneer Cabins and Guest Farm…………………865-448-6100
Richmont Inn…………………………………….865-448-6751
Talley Ho Inn…………………………………….865-448-2465
The Inn at Blackberry Farm……………………..865-984-9850
Twin Valley Bed & Breakfast & Horse Ranch….865-984-0980
Wayside Manor Bed and Breakfast……………...865-970-4823
Attractions
Cades Cove Riding Stable……………………….865-448-6286
Davy Crockett Riding Stable…………………….865-448-6411
Dogwood Craft Mall……………………………..865-448-2281
Hedgewood Gardens…………………………….865-984-2052
Little River Railroad/Museum….................................865-448-2211
Nascar Speedpark…………………………..……865-908-5500
Sam Houston Schoolhouse……………………....865-983-1550
Tuckaleechee Caverns…………………………...865-448-2274
Dining
Laurel Valley Country Club……………………..865-448-9534
The Carriage House Restaurant………………….865-448-2263
The Mill House, Walland………………………..865-982-5726
The Timbers Restaurant………………………....865-448-6838
Shopping
Antiques and Uniques…………………………....865-448-1033
Earthtide Gallery………………………………...865-448-1106
Lee Roberson’s Studio/Gallery………………….865-448-2365
Nawger Nob Craft Settlement…………………..865-448-2259
Camping
Cades Cove Campground……………………..800-365-CAMP
Lazy Daze Campground and Motel………….….865-448-6061
Little River Village Campground………………..865-448-2241
Mountaineer Campground……………………….865-448-6421
Tremont Hills Campground…………………..….865-448-6363
Tuckaleechee Campground and Horse Camp…...865-448-9608
