Every May I start getting calls that go almost exactly the same way: “We’re coming down for the Shriners Hillbilly Golf Tournament — any chance you still have an RV available?” The Parkway through Gatlinburg backs up hard that weekend, and once golfers figure out that parking near Hillbilly Golf on Parkway is a headache and that every motel room from Sevierville to Gatlinburg fills fast, the idea of having your own base camp starts making a lot of sense. I’m Tim, your local Fireside RV Rental operator here in Sevier County, and I’ve been delivering and setting up rigs across this stretch of the Smokies long enough to know exactly which campgrounds work for a tournament group and which ones will leave you fighting traffic on US-441 all week. If you’re planning around the RV rental Gatlinburg Shriners Golf Tournament weekend this May, here’s what I’d tell you the same way I’d tell a neighbor.

RV Rental for Shriners Hillbilly Golf Tournament in Sevierville, TN

Why an RV Makes Sense for a Charity Golf Weekend in Gatlinburg

Hillbilly Golf sits right on the Parkway in the heart of Gatlinburg — there’s nothing subtle about the location. That’s exactly what makes tournament week both a blast and a logistical puzzle. Hotels within a short walk of the venue are premium-priced and book up months out. Drive time from Pigeon Forge to downtown Gatlinburg on a busy May weekend can stretch to 30 or 40 minutes for what should be a 10-minute trip — I’ve sat in that traffic myself on delivery runs. An RV parked at a campground just a few miles out gives your group a private rally point: a place to gather before the round, debrief after, cook out without waiting on a restaurant, and actually enjoy the Smoky Mountains instead of just passing through them. For a group trip built around a charity event, that communal space is genuinely worth more than a row of separate hotel rooms.

Where I Send Tournament Groups to Camp

Choosing the right campground for a Shriners Golf weekend comes down to one question: how much do you want to deal with the Parkway? Here are the spots I point people toward, and the honest tradeoffs for each.

Smoky Bear Campground & RV Park — Gatlinburg

This is the closest full-hookup RV park to Hillbilly Golf, and for a tournament group that wants to be within a short drive of the action, it’s usually my first recommendation. Sites here can run short on the longer end, so when I’m matching a rig to a group booking Smoky Bear, I lean toward our mid-size travel trailers rather than a larger unit — it just makes maneuvering in and out easier and keeps your neighbors happy. Book this one early; it fills for May events faster than most people expect.

Greenbrier Island Campground — Gatlinburg

A little further off the main drag but still very much in the Gatlinburg orbit. The approach off US-321 is straightforward, which I appreciate on a delivery run with a larger rig. If your group wants a slightly quieter setting while still being close to the tournament venue, this is a solid choice.

Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

I’ll be upfront here: Elkmont is a beautiful campground inside the national park, but it requires advance reservations through Recreation.gov and fills quickly for May weekends. Site size and hookup availability are more limited than a private park, so it’s not always the right fit for every rig we deliver. If you’re a hiker in the group and want trail access right from camp — Laurel Falls and the Chimney Tops trailhead are close — it’s worth checking availability early. Contact us and we’ll talk through whether your selected rig is a good match for the site you’ve booked.

Foothills RV Park & Campground — Sevierville / Two Rivers Landing RV Resort — Sevierville

Both of these parks sit closer to Sevierville off TN-66 (Winfield Dunn Parkway), which puts you about 20–25 minutes from Gatlinburg under normal traffic. The tradeoff is distance to the tournament venue, but these parks tend to have more spacious pull-through sites and better availability for larger groups. If you’re coming in off I-40 from Knoxville or through McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), the Sevierville-side parks are genuinely easier to reach without ever touching the worst of the Parkway congestion.

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park — Pigeon Forge

A good option if your group includes families or if you want easy access to both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge during your stay. It’s a full-amenity resort-style park, so the energy is livelier than a quieter campground — just know what your group prefers before booking.

Want a full overview of RV-friendly parks across the Smoky Mountains region? Check our Fireside RV Rental Sevierville home page for more detail on where we deliver and what we know about each area.

The RV Fleet I Match to Golf Tournament Groups

Tournament weekends tend to attract groups — foursomes, club members, pairs of couples traveling together. The rig that makes the most sense depends on your headcount and which campground you’ve chosen. A few honest notes from what I’ve seen work well:

• Travel trailers — My go-to recommendation for most golf groups. They set up at your campsite and stay put while you use a tow vehicle to get around Gatlinburg without moving your whole base camp. When I deliver to tighter parks like Smoky Bear, a well-matched trailer makes a real difference.
• Motorhomes — Great if your group wants the flexibility to drive the rig to different spots around the Smokies during the trip. Keep in mind that parking a larger motorhome in downtown Gatlinburg itself is its own project; having a tow vehicle or using the RV as your base and shuttling in is usually smarter for tournament days.
• Smaller campers — If it’s just two of you and you want something easy to tow and park, we have options that work well for couples who want comfort without the logistics of a larger rig.

Every unit in our fleet is different, so the best thing to do is call me and describe your group and your campsite. I’ll match you to the right rig. See what we have available at firesidervrental.com.

How RV Delivery Works for a Gatlinburg Tournament Weekend

A lot of our tournament customers fly into McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville or drive in from out of state and don’t want to deal with towing. That’s exactly what our delivery service is for. I bring the RV to your campsite, get it leveled and set up, walk you through everything, and pick it back up when you’re done. You show up to your campsite and it’s ready. No tow vehicle, no backing into a tight spot on a Friday afternoon after a long drive.

The one thing I always tell first-timers: give me your campsite details — the park name, your site number, and any access notes — before delivery day. The turn into some of the back loops at campgrounds around Gatlinburg can be tighter than they look on a map, and knowing what I’m working with ahead of time means the delivery goes smoothly. Full details on how delivery works are on our RV delivery page.

What May Weather Looks Like in the Smokies

May is genuinely one of the best months to be in the Smoky Mountains — the dogwoods and mountain laurel are finishing up, the crowds haven’t hit their summer peak yet, and temperatures in Gatlinburg are usually comfortable, running in the mid-60s to low 70s during the day. Mornings at higher elevations can still have a chill, and afternoons occasionally bring short pop-up thunderstorms, especially later in the month. The RV handles all of that better than a tent would — climate control when you need it, a dry space when the afternoon rain comes through, and a real kitchen when you’d rather not drive back into Gatlinburg traffic for dinner.

Beyond the Tournament: What’s Worth Your Time in the Area

If you’re already parking an RV in the Smokies for a long weekend, it’s worth building in time for a few things beyond the golf course. A few that I personally think are worth the trip for a May visit:

• Cades Cove Loop — The 11-mile loop road inside the national park is one of the best drives in the Southeast in May. Wildlife is active, the valley is green, and it’s a real break from the Parkway energy. Plan for an early morning start — it gets busy by midday.
• Laurel Falls Trail — The most-visited trail in the national park, and for good reason. A paved, relatively accessible trail to a beautiful waterfall. Fine for a group that isn’t all hardcore hikers.
• Anakeesta in Gatlinburg — Worth an evening visit if your group wants a mountain views experience that isn’t a full hike. The gondola ride up and the treetop walk are well done.
• Douglas Lake — If anyone in your group fishes or just wants open water scenery, Douglas Lake is about 30 minutes northeast and a nice change of landscape from the mountain corridor.

Frequently Asked Questions — Shriners Golf Tournament RV Rental

How early should I book an RV for the Shriners Hillbilly Golf Tournament?

As soon as your tournament registration is confirmed. May weekends in Gatlinburg are genuinely busy — Dollywood is in full swing, spring hiking is at its peak, and RV parks around the area fill up. I’d say book at minimum 6–8 weeks out, and earlier than that if you can. The campgrounds closest to Hillbilly Golf have limited sites and go fast.

Can you deliver to any of the campgrounds around Gatlinburg?

Yes — I deliver across Sevier County, including parks in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Townsend. Just confirm your campsite reservation and give me the details ahead of time. See the full delivery area on our delivery page.

What’s included with the rental?

Inclusions vary by unit and rental agreement — reach out directly and I’ll walk you through exactly what’s in the rig you’re renting and what to expect. Don’t assume based on what another rental company lists; I’d rather give you accurate information than a generic checklist.

We’re flying into Knoxville — do we need a tow vehicle?

Not with our delivery service. We bring the RV to your site and pick it up at the end of your rental. Flying in through McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) and using delivery is actually one of the most common setups I do for out-of-town tournament groups.

Is Hillbilly Golf itself a campground?

No — Hillbilly Golf is a venue on the Gatlinburg Parkway, not a campground. You’ll need a site at one of the private or national park campgrounds in the area and arrange transportation to the tournament from there. That’s exactly why having an RV at a nearby park makes sense — it’s your home base for the whole weekend.

Ready to Book? Let’s Talk Before the Tournament Fills Up

I’m Tim, and I’m the one who answers when you call. No national call center, no hold queue — just a local operator who knows every campground loop in this area and wants to make sure your Shriners Golf weekend actually works. Call or email and let’s figure out the right rig, the right campground, and the right delivery setup for your group.

Phone: 865-280-3950
Email: [email protected]
Browse the fleet: sevierville.firesidervrental.com