Promo · Tennessee
Memorial Day — Great Smoky Mountains
May 27–29, 2028
Tell us your Tennessee datesTownsend / Gatlinburg gateway · Tennessee
Starts May 27
- Start looking
- by Mar 18
- Arrive
- May 26
- Head home
- May 30
Memorial Day in the Smokies — summer-season opener at America's most-visited park.
What you need to know
Memorial Day — Great Smoky Mountains runs May 27–29, 2028, in Townsend / Gatlinburg gateway, Tennessee. Townsend (the 'quiet side') sits minutes from Cades Cove with calmer RV parks than the Gatlinburg strip — a smarter holiday basecamp.
Memorial Day opens the busy Smokies summer.
Townsend and Gatlinburg-gateway RV parks fill as the season's first major holiday brings family travelers to the park.
Safety rules and an insider tip
Safety + legal. Cades Cove loop traffic backs up for hours on holiday weekends — go at dawn, and never approach bears or elk along the road.
Insider tip. Townsend (the 'quiet side') sits minutes from Cades Cove with calmer RV parks than the Gatlinburg strip — a smarter holiday basecamp.
Where to sleep near Gatlinburg
Verified campgrounds whose own nearest town is Gatlinburg — rig limits, fees and booking windows straight from the operator. Book these directly; they are not PickRV rentals.
Going to Memorial Day — Great Smoky Mountains? Tell us the nights.
Local owners list their own rigs here. You get a single email when one is listed for your window.
Around Memorial Day — Great Smoky Mountains
Frequently asked about Memorial Day — Great Smoky Mountains
When is Memorial Day — Great Smoky Mountains?
Memorial Day — Great Smoky Mountains runs May 27–29, 2028, in Townsend / Gatlinburg gateway, Tennessee.
Where is Memorial Day — Great Smoky Mountains held?
Townsend / Gatlinburg gateway, Tennessee.
What are the exact 2028 dates?
May 27–29, 2028.
What RV should I rent for Memorial Day — Great Smoky Mountains?
Best categories: rv, trucks-vans. Memorial Day opens the busy Smokies summer. Townsend and Gatlinburg-gateway RV parks fill as the season's first major holiday brings family travelers to the park.
How early should I book an RV?
Recommended lead time: 10 weeks. Event windows book up early, so search and lock your dates as soon as your plans firm up.
What safety and legal guidance applies?
Cades Cove loop traffic backs up for hours on holiday weekends — go at dawn, and never approach bears or elk along the road.
What's an insider tip?
Townsend (the 'quiet side') sits minutes from Cades Cove with calmer RV parks than the Gatlinburg strip — a smarter holiday basecamp.
Keep Memorial Day — Great Smoky Mountains on your list
- Save a rig search for Tennessee, for its dates, to your account.
- Your trips and host messages, in one place.
PickRV is an independent RV-rental marketplace and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the NFL, FIFA, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee, or any event organizer. All event names and marks are the property of their respective owners and are used here only for factual, descriptive reference.
State rules, safety and legalLicense + towing rules, insurance basics and the non-affiliation notice.
Important: travel + safety + insurance disclaimer
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only. PickRV is not an insurer, legal advisor, or vehicle-safety authority. Trip planning, route selection, rig suitability, weather, and emergency decisions are the renter's responsibility. Always consult the rig manufacturer's owner's manual, your insurance provider, the U.S. National Park Service (nps.gov), NOAA / NWS weather alerts (weather.gov), state and local emergency-management agencies, and current local regulations before and during travel. Cost figures, season windows, road conditions, and fee references on this page are estimates as of May 2026 and vary by season, location, rig, carrier, and operator. Mentions of brand names, state-tourism marks, national-park feature names, or third-party programs are informational only and do not imply affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement.
Before you rent in Tennessee — key local rules
CDL rules start at 26,001 lbs — below that the standard license applies — TN Driver Services
Boating Safety Certificate required for operators born after 1988 — TWRA — Boating Safety
Royal Blue OHV + Brimstone Recreation: per-area permits — TWRA — OHV/ATV Recreation
0.08% BAC; the open container ban applies to the driver only — TN Department of Safety — Public Safety
Editorial summary, not legal advice. Verify with TN Driver Services before relying. Reviewed in the last 5 months (as of 2026-05-24).
Tennessee rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- State rental tax
- 7% · not collected by PickRV
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00