Best place to escape summer heat, Southeast & Midatlantic?

[JM0397]

We're looking to book a week over Labor day, so the pickings are already slim...
But just curious if anyone has gone through this exercise:

Operation escape the NC heat for a week, looking for something within a day's drive, 5-hours tops, and high enough to get around a 10-degree temperature drop.

Most likely areas are straight up I77 from Charlotte, to the NC-VA-WV area. I see some good leads there. Also looking closer to home in the NC mountains, as Mt. Mitchell area is the highest in the east, but the campgrounds are looking so-so. Great Smokey Mountain park is a good one, but CRAZY crowded in peak season...

Anyone have any thoughts or experience in the Blue Ridge corridor?

[FT4NOW]

If you can get a reservation, we really enjoy River Valley RV Park in Cherokee, NC. Nice and quiet, full hookups, no cell phone service. It's on the Raving Fork river and you can go fishing or tubing in the river. They only take cash payments.

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[OurNewEra]

We're looking to book a week over Labor day, so the pickings are already slim...
But just curious if anyone has gone through this exercise:

Operation escape the NC heat for a week, looking for something within a day's drive, 5-hours tops, and high enough to get around a 10-degree temperature drop.

Most likely areas are straight up I77 from Charlotte, to the NC-VA-WV area. I see some good leads there. Also looking closer to home in the NC mountains, as Mt. Mitchell area is the highest in the east, but the campgrounds are looking so-so. Great Smokey Mountain park is a good one, but CRAZY crowded in peak season...

Anyone have any thoughts or experience in the Blue Ridge corridor?

I would head to Fort Mountain State Park Chatswoth, Georgia (nearl Dalton). It is at 2,851 feet.

[JM0397]

While only one review, this one looks promising: https://www.campgroundreviews.com/re...257866#a455102

[geotex1]

While only one review, this one looks promising: https://www.campgroundreviews.com/re...257866#a455102

Haven't stayed but drove through. It's field camping so if you are looking to escape the heat probably not really one. Given current weather patterns, I don't know where escape is! It has been just as hot at the highest peak in PA as the Jersey shore and dry, very dry.

[tncyclist]

Roan Mountain state park, its at elevation so always 10 degrees cooler. it was 58 this morning and if you go to the top @ carvers gap it will be even cooler

[attaboy]

I would head to Fort Mountain State Park Chatswoth, Georgia (nearl Dalton). It is at 2,851 feet.

We enjoyed Fort Mountain a couple of months ago.
One word of caution the climb up is steep and long.
Take what you need, stores are not close.
Hope this helps:
Bob A.

[Wicked ace]

The last week I have been escaping the heat on Blythe Island just west of Brunswick, Ga. It's been no more than 85 mostly cooler. It does get muggy for periods though the day but with a nice afternoon breeze off the ocean. Since I left home South East Pennsylvania has seen two heat waves with temps better than 90 degrees.
The beaches at nearby Jekyll and Saint Simons Islands are great too.

[JM0397]

Roan Mountain state park, its at elevation so always 10 degrees cooler. it was 58 this morning and if you go to the top @ carvers gap it will be even cooler

Yes! However we were just in that neighborhood a few weeks ago, just outside Johnson City, so the DW "wants to try somewhere new" - lol!
I suggested going back!
On that note, this was a great little place in the woods, where the daily temps ran about 10 degrees cooler than the highs in town.
Yes, it's tight between the trees but it's manageable just fine.
http://woodsmokecampground.com/

[Wicked ace]

Yes! However we were just in that neighborhood a few weeks ago, just outside Johnson City, so the DW "wants to try somewhere new" - lol!
I suggested going back!
On that note, this was a great little place in the woods, where the daily temps ran about 10 degrees cooler than the highs in town.
Yes, it's tight between the trees but it's manageable just fine.
http://woodsmokecampground.com/

It's been a few years but Riverview Campground was a nice place to stay. Fishing, kayaking and a swimming hole right there. It's across the river and up the road a bit from Unicoi. I discovered the Nolichucky river here. I had awesome pancakes in the restaurant too!
https://riverview-campground.busines...edium=referral
Rock Creek Recreation Area is up Rt395 from Unicoi and has some very nice trails to hike. I don't know if we could do it now as we both have aged but my Irish girl dog and I hiked from there to the top of Unaka Mountain. We did have a ride back however.
We also made it to the tops of the three balds in the area.
The Cherokee and Pisgha National forests are full of wonder if you look.