Heaven is mountain views, gravel roads, and elk calls. It is chilly mornings, small towns, and fall foliage. We found all of that and more during our recent trip to Western North Carolina.
In this post, you’ll find elk-viewing tips, a restaurant recommendation, and a few don’t-miss activities in the area. Apologies in advance for the number of photos. I took out as many as I could!
Table of Contents
Where We Stayed
Pride RV Resort
The Campground
Pride RV Resort is located about 25 miles (as the crow flies) west of Asheville, NC, near the intersection of I-40 and NC-276. From the campground, it’s less than a 15-minute drive to Maggie Valley and less than 20 minutes to Waynesville.
The campground has more than 120 RV sites, a few tent sites, and 15 cabins and mobile homes. There’s a pool and hot tub, a playground, and mini golf.
With just one ailse of sparsely stocked shelves, their camp store left a lot to be desired. However, there’s a little cafe inside (complete with seating) that turned out to be pretty good. We got ice cream there one evening and lunch another day and were pleasantly surprised. (For more details about the cafe, see the Where We Ate section.)
There were a few things we weren’t thrilled about, but overall, the campground worked well for our purposes.
What we liked
- The campsites were a decent size.
- Many of the sites (including ours) back up to a creek.
- The campground’s cafe was nice to have.
What we didn’t like
Not every site has a fire pit/ring. Instead, there are 5 fire pits along the creek. We had planned on having a fire at least one night while we were there, but we weren’t positive they were communal fire pits, and if they were, it felt weird to bring our chairs over and sit down right behind someone else’s site.
One side of the campground backs up to a creek; however, on the other side of the creek is a “sitework and civil construction contractor.” I’m not completely sure what all that entails, but we saw a lot of cement trucks and heard a lot of noise.
Across the road from the campground is a mulch yard, which means there’s a very distinctive smell throughout much of the campground. Sometimes we thought it smelled like mulch. At other times it smelled more like farm to me. I don’t really mind either smell, but I imagine it would bother some people.
The fenced dog area is small and not in an ideal location. It’s tucked away behind the maintenance shed near their RV storage. If we hadn’t seen it on the map, we never would have found it.
| Campground Name | Prive RV Resort |
| Location | Waynesville, NC |
| Dates | October 16-19, 2025 |
| Site Number | G29 |
| Site Surface | gravel for parking; concrete pad for picnic table; grass |
| Hook-ups | Full hookups |
| Cost | $81 per night (including taxes and fees) |
| Water Pressure | ~40 psi |
| Voltage | 120 V |
Our Campsite
The site was a little short. The RV fit fine, but there wasn’t enough room in front of the RV to park the truck. Fortunately, there was a grassy area right in front of that row for extra parking.
That parking area was also really convenient when we first arrived. Without that space, we would have had trouble getting into the site.
The sites in our row felt pretty spacious. We’re not talking state park territory, but they were much more spacious than at many other campgrounds. We also had decent afternoon shade from the RV, even though there weren’t many trees nearby.
If we stay here again, we’d look at sites in row H. The closer to the road you go, the more road noise you’ll get.
What We Did
Elk Viewing at Cataloochee Valley
Did you know there are wild elk in North Carolina? Elk mating season, also known as rut, is from September through mid-October. This is the time of year bulls make their well known bugling calls and spar with other bulls. It’s something I’ve wanted to experience for years. Cataloochee Valley within Great Smokey Mountain National Park is one of the best places to see them.
Cataloochee Valley is only a 13-mile drive from the campground, but the roads are curvy and a portion isn’t paved, so it took us more than 40 minutes to get there.
Along the way, there’s a marker on Google Maps called Cataloochee Valley Overlook where you need to stop. There, you’ll find the pay stations to get a ticket for your windshield. Then drive the remaining 4 miles to the Google Maps marker called Cataloochee Valley – Elk Watching.
Everything we read says the head back into the trees after sunrise and that your best chance to see the elk is getting there early. We left the campground around 6:45 AM and got to the ticket station at 7:25 AM. We left Cataloochee Valley around 9:15 AM. The elk were still in the valley, but they were walking further from where we had parked.
I don’t know if this was a normal experience or if we were incredibly lucky, but it was incredible! We saw bulls sparring with each other. We heard large bulls bugling.
Everyone parks alongside the road and hangs out in or near their vehicle. You aren’t supposed to go too far from your vehicle or walk in the valley when elk are present.
People were good about sticking pretty close to their vehicles while we were there, which is important because some of the elk do come close. When that happens, you want to be able to easily hop back in your vehicle.
Cataloochee Valley Elk Viewing Tips
- Go early! There’s a lot of information online about the best times to see the elk. We went early and it worked out really well for us.
- Drive carefully! The roads are narrow and windy with two-way traffic, and for several miles, the road isn’t paved.
- Be patient. The elk move. They wander as they graze. New elk enter the valley from the tree line. Bulls chase each other off. Be prepared to sit and watch; it’s worth the wait.
- Dress warm. Even if you stay inside your vehicle, you may want to roll down the windows for a better view. We opened the doors and stood on the running boards. The mornings can be chilly, so it’s good to have an extra layer and maybe some gloves.
- Stick close to your vehicle. There were several times an elk crossed the road and came very close to someone. The person would either get back in their car or walk around to the other side. Don’t be caught too far from your vehicle.
It’s worth mentioning that there is a bathroom and a trash can. If you continue down the road, there is a tiny building on the right. It’s not fancy, just a pit toilet and no lights, but it’s better than nothing.
Shortly before we got to the valley, we passed Cataloochee Campground. It wasn’t all tent campers, but it appeared to be smaller rigs. Either class B or tiny towable RVs. I can’t imagine trying to get our truck and trailer to it. It would be amazing to camp there, but I don’t think it’s possible (or smart) to tow something our size on those roads. If you have a smaller setup, I hope you look into it!
Oconaluftee Visitor Center
For the Elk
On Saturday morning, we drove about 27 miles to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Elk are often seen in a large open field between the visitor center and the Oconaluftee River.
This was a very different experience from Cataloochee Valley for several reasons.
First, there was a much bigger crowd. We suspect that’s because of timing and accessibility. The visitor center is right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the entire route is paved. We also visited on a Saturday, compared to being at Cataloochee Valley on a Friday.
Another difference is that you definitely need to leave your vehicle to get a good look at the elk. We parked in the visitor center parking lot and followed a bunch of people along a trail as the herd moved into the woods and crossed the Oconaluftee River.
We arrived around 7:40, and the herd was already in the field by the visitor center. By 8:15, most of the herd had moved off into the woods.
I think I preferred the experience at Cataloochee Valley. Something about the crowd of people following the elk into the woods felt less natural than watching them from the road in Cataloochee Valley.
If you go elk watching, please keep your distance and let elk be elk.
For the Visitor Center
The actual building at the visitor center opens at 9:00 AM. We waited around so we could take a look inside.
The first thing I noticed inside was a selection of audio tours. We didn’t try any of them, but I think that sounds like a good way to explore and learn about the area. It’s also a great option if the weather isn’t cooperating or if someone in your group isn’t physically able to get out and hike.
Elk Watching Safety Tip
Stay alert when driving. These two elk were in the road not much more than a mile from the visitor center. On a curvy road with a 45 mph speed limit, having an elk in a travel lane is not ideal.
Waynesville and Maggie Valley
We drove through Waynesville and Maggie Valley. Waynesville has a surprising number of dining options. Maggie Valley feels like what we imagine Gatlinburg was like 40 years ago. There are shops, small hotels, restaurants, and more. It’s commercialized, but not to the same degree as Gatlinburg is now. I’d like to spend a week in the area and have time to explore the towns as well as the hiking adventures.
Wheels Through Time Museum
On the east side of Maggie Valley, the Wheels Through Time Museum is only a 7.5-mile drive from the campground.
If you have any motorcycle enthusiasts in your group, the Wheels through Time Museum is a must. It was really interesting to see how they changed over the years.
Haywood Community College
Haywood Community College is about a 10-mile drive from the campground. It might seem odd that we brought the dogs to a community college, but this one has 3.5 miles of trails on the property that are open to the public.
This map of the trails was very helpful. We parked in the large parking lot near the Alder building. Our route was blue to green to red. From there, we took the yellow trail around the pond and picked up the blue trail to get back to the parking lot.
Most of the route was on natural trails through the woods with lots of shade.
Some of the walk was out in the open or on pavement, but not much. If you’ll be walking with dogs, bring water. There’s a small pond, but I don’t think they want dogs in it, and we didn’t see any fountains or creeks for water access.
We did see a trash can and dog waste bags on the blue trail and green trail.
Haywood Community College Travel Tip
Haywood Community College appears to have some activities that are open to the public, so it’s worth checking them out if you’re going to be in the area. For example, we saw this flyer for Creepy Critter Conservation Night.
Lake Junaluska
Lake Junaluska is a 200-acre manmade lake and a 7.5-mile drive from the campground. The lake is surrounded by private residences, many of which are AirBnBs or other vacation rentals, and something called the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center.
We followed an AllTrails route for a 4.5-mile loop trail around the lake. We got to see parts of the retreat center as well as private residences.
The retreat center has a little of everything. There are several places with coffee and breakfast as well as a beautiful chapel. There’s a hotel, a public swimming pool, and a place to rent kayaks (and more) to take on the lake.
The homes are beautiful. Many of them are vacation rentals. Many have incredible views of the lake. Because they’re in the mountains, most lots aren’t large and flat. It was interesting to see how everyone solved the problems of parking and getting people (and other items) up to the house. This one has its own elevator!
The whole route is paved, so no worries about bringing strollers or watching for rocks and roots. There’s not much shade, and the lake didn’t look super clean, so I’d bring water with you if you’re hiking with dogs. We did find one water fountain with a dog bowl component, but one isn’t really enough for a hike that long.
Corona included for scale with this beautiful tree.
Where We Ate
J Arthur’s
J Arthur’s is great, so great that I’d recommend making a reservation if you have a larger party or don’t plan to arrive early. When we arrived shortly before 5:00, it was already busy. By the time we left (around 6:00?), there was a wait to get a table.
Their website mentions their award-winning mozzarella sticks, so we had to try them. They looked homemade and were large and delicious.
They bring out warm rolls and butter to start. Those were fabulous. We also ordered a hamburger and cheeseburger, each with fries. Everything was cooked well.
For two burgers (one with cheese), mozzarella sticks, and one soda, our total was $47.04 before tip. (The mozzarella sticks cost as much as my hamburger, but they were worth it.)
Also, interesting to note, printed on the end of our receipt was a coupon for $5 off our next order of $30 if used within 5 days. It doesn’t really help us, but it could be interesting if we were staying in the area for longer. There were other things on the menu I would have liked to try, so coming back a second time would have been easy.
Campground Cafe
The campground has a fairly extensive menu.
We got ice cream at the campground’s cafe one evening and lunch another day. At $2 each, you get a lot for your money with the ice cream.
For lunch, we got chicken tenders, a hot dog, and sidewinder fries. I thought the chicken was way above average for a campground cafe, and it was a treat to have sidewinder fries (think curly fry meets potato wedge). Jesse also approved of the hot dog.
Wildlife
We saw turkeys at Cataloochee Valley and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
We spotted this turtle at Lake Junaluska.
We also saw this beautiful kingfisher! These guys are so fast that I usually miss them. Fortunately, he sat still long enough for me to get this photo.
We almost missed this guy completely! Jesse and Aiken stepped right over him while we were on the trail at Haywood Community College.
More Photos
Happy travels!
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