Resort · Douglas Lake · Tennessee
Anchor Down RV Resort is a lakefront destination resort on Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee, about 30 to 45 minutes northeast of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg by our estimate. Where most Smokies-area parks compete on how close they sit to the Parkway, Anchor Down sells something different: a site with the water at the end of your patio. It suits boaters, swimmers and couples or families booking a multi-night lake stay with Smokies day trips, not travelers who want to walk to attractions.
Anchor Down RV Resort is a lakefront destination resort on Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee, about 30 to 45 minutes northeast of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg by our estimate. Where most Smokies-area parks compete on how close they sit to the Parkway, Anchor Down sells something different: a site with the water at the end of your patio. It suits boaters, swimmers and couples or families booking a multi-night lake stay with Smokies day trips, not travelers who want to walk to attractions.
We should be candid about the data. The operator's homepage publishes the address (1703 Highway 139, Dandridge, TN 37725) and phone (1-877-784-4446), but no site count, no rate table, no amperage and no rig-length limit on the pages we could reach. Assume resort-tier pricing and full hookups, but confirm both, along with your exact lakefront site number and any minimum stay, by phone before paying a deposit. Douglas Lake is a summer-pool TVA reservoir that draws down in winter, so book late spring through early fall if the water is the point.
Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.
Full review
Anchor Down RV Resort Review: Douglas Lake, Dandridge TN (2026)An honest Anchor Down RV Resort review: the lakefront resort on Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee, what the operator publishes, what to ask before booking a lakefront site, and how it compares with the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge parks 30-plus minutes away.
Our verdict
Book Anchor Down if your trip is a lake week with Smokies day trips and you are willing to settle rates and hookups by phone. Skip it if you want to walk to Pigeon Forge attractions, need dawn trailhead starts, or are on a campground budget.
At 1703 Highway 139, Dandridge, Tennessee 37725, on the shore of Douglas Lake in Jefferson County. Reservations are at 1-877-784-4446.
The operator does not publish nightly rates on the pages we could access. Expect resort-tier pricing for lakefront sites in peak season and get a live quote for your dates and site type.
We would expect full hookups with 50-amp service at a resort of this style, but the homepage does not itemize amperage, sewer or cable. Confirm the hookups at your assigned site when booking.
The operator does not publish drive times. Dandridge is off I-40 northeast of Sevierville, so plan roughly 30 to 45 minutes to Pigeon Forge and more to Gatlinburg, longer in summer or October traffic.
Not published. Call with your complete length including tow vehicle and ask for a specific site number that fits.
The season is not published on the operator's homepage. Douglas Lake is a summer-pool reservoir with a winter drawdown, so peak is roughly May through September; ask the office about water levels before booking November through March.
Compare alternatives before you book — or browse the whole Tennessee hub.