Ride Royal Blue Resort in Tennessee provides off-road fun
For a great time riding in northeastern Tennessee plan a stay at the Ride Royal Blue Resort that caters to ATV and motorcycle riders.
Near the town of Pioneer, Ride Royal Blue offers everything you need from excellent trails and scenery to motorhome and tent camping spots to cabins and more.
The resort connects to the Tennessee Wildlife Management Area called Royal Blue and Sundquist in the Cumberland Mountains in Campbell County, Tenn., offering more than 600 miles of trails covering 200,000 acres.
Mountain elevations range from 820 feet to 3,350 feet above sea level. Royal Blue Resort says the terrain “includes rolling hills with a gorgeous green valley bordered by a clear creek called Stinking Creek (which, fortunately, doesn’t live up to its name).”
If you have a motorhome or camper, reserve one of the easy pull-through sites with 30- or 50-amp electrical service, water and sewer, a picnic table, fire ring and trash receptacle. Or check out The Ridges at Royal Blue Campground 2 miles off Interstate 75 and 2 miles east of Ride Royal Blue ATV Resort. It has 30 full-hookup RV with a picnic table and a fire ring. (The Ridges reservations: 423-784-1700).
If you want to pitch a tent there are sites with water and electric. Or check out the Eagle Rock Resort & Campground at exit 141 and trailhead No. 1. The campground has 50 full-service 30/50 amp RV sites, fully furnished cabins, loft suites, condominiums and tent sites. (Eagle Rock reservations: 423-566-4999).
If you don’t want to rough it, the Ride Royal Blue ATV Resort offers cabins of various sizes.
There’s also a restaurant that’s open for a breakfast buffet from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The state requires a permit for every vehicle that must be carried with you at all times and made available upon request to ride in the Royal Blue, Sundquist, New River and Tackett Creek OHV areas. For Tennessee residents an adult pass is $18 a day or $56 a year. Out-of-state adult visitors pay $40 per day, $84 for a seven-day pass or $133 for an annual pass.
Directions: Take I-75 south of the Kentucky border to exit 144.
Contact: Ride Royal Blue Resort, 6307 Stinking Creek Road, Pioneer, TN 37847. Telephone: (423) 784-9445. Website: rideroyalblue.com/home.