Roamstead Campground: An Honest Review of Airstream & Yurt Stays

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Roamstead is a campground and resort located in Cosby, TN, about a 20 minute drive from Gatlinburg. Based on their online presence and marketing materials, Roamstead brands itself as a nature-centric blend between campground and a boutique hotel, offering all of the comforts of a hotel with the connection and community only found at a campground.

Their name, Roamstead, a mix of the words roaming and homestead further builds their brand identity as both a place to explore the outdoors and an accommodation with comfortable amenities. According to their founders, Roamstead came out of a cross-country family RV trip where their goal to explore was dampened by parking lots and poorly maintained campgrounds without comfortable amenities.

We booked two of Roamstead’s accommodations, the yurt and airstream, to put it to the test to see whether the experience lived up to our expectations. Three members of our team stayed in the Roamstead campground for two nights, taking detailed notes of their honest experience and feedback on site.

Branding and Online Presence

Takeaway: Family-Friendly Amenities with a Focus on the Outdoors

Let’s establish what our expectation was first by reviewing Roamstead’s branding and online presence. Roamstead is well-represented on major online travel agencies, such as Airbnb, Booking.com, and Hipcamp, which highlight their large digital presence, lending credibility to their brand.

From their photos, Roamstead leans heavily into the nature-centric and family bonding experiences available on site. Their gallery depicts the nature experiences on their grounds with photos of the river that runs through their property and tree and other natural features of their resort.

In addition, they feature some photos of the communal activities they offer, such as grilling, live music, gathering spaces, on-site restaurant, saltwater pool, and fire pits, all to build their identity as a place to get in tune with nature and loved ones.

Their social media presence further builds their family-friendly theming with posts that highlight their pet-friendly accommodations, and their cabins, yurts, and RV sites that are suitable for small families.

Given their online presence, we expected comfortable accommodations but with a livelier, campground-style atmosphere compared to that of a traditional hotel.

Booking Cost

Takeaway: Affordable Pricing for Families

We booked two accommodations, the yurt and airstream, both of which were very reasonably priced given the time frame of our visit. The price per night of our trip was around $170 per night with the only additional cost being tax. We decided not to bring any pets; however, if you do plan on bringing one, there is an additional pet fee of $10 per pet per night for their cabins and yurts. They do not include reservations of specific units, only unit types, in their base rate; however, you can pay a $30 site lock fee to lock in a particular unit.

First Impressions and Check In

Takeaway: Easy Check In, Warm Family-Friendly Atmosphere

Once we arrived at the campground, we needed to check in at the reception desk, which was completed efficiently. We were in and out within a few minutes, and the staff was warm and friendly, setting a nice tone for the rest of the trip. They handed us our door card and explained some of the on-site amenities with a paper map handout. Within the welcome center, we noticed that Roamstead was offering many branded clothing, toys and games, and Smoky Mountain products.

Once settled into our accommodations, we took note of our first impressions of the Roamstead camp. The resort atmosphere matched our expectations set online, being very family-friendly with outdoor games and common areas for gathering, great for trips with younger children.

Airstream

Takeaway: Retro-Style RV Stocked with Amenities; However, Lacking Privacy

Part of the experience for the airstream-style lodging was its retro glamping appeal for travelers who want to camp but keep the comforts of their homes. The unit that we had booked was right along the river, allowing for a close to nature experience that we had hoped for.

Roamstead Airstream Kitchen

The kitchen includes a stove, oven, microwave, mini-fridge, and sink, along with ample countertop space for meal prep. Cooking essentials like pots, pans, utensils, and dishes are also provided, making it easy to prepare anything from a quick snack to a full meal.

Roamstead Airstream Full Bathroom

The private bathroom features a walk-in shower, modern sink, and toilet. Guests are provided with complimentary soaps, fresh towels, and linens to ensure a clean and refreshing experience.

Roamstead Airstream Interior

In the main living area, we found large couches to stretch out or eat. There’s also hidden under-couch storage for added convenience, and a dining table where you can enjoy meals, play games, or plan your day’s adventures.

Roamstead Airstream Sleeping Area

The sleeping area is tucked away at the back of the unit. It features a plush queen-sized bed with soft linens, perfect for unwinding after a day of exploring. A wooden nightstand adds a rustic touch and provides a convenient spot for your phone, book, or morning coffee.

While the unit is small, it’s thoughtfully designed to make the most of every inch. It had everything we needed for a quick and comfortable getaway, with just the right balance of simplicity and functionality.

Although we didn’t end up using the kitchen much, it was a nice addition, and something you don’t typically get with a standard hotel room. Just knowing we had the option to cook or store food added a level of flexibility to our stay.

Outside the Airstream

Outside the airstream, there were 2 chairs and a table that allowed us to sit facing the river and take in our natural surroundings; however, the lack of privacy between units made it difficult to fully enjoy the experience.

The neighboring airstream was less than 10 feet away from our airstream without any landscaping or separation between our units. The lack of noise insulation in the unit, while allowing the sounds of nature from the nearby river to enter, also brought in noise from the neighbors talking in the unit next door.

Yurt

Takeaway: Sleeping Accommodations, Lacking In-Unit Glamping Amenities

Inside the yurt, the main focus was on the sleeping comforts. Unlike the airstream, the yurt lacked the amenities of a convenient in-unit kitchen, other than a small fridge, and bathroom, requiring us to go to the communal bathrooms on-site to freshen up. That being said, the communal bathrooms were very clean, and included plenty of towels and complimentary toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, and soap.

There was no in-room coffee or tea machine, but the complimentary breakfast was a nice touch to the morning routine. Storage was limited to one chest of drawers. There was no closet or hanging space, but we found it to be enough for a short stay.

The yurt lacked insulation, simply with a waxed canvas wall; however, it did come with a mini-split A/C for temperature control, which we had to use to turn up the heat at night to remain comfortable.

Outside the yurt, it was located in a central part of the camping site, just beyond the river, meaning that it is more intimate and private than other areas of the resort, making it a nice spot for couples. Unlike the airstream, the yurts have more space between the neighboring units, providing more privacy.

Common Areas & Amenities

Takeaway: Community-Building Activities and Amenities; Lack of Internet Connectivity

Roamstead offered many on-site amenities from a restaurant to a swimming pool to complete the family-friendly experience. They had an on-site hiking trail just a short walk from the camp, perfect for guests who wanted to explore the surrounding nature.

Their on-site restaurant served a complimentary breakfast each morning, including oatmilk and coffee. Guests could enjoy a saltwater swimming pool, along with a covered common area that featured a projector screen for film screenings and community events. For relaxation, there was a hammock zone and plenty of gas-powered campfires throughout the property. Families would appreciate the kids playground, which included a rock climbing wall and even axe throwing for a bit of adventurous fun.

One of the most unique features of Roamstead’s resort was their scheduled programming, such as themed evenings, live concerts, film screenings, and board games. These could be found through their mobile app; however, we found that there wasn’t much attention brought to this app, and we found it to be a hidden gem of the place. While we were there, as it was during Halloween, they had organized a Halloween costume contest. We attended bingo, where we were offered cookies and other treats for joining.

The only issue that we experienced was with the WiFI connectivity which would intermittently drop throughout our stay at the property especially on our phones.

Overall Feedback

Takeaway: Worth the Price; Pleasant Family-Friendly Environment with Many Amenities

Overall, we found that the environment at Roamstead was well worth the price tag of $xxx per night, given the amount of on-site amenities they offered. We found that the branding of the resort aligned well with our experience, meeting our expectations. Some of the most notable amenities for families included the saltwater pool, easy access to hiking trails with a river running through the property, a kid’s playground, and scheduled programming through their mobile app.

Comparing the two lodging options of the airstream and the yurt, we found that although both would be considered glamping, the airstream offers more in-unit amenities, thus a better match for those who do not want to use communal spaces for freshening up, although they are very clean.

That being said, Roamstead isn’t the best option for couples looking for privacy, as the experience focuses more on building community and lacks separation between units. Out of the two units that we booked, the yurts did offer a better experience for couples with more privacy between units and a clear roof dome for stargazing.