This cozy, rustic cabin is nestled on the bank of the scenic Little River in quaint Townsend, TN. Just a short drive from Pigeon Forge, Cades Cove, and other attractions, this cabin combines the feeling of solemn remoteness with the convenience of local walking-distance amenities, including a grocery store, gas station, and restaurants. We are family friendly and welcome you to make a tradition out of bringing your family to Townsend each year, just like our family did when we were children!
Rippling Waters Retreat is situated directly on the Little River in Townsend, TN right in the heart of Townsend. The cabin has a secluded feel, though it is less than a mile from restaurants, attractions, a gas station, convenient store, supermarket, and more. The cabin shares many acres of land and river frontage with other cabins. Free parking is provided at the retreat, making getting around Townsend easy. This is a rustic cabin situated directly on a river, backed up to woods. Though we maintain pest control and pest prevention services on the property, it is impossible to guarantee our guests with a pest-free experience (e.g. fireflies, flying bugs, crawling bugs, other insects, squirrels, etc.), while also maintaining a rustic look and experience to the property. Though the vast majority of our guests have never reported pests, all guests are required to be aware they are booking a rustic experience, including all the natural elements found in nature.
Similarly, though we seek to maintain stringent cleaning practices and standards, it is impossible to guarantee our guests a stay at our property completely free of dust, cobwebs and other elements indicative of being in a rustic cabin. Given the rustic nature of the cabin and the experience the majority of our guests expect, all guests are required to be aware they are booking a rustic experience, including all the natural elements found in nature.
By booking, you agree not to allow the aforementioned qualities of a rustic cabin to impact your review on our property, acknowledging you are purchasing this experience as described above.
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
About the area
Townsend
Located in Townsend, this cabin is on a river. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cades Cove. Tube Junction and River Rage Go-Kart Track are also worth visiting.
Shadows of the Past Hiking/Biking Trail - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center - 19 min walk - 1.7 km
Dark Island Swinging Bridge - 2 min drive - 1.3 km
Getting around
Alcoa - Knoxville Airport (TYS) - 34 min drive
Restaurants
Peaceful Side Social - 11 min walk
The Artistic Bean - 3 min walk
The Townsend Abbey - 19 min walk
Apple Valley Cafe Express - 5 min drive
Elvira's Cafe - 10 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin?
As of 10 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin on 1 Dec, 2026 start from S$387, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
What time is check-in at Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin located?
Situated on a river, this cabin is 0.3 mi (0.6 km) from Tube Junction and 1.8 mi (2.9 km) from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Shadows of the Past Hiking/Biking Trail and River Rage Go-Kart Track are also within 1 mile (2 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Great location! We brought our bikes and the location made it so easy to hop on and ride around Townsend all day. The porch swings were also great to sit on during the day and watch the river.
We have been coming up here for years and this by far has been our favorite cabin to stay in. It is centrally located to everything, well-appointed with all the amenities you need for a comfortable relaxing stay regardless of the season. We will definitely be coming back, again and again.
Teresa and Roger T.
Stayed 19 nights in Feb 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Troy
20 Dec, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Cabin was beautiful, right on the water! Kitchen was well stocked with everything we needed. Owners were responsive to any questions/concerns we had. Overall a fantastic place to stay!
I would recommend this cabin to anyone. It was very clean and perfect location. We enjoyed the porch every night - watching the river and geese.
I would give this cabin 10+ out of 10.
There was 4 brothers and our sister on our 3rd annual sibling vacation in the Smoky Mountains. The swings on the back porch watching and listening to the Little River was our favorite evening experience. We truly enjoyed our stay!
We spent 4 nights at the Rippling Waters cabin on the Little River in Townsend. Excellent location on River, very close to Wears Valley Road, the Townsend bike path, IGA grocery store and the hardware store. Plenty of room for our big family ! Will look to stay again.
Got in after dark, but was greeted with lights being on. First impression was AMAZING! My family felt very comfortable and enjoyed our stay. Listening to the Little River made it so relaxing. Great location and I would definitely recommend this cabin to others.
Loved the location so close to the National Park/Cades Cove which we visited daily. The accommodations were comfortable and afforded us with everything we needed. An added bonus was enjoying a fire in the cabin in the evenings. Owners were responsive to any questions we had.
Marilyn M.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023
Verified
6/10 Okay
Denietra D.
5 Nov, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location
Nice relaxing and peaceful
So peaceful and the king bed was magical...i didnt want to get out
Overall the stay was pretty good. There were a few issues we ran into as far as things that house keeping had left behind. However, we immediately reached out to the property manager and she was very apologetic of the situations. The location was amazing. Our kiddos loved being so close to the water. Overall we would stay here again in the future.
Breanna H.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
About the host
Hosted by Melanie Chandler
We are the Chandlers, owners and operators of what we think is one of the best little cabins in all of Tennessee. My (Michael’s) family began vacationing in Townsend when I was a child, and came back every Summer to enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains, the offerings of Pigeon Forge, and the awesome amenities that Townsend has to offer. Now, we bring our children here and create memories with them every year. Our cozy cabin is nestled on the bank of the scenic Little River, with access to more than 500 feet of river frontage. Just a short drive from Pigeon Forge, Cades Cove, and numerous attractions, this rustic cabin combines the feeling of solemn remoteness with the convenience of local walking-distance amenities, including a grocery store, gas station, and many restaurants. We are family friendly and welcome you to make a tradition of bringing your family to Townsend each year, just like us!
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests