Abrams Creek Campground |
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The campground opens the first weekend in March and closes the end of October. Reservations are on a first-come first serve basis. This campground has 16 sites and sits at an elevation of 1,125 feet. The Abrams Creek Campground does not have electric hookups or shower facilities, only running water and bathroom facilities. Each individual campsite has a fire grate and picnic table.Directions: To get to Abrams Creek Campground travel 8 miles off the Foothills Parkway.Campsites: 16
Elevation: 1125 ft RV length: 12′ Cost: $14 each night Campground Map |
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Balsam Mountain Campground |
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To get to Balsam Mountain Campground get on the Blue Ridge Parkway Road that leads to Balsam Mountain Road and the Balsam Mountain area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The campground is rather small and off the beaten path, offering some of the park’s highest elevations at 5,400 feet.Some of the Balsam Mountain Campground features are; rv parking, bunk house cabins, hot showers, clean bathrooms, primitive camping, incredible views, and is owned and operated by the Cherokee tribe.For More information and to make a reservation: Summer 828-269-2945, Winter 828-497-2230
Directions: Take Route 19 through Maggie Valley, enter the Blue Ridge Parkway and turn towards Cherokee (Left). Go 2.5 miles and turn right at the Masonic Marker and Balsam Mountain sign. Approximately 1 mile on the left is the dirt road entrance to Mile High.Campsites: 43 Elevation: 5400 ft RV length: n/a Cost: $14 each night Campground Map |
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Big Creek Campground |
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The Big Creek Campground is open from mid-March through October 31st. Campers can reserve a campsite on a first-come, first serve basis. There are 12 sites for tents only. The campground sits at an elevation of 1,700 feet. There are no electric hookups or shower facilities, only running water and bathroom facilities.To make reservations at Big Creek Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park call 423-487-5418 at the Cosby Ranger Station.Directions: In order to ge to Big creek Campground take I-40 East from Newport, TN approx. 16 miles. Exit I-40 at exit 451 (Waterville). Follow the road past the Walters Power Generating Station to a 4-way intersection. Continue straight through and follow signs to the group camp.Campsites: 12
Elevation: 1700 ft RV length: n/a Cost: $14 each night Campground Map |
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Cades Cove Campground |
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Cades cove is one of the most popular campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park off the following services and amenities: Amphitheater, Comfort Station, Dump Station, Handicap Access, Hiking Trail, Horseback Riding, Interpretive Trails, Parking, Picnic Tables, Ranger Station, Rent Bicycles, Telephone. The nearby horse stable offers one hour horseback rides, hayrides and carriage rides from March thru October. The campground store offers camping supplies, firewood and ice and rents bicycles on an hourly or daily basis. Full service grocery stores are availabe in Townsend (9 miles); medical facilites are 30 miles away in Maryville. To get to Cades Cove Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park you have to drive to Townsend, Tennessee. Directions: Make reservations online To make reservations over the phone during summer or fall or call 877-444-6777. Reservations are accepted only May 15 thru October 31. Campsites are available on a first come, first served basis from November 1-May 14. Campsites include:a 13′ x 13′ tent pad, a fire ring with cooking grill and a picnic table with lantern pole.
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Cataloochee Campground |
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Cataloochee Campground is located close to Waynesville, NC near Maggie Valley and offers single tent and rv camping and group camping; non-electric. Cataloochee Campground opens mid-March through mid-October. Once known for its farms and orchards, today Cataloochee is one of the most picturesque areas of the park. There are no hook-ups at this park campground. There is no potable water at this campground. Fires are allowed in fire rings only. The Cataloochee Campground is too small to have regularly-assigned staff on-site to collect fees, so reservations must be made in advance by phone or on-line. To Make Reservations online or toll-free at 1-877-444-6777.
Group site limits are site specific and range from 15-30 people depending on the campground. The park stay limit is 14 consecutive days. Reservations which exceed the 14 consecutive day limit be cancelled and refunded. Directions: The entrance road to Cataloochee Valley is a winding, gravel road that has some steep drop offs with no guard rails. The road is narrow, so drivers may be required to stop or back up their vehicles to allow oncoming motorists to pass. Horse trailer traffic may be encountered on the road. Please use caution when driving on this road. The most direct route into the valley is to take Cove Creek Road. From interstate I-40, exit at North Carolina exit #20 and travel 0.2 miles on route 276. Turn right onto Cove Creek Road and follow the signs 11 miles into the Cataloochee Valley. Using this route, motorists will be traveling on a gravel road for approximately 20-30 minutes. |
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Cosby Campground |
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Cosby Campground has a 165 campsites and all tent sites include a tent pad. Cosby Camprground is located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and approximately 5 miles south of Cosby, Tennessee. Cosby Campground amenities include a amphitheater, comfort station dump station, handicap access, hiking trail, horseback riding, parking, picnic tables, ranger station, and telephone. Campsites include a fire ring with cooking grill and a picnic table.
Only 20 sites are available by reservation — the remaining sites are available on a first come, first served basis. If you’re looking for a peaceful place to camp in the park, this is a great option, especially when the more popular campgrounds fill up on holiday weekends. Cosby Campground is a centrally located camprgound base in which to go hiking and fishing in the area.Make reservations onlineduring summer or fall or call 877-444-6777, toll free. Reservations are accepted only for May 15 thru October 31. Convenience stores and fuel are available in Cosby; medical facilites are 19 miles away in Newport.Directions: From Cosby, TN, proceed south on TN 32 about 1.5 miles south of the junction with US 321. Turn right at Cosby sign. Campground is another 2 miles.
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Deep Creek Campground |
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To get to Deep Creek Group Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park travel approximately 3 miles north of Bryson City, North Carolina. Deep Creek Campground offers the following amenities; bbq grills, comfort station, dump station, fire rings, fishing streams, fuel, vehicles, grocery, hiking trail, horseback riding, medical facility, parking, pavilion, picnic tables, potable water, ranger station, telephone, and toilets. Due to the location of Deep Creek Campground it can be busy in the summer season.To make reservations online or call 877-444-6777. The group camp offers one accessible site with a nearby accessible restroom. RV and generator use is not allowed at group sites.Directions: From downtown Bryson City, NC: Follow signs to Deep Creek, 3 miles away.
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Elkmont Campground |
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Elkmont Campground is the largest campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Elkmont Campground offers the following services; amphitheater, camp store, comfort station, fire rings, hiking trail, historical areas, horse trails, ice, interpretive programs, lantern holder, paved accessible site, picnic tables, telephone, tent pads, toilets, trails, self-guided, utility sink, vending machine, water drinkingA river runs directly through the center of the campground, and there are several hiking trails within minutes of the campground, including the popular Laurel Falls Trail. For the avid fly fisherman the Little River is also an excellent trout fishing stream. Elkmont is known for its historical and cultural significance as a former logging community and summer resort getaway. It is the closest campground to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Make reservations online during summer or fall or call 877-444-6777, toll free. Reservations are accepted only for May 15 thru October 31. Elkmont Campground is open from the second week of March until December 1st. Campsites are available during the off season on a first come, first served basis at reduced rates. Directions: From Gatlinburg, TN: Take Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) South into the Park. (If coming from Pigeon Forge, take the Bypass into the park.) Turn right at Sugarlands Visitor Center. Go 4.5 miles to the Elkmont entrance and turn left at the Elkmont Campground sign. Go 1.5 miles to the campground office.
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Look Rock Campground |
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Look Rock Campground has 68 sites and is located on the western section of the Foothills Scenic Drive. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.The campground is at an elevation of 2,749 feet. Look Rock Campground offers the following amenities, comfort station, dump station, fire rings, grills, picnic tables, potable water, toilets. Directions: From Maryville, travel east on Hwy. 321 for approximately 6 miles, just past Walland. Turn right onto Foothills Parkway. Take Foothills Parkway approximately 6 miles, and the campground will be on the right.
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Smokemont Campground |
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Smokemont Campground has 142 campsites and is located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park 6 miles north of Cherokee, North Carolina. The campground provides facilities for both tent and RV/trailer camping.Campsites include a fire ring with cooking grill and a picnic table with lantern pole. Campsites in loops A, B and C also include a 13′ x 13′ tent pad. Generator use is prohibited in loops A, B and C from May 15 – Oct 31; reasonable generator use is allowed in loops D and F.Campsites are available on a first come, first served basis from November 1 through May 14. Loop F is for RVs only – no tents.Smokemont Camground offers the following services: comfort station, dump station, fire rings, grills, interpretive programs, picnic tables, potable water, ranger station, telephone, tent pads, toilets. Services available down the road 1 mile: firewood sales, hiking trails, historical areas, horse trails, ice sales, riding stable, trails, vending machine, wildlife viewing.Full service grocery stores are 6 miles away in Cherokee; medical facilities are 15 miles away in Sylva, NC.Make reservations online during summer or fall or call 877-444-6777, toll free. Reservations are accepted only for May 15 thru October 31.The Bradley Fork River flows through the campground and provides for fishing opportunities. The campground allows access to the Bradley Fork Trail, located at the end of D loop, which leads to numerous other trails.Directions: From Cherokee, NC: Take Newfound Gap Road (US 441) North 6 miles. Turn right at campground sign. From Gatlinburg, TN: Take Newfound Gap Road (US 441) South 27 miles. Turn left at campground sign.
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Each campground has restrooms with cold running water and flush toilets. Each individual campsite has a fire grate and picnic table. There are no showers or electrical or water hookups in the park. Shower facilities are available in the communities surrounding the national park. Please inquire about the nearest facilities when you check-in at the campground. (5 amp electric hookups are available at a few sites in Cades Cove, Elkmont, and Smokemont for use only by those with medical needs. Check www.recreation.gov for more information.) Campsites at Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Elkmont, and Smokemont may be reserved online or by phone at (877) 444-6777. Advance reservations are required at Cataloochee Campground. All remaining park campgrounds are first-come, first-served. In addition to individual campsites, the park offers a limited number of group camping areas. Please read Campground Rules and Regulations for information concerning food storage, generator use, quiet hours, and other campground regulations. |
| Campground | Map | Number of Sites |
Fee | Elevation | 2012 Open/Close Dates |
Maximum RV Length |
| Abrams Creek | Map | 16 | $14 | 1,125′ | 5/11 – 10/31 | 12′ |
| Balsam Mountain | Map | 46 | $14 | 5,310′ | 5/11 – 10/8 | 30′ |
| Big Creek | Map | 12 | $14 | 1,700′ | 4/1 – 10/31 | No RVs |
| Cades CoveReserve Now | Map | 159 | $17-$20 | 1,807′ | Year Round | Trailers-35’Motor Homes-40″ |
| CataloocheeIMPORTANT-Reservations REQUIRED. Campsites are no longer available first-come, first-served.See entrance road advisory below. | Map | 27 | $20 | 2,610′ | 3/9 – 10/31Advance reservations required entire season. | 31′ |
| CosbyReserve NowCampsites have recently been renumbered. | Map | 165 | $14 | 2,459′ | 4/1 – 10/31 | 25′ |
| Deep Creek | Map | 92 | $17 | 1,800′ | 4/1 – 10/31 | 26′ |
| ElkmontReserve Now | Map | 220 | $17-$23 | 2,150′ | 3/9 – 11/30 | Trailers-32’Motor Homes-35′ |
| Look Rock | Map | 68 | $14 | 2,600′ | 5/11 – 10/31 | No size limit |
| SmokemontReserve Now | Map | 142 | $17-$20 | 2,198′ | Year Round | Trailers-35’Motor Homes-40″ |
Cataloochee Campground Reservations – Beginning in March 2011, advance reservations will be required to camp in Cataloochee. There will no longer be any first-come, first-served campsites available in the campground. The reservation system will begin accepting reservations for the campground beginning on Feb. 1, 2011. For additional information, please see the press release.
Cataloochee Campground Road Advisory: The entrance road to Cataloochee Valley is a winding, gravel road that has some steep drop offs with no guard rails. Horse trailer traffic may be encountered on the road. Because the road is narrow, it may be necessary to stop or back up to allow other vehicles to pass.
Groceries, Camping Supplies, Food, and Firewood
A limited selection of groceries, camping supplies, visitor convenience items, and food and beverage service are available in the park. Please see listing for additional information.
Bundles of firewood are available for sale in the communities surrounding the national park. However, firewood may not be brought into the park unless it bears the USDA-APHIS-PPQ certification or it is purchased from a county that has no quarantine in effect. See firewood quarantine page for additional information. The following campgrounds have on-site firewood sales:
- Cades Cove (at Cades Cove Campground Store)
- Elkmont
- Smokemont (at Smokemont Riding Stables)
Dump Stations for RVs
Dump stations with potable water are located at Cades Cove, Cosby, Deep Creek, Look Rock, and Smokemont campgrounds. In addition, there is a dump station located across the road from the Sugarlands Visitor Center, approximately six miles from Elkmont Campground.