Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Campgrounds of Great Smoky Mountains

There are campgrounds scattered all over Great Smoky Mountains National Park, many of them quite large. However, this is also the most visited national park in the United States, and camping is a very popular way of spending time here. Reservations are highly suggested from spring through fall, if available.

Abrams Creek Campground

dollar Size & Cost: 16 sites, $17.50 per site

calendar Open: May through October

click Reservations: Online at recreation.gov

marker Location: 6 miles down Happy Valley Road off of US-129 on a side road, near the south end of the Foothills Parkway

drink Amenities: Running water, flush toilets, fire rings and picnic tables

chart Demand: High. This campground is far from the main park area, but is small and often fills during periods of high visitation. Look Rock Campground, further down this page, is very nearby.

Balsam Mountain Campground

dollar Size & Cost: 42 sites, $17.50 per site

calendar Open: May through October

click Reservations: Online at recreation.gov

marker Location: At the end of Heintooga Ridge Road, off of the Blue Ridge Parkway

drink Amenities: Running water, flush toilets, fire rings and picnic tables

chart Demand: High. This campground is also far from the main park area, but is accessed from the very popular Blue Ridge Parkway, so it often fills.

Big Creek Campground

dollar Size & Cost: 12 sites, $17.50 per site

calendar Open: April through October

click Reservations: Online at recreation.gov

marker Location: In the Big Creek section, accessed off I-40 at Tennessee Exit #451

drink Amenities: Running water, flush toilets, fire rings and picnic tables

chart Demand: High. This small campground is accessed by a short and narrow gravel road. It is small, and often full in the summer months.

Cades Cove Campground

dollar Size & Cost: 159 sites, $25 per site

calendar Open: All Year

click Reservations: Online at recreation.gov

marker Location: At the entrance to the Cades Cove Loop Road

drink Amenities: Running water, flush toilets, fire rings and picnic tables, campstore, and dump station

chart Demand: Very high. This campground is at the entrance to the insanely popular Cades Cove area, and is almost always full from spring through fall. Reservations are strongly suggested.

Cataloochee Campground

dollar Size & Cost: 27 sites, $25 per site

calendar Open: June through October

click Reservations: Online at recreation.gov

marker Location: In Cataloochee Cove near Maggie Valley, accessed off I-40 at North Carolina Exit #20 via long gravel roads

drink Amenities: Running water, flush toilets, fire rings and picnic tables

chart Demand: Very high. This campground is far from the main park area, but is small and frequently fills during peak visitation.

Cosby Campground

dollar Size & Cost: 157 sites, $17.50 per site

calendar Open: April through October

click Reservations: Online at recreation.gov

marker Location: Off of US-321 in the Cosby section, east of Gatlinburg

drink Amenities: Running water, flush toilets, fire rings and picnic tables, and dump station

chart Demand: High. This campground is a bit removed from the main park section, but is still likely to be full during peak visitation. However, if you find yourself on the Tennessee side of the park and can’t find an open site, Cosby is more likely to have one than the others.

Deep Creek Campground

dollar Size & Cost: 92 sites, $25 per site

calendar Open: May through October

click Reservations: No, first come, first served

marker Location: In the popular Deep Creek area, near the town of Bryson City, west of Cherokee

drink Amenities: Running water, flush toilets, fire rings and picnic tables, and dump station

chart Demand: High. This campground is in the popular Deep Creek area, and often fills, especially during the summer when tubing down Deep Creek is a VERY popular activity.

Elkmont Campground

dollar Size & Cost: 220 sites, $25-$27 per site

calendar Open: All Year

click Reservations: Online at recreation.gov

marker Location: Off of Little River Road, 4.8 miles west of Newfound Gap Road

drink Amenities: Running water, flush toilets, fire rings and picnic tables, campstore, and dump station

chart Demand: Very high. This campground is the most centrally located on the Tennessee side of the park, and located adjacent to the Little River. It is almost always full during peak visitation. Reservations are strongly suggested.

Look Rock Campground

dollar Size & Cost: 68 sites, $25 per site

calendar Open: May through October

click Reservations: Online at recreation.gov

marker Location: Off of the Foothills Parkway near its midpoint

drink Amenities: Running water, flush toilets, fire rings and picnic tables

chart Demand: Medium. This campground is far from the main park area, but sometimes fills during peak visitation. It is located very near the Abrams Creek Campground listed first on this page.

Smokemont Campground

dollar Size & Cost: 141 sites, $25 per site

calendar Open: All Year

click Reservations: Online at recreation.gov

marker Location: Off of Newfound Gap Road 4.3 miles north of the Cherokee Entrance

drink Amenities: Running water, flush toilets, fire rings and picnic tables, and dump station

chart Demand: Very high. This campground is the main location on the North Carolina side of the park, and is almost always full during peak visitation. Reservations are strongly suggested.