Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg TN 37738, (865) 436-1200
Special Topics: Mountains � Wildflowers �
Recreation Activities: Auto Touring � Biking � Camping � Educational
Programs � Fishing � Hiking � Horseback Riding � Wildlife Viewing
Camping Areas
Details
The park offers two different types of campsites:
Backcountry - hiking/backpacking to a site. Frontcountry - camping next to your
car
Campground facilities and the procedures for obtaining a site in each type are
different.
Backcountry Camping for Backpackers
A permit is required for all backcountry camping in the park. Permits are free.
You may obtain one at most ranger stations or at Sugarlands or Oconaluftee
visitor centers. You must stay at designated campsites or shelters when camping
in the backcountry. All shelters, and some campsites, require a reservation. The
park trail map shows the location of all backcountry campsites and shelters, and
indicates which campsites require a reservation. Your permit must designate the
campsite or shelter at which you will stay for each night of your trip. The park
does not allow pets on backcountry trails. For assistance call (865) 436-1297.
For reservations call (865) 436-1231.
Frontcountry Camping
Details
The National Park Service maintains developed campgrounds at 10 locations in the
park: Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby,
Deep Creek, Elkmont, Look Rock, and Smokemont. Please scroll down the page for
information about each of these campgrounds. Park map.
Each campground has restrooms with cold running water and flush toilets, but
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.
Each individual campsite has a fire grate and picnic table.
During summer and fall, sites at Elkmont, Smokemont, Cades Cove, and Cosby may
be reserved. See individual campground listings below for reservation
information. Reservations are accepted only for May 15-Oct 31. All other
campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
In addition to individual campsites, several frontcountry campgrounds offer a
limited number of group tent camping areas and five drive-in Horse Camps provide
ready access to park trails for horse riders.
A description of each Frontcountry Campground follows:
Abrams Creek Campground
Open March to Oct
Details
First-come, first serve. This campground has 16 sites and sits at elevation
1,125 feet. Can accommodate RVs up to 12 feet in length. Campground has running
water and bathroom facilities, but NO electric hookups or shower facilities. $14
each night.
Balsam Mountain Campground
Open May to Oct
Details
First-come, first serve. This campground has 46 sites and is at elevation 5,310
feet. Can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet in length. Campground has running water
and bathroom facilities, but NO electric hookups or shower facilities. $14 each
night. Campground Map (This is a 265 KB .pdf file which may be accessed by using
a free copy of Acrobat Reader.)
Big Creek Campground
Open Mar to Oct
Details
First-come, first serve. This campground has 12 sites and is for tents only. It
sits at elevation 1,700 feet. RVs prohibited. Campground has running water and
bathroom facilities, but NO electric hookups or shower facilities. $14 each
night. Group camping is also available. Reservations can be made either on line
or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP. Campground Map (This is a 139 KB .pdf file which
may be accessed by using a free copy of Acrobat Reader.)
The Big Creek Horse Camp is a separate facility. Please see the "Horse Camp"
listing below for additional information.
Cades Cove Campground
Open All Year
Reservations Online or by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP
Details
Reservations accepted up to five months in advance for May 15 - Oct. 31
occupancy. Other dates first-come, first-serve. This campground has 159 sites
and sits at elevation 1,807 feet. Can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet in length.
Campground has running water and bathroom facilities, but NO electric hookups or
shower facilities. Cades Cove Campground Store sells convenience items,
groceries, camping supplies, and a limited selection of hot and cold deli items.
There are no other food facilities in the park. Numerous convenience stores and
restaurant establishments are located in outlying communities. $17-20 each
night. Group camping is also available. Reservations can be made either on line
or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP. Campground Map (This is a 355 KB .pdf file which
may be accessed by using a free copy of Acrobat Reader.)
Cataloochee Campground
Open Mar to Oct
Details
First-come, first serve. This campground has 27 sites and sits at elevation
2,610 feet. Can accommodate RVs up to 31 feet in length. Campground has running
water and bathroom facilities, but NO electric hookups or shower facilities. $17
each night. Group camping is also available. Reservations can be made either on
line or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP.
The Cataloochee Horse Camp is a separate facility. Please see the "Horse Camp"
listing below for additional information.
Cosby Campground
Open Mar to Oct
Reservations Online or by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP
Details
Most sites are first-come, first serve, however reservations can now be made for
several sites in the campground. The campground has 157 sites and sits at
elevation 2,459 feet. Can accommodate RVs up to 25 feet in length. Campground
has running water and bathroom facilities, but NO electric hookups or shower
facilities. Shower facilities are available for a fee at businesses located on
highway US-32 just outside the park. Group camping is also available.
Reservations can be made either on line or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP. $14 each
night. Campground Map (This is a 319 KB .pdf file which may be accessed by using
a free copy of Acrobat Reader.)
Deep Creek Campground
Open April to Oct
Details
First-come, first serve. This campground has 92 sites and sits at elevation
1,800 feet. Can accommodate RVs up to 26 feet in length. Campground has running
water and bathroom facilities, but NO electric hookups or shower facilities. $17
each night. Group camping is also available. Reservations can be made either on
line or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP. Campground Map (This is a 192 KB .pdf file
which may be accessed by using a free copy of Acrobat Reader.)
Elkmont Campground
Open March to November
Reservations Online or by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP
Details
Reservations accepted up to five months in advance for May 15 - Oct. 31
occupancy. Other dates first-come, first-serve. This campground has 220 sites
and sits at elevation 2,150 feet. Can accommodate RVs up to 32 feet in length.
Campground has running water and bathroom facilities, but NO electric hookups or
shower facilities. $17-23 each night. Group camping is also available.
Reservations can be made either on line or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP. Campground
Map (This is a 223 KB .pdf file which may be accessed by using a free copy of
Acrobat Reader.)
Horse Camps
(Anthony Creek, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Round Bottom and Tow String)
Open April to November
Reservations Online or by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP
Details
There are five drive-in horse camps in the park. They are located at Anthony
Creek, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Roundbottom, and Towstring. All five horse camps
can be reserved through the National Park Reservation Service by calling
1-800-365-2267, or visiting http://reservations.nps.gov. Reservations may be
made up to five months in advance of your trip. Reservations are by site, with
each site accommodating up to six people and four horses. Each site costs $20.00
per night, except Big Creek, which costs $25.00 per night.
Look Rock Campground
Open May to Oct
Details
First-come, first serve. This campground has 68 sites and sits at elevation
2,600 feet. No size limits for RVs. Campground has running water and bathroom
facilities, but NO electric hookups or shower facilities. $14 each night.
Smokemont Campground
Open All Year
Reservations Online or by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP
Details
Reservations accepted up to five months in advance for May 15 - Oct. 31
occupancy. Other dates first-come, first-serve. This campground has 142 sites
and sits at elevation 2,198 feet. Can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet in length.
Campground has running water and bathroom facilities, but NO electric hookups or
shower facilities. $17-20 each night. Group camping is also available.
Lodging Options
Le Conte Lodge
Open March to November
Phone (865) 429-5704
Details
Le Conte Lodge, accessible only by foot, sits atop 6,593 Mount Le Conte, the
park's third highest peak. Reservations are required. Reservations can be made
by calling (865)429-5704 or by FAX at (865)774-0045 or (865) 429-5705, by Email
at reservations@leconte-lodge.com, or on-line at www.leconte-lodge.com. See
Bryson City, Cherokee, Fontana, NC and Cosby, Newport, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge,
Sevierville, Townsend.
Additional Information
Getting There
Plane
The nearest major airport in Tennessee (McGhee-Tyson, TYS) is Alcoa, 45 miles
west of Gatlinburg. North Carolina's, Asheville Airport is 60 miles east of the
park.
Car
Several major highways lead to the park. The following routes provide access to
the three main entrances.
Gatlinburg, TN entrance: From interstate highway I-40 take Exit 407
(Sevierville) to TN Route 66 South, and continue to US-441 South. Follow US-441
to park.
Townsend, TN entrance: From interstate highway I-40 in Knoxville - Exit 386B
US-129 South to Alcoa/Maryville. At Maryville proceed on US-321 North through
Townsend. Continue straight on TN Highway 73 into the park.
Cherokee, NC entrance: From I-40, take US Route 19 West through Maggie Valley.
Proceed to US-441 North at Cherokee into the park. From Atlanta and points
south: follow US-441 and 23 North. US-441 leads to the park.
Public Transportation
No train or bus service accesses the park.
Getting Around
The park's two main roads, Newfound Gap (U.S. 441) and Little River, remain open
throughout the year, except for temporary closures due to severe weather
conditions.
Click on link to view seasonal opening dates for secondary roads. Roads are
listed near the bottom of the page. Please scroll down the page to view
information.
Parson Branch Road is currently closed due to flood damage. No date for
reopening the road has been set.
For more information on road conditions, contact the park at (865) 436-1200.
|
