Smokies guide
Smokies Campgrounds
Frontcountry campgrounds in GSMNP, backcountry sites, national forest grounds, state parks, and the private RV parks worth knowing about.
25 entries across 17 locations checked against official sources.
The best campgrounds in the Smokies are Cades Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont inside the national park, with Cosby and Deep Creek for quiet, plus national forest and private RV parks nearby. Cades Cove and Smokemont stay open year-round, while the park's other campgrounds close for part of the year. All frontcountry campsites in the park need advance reservations on recreation.gov, and most cost about $30 a night, so book as soon as your window opens.
This index catalogs 28 campgrounds in and around the park, with site counts, hookups, showers, toilets, reservation rules, seasons and rates. Backcountry camping needs a separate permit, which since April 30, 2026 is issued through recreation.gov at $8 per person per night plus a reservation fee. Cades Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont book out months ahead for summer weekends and all of October.
Match the site to your style. Cades Cove and Elkmont are busy and social, and Elkmont's synchronous firefly viewing (about eight nights from late May to early June, May 20 to 27 in 2026) is by lottery only. Cosby and Deep Creek are quieter and cheaper. Private RV parks in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville offer hookups, pools and shuttles. Some Helene-damaged areas on the North Carolina side still have trail closures, so check the park's current conditions.
Plan smarter
Book early
Frontcountry park campsites open for reservation on recreation.gov months ahead and go fast for summer weekends, fall color and fireflies. For July or October weekends, plan in winter.
Know your bear rules
Store food, coolers, scented items and trash in your vehicle or the provided bear box. Leaving food out risks a citation and endangers bears.
Cosby for quiet
Cosby Campground on the east side is usually the least crowded park option, with quick access to trails such as Hen Wallow Falls and Low Gap to Mount Cammerer. Check its seasonal dates, since it closes in late fall.
Cherokee 3 entries
Cherokee, NC
Balsam Mountain Campground
Balsam Mountain is the park's highest campground at 5,310 feet, with 43 cool, quiet sites off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It closed on October 12 and reopens in May 2027.
Cherokee, NC
Cherokee / Great Smokies KOA Holiday
The Cherokee KOA, on Big Cove Road beside the Raven Fork River, is open all year with RV sites, tent sites and cabins, a short drive from the park's Oconaluftee entrance.
Cherokee, NC
Smokemont Campground
Smokemont is the year-round campground on the North Carolina side, 6 miles north of Cherokee, with 142 sites beside the Oconaluftee River and a dump station.
Townsend 3 entries
Townsend, TN
Cades Cove Campground
Cades Cove Campground is open year-round with about 160 sites near the loop road's wildlife meadows. In winter only sites C1-12 and C26-61 are open, by reservation.
Townsend, TN
Little Arrow Outdoor Resort (formerly Little Arrowhead)
Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, formerly Little Arrowhead, is a private RV, cabin and glamping resort on Stables Drive in Townsend, minutes from the road to Cades Cove.
Townsend, TN
Townsend / Great Smokies KOA Holiday
The Townsend KOA on Highway 73 is open all year with RV sites, tent sites and cabins, a short drive from the park's quiet Townsend entrance and the road to Cades Cove.
Cosby 3 entries
Cosby, TN
Cosby Campground
Cosby is the park's quiet northeast campground: 157 shaded sites at 2,459 feet, trails to Hen Wallow Falls, and a closing date of October 25.
Cosby, TN
Gatlinburg East / Smoky Mountain KOA Holiday
Now called Gatlinburg East / Smoky Mountain KOA Holiday, this private campground is on Hooper Highway in Cosby, about 17 miles from downtown Gatlinburg, and open all year.
Cosby, TN
Smoky Mountain Premium Camping (formerly Smoky Mountain Premier RV Resort)
Smoky Mountain Premium Camping (formerly Premier RV Resort) offers large pull-through RV sites with concrete patios and fire pits in Cosby, across from the national park. No pets.
Gatlinburg 3 entries
Gatlinburg, TN
Elkmont Campground
Elkmont is the park's largest campground, with about 210 sites along the Little River near Gatlinburg. It runs through November 29, 2026 and reopens April 3, 2027.
Gatlinburg, TN
Greenbrier Campground
Greenbrier Campground is a private, river-side RV and tent campground on East Parkway east of Gatlinburg with about 120 full-hookup RV sites. Book through Campspot or call ahead.
Gatlinburg, TN
Smoky Bear Campground & RV Park
Smoky Bear Campground & RV Park is a private campground on US-321 east of Gatlinburg with 46 full-hookup sites, 3 primitive tent sites and 6 cabins. Pets are welcome.
Tallassee 1 entry
Waterville 1 entry
Waynesville 1 entry
Pisgah Forest 1 entry
Bryson City 1 entry
Sapphire 1 entry
Tellico Plains 1 entry
Nebo 1 entry
Walland 1 entry
Rocky Top 1 entry
Morristown 1 entry
Hartford 1 entry
Pigeon Forge 1 entry
Where to stay
Near Smokies camping region
Frontcountry campgrounds cluster inside GSMNP: Cades Cove, Elkmont, Smokemont, Cosby and Deep Creek. Private RV parks line the Parkway in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.
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