About Abrams Creek Campground
Abrams Creek Campground is a small, quiet camp in the far west of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, at about 1,125 feet beside Abrams Creek. It has 16 sites, flush toilets and drinking water, with no hookups, showers or dump station. The setting is secluded and a long drive from the busy Gatlinburg corridor, which is the point.
2026 season and status
The Park Service lists the campground as closed from October 25, 2026 until May 8, 2027. Sites are reserved on recreation.gov up to six months ahead, and the camping fee is $30 per site per night. Reservations are required for all frontcountry sites; call 877-444-6777 if you prefer to book by phone. The park's camping page lists the shared rules, including six people and two vehicles per site and a 14-night limit.
What the campground offers
Four of the sites are tent-only. The Park Service says RVs and trailers are allowed but not recommended, because the access road is narrow and winding. The campground is not ADA accessible. Each site has a fire ring and a picnic table, and bear-proof food storage rules apply. Pets are allowed on a leash of 6 feet or less in the campground and on roads, but not on park trails.
Trails and what to do
Abrams Creek is a trailhead for quiet western-park hikes, including the Cooper Road Trail. Do not expect to walk to Abrams Falls from here: that trail starts at the far end of the Cades Cove Loop Road, a long drive away. The Park Service also notes that the Rabbit Creek Trail bridge over Abrams Creek is out. Check the closures page before you plan a hike.
Getting there
The campground is at the end of Abrams Creek Road, off Happy Valley Road southwest of Townsend, a winding road. Follow the Park Service directions rather than a GPS shortcut. The nearest groceries and fuel are in Townsend or Maryville, so stock up before you arrive. A parking tag is not required at your own campsite, but parking anywhere else in the park requires one; federal passes do not replace it.
Good to know
- How many sites does Abrams Creek Campground have?
- 16 sites. Season: Seasonal. Closes Oct 25, 2026; reopens May 8, 2027..
- How do I reserve a site?
- Reservations for national park campgrounds are made on recreation.gov. Summer and October weekends book up early.
- Do I need a parking tag?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.