Sponsors Great Smoky Mountains National Park 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. 
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