GENERAL INFORMATION:
No electrical hookups, water hookups, or showers are available. Pets are permitted on a leash only, but are not permitted on trails. Facilities and services listed for campgrounds are on-site unless otherwise indicated. No more than 6 people per site. Two tents or one RV and one tent are allowed per site. For additional information call 1-800-365-CAMP.
GROUP CAMPING:
Group camping May 15 - October 31 at Cades Cove, Elkmont, Smokemont, Big Creek, Cataloochee, and Deep Creek can now be made through the National Park by calling 800-365-CAMP. The cost for group camping ranges from $20 to $63.
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING:
March 14 - October 31. Big Creek, Catalochee, Anthony Creek, Round Bottom, and Tow String campgrounds are available for camping with horses. Reservations required at Anthony Creek, Tow String, Big Creek, Cataloochee and Round Bottom and can be made by calling 800-365-CAMP.
Fee: $20 per night, except for Big Creek, which is $25 per night. Rules: All horses must be accompanied by a copy of an official negative test for Equine Infectious Anemia (a.k.a. "Coggins Test") administered within the past 12 months. Proof must be provided upon request. Campgrounds, fees and policies listed below.
Horse rentals are available at Cades Cove (865) 448-6286; Smokemont (865) 497-2373; McCarter's Riding Stables (865) 436-5354 and Smoky Mountain Riding Stables (865) 436-5634.
CADES COVE:
Number of sites: 159 main season, 19 off-season (tent and RV; group sites available) Average dates open: all year; limited sites available 11/1 through 5/14 Fee: $17 per site per night 5/15 - 10/31, $ 14 per site per night 11/1 - 5/14, no reservations. Can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet in length. Location: 9 miles southwest of Townsend, TN via TN 321 Elevation: 1,807 feet Nearest medical facilities: Maryville, 25 miles Activities nearby: fishing, naturalist programs, groceries, horses and bicycles for rent. Stay Limit: 7 days 5/15 - 10/31; 14 days 11/1 - 5/14 Services: disposal station, wood for sale, small grocery store.
Guided tours are conducted on horseback for $20 per person. Carriage rides around Cades Cove cost $7.50 per person. Motorized hay rides are $6.00 per person and ranger-led motorized hay rides cost $8.00 per person. For more information, call (423) 448-6286.
ELKMONT:
Number of sites: 220 main season, 29 off-season (tent and RV; group sites available) Average dates open: March 12 - Nov. 30; limited sites available 11/1 - 5/14 Fee: $20 per site per night 5/15 - 10/31 with reservations. $14 per site per night 11/1 - 5/14, no reservations. Can accommodate RVs up to 32 feet in length. Campground has running water and bathroom facilities, but no showers or electric hookups. Location: 8 miles southwest of Gatlinburg, TN via Little River Road Elevation: 2,150 feet Nearest medical facilities: Gatlinburg, 8 miles Activities nearby: fishing, naturalist programs Stay limit: 7 days 5/15 - 10/31; 14 days 11/1 - 5/14 Services: disposal station (4 miles), wood for sale.
SMOKEMONT:
Number of sites: 142 main season, 35 off-season (tent and RV; group sites available) Average dates open: All Year; limited sites available 11/1 - 5/14 Fee: $17 per site per night 5/15 - 10/31 with reservations. $14 per site per night 11/1 - 5/14, no reservations. Can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet in length. Campground has running water and bathroom facilties, but no showers or electric hookups. Location: 6 miles north of Cherokee, NC of Newfound Gap Road Elevation: 2,198 feet Nearest medical facilities: Bryson City, 15 miles Activities nearby: fishing, naturalist programs, horses for rent Stay limit: 7 days 5/15 - 10/31; 14 days 11/1 - 5/14 Services: disposal station, wood for sale..
BALSAM MOUNTAIN:
Number of sites: 46 (tent and RV) Average dates open: May 14 - October 11 (weather dependent) Fee: $14 per site per night, no reservations. Can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet in length. Campground has running water and bathroom facililties, but no showers or electric hookups. Location: On Heintooga Ridge Road, 8 miles north of Blue Ridge Parkway between mile markers 458 and 459 Elevation: 5,310 feet High elevation mountain environment Nearest medical facilities: Waynesville, 25 miles Activities nearby: naturalist programs, scenic vistas along Blue Ridge Parkway and Heintooga-Round Bottom Road. Stay limit: 7 days. Services: Wood for Sale.
COSBY:
Number of sites: 157 (tent and RV; group sites available) Average dates open: March 12 - October 31. Fee: $14 - $20 per site per night, no reservations. Can accommodate RVs up to 25 feet in length. Location: 2 miles south of Cosby, TN off TN 32 Elevation: 2,459 feet Nearest medical facilities: Newport, 15 miles Activities nearby: fishing, naturalist programs, horses for rent Stay limit: 7 days Services: disposal station.
DEEP CREEK:
Number of sites: 92 (tent and RV; group sites available) Average dates open: April 2 - October 31. Fee: $14 - $30 per site per night, no reservations. Can accommodate RVs up to 26 feet in length. Campground has running water and bathroom facilities, but no showers or electric hookups. Location: 3 miles north of Bryson City, NC Elevation: 1,800 feet Nearest medical facilities: Bryson City, 3 miles Activities nearby: fishing, naturalist programs Stay limit: 7 days Services: disposal station, wood for sale.
LOOK ROCK:
Number of sites: 68 (tent and RV sites) Average dates open: May 14 - October 31. Fee: $14 per site per night, no reservations. No size limits on RVs. Campground has running water and bathroom facilities, but no showers or electric hookups. Location: Foothills Parkway West between Walland & Chilhowee, TN Elevation: 2,600 feet Nearest medical facilities: Maryville, 20 miles Nearest water recreation: TVA lake, 5 miles Activities nearby: hiking, many scenic vistas along Parkway Stay limit: 7 days.
ABRAMS CREEK:
Number of sites: 16 (tent sites and small trailers up to 12 feet) Open: March 12th through October 31st. Fee: $12 per site per night, no reservations. Campgrounds has running water and bathroom facilities, but no showers or electric hookups. Location: 6 miles east of Chilhowee Lake off Happy Valley Road Elevation: 1,125 feet Nearest medical facilities: Maryville, 25 miles Activities nearby: fishing Stay limit: 7 days.
BIG CREEK:
Number of sites: 12 (tent sites only; group sites available) Average dates open: March 12 - October 31. Fee: $12 - $25 per site per night, no reservations. RVs are prohibited. Campground has running water and bathroom facilities, but no showers or electric hookups. Location: Exit 451 off I-40, 16 miles east of Newport, TN; 3 miles to site Elevation: 1,700 feet Nearest medical facilities: Newport, 22 miles Activities nearby: fishing Stay limit: 7 days
Drive-in horse camp. Open: March 12 - October 31. Fee: $25 per night. Location: Sixteen miles east of Newport, Tennessee on I-40. Exit I-40 at exit 451. Follow road past Walters Power Generating Station to 4-way intersection. Follow signs to Big Creek. Rules: You must have a horse to camp here. The site is limited to 4 horses and 6 people. If you have more, reserve a 2nd site. You may have 2 horse trailers per site, plus two motor vehicles and 1-2 tents. People and equipment must vacate the campground after 7 consecutive days.
CATALOOCHEE:
Number of sites: 27 (tent sites only; group sites available) Average dates open: March 12 - October 31. Fee: $12 - $20 per site per night, no reservations. Can accommodate RVs up to 31 feet in length. Campground has running water and bathroom facilities, but no showers or electric hookups. Location: US 276 exit off I-40, then take Cove Creek Road turnoff Elevation: 2,610 feet Nearest medical facilities: Maggie Valley, 15 miles Activities nearby: fishing Stay limit: 7 days
Drive-in horse camp. Average dates open: March 14 - October 31. Fee: $20 per night. Location: Exit I-40 at exit 20, twenty-five miles west (north) of Asheville, North Carolina (87 miles east of Knoxville, Tennessee). Turn right onto Cove Creek road 1/10 mile from I-40. Follow Cove Creek road approximately 11 miles to Cataloochee horse camp. Rules: You must have a horse to camp here. Sites are limited to 4 horses and 6 people. If you have more, reserve a 2nd site. You may have 2 horse trailers per site plus 2 motor vehicles and 1-2 tents. People and equipment must vacate the campground after 7 consecutive days.
ANTHONY CREEK HORSE CAMP:
Drive-in horse camp. Average dates open: March 12 - November 1. Fee: $20 per night. Location: Thirty miles southeast of Maryville, Tennessee on Highway 321. Take US Highway 321 to Townsend, Tennessee. Take Highway 73 to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Follow signs to Cades Cove Campground. Horse camp is at back of picnic area, through gate. Rules: You must have a horse to camp here. Sites are limited to 4 horses and 6 people. If you have more, reserve a 2nd site. You may have two 24' horse trailers per site, plus two motor vehicles. People and equipment must vacate the campground after 7 consecutive days. Road turnoff Elevation: 2,610 feet. Nearest medical facilities: Blount Memorial Hospital, 30 miles Activities nearby: fishing, hiking, riding trails. Stay limit: 7 days.
ROUNDBOTTOM HORSE CAMP:
Drive-in horse camp. Average dates open: March 12 - October 31. Fee: $20 per night. Location: Just north of Cherokee, North Carolina turn off US 441 onto Big Cove road. Go 0.2 mile to stop sign and turn left. Go 8.8 miles to a tee. Turn right and go 0.9 mile to end of pavement. Take gravel road (adjacent to trout rearing facility) 3.5 miles to horse camp. Rules: You must have a horse to camp here. Sites are limited to 4 horses and 6 people. If you have more, reserve a 2nd site. You may have two 24' horse trailers per site, plus two motor vehicles. People and equipment must vacate the campground after 7 consecutive days. Road turnoff Elevation: 2,610 feet. Nearest medical facilities: Cherokee, NC, 12 miles Activities nearby: fishing, hiking, riding trails. Stay limit: 7 days.
TOWSTRING HORSE CAMP:
Drive-in horse camp. Average dates open: March 12 - October 31. Fee: $20 per night. Location: Campground is located 4 miles north of Cherokee, North Carolina off US 441. Turn right at sign for Tow String. Rules: You must have a horse to camp here. Sites are limited to 4 horses and 6 people. If you have more, reserve a 2nd site. You may have two 24' horse trailers per site, plus two motor vehicles. People and equipment must vacate the campground after 7 consecutive days. Road turnoff Elevation: 2,610 feet. Nearest medical facilities: Cherokee, NC, 4 miles Activities nearby: fishing, hiking, riding trails. Stay limit: 7 days.
