Smoky Mountain National Park camping refers here to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the NPS-managed park on the North Carolina–Tennessee boundary. Compare campground types, facilities and booking requirements before choosing a site. Private properties outside the park use separate rules and reservation systems.
For broader options, see our Smoky Mountains campgrounds guide. This page focuses on camping inside the national park; individual campground listings provide contact details and maps.
Smoky Mountain National Park Campgrounds: Overview
The National Park Service says Great Smoky Mountains National Park maintains “developed frontcountry campgrounds at 10 locations,” and that Cades Cove and Smokemont are open year-round while all others are seasonal. If you are comparing smoky mountain national park campgrounds or great smoky national park campgrounds, the NPS describes four kinds of camping: frontcountry, group, horse camps and backcountry.
- Frontcountry: NPS says individual sites have a fire grate and a picnic table, and each campground has restrooms with cold running water and flush toilets.
- Group campgrounds: NPS lists seven group camping areas (Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, Elkmont and Smokemont).
- Horse camps: NPS lists five designated horse camps: Anthony Creek, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Round Bottom and Tow String.
- Backcountry: NPS says a permit and advance reservation are required for all backcountry camping.
Camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Sites and Facilities
For camping in great smoky national park, the NPS frontcountry page states that showers are not available in the park. It also says Cades Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont have 5-amp electric outlets for medical equipment use only. Amenities differ by campground, so check the NPS page for the one you plan to book.
Camping in Smoky National Park: tent sites
For smoky mountain national park tent camping, the NPS says frontcountry sites include a fire grate and picnic table. The NPS campground regulations set a maximum of six people per campsite and no more than two motor vehicles, or one vehicle with a trailer, per site.
RV camping in Smoky Mountains National Park
For RV camping in Smoky Mountains National Park, compare the services and vehicle requirements below, then check the campground’s official booking page:
- At RV sites, only one RV or trailer is allowed per site (NPS frontcountry camping page).
- The NPS frontcountry page says Look Rock Campground provides electric and water hookups at some sites only.
- The NPS frontcountry page lists dump stations with potable water at Cades Cove, Cosby, Deep Creek, Look Rock and Smokemont, plus one across the road from Sugarlands Visitor Center.
- Generators: the NPS frontcountry page gives quiet hours of 8:00 pm to 8:00 am, and the campground regulations page says operation is prohibited between 8 pm and 8 am.
Check the official reservation listing for maximum vehicle length and campsite dimensions. Hookup availability is limited inside the park; private properties outside the boundary may offer different services.
Smoky Mountain National Park Camping Reservations
For smoky mountain national park camping reservations (or camping reservations smoky mountain national park), the NPS states that “advance reservations are required year-round at all campgrounds.” The NPS permits and reservations page says reservations are required and can be made up to six months in advance on Recreation.gov. The NPS campground regulations page gives 1-877-444-6777 as the reservation line.
- Stay limit: the NPS says the park-wide camping limit is 14 consecutive days, with no more than 60 total days in a calendar year.
- Group camps: the NPS group campground page says the minimum party size is seven and the maximum stay is fourteen nights. Tents only; no trailers, campers or generators. Reservations are through Recreation.gov.
- Horse camps: the NPS horse camp page says reservations are online at Recreation.gov or by phone, that you must have a horse, and that sites hold six people and four horses at most.
- Backcountry: the NPS backcountry page says permits are issued through Recreation.gov, that you may not stay at any backcountry campsite more than 3 consecutive nights, and that the maximum party size is 8.
Seasons are published per campground by the NPS and change by year. For example, the NPS group camping page lists Smokemont group sites as 5/8 to 10/31 and Deep Creek group sites as 5/1 to 10/25 for 2026, and its horse camp page lists Cataloochee horse camp as 5/1 to 10/25 for 2026. Confirm all dates on NPS.gov and Recreation.gov before you go.
Camping Near Smoky Mountain National Park: North Carolina Side
If you want camping near smoky mountain national park on the North Carolina side, our directory lists these NPS-run camps. They are administered by the National Park Service, so reserve through Recreation.gov, not through the listing.
- Balsam Mountain Campground (Cherokee area, tent camping)
- Cataloochee Campground (Waynesville area, tent camping). An NPS news release says Cataloochee moved to advance reservations in 2011 and describes the campground as remote, with no cell service.
- Cataloochee Horse Camp and Round Bottom Horse Camp. The NPS horse camp page lists Round Bottom as “currently closed,” so check before planning.
- Smokemont Group Camp (group and tent camping)
Our regional guides cover the gateway areas in more detail: Deep Creek camping and the Cherokee camping guide.
Private Campgrounds Near Smoky Mountain National Park
Because the park’s campgrounds require reservations and some are seasonal, many visitors also look at private campgrounds near smoky mountain national park. Private campgrounds set their own rules, seasons and booking methods, so use the operator’s own website and the directory listing. Our directory currently lists the following, with camping types as recorded on each listing.
RV campgrounds near Smoky Mountain National Park
The following private directory listings are tagged RV Camping. They are outside the national park; confirm hookups, vehicle limits and booking requirements directly with the operator:
- Bryson City: Big Bear’s RV Park, Sun Retreats Nantahala, Grumpy Bear Camp Ground & Gem Mine and Deep Creek Tube Center & Campground
- Cherokee: Happy Holiday RV Village, Indian Creek Campground and Mile High Campground
- Maggie Valley: Stonebridge RV Resort & Campgrounds, Hillbilly Creekside Campground and Cross Creek RV Park. See also our Maggie Valley camping guide.
Tent camping near Smoky Mountain National Park
For tent camping near smoky mountain national park, the directory tags Deep Creek Tube Center & Campground, Happy Holiday RV Village, Indian Creek Campground, Mile High Campground and Stonebridge RV Resort & Campgrounds with Tent Camping, in addition to the NPS-run tent camps above. Compare types and contact details on each listing.
Campgrounds in Smoky Mountains National Park: Rules to Know
Whether you search for campgrounds smoky mountains national park or great smoky national park camping, these rules come from the NPS campground regulations page:
- Food and bears: food and equipment used to prepare and store food (stoves, pots, coolers) must be kept sealed in a vehicle, preferably the trunk, or in a solid, non-pliable camping unit at all times when not in use.
- Fires: campfires only in fire rings. Firewood must be heat-treated, bundled and certified by the USDA or a state agency, or you may collect dead and down wood.
- Pets: allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas and along roads on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail are the two trails that permit leashed pets. See the NPS pet guidelines.
- Quiet hours: 10 pm to 6 am.
- Stay: 14 consecutive days at a time.
Things to Do Nearby
For a wider planning view of the region, see our Smoky Mountains campgrounds guide. For trails, attractions and current conditions, use the NPS Plan Your Visit pages. We do not list individual trails or attractions here because we include only ones verified on an official page.
Camping in Smoky Mountains National Park: common questions
Do I need a reservation for camping in Great Smoky National Park?
The NPS states advance reservations are required year-round at all campgrounds, via Recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777.
How far ahead can I book?
The NPS permits and reservations page says up to six months in advance on Recreation.gov.
Are there hookups for camping in Smoky Mountains National Park RVs?
The NPS says Look Rock has electric and water hookups at some sites only, and that Cades Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont have 5-amp outlets for medical equipment only.
Are there showers?
The NPS frontcountry camping page says showers are not available in the park.
How long can I stay?
The NPS says 14 consecutive days, with no more than 60 total days per calendar year.
Can I bring my own firewood?
Only heat-treated firewood bundled and certified by the USDA or a state agency, per the NPS. Dead and down wood in the park may be collected.
Browse more in the destinations index. Official sources: NPS frontcountry camping and Recreation.gov. Seasons, rules and closures change, so confirm before you go.
Ready to plan camping in Smoky Mountains National Park? Check the NPS campground pages and follow their reservation links to confirm dates, site requirements and availability.
