Frontcountry Camping

Frontcountry campgrounds have campsites that can accommodate tents, pop-up trailers, or RVs.

Amy Nichter Photo

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
• Smokemont

Please scroll down the page for information about each of these campgrounds. You can download a park map to find the locations of these campgrounds in the park.

Each campground has restrooms with cold running water and flush toilets. Each individual campsite has a fire grate and picnic table. 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. (5 amp electric hookups are available at a few sites in Cades Cove, Elkmont, and Smokemont for use only by those with medical needs. Check www.recreation.gov for more information.)

Campsites at Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Elkmont, and Smokemont may be reserved online or by phone at [phone]. Advance reservations are required at Cataloochee Campground. All remaining park campgrounds are first-come, first-served. Additional information about camping reservations, including reservation time frames.

In addition to individual campsites, the park offers a limited number of group camping areas.

Please read Campground Rules and Regulations for information concerning food storage, generator use, quiet hours, and other campground regulations.

 

Campground	Map	Number of Sites	Fee	Elevation	2013 Open/Close Dates	Maximum RV Length
Abrams Creek	Map	16	$14	1,125'	Closed	12'
Balsam Mountain	Map	46	$14	5,310'	Closed	30'
Big Creek	Map	12	$14	1,700'	4/12- 10/31	No RVs
Cades Cove Reserve Now	Map	159	$17-$20	1,807'	Year Round	Trailers-35' Motor Homes-40"
Cataloochee IMPORTANT-Reservations REQUIRED. Campsites are no longer available first-come, first-served. See entrance road advisory below.	Map	27	$20	2,610'	3/15 - 10/31 Advance reservations required entire season.	31'
Cosby Reserve Now Campsites have recently been renumbered.	Map	157	$14	2,459'	4/12- 10/31	25'
Deep Creek	Map	92	$17	1,800'	4/12- 10/31	26'
Elkmont Reserve Now	Map	220	$17-$23	2,150'	3/8 - 11/30	Trailers-32' Motor Homes-35'
Look Rock	Map	68	$14	2,600'	Closed	No size limit
Smokemont Reserve Now	Map	142	$17-$20	2,198'	Year Round	Trailers-35' Motor Homes-40"

Cataloochee Campground Reservations - Advance reservations are required to camp in Cataloochee during the entire season. There will no longer be any first-come, first-served campsites available in the campground. For additional information, please see the press release.

Cataloochee Campground Road Advisory: The entrance road to Cataloochee Valley is a winding, gravel road that has some steep drop offs with no guard rails. Horse trailer traffic may be encountered on the road. Because the road is narrow, it may be necessary to stop or back up to allow other vehicles to pass.

 

Quarantine Notice: The possession of firewood originating from a location for which a federal or state firewood quarantine is in effect is prohibited in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Click for additional information about this quarantine, including states affected.

 

Groceries, Camping Supplies, Food, and Firewood
A limited selection of groceries, camping supplies, visitor convenience items, and food and beverage service are available in the park. Please see listing for additional information.

Bundles of firewood are available for sale in the communities surrounding the national park. However, firewood may not be brought into the park unless it bears the USDA-APHIS-PPQ certification or it is purchased from a county that has no quarantine in effect. See firewood quarantine page for additional information. The following campgrounds have on-site firewood sales:

• Cades Cove (at Cades Cove Campground Store)
• Elkmont
• Smokemont (at Smokemont Riding Stables)

Dump Stations for RVs
Dump stations with potable water are located at Cades Cove, Cosby, Deep Creek, Look Rock, and Smokemont campgrounds. In addition, there is a dump station located across the road from the Sugarlands Visitor Center, approximately six miles from Elkmont Campground.