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Frontcountry Campground Video Great Smoky Mountains National Park maintains developed frontcountry campgrounds at 10 locations in the park. Click on campground titles below to learn more about each specific campground.
Camping is permitted in designated campsites only, NOT in pull outs or parking lots. Camping is popular year-round and the park has a variety of options to enjoy camping throughout the year. Cades Cove and Smokemont Campgrounds are open year-round. All other campgrounds are open on a seasonal basis. 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, 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. There are 5-amp electric outlets for medical equipment use only at Cades Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont. A maximum of two vehicles are allowed per site. At RV sites only one RV or trailer is allowed. No more than two (2) motor vehicles or one vehicle with trailer are allowed per campsite. Each campground has overflow parking for excess vehicles. Each campsite allows a maximum of six people. Camping structures must be placed on the tent pad, where a pad is provided. Hammocks are allowed but are limited to the footprint of the campsite. Check in time is 1:00 p.m. and check out time is at noon. Pets are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet. Pets are only permitted on the roads, Oconaluftee River Trail and Gatlinburg Trail. The park-wide camping limit is 14 consecutive days with no more than 60 total days in a calendar year. These limits apply to all park campgrounds. Quiet hours are from 10:00 PM-6:00 AM. Generator quiet hours are from 8:00 PM-8:00 AM. Front Country Reservations: Reservations for the Frontcountry, group and horse campgrounds can be made by calling 877-444-6777 or visiting www.recreation.gov. Making reservations prior to your arrival are recommended to guarantee a campsite. Additional information about camping reservations, including reservation time frames. ![]() Lisa Horstman Firewood Regulations: Only heat-treated firewood that is bundled and certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a state department of agriculture may be brought into the park. Campers may also collect dead and down wood found in the park for campfires. Visit the campground pages for a map and listing of local stores and businesses that sell certified firewood. Additional information about this regulation.
Groceries, Camping Supplies, Food, and FirewoodA limited selection of groceries, camping supplies, visitor convenience items, and food and beverage service are available in the park.
Late Arrival ProceduresPark campgrounds are not gated. You may check in after hours, pursuant to the instructions that follow. However, please be considerate of your neighbors while setting up camp by keeping noise and light to a minimum. Quiet hours are from 10:00 PM-6:00 AM. Generator quiet hours are from 8:00 PM-8:00 AM. Dump Stations for RVsDump 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. Discount PassesThe America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is an annual pass that covers entrance fees at sites managed by the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management. This pass does not provide discounts for camping fees. |
Last updated: January 21, 2023