Great Smoky Mountains Camping and RV Guide

The Great Smoky Mountains Camping and RV Guide

How to Explore the Great Smoky Mountains by RV

Smoky Mountains Campgrounds

1. Elkmont Campground

Elkmont Campground is located just 8 miles outside Gatlinburg, TN. It’s the largest campground in the park as well as the busiest. Camping here puts you close to park headquarters as well as nearby Gatlinburg amenities. Generations of campers continue to return to this campground year after year to enjoy its babbling brooks, quiet forests, and variety of activity choices.

Little River and Jakes Creek run through the campground, offering easy access to fishing or cool summertime splashing. Trailheads for Little River Trail, Jakes Creek Trail, and Elkmont Nature Trail are located adjacent to the campground. Historic remnants of Little River Lumber Company’s logging camp and old buildings from the Elkmont resort community offer campers a glimpse of life at Elkmont nearly a century ago.

Abrams Falls – Smoky Mountain National Park

2. Cades Cove Campground

Another great way to explore Cades Cove is by bicycle, and you can rent them at the Cades Cove Campground if you didn’t bring any on your RV. You also won’t want to miss the Cades Cove Nature Trail or the 5-mile hike to Abrams Falls.

Balsam Mountain Campground is located in a more secluded area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At an elevation of 5,300 feet, the cool mountain air rarely passes 70 degrees in the daytime, even in summer. It gives visitors a fantastic experience with fewer crowds. Elk are often seen in the area in spring and fall, and you will enjoy the picturesque mountain ranges and flowing streams nearby.

You won’t want to miss taking a stroll on part of the Balsam Mountain Trail, which takes you through old growth forest of oak and fir. For those looking for a real adventure, you can hike all 24 miles on a 2-3 day hiking trip.

Cades Cove Historic Building – Pixabay

4. Cataloochee Campground

Cataloochee Campground is located on the Southeast section of GSMNP. This area is one of the lesser visited areas of the Great Smokies, and making the drive on the twisty road will you give you a quieter experience to take in the many elk and other wildlife in the area. Located in an isolated valley, it is surrounded by rugged mountains with some excellent hiking trails.

It’s one of the most picturesque regions of the park and has many historical buildings that have been preserved from when this area was a once thriving farming community. Popular buildings you will want to see in Cataloochee are the Palmer Chapel, the Will Messer Barn, and Caldwell Place. Many of the buildings are located along the roadside, and some can be reached via the Little Cataloochee Trail.

Several great hikes are also in the area: 

• Boogerman Trail is a moderate 7.4-mile round-trip hike that takes you through old-growth forests, past the remains of historic home sites, and past streams and falls
• Caldwell Fork Trail is a moderate 5.8-mile round-trip hike that crosses several streams
• Rough Fork Trail is a 6.5-mile hike past several restored old farmhouses
• Cataloochee Divide Trail is a moderate 11.5-mile round-trip hike that runs along the southeast border of the national park

Image by bdjernes from Pixabay

5. Cosby Campground

One of the larger campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains, Cosby Campground is in a forested area and all the sites offer a quiet wooded seclusion you won’t find anywhere else. Most of this campground is for campers, but there are 16 sites for RVs with a max length of 25′. This campground is a favorite among locals and long-time visitors and is almost never full.

While the seclusion is great, it’s the hiking that draws people to this area. Hen Wallows Falls is a great hike located just 2.1 miles from the Cosby Picnic Area. You may also want to try the Sutton Ridge Overlook for some spectacular views. For avid hikers, you will want to try the strenuous hike to the Mt. Cammerer Fire Tower or the brutal but gorgeous Low Gap Trail that comes in at 13 miles.

6. Deep Creek Campground

Located just a few minutes from Bryson, North Carolina, Deep Creek Campground has several sites for RVs and trailers and is celebrated for its tubing, waterfalls and biking. While the NPS does not promote tubing or swimming in the waters inside the park, just outside the perimeter, you can rent inner tubes and float down the creek for some exciting summertime fun on the river.

Outside the park in Bryson, you can catch a ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for some one-of-a-kind mountain views or grab an ice cream at an old-timey ice cream and soda fountain called Soda Pops. There are also some excellent hikes around the Deep Creek area, like the 4.6-mile Deep Creek Loop Trail, which takes you to three waterfalls. Or try the Lakeshore Tunnel Loop, which is just 3.2 miles and takes you past some old homesteads and ends with a journey through a 1,200-foot tunnel.

7. Smokemont Campground

Smokemont Campground is located 6 miles from Cherokee, North Carolina. Situated on the Bradley Fork River, it is one of the best RV sites for fishing enthusiasts. Its location gives you easy access to the amenities and stores within Cherokee. The campground also allows access to the Bradley Fork Trail, located at the end of the D loop, which leads to numerous other trails nearby. You will be close to Smokemont Stables, where you can book a horseback ride to nearby waterfalls.  You can also learn about the Cherokee at nearby Oconaluftee Indian Village and Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, located in Cherokee, NC, and provide cultural and historical information about the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Campsites at Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Elkmont, and Smokemont may be reserved online or by phone at (877) 444-6777. Advance reservations are required at Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, and Cataloochee Campgrounds.

This post is a paid collaboration between myself and RV Share. All thoughts and suggestions as always are 100% my own. If you would like more information on renting an RV or trailer or renting out your RV to others you can visit.