Quick Summary:

  • What makes Great Smoky Mountains National Park special?
    • Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the United States' most-visited national park, attracting more than 11 million visitors each year for world-class hiking, fishing, whitewater rafting, and sightseeing opportunities.
  • What is unique about the park’s ecosystem?
    • The designated UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to one of the United States' most diverse biospheres.
  • What resort towns are located near the park?
    • The park is populated by lovely resort towns like Gatlinburg, known for its mountain chalets and family-friendly attractions, and Pigeon Forge, home to the renowned theme park Dollywood.
  • What camping options are available in the park?
    • Visitors can choose from a wide variety of campground accommodations throughout the park's North Carolina and Tennessee border cities, many of which offer electric hookups, modern bathhouses, and family-friendly amenities like swimming pools and game rooms.


  • Updated with new information since originally published.
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  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Abrams Creek Campground ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Accommodations
Abrams Creek Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© golubovy/stock.adobe.com

2. Alpine Hideaway Campground ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Accommodations
Alpine Hideaway Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© Maksim Šmeljov/stock.adobe.com

3. Balsam Mountain Campground

Category: Accommodations
Balsam Mountain Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© New Africa/stock.adobe.com

4. Big Creek Group Campground

Category: Accommodations
Big Creek Group Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© Sergey Novikov/stock.adobe.com

5. Brookside Campground and Rafting

Category: Accommodations
Brookside Campground and Rafting | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© DNF-Style/stock.adobe.com

6. Cataloochee Group Campground

Category: Accommodations
Cataloochee Group Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© mooshny/stock.adobe.com

7. Cosby Campground

Category: Accommodations
Cosby Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© o_lypa/stock.adobe.com

8. Cove Creek RV Resort

Category: Accommodations
Cove Creek RV Resort | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© stock.adobe.com

9. Deep Creek Campground

Category: Accommodations
Deep Creek Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© kosmos111/stock.adobe.com

10. Deep Creek Tube Center and Campground

Category: Accommodations
Deep Creek Tube Center and Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© gpointstudio/stock.adobe.com

11. Elkmont Campground

Category: Accommodations
Elkmont Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© auremar/stock.adobe.com

12. Greenbrier Campground

Category: Accommodations
Greenbrier Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© proimagecontent./stock.adobe.com

13. Moonshine Creek Campground

Category: Accommodations
Moonshine Creek Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© Drobot Dean/stock.adobe.com

14. Cades Cove Campground

Category: Accommodations
Cades Cove Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© auremar/stock.adobe.com

15. Pigeon River Campground

Category: Accommodations
Pigeon River Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© WavebreakMediaMicro/stock.adobe.com

16. River's Edge Treehouse Resort

Category: Accommodations
River's Edge Treehouse Resort | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© River's Edge Treehouse Resort

17. Smokemont Campground

Category: Accommodations
Smokemont Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© National Parked/stock.adobe.com

18. Standing Indian Campground

Category: Accommodations
Standing Indian Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© WavebreakmediaMicro/stock.adobe.com

19. Thunder Rock Recreation Area and Campground

Category: Accommodations
Thunder Rock Recreation Area and Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© David Prahl/stock.adobe.com

20. Timberlake Campground

Category: Accommodations
Timberlake Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© WavebreakMediaMicro/stock.adobe.com

21. Tsali Campground

Category: Accommodations
Tsali Campground | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© moodboard/stock.adobe.com

22. Yogi in the Smokies

Yogi in the Smokies | Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains
© Olesia Bilkei/stock.adobe.com

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