Hiking and fishing are common, with trailhead to Little River, James Creek, and the Elkmont Nature Trail nearby.
It also has easy access to multiple hiking trails and fishing streams. There is a five-mile round trip hike up to Abram Falls nearby, a moderately high waterfall with rushing water.
That means wildlife is abundant–including bears!
Despite the crowds, you can still carve out your own little piece of solitude camping in one of the park’s magnificent campgrounds.
The Superfeet Guide to Exploring Six of the.
This is one of the few campgrounds in the park with good cell phone service so it’s a good place to stay if you need to stay in touch. Under the General Data Protection Regulation, cookies are considered personal data.
The city of Cherokee is about six miles away and provides access to convenience stores and fuel. There are, in fact, huge swaths of the Smokies where you can hike and not see another soul. From here, you can take a left down the Boulevard Trail for a less trafficked route up Mount LeConte. Although there aren’t any electric or water hookups within the park, there are dump stations open year-round at Cade’s Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont.
One of the coolest ways to spend the night near the Great Smoky Mountains without going completely primitive is to book a night in a treehouse or tiny home.
There are flush toilets and drinking water available.
Remember that you must acquire permits, reserve your campsites and shelters in advance, and pay a small fee.
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The lodge costs over $150 per night, but dinner and breakfast are provided so you won’t need to pack in too much gear. Its close proximity to town makes the Great Smoky Mountains the most visited National Park in America.
This route also has the added bonus of seeing the stunning views from the Jump Off.
O ur first stop was a bucket list backpacking trip for sure! The area is at a 1,700-foot elevation and is teeming with wildlife. Smokemont and Elkmont campgrounds are open year-round. Seasonal Closures: The mountainous region has large temperature fluctuations, that means the open and close dates vary depending on the campground. In addition, campers can take a one-hour horseback ride or, depending on the time of the year, carriage rides. Water and bathrooms: All campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains have flush toilets and potable water.
This park is the most visited National Park in the nation, and camping is one of the most popular activities that visitors enjoy there.
Because the area is so small, reservations are required. This creates an excellent experience for those seeking a more remote setting. Browse all Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg condos.. Backcountry Camping and Hiking.
Backcountry permits and AT thru-hiker permits can be made within two weeks from the first night of your trip. The campground offers a fire pit, picnic tables, grills, and great access to nearby trails. One of the best things about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is that it’s surrounded by National Forests and Wildlife Management Areas on all sides so you don’t need to spend a dime in order to stay the night for free.
For those with experience, the Hemphill Bald and Rough Fork trails are nearby and offer some excellent views of old-growth trees along the 14-mile hike.
Fishing and hiking are common activities, and it’s likely that you’ll see wildlife here. Spring car shows, fishing, events, & top things to do. West of the park is the Nantahala National Forest with tens of RV and tent camping sites.
There is no electricity at the campground or any water or sewer hookups (three of the campsites have electrical service for medical equipment). These are some of the best private campgrounds near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park: There is only one lodge located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: The LeConte Lodge. Situated in a forested area right along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, there are stunning mountains and ridges around every turn. Required fields are marked *, 5 Things You MUST Know Before Starting Van Life. You can also start out west at the Gregory Bald Trail which offers overlooks aplenty. Large group accommodations as well as …, CSGM Theme by carodactyll | Web Development by YlliB, Inc, Great Smoky Mountains Backcountry Permits. booking your stay at the LeConte Lodge here. Cookies and other technologies on this website are used but not limited to, personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. Your email address will not be published. As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Once on top hike back down the Bullhead Trail and stay in the LeConte shelter (not to be confused with LeConte Ledge, which is often booked months or even a year in advance). For full information about backcountry camping in the Smokies, visit the national parks service website or talk to a park ranger at the Sugarlands Visitors Center. Backcountry permits for camping in the Smoky Mountains are available at most ranger stations and visitor centers along with free backcountry maps showing all the hiking trails, camping areas, and a list of rules, regulations, and safety concerns.
Horseback riding opportunities are a short drive away, and just 5-miles from the campground are multiple historic buildings in the city of Cosby. There is also primitive camping available and discounted private campgrounds in the surrounding area which we’ll cover in this article. The area, which is surrounded by mountains, also creates a peaceful, relaxing experience for campers.
Each one is in a wooded area, just a short trek from the parking lot. We highly recommend taking a look at some of these locations for a romantic or fun family getaway. With hundreds of sites available, this is the best way to get away from the crowds and sleep off the beaten path. Some sites have an extreme slope, or the length of the driveway is limited, making them less suitable for larger RVs.
Free campsites in the Nantahala National forest have quick access to the Appalachian Trail and are dog-friendly so you can bring your pet in areas you wouldn’t be able to throughout the great smoky mountains.
We spent over two years living in a DIY camper van and visiting 48 US states. Campers can take a 1.6-mile roundtrip hike to reach two waterfalls. Looking to camp outside of the national park?
Reservations can be made up to 14 days prior to your trip. However, there are no shower facilities within the park.
Backpacking and backcountry campsites are abundant throughout the Great Smoky Mountains.
This is one of the largest and busiest campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, which can mean it is a bit harder to get a desirable location. The campground features 42 campsites for traditional camping and offers both drinking water and flush toilets. Many of these campsites come with amenities such as fire rings, and vault toilets. This is a tent-only campground that requires a reservation. There are also 20 walk-in sites for tent camping.
Fortunately, there are many private campgrounds that have all of the amenities you could want and more! The Smokies’ AT shelters are the peak of three-sided lean-to luxury: these stack-stone affairs are complete with in-house fireplaces and double-decker sleeping platforms. During peak season, there are evening programs at the nearby amphitheater.
It offers 92 individual sites for tent camping and RVs up to 26′.
There are ten campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with over 800 campsites for tents and RV campers. Backcountry permits and AT thru-hiker permits can be made within two weeks from the first night of your trip. RV camping: When it comes to large motorhomes, the Great Smoky Mountains is a very friendly National Park. You read that correctly, an island! Your first option is a 16-mile loop hike that starts at Rainbow Falls and heads up to LeConte’s summit. But there are flush toilets and a hot water spigot located nearby the dining room.
It’s common to seek elk nearby, and because it is 5,310 feet in elevation, the temperature here is very comfortable (usually under 70 degrees F during the day).
There are also a number of historic sites nearby, including the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. A short nature trail near site 43 is a good place to start for hikers exploring the area.
The location of Balsam Mountain Campground is stunning with the mountain range and streams in the background. Both the U and the Gregory Bald Trail hikes can easily incorporate Rocky Top and Thunderhead Mountain if you are hoping to check these popular Smokies peaks off your list. Call 1-800-365-CAMP or visit the National Park Service Reservation Center online to make reservations for camping in the Smoky Mountains! One of the most intriguing things about Look Rock Campground is that there are caves nearby for exploration and a densely forested area. Fortunately, these are easy to obtain and cost just $4 per person. If Mount LeConte is not your goal, but climbing the tallest towers and exploring the deepest valleys is, then start your trip at the Big Creek Campground. It’s common to see black bear and coyote here, along with white-tailed deer, ground hots, and turkey. For those who want to enjoy water recreation, Deep Creek Campground is the perfect choice. For those looking for a lesser-known campsite in the Great Smoky Mountains National park, Look Rock Campground can be a good fit. Most of the campgrounds are open between April and November.
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Find more info at Recreation.gov and the NPS website.
A footlocker is available, and pets are allowed at the campsite.
But if you have a couple of free days to delve into the backcountry, then you’ll have more options for your visit to one of the park’s most beloved mountains. Continue back via the Bote Mountain and West Prong trails.
A camp store is available from May-October which can provide most necessities as well as bike rentals.
There’s much to love here, including being along the waterfront.
Six of the campgrounds can accommodate RVs and trailers over 30′ long, and three of the campgrounds (Cades Cove, Look Rock, and Smokemont) can house campers 40 feet or longer.
How to find free camping and boondocking in the USA, over two years living in a DIY camper van, You can find additional information about.
There are also the makings of a couple great overnights in the Rocky Top/Cades Cove area as well.
The campground offers traditional outdoor camping with drinking water and flush toilets.
Peak fall colors, pumpkin patches, hiking & family activities.
We hope this site can help you plan your next road trip.
The mist-shrouded mountains if this beloved park are home to the highest peaks in the east and 814 square miles of protected wilderness prime for hiking, camping, and backcountry exploration.
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