Gatlinburg Camping

Many people come to Gatlinburg with the intention of experiencing the Smokies. Camping is extremely popular and the Appalachian Trail is always close by. Whether you are interested in staying overnight on magnificent Mount LeConte, or trying something a little cozier, there are ample camping opportunities in the park.

Mount LeConte lodge is the only cabin found in the park, so all other accommodation in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in the form of campsites.

The developed campsites, or frontcountry campgrounds, allow you to camp near your car and restrooms with flush toilets and running water. Each site has a fire grate and picnic table. However, showers and electrical or water hookups are not available. Between May 15th and October 31st, you can reserve campsites online or by calling (877) 444-6777. Also, if you are camping with a group of 8 people or more at a group campsite, reservations are required. Otherwise, the campgrounds are first-come, first-served.

To rough it a bit more, you can backpack in to a backcountry campsite. You need a free backcountry permit to camp at these sites and certain sites need advance reservations through the Backcountry Reservation Office at (865) 436-1231. For more information and rules about backcountry camping, click here.

If you have a horse, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park also has several drive-in horse camps that are open from spring to fall. You can reserve horse camps online or by calling (877) 444-6777. Because these sites are so popular, we recommend booking them at least 6 months in advance.

Camping in the Smokies is simply breath-taking. To get some kind of idea of the views you will be treated to during your stay there and to help you decide what time of year you want to go, check out some photos of the park.

To learn more about camping at the Great Smoky Mountains and how you should prepare, check out the official National Park Service website.