Name: Smokemont Campground
Nearest Gateway City: Cherokee, NC
Elevation: 2,200’
Individual Camp Sites: 142
Fee: $25 per night
Dates Open: Year Round (A and B Loops Only)
Group Campsites: 3 (20 people maximum per site)
Fee: $40 per night
Dates Open: May 13 – October 30, 2022
Directions to Smokemont Campground
Smokemont Campground is in the southeastern area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, about six miles from Cherokee, North Carolina.
From Cherokee, NC: Take Tsali Boulevard (US 441) past the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Drive an additional 3.1 miles to Smokemont Road and turn right, cross the river, then turn left. The campground is straight ahead.
Description of Smokemont Campground
By now, you know that the beautiful handiwork of God surrounds all the campgrounds in the park. Smokemont is no different.
Smokemont Campground | Luten Bridge | My Smoky Mountain Guide
Magnificent trees, wildflowers, and the ever-peaceful Oconaluftee River, all make Smokemont Campground a wonderful place to camp.
A ranger station and the campground office are both in Section A, at the campground entrance. Two additional camp hosts are located in Sections F and D.
Generator use is forbidden in sections A, B, and C from mid-May through October. If you need to use a generator, you must camp in sections D and F or in one of the group campsites.
Only recreational vehicles may reserve the forty-seven sites in Section F; tents are not allowed.
Tent campers and recreational vehicles may use sections A, B, C, and D.
DOWNLOAD: Smokemont Campground Site Map
Smokemont Campground Amenities
Smokemont Campground has restrooms with flushing toilets and sinks throughout the campground. Potable, cold running water is available at spigots.
The campground does not have showers, electricity, or water hookups.
Food must be stored in your vehicle, preferably in the trunk. Black bears live in the area and the smell of food is enticing. A food storage box is located at the campground office intended for motorcyclists or anyone without a hard-sided vehicle.
RELATED: Black Bears
This campground is equipped with the following:
- Ranger Station
- Accessible Restrooms
- Drinking Water
- Dump Station
- Firewood Vendor
- Fire Rings
- Fishing
- Biking
- Birding
- Telephone (911 and backcountry only)
- Hiking Trail
- Parking
- Horse Trail
- Riding Stable
- Camp Supplies
- Amphitheater
- Trailer/Sanitary Station
- Disability Access
- Vending Machines
- MORE
IMPORTANT: Only two campsites have electricity and they are reserved for medical purposes. If you have a medical need (i.e. CPAP machine), you may reserve one of these campsites. Ask for campsite B028 when making your reservation. The only other site with a 5-amp outlet is F043 in section F, reserved for recreational vehicles.
Individual Campsites
The campsites have a gravel tent pad, a picnic table, and a fire ring with a cooking grate.
Individual campsites accommodate up to six people. If your family or group is more than six people, you need to secure a second site or get a group campsite.
Campsites in sections A and B are first-come-first-served from January 1 to about April or May; so you do not need a reservation. However, after that time, you will need a reservation. Please check Recreation.gov for the latest details.
The fee for an individual campsite is $25 per night.
Group Campsites
There are three group campsites at Smokemont. Each group campsite accommodates from seven to twenty people.
Group campsites have the same amenities as the individual sites.
To use a group campsite, you must reserve it. The good news is that you can reserve it up to 12 months in advance.
The fee for a group campsite is $40 per night.
Reservations and Registration
For more information, or to make a reservation, visit Recreation.gov or call (877) 444-6777.
You can make a reservation for individual campsites up to 6 months in advance. Group campsites can be reserved up to 12 months in advance.
Upon arrival, you must register at the campground office. If you arrive after hours, fill out the form on the envelope and drop your camping fee into the safety deposit box. A ranger or camp host will come by your campsite the following day to follow up.
IMPORTANT: Prices are subject to change. Additional fees, taxes, or discounts may apply.
RELATED: Campground Regulations
Nearby Points of Interest
Hiking is the number one activity in the park. Several trails are close by and provide excellent hiking opportunities. Smokemont Nature Trail is a short hiking trail with a trailhead in the campground. Smokemont Loop is a longer trail and provides a more traditional hike.
If you like to ride horses, the Smokemont Riding Stables are within walking distance of the campground. The horses know the trails better than any person and the experience is amazing.
Cherokee, North Carolina is a wonderful place to learn the history of the Cherokee Indians and experience their culture. They also have a gaming facility for the gambler in you.
