If you are looking for a remote tent campsite in Great Smoky Mountains National Park than you will love the Big Creek Campground. There are only 12 tent sites within the campground.
Big Creek Campground - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The campground is located in the Eastern portion of the park down a dirt road. Part of the adventure of this campground is reaching it. There is a gorgeous dirt road drive to reach the campground.
We were amazed at how beautiful the drive is and how peaceful it was. We only saw one car on our way to the campground and that was in June.
There is a bathroom with running water and flush toilets in the campground pretty close the campsites. There are no showers or hook-ups within the campground.
Check out our complete guide to Great Smoky Mountains Camping
Season: April - October
Number of Sites: 12 TENT ONLY campsites
Location in the park: Eastern side of the park.
Campsite Cost: $17.50
Payments accepted: Cash and Check
Reservations: Yes, Recreation.Gov
Latitude/Longitude:
- Latitude:
- 35.7597222
- 35° 45' 34.9999" N
- Longitude:
- -83.1041667
- 83° 6' 15.0001" W
Elevation: 1,700
Accessible Sites: no
Pets Allowed: Pets are allowed in the campground but must be confined or on a leash (6' maximum).
Campground Reservations
Are campground Reservations Available? Yes
Phone Number?
Online? Recreation.gov
How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? Individual campsites are released on a 6-month rolling basis
First Come, First Served? No
Campground Amenities
Flush Toilets: Yes
Payphone: No
Is wifi Available? No
Is cellular Phone Service Available? No, we did not have any service in the campground
Is camp host available on site? Yes, They are located near the Group Campsites
Is firewood available for purchase? Firewood is available in town but not in the campground.
You must use fire-treated wood in Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Only heat-treated firewood bundled in its original packing and bearing a certification seal from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a state department of agriculture may be brought into the park.
Campers may also collect dead and down wood in the park for campfires.
Visit www.nature.org/firewoodmap for a list of available vendors near the park.
Amenities at each campsite:
Fire pit in the site? Yes
Picnic Table in the site? Yes
Bear Box in site/area? There is a communal bear box near the bathroom.
Potable Water? Yes
Don't forget to pack
Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water.
We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips. Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors.
Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.
Bring your water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.
Sunglasses - I always bring sunglasses with me. I personally love Goodr sunglasses because they are lightweight, durable, and have awesome National Park Designs from several National Parks like Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Hawaii Volcanoes, Acadia, Denali, and more!
Click here to get your National Parks Edition of Goodr Sunglasses!
Binoculars/Spotting Scope - These will help spot birds and wildlife and make them easier to identify. We tend to see waterfowl in the distance, and they are always just a bit too far to identify them without binoculars.
RV Camping at Campground - NO RV Camping
Generators: Generator use is prohibited from 8 pm to 8 am.
No hookups or showers at the campground
How to get to Campground
The campground is sixteen miles east of Newport, TN on I-40. Exit I-40 at exit 451 (Waterville). Follow the road past the Walters Power Generating Station to the 4-way intersection at Mt Sterling Gap. Follow the signs to Big Creek.
Campground Regulations
The maximum number of people in a campsite: up to six people per campsite.
The number of cars per campsite: No more than two motor vehicles or one vehicle with trailer are allowed per campsite
Checkout time: 12 pm
Quiet Hours: 10 pm to 6 am
Maximum Stay: limited to 14 consecutive days at a time
Big Creek Campground Map
Photos of Big Creek Campground
Where to stay when visiting Great Smoky Mountain National Park
There are many options right outside of the park in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
There is one park lodge the LeConte Lodge which you visitors need to hike into.
LeConte Lodge
Sitting at 6,643 ft, just shy of the Mountain LeConte peak at 6,593 feet, is the LeConte Lodge. This beautiful property is the only Lodge within the National Park.
It boasts spectacular unobstructed views of the mountains and the valley; however, it is only accessible by foot (which you’ll have to follow with your supplies).
There are five trails that will lead you to this historic site - Alum Cave Trail, Boulevard Trail, Bullhead Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, and Trillium Gap Trail, each varying in distance and elevation, so be sure to plan.
The Lodge is entirely old-school (has no water or electricity), so you’ll have plenty of time to just soak in the breathtaking scenery and picturesque mountains. The Lodge doesn’t offer much beyond the basic amenities and serves regular family-style Southern food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
If you’re looking to detox from any electronics and just become one with nature under the twilight sky, the LeConte Lodge situated high up in the mountains is the perfect place to spend the night.
You can make a reservation at the Lodge by calling: (865) 429-5704 or emailing reservations@lecontelodge.com.
Lodging near Great Smoky Mountains NP
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Gatlinburg - We have stayed in this hotel the past few times we visited the park and it has been great. Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Gatlinburg Downtown provides free continental breakfast, a terrace, and dry cleaning/laundry services. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as a fireplace in the lobby and a gym.
Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg - Located close to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg provides a firepit, a coffee shop/café, and a garden. Indulge in a massage, a body scrub, and a facial at St. Somewhere Spa, the onsite spa. Enjoy a meal at the two onsite restaurants. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with laundry facilities and a bar.
Hampton Inn Gatlinburg - Hampton Inn Gatlinburg Historic Nature Trail provides free self-serve breakfast, a firepit, and a garden. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with dry cleaning/laundry services and a gym.
Glenstone Lodge - Glenstone Lodge provides amenities like a terrace and a 24-hour business center. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.
The Park Vista - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel - provides a terrace, a garden, and a playground. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Enjoy a meal at the two onsite restaurants. In addition to dry cleaning/laundry services and a fireplace in the lobby, guests can connect to free Wi-Fi in public areas.
Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg - provides golfing on site, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a fireplace in the lobby. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. The onsite restaurant, Garden Grille, features happy hour. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a bar and a gym.
Click on the map below to see additional hotels and vacation rentals near Great Smoky Mountains.
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