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 Forgry 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 bottleand 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
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
⭐️ 4.0 of 5 Stars - LeConte Lodge - Click here for Rates and Availability.
The highest guest lodge in the eastern United States, sitting at 6,400 feet atop Mt. LeConte inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park! This one-of-a-kind bucket list destination has NO roads leading to it and can only be reached by hiking one of five trails ranging from 5 to 9 miles. Guests stay in hand-built rough hewn log cabins with propane heat, kerosene lanterns, clean linens, and warm Hudson Bay wool blankets. Leconte Lodge There is no electricity, but the mellow glow of kerosene lamps and rocking chairs on the deck make it magical.
Lodging near Great Smoky Mountains NP (Gatlinburg Area)
⭐️ 4.6 of 5 Stars - The Appy Lodge - Click here for Rates and Availability.
This Appalachian Trail-themed lodge underwent a $5 million renovation and is unlike any hotel you've seen. The halls are lined with photography and history of the AT, and every room is named after an actual trail shelter! They offer free Continental Breakfast (eggs, sausage, pastries and more), free WiFi, free parking pass for downtown Gatlinburg, a trolley stop on property, indoor heated pool and hot tub, seasonal outdoor pool with slide, in-room fireplaces and balconies available, fitness center, and afternoon snacks from 2 to 6 PM. A fantastic family and couples pick right on the Parkway.
⭐️ 4.1 of 5 Stars - Gatlinburg River Inn - Click here for Rates and Availability.
Sit on your private balcony and watch the river roll by! Every single room at this property overlooks the water, and the inn is right on the trolley line for easy access to downtown. Amenities include a complimentary hot breakfast buffet (waffles, biscuits and gravy, eggs and sausage), free WiFi, free parking, seasonal outdoor pool and hot tub, riverside fire pits, bocce ball, picnic area, and laundry facilities. Pets welcome up to 50 lbs (fee applies).
⭐️ 4.1 of 5 Stars - Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center - Click here for Rates and Availability.
Smack in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg, steps from Ripley's Aquarium! This well-established property sits right on the banks of the Little Pigeon River and boasts one of the coolest pools in town, a unique half-indoor, half-outdoor heated pool you can swim through year-round, plus two hot tubs. They also offer complimentary hot Continental Breakfast, free WiFi, private balconies with mountain and river views, in-room fireplaces and Jacuzzi rooms available, fitness center, arcade, business center, and over 7,000 sq ft of conference space. Trout fishing right on the property is a fun bonus!
Click here or on the map below to see additional hotels and vacation rentals near Great Smoky Mountains.
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