If you are looking to camp in Great Smoky Mountains National Park but want to get away from the crowds Cosby Campground is the perfect campground for you. The campground is super peaceful and surrounded by large trees.
Cosby Campground - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Located approximately thirty minutes from Gatlinburg you are close enough to get to the main portions of the park but far enough away to not have to worry about crazy crowds.
We were really impressed with how quiet the campground was even in June. The sites are well spread out so you are not looking into your neighbor's dinner plate. There are flush toilets and cold running water available in the campground.
Being in the Smoky Mountains you will want to make sure that you properly secure your trash and food in your car. There are no bear boxes at the sites so you are responsible for making sure your food is not left out in the campground.
Check out our complete guide to Great Smoky Mountains Camping
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Season: April - October
Number of Sites: 157
Location in the park: 5 miles south of Cosby, Tennessee
Campsite Cost: $17.50
Payments accepted: Cash and Check on site for first come first serve sites, credit cards online for reservations
Reservations: Yes, 42 campsites are available for advanced reservations.
Campground Address:
127 Cosby Park Road, Cosby, TN 37722
Latitude/Longitude:
- Latitude:
- 35.7533333
- 35° 45' 11.9999" N
- Longitude:
- -83.2086111
- 83° 12' 31.0000" W
Elevation: 2,459'
Accessible Sites:
Pets Allowed: Pets are allowed in the campground but must be confined or on a leash (6' maximum). Pets are not allowed on trails.
Campground Reservations
Are campground Reservations Available? Yes
115 campsites are available at Cosby Campground on a first-come, first served basis and 42 campsites are available for advanced reservations
Phone Number? 423-487-2683
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? Yes, Over 100 sites are available first come first serve
Campground Amenities
Flush Toilets: Yes
Payphone: There is an emergency phone in the campground.
Is wifi Available? No
Is cellular Phone Service Available? We did not have any cell service in the campground
Is camp host available on site? Yes
Is firewood available for purchase? Yes, 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? No
Potable Water? Yes, available at the bathroom.
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
RV Length: Maximum length of 25'
Dump Station: Yes
Generators: Generator use is prohibited from 8 pm to 8 am. Generator use is restricted to 8 AM to 8 PM.
Hookups: There are no hookups in the campground.
How to get to Campground
From Cosby, TN, proceed south on TN 32 about 1.5 miles south of the junction with US 321. Turn right at Cosby sign. The campground is another 2 miles.
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:
Quiet Hours: 10 pm to 6 am
Maximum Stay: limited to 14 consecutive days at a time
A Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license is required to fish in the park.
Cosby Campground Map
Photos of Cosby Campground
Check out all of our articles Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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.
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.
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