Cades Cove Campground
35.6027, -83.7763 · Park boundary: National Park Service
Cades Cove Campground—open year-round—combines the feel of primitive camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. With an elevation of 1,807 feet (551 m), the climate is moderate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. No hookups or showers. America the Beautiful passes (not accepted in lieu of the parking tag for parking outside your campsite) are sold at the campground ranger station in summer & fall or online through the USGS store.
- Every day
- All Day
Cades Cove Campground is open year-round. Loop B and parts of Loop C are open from mid-spring through Nov. 30. During the winter, only sites C1-12 and C26-61 are open (reservations required).
Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04
Camping fee is per site, per night.
Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04
Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance.
- Amphitheater
- Yes - seasonal
- Camp store
- Yes - seasonal
- Drinking water
- Yes - year round
- Dump station
- Yes - year round
- Firewood for sale
- Yes - seasonal
- Food storage lockers
- Yes - year round
- Host on site
- Yes - seasonal
- Ice for sale
- Yes - seasonal
- Toilets
- Flush Toilets - year round
- Trash & recycling
- Yes - year round
- Cell reception
- No
- Internet
- No
- Laundry
- No
- Showers
- None
Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04
- RVs
- Allowed · up to 40 ft
- Trailers
- Allowed · up to 35 ft
- Access roads
- Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
- Classification
- Developed Campground
Accessible paths to restrooms and parking areas.
Eleven accessible campsites. Two CPAP campsites. Restrooms are accessible.
Fires are permitted only in established fire rings provided at each campsite.
Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04
From Maryville, TN: Take US-321 North (you'll actually be driving south!) from Maryville to Townsend, TN (about 22 miles). At the traffic light in Townsend, continue straight on TN-73 and follow signs to Cades Cove. From Pigeon Forge, TN: Take US-321 South (you'll be driving westerly) to Townsend, TN. Turn left (south) at Townsend onto TN-73. Follow signs to Cades Cove.
This campground is in the mountains and weather can rapidly change from warm and sunny to cold and rainy. Be prepared with layers and rain gear in all seasons.
When Loop B is closed for the season, generators are allowed in Loop C, with restricted hours, UNTIL Loop B reopens. All food and equipment used to prepare and store food must be sealed in a vehicle or in a camping unit constructed of solid, non-pliable material, or as otherwise directed, at all times when not in use. Campfires are permitted only in fire rings. You may collect dead and downed wood in the park for campfires. Only heat-treated firewood that is bundled and certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a state agency may be brought into the park. Quiet hours are 10 pm-6 am. Generator use is prohibited 8 pm-8 am. Your stay is limited to 14 consecutive days at a time. You may have up to six people per campsite. No more than two motor vehicles or one vehicle with trailer are allowed per campsite. Please keep wheels, including trailer wheels and guest cars, on the pavement. Park only in designated spaces. All tents must be pitched on the pad, where provided.
Enjoy the scenic beauty of Cades Cove and its many historic structures. Popular activities here include hiking, biking, touring the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road and observing wildlife. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Cades Cove never disappoints. Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park. Large numbers of white-tailed deer are frequently seen, and sightings of black bear, coyote, groundhog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals are also possible. For hundreds of years Cherokee Indians hunted in Cades Cove, but archeologists have found no evidence of major settlements. The first Europeans settled in the cove sometime between 1818 and 1821. By 1830 the population of the area had already swelled to 271. Cades Cove Campground is open-year round and combines the feel of primitive camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. During peak season (May - October) a camp store provides visitors with basic necessities as well as bike rentals. Events like Interpretive Programs in the nearby amphitheater and Bicycle Only Days on the loop road provide visitors with a fun and unique experience. Reservations are now required year-round to camp in Cades Cove Campground. All campsites are drive-up. No more than two motor vehicles or one vehicle with trailer are allowed per campsite. Please keep wheels, including trailer wheels and guest cars, on the pavement. Park only in designated spaces. Overflow parking is available for excess vehicles. The maximum number of occupants, per campsite, is six. All tents must be pitched on the tent pad, where provided. Hammocks are allowed with the following guidelines: Hammocks must be within the footprint of the campsite and limited to trees 10 inches in diameter, adequate padding around the tree with only 2 hammocks suspended from the same tree. Check out time is 1:00 p.m. Check in time is 1:00 p.m. Your stay is limited to 14 consecutive days at a time. Longer stays require that you move to a different campground. These limits apply to all park campgrounds. Quiet hours are from 10:00 PM-6:00 AM. Generator quiet hours are from 8:00 PM-8:00 AM. There are no hookups or showers at the campground. There is an emergency phone available at the Cades Cove Campground Kiosk. Pets are allowed in the campground but must be confined or on a 6’ leash. Pets should not be left unattended. Hiking in the park with pets is permitted ONLY on roads, the Oconaluftee River Trail and the Gatlinburg Trail. Please prevent excessive barking and properly dispose of pet waste.
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Drive to Cades Cove Campground
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