Cades Cove Campground
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Over 2 million visitors annually come to 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 Campground is open year round and combines the feel of primitive camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. Both Loop B and C are open from mid-April through the Thanksgiving weekend. During the off season (Dec-mid April) only sites C1-12 and C26-61 are open to camping by reservation only. Once B Loop closes for the season then generators will be allowed in Loop C, with restricted hours, UNTIL Loop B reopens for camping. 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.
Please visit www.nps.gov/grsm for up to date information on campgrounds, road and weather conditions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Notifications and Alerts
Need to Know
Beginning March 1, valid parking tag is required for any vehicle parking for more than 15 minutes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Front country campers parked at their designated campsite will not be required to have a parking tag. If they park elsewhere in the park, a parking tag will be required. Please note that parking tags will be required for vehicles in excess of what is allowable for each campsite.
*For additional park information call 865-436-1200 or visit www.nps.gov/grsm
Over the last 10 years, an average of 339 negative human-bear encounters have been reported each year; many more go unreported. Visitors should be aware that high bear activity can occur in any area, and that your safety is not guaranteed. To increase your odds for a safe visit, please follow best practices for living and recreating in bear habitat. Stay alert and be prepared to react appropriately during possible encounters, and always report any unusual bear interactions as soon as possible.
Caution: Bear Habitat! Bears and other wildlife frequent the area. All food and equipment used to prepare and store food (even when empty, and even if certified as bear resistant) must be kept in a sealed vehicle or camping unit of solid, non-pliable material AT ALL TIMES when not in use. All scented items, as well as all water containers MUST be stored. Dispose of garbage promptly in dumpsters provided. Unattended or improperly stored coolers, food and/or scented items may be impounded by campground staff. Violators are subject to fines.
Dispose of garbage promptly in bear-proof dumpsters. This rule is strictly enforced!
Firewood Restriction: 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. This rule is strictly enforced. Campers may also collect dead and down wood in the park for campfires. Firewood Vendors. Heat-treated wood is available from a growing list of private businesses in communities around the park. Please visit firewoodscout.org for a list of available vendors near the park. Concessioners at Cades Cove, Elkmont, and Smokemont will provide heat-treated wood for sale during their operating season. Certified heat-treated firewood is packaged and clearly marked with a state or federal seal. For additional information about these firewood regulations, please visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/frontcountry-camping
Do not occupy any vacant site. If you have a reservation you need to KNOW your campsite number prior to arrival.
Fires are allowed in fire rings only!
There are no showers or electric, water or sewer hook-ups in the park. Some accessible sites have a 5 amp electric hookup for medical equipment use only.
- Quiet hours are in effect from 10 PM to 6 AM. Generator use is prohibited from 8PM-8AM. Generator use and the idling of engines to charge batteries is prohibited in C Loop whenever Loop B is open for camping. Once B Loop closes for the season then generators will be allowed in Loop C, with restricted hours, until Loop B reopens for camping.
- A maximum of 6 people may occupy a campsite. The park stay limit is 14 consecutive days. Reservations which exceed the 14 consecutive day limit may be cancelled and refunded.
- A Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license is required to fish in the park. Special regulations apply in the park.
- Pets are permitted but cannot be left unattended. All pets must be kept on a leash at all times. Pets are not allowed on trails.
Cades Cove and Smokemont campgrounds are the only campgrounds open year round and require a reservation. Reservations may be made up to 6 months in advance.
You must check-in with the campground office staff UPON ARRIVAL to complete your reservation. If you arrive after the office is CLOSED for the day then you must check-in with the campground staff the following day. Failure to check-in with the office staff by noon following the day of your arrival will be considered a no show. This may result in a forfeit of your reservation. From November -April the campground office is intermittently staffed. You must be able to provide proof of your reservation upon request by park staff.
Bicycle Only Day runs from May 3 through September 27, 2023. Bicycle Only Day will be on Wednesday from sunrise to sunset. No motorized vehicles will be permitted to enter Cades Cove Loop from sunset on Tuesday until sunrise on Thursday.
Cancellation Policy for Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
Natural Features
Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. 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, ground hog, 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.
Nearby Attractions
The park holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park, a few of which are easily accessible from the Cades Cove loop road.
Townsend, located about nine miles away, offers full service grocery stores and fuel.
Recreation
The Great Smoky Mountains are a hikers paradise and visitors to Cades Cove Campground love the 5-mile roundtrip hike to Abram Falls. From Cades Cove Loop Road, follow the signage at the turnoff for directions to the trailhead.
Although Abrams Falls is only 20 feet high, the large volume of water rushing over falls more than makes up for its lack of height. The long, deep pool at its base is very picturesque. The trail to the falls traverses pine-oak forest on the ridges and hemlock and rhododendron forest along the creek. The waterfall and creek are named for Cherokee Chief Abram or Abraham whose village once stood several miles downstream.
A nearby horse stable provides one-hour horseback rides as well as hay rides and carriage rides from March through October, offering recreational activities for the entire family.
Campers can also enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance.
Changes & Cancellations
• If you plan to arrive at a date later than your arrival date you MUST contact the campground office 865-448-4103 in order to avoid a cancellation to your reservation. If you wish to cancel your reservation the day of your arrival you MUST contact the campground office 865-448-4103 in order to receive a refund.
• Rules and reservation policies can be found at https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies
Contact Information
Default
10042 Campground Drive Townsend TN 37882
Physical
10042 Campground Drive Townsend TN 37882
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 865-448-4103 FOR AVAILABILITY AND TO MAKE A RESERVATION 877-444-6777
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Maryville, TN: Take U.S. 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.
Available Campsites
- Site B46, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C76, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B36, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C14, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B72, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B69 , Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C07, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C73, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B28, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C28, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C40, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C30, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C24, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B48, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C58, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C12, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C69, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B33, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B23, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C18, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B81, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C53, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B20, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C05, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C27, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C56, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C01, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C44, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C72, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B54, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C26, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B71, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C02, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C71, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C36, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B14, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C41, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B65, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C42, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B85, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C55, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B80, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C50, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A01, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C63, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C45, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B11, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B55, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B41, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C70, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B43, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C32, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C10, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C11, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C57, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B29, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B05, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B18, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B06, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C34, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B24, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C04, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C59, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C15, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B79, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C64, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B31, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B57, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B73, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C62, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B50, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B59, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B56, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C75, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B30, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B13, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B42, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C09, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C74, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B53, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B68 , Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B70, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C08, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B22, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B15, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B39, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B47, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B66, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A05, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B35, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C31, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C33, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B51, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B12, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B78, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C23, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C43, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C49, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C47, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C22, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B75, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B67, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C13, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B62, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B44, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C51, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B26, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C48, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C54, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B63, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C60, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C20, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B25, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B61, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C25, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C21, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B58, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C67, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B17, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B04, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B19, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C17, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B76, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B37, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B60, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B03, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B07, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C68, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C06, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B08, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B27, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B49, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C37, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C29, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C66, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C52, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B21, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C19, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C16, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B02, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B10, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B64, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B16, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C65, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A04, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C46, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B40, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B34, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B38, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B83, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B01, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B32, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B74, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C35, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B52, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C03, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C61, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C38, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C39, Loop Generator Free loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B84, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B77, Loop B:Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
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