Outbound Collective logo

The Best Camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Looking for the best camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top camping spots in and near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    Appalachian Trail: Charlie's Bunion and Kephart Loop

    5.0
    16.84 mi / 4429 ft gain
    Appalachian Trail: Charlie's Bunion and Kephart Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Cherokee, North Carolina.
    Read more
  • 35.629385,-83.450994

    Camp out at Mt. LeConte Lodge via Alum Cave

    5.0
    9.96 mi
    At the summit of Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the lodge sits at a elevation of 6400 feet. It is the only "accommodations" inside the park boundaries. It is the highest lodge in the eastern United States.   Accessible only by hiking one of the five trails to the summit,...
    Read more
  • Bryson City, Tennessee

    Appalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Davenport Gap

    30.85 mi / 5830 ft gain
    Appalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Davenport Gap is a point-to-point trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
    Read more
  • Bryson City, Tennessee

    Appalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Fontana Lake

    38.92 mi / 6703 ft gain
    Appalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Fontana Lake is a point-to-point trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
    Read more
  • Bryson City, Tennessee

    Appalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Sweat Heifer Creek Trail

    3.3 mi / 830 ft gain
    Appalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Sweat Heifer Creek Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
    Read more
  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    Hike to Clingman’s Dome via Newfound Gap

    4.5
    16.6 mi / 1600 ft gain
    This route to Clingmans Dome is available throughout the year. But during the winter months from December 1 through March 31, the 7-mile Clingman’s Dome Road that branches off Highway 441 at Newfound Gap, stays closed. This means the usual drive to the parking area located just a half mile below ...
    Read more
  • Bryson City, Tennessee

    Newfound Gap Overlook to Campsite via Appalachian Trail

    18.38 mi / 4583 ft gain
    Newfound Gap Overlook to Campsite via Appalachian Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a river located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
    Read more
  • Cherokee, North Carolina

    Silers Bald and Forney Creek Loop Trail

    19.05 mi / 4419 ft gain
    Silers Bald and Forney Creek Loop Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Cherokee, North Carolina.
    Read more
  • Bryson City, North Carolina

    Clingmans Dome Loop

    25.75 mi / 4000 ft gain
    The first day of the hike is either 12.3 miles or 10.5 miles (depending on the campsite) almost all downhill, and the second half of the loop is 13.3 miles or 11.5 miles, again depending on the campsite, almost exclusively uphill. Just as a reference the first day took us about 6 and a half hours...
    Read more
  • Cherokee, North Carolina

    Forney Creek Trail

    23.66 mi / 5315 ft gain
    Forney Creek Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Cherokee, North Carolina.
    Read more
  • Cherokee, North Carolina

    Forney Ridge and Noland Divide Loop Trail

    18.52 mi / 4121 ft gain
    Forney Ridge and Noland Divide Loop Trail is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Bryson City, North Carolina.
    Read more
  • 35.556724,-83.495827

    Forney Creek Loop

    4.5
    19.04 mi / 3500 ft gain
    This is an overnight loop hike that is built around one night in the back country. It can be done as an ambitious day hike. Be advised that permits are required by the NPS for all overnight stays in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The hike begins at the Clingman's Dome parking lot at the For...
    Read more
  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    Mount LeConte via Trillium Gap Loop Trail

    14.99 mi / 4311 ft gain
    Mount LeConte via Trillium Gap Loop Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
    Read more
  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    Jakes Creek via Miry Ridge Trail and Appalachian Trail Loop

    25.41 mi / 5164 ft gain
    Jakes Creek via Miry Ridge Trail and Appalachian Trail Loop is a loop trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
    Read more
  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    Little River Trail to Little River Upper Falls and Grouse Creek Campground

    12.37 mi / 1309 ft gain
    Little River Trail to Little River Upper Falls and Grouse Creek Campground is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a river located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
    Read more
  • Sevier County, Tennessee

    Cucumber Gap and Little River Loop Trail

    5.54 mi / 850 ft gain
    Cucumber Gap and Little River Loop Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
    Read more