Cosby Campground

Overview

Back country camping in a developed front country campground. 

Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this campground creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best that the Great Smoky Mountains National park has to offer. This campground is usually quieter and without the hustle and bustle of the busier campgrounds.

All campsites have a fire ring, picnic table and several trees. Tent pads are 16ft x 16ft. RV sites are less common and reservations are recommended on busy weekends. Some RV sites also include a tent pad. View map and site descriptions to find the perfect site or companion sites for you and your family! 

• Reservable Sites: A1-41, A57; B23-93 
•  ADA sites: A57, A61
•  RV only: A01-03, A21, A23, A36; B48, B75, B88
• RV w Tent pad: A17, A20, A25, A28, A57; B93
• Van/Compact camper w Tent: A11; B20, B34-35, B58
• First come First serve sites: A42-56, A58-64; B1-22

First come, first serve (non-reservable) sites are typically available with an exception for busy weekends. To ensure a site, reserve online (same-day reservation available). To make reservations by phone call 877-444-6777 and for all other campground related questions you may call 423-487-2683.

Recreation

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from Cosby Campground, including the Appalachian Trail, just three miles away via the Lower Gap Trail.

Hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are popular activities.

Campers can 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.

Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 bears living in the park, it's not uncommon for visitors to spot one. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy.

The park also 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.

Facilities

Cosby Campground provides campers with a secluded environment for traditional camping. Though some RV sites are available, Cosby is mostly a tent campground, with plenty of shade and tent pads at each site, along with fire rings, grills and tables, perfect for family meals and late night s'mores. The site offers modern amenities like flush toilets and drinking water. 

Natural Features

World-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian culture, Great Smoky Mountains is America's most visited national park.

At 2,460 feet, Cosby Campground provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural history of Southern Appalachia. From the prehistoric Paleo Indians to the early 19th century European settlers, the park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes and artifacts that tell the stories of the people who once called these mountains home.

Nearby Attractions

Cosby, Tennessee, located about five miles from the campground, offers convenience stores and fuel.

Gatlinburg, a one of the Smokies' famous tourist towns, is located about 20 miles from the site, offering visitors tours, organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more.