Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina
- Fee per night$30
- SeasonSee dates below
- RV length (some sites)Up to 18 ft
- Drinking wateryes
- Electricno
Also: Confirmed: flush toilets and online reservations. No showers or a dump station.
When do reservations open? the exact day and time to book
Pick your arrival date to see the day and time it can be booked.
Most Recreation.gov campgrounds release each date 6 months ahead at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. Some use another window - check the booking window on its Recreation.gov page and change it above. Popular dates can be gone within minutes.
Does this fit my trip?
Tell us about your trip once - every campground page then checks it against the official data.
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Packing list for this campground First time camping? Step-by-step plan Towing? Check your truck's weights
Get updates when fees or status change
Amenities
“Not listed” means the official sources don’t say - it does not mean “no”.
- Electric hookups No
- Drinking water Yes
- Flush toilets Yes
- Showers No
- Dump station No
- Water hookups at sites Not listed
- Sewer hookups Not listed
- 50 amp sites Not listed
- Pull-through sites No
- Accessible sites Not listed
- Pets allowed Yes
- Tent sites Yes
- RV / trailer sites Not listed
- Reservable online Yes
Sites, fees and season
- Campsites
- 12
- Longest RV / trailer listed
- Up to 18 ft at selected sites (not every site; check access and your site)
- Elevation
- 1,727 ft
- Open season
- Big Creek Campground closes seasonally. See exceptions for exact dates of operation. (as listed by National Park Service, Oct 27, 2026)
Check current dates and closures on the official page. - Phone
- (865) 436-1261 (campground or managing office)
- Listed fees
- $30.00 per site per night - Camping Fee
- At the sites
- Of 12 sites: 12 with shade. Usual check-in 1:00 PM, check-out 12:00 PM. (official campsite list; check your own site when you book)
Official fee information
Camping Fee: $30.00 - Camping Fee is per site, per night.
The listed length is the longest site; not every site fits that size. Confirm your site on the official reservation page.
Location and nearby campgrounds
Location on the map · Driving directions · 35.75020, -83.11140 (the official listing point; check the access road for large rigs)
Big Creek Horse Camp0.4 mi straight-line · 5 sites
Cosby Group Camp5.3 mi straight-line · 3 sites
Cosby Campground5.5 mi straight-line · From $30 / night
See 2 more nearby
- Cataloochee Group Camp 7.2 mi straight-line
- Harmon Den Campground 7.6 mi straight-line
Distances are straight lines, not driving routes or times.
Nearby services propane, EV charging, dump station, water
Propane
- Blossman Gas Inc 16.5 mi · Waynesville, NC · propane fuelingMap · 828-926-1537
- Blossman Gas Inc 26.7 mi · Sylva, NC · propane fuelingMap · 828-586-1588
- Ace Hardware 30.8 mi · Weaverville, NC · propane fuelingMap · 828-645-8811
Vehicle propane stations; many hardware stores, RV parks and campground stores also refill tanks - call first.
EV charging
- LOCAL MARKET #204 12.3 mi · Waynesville, NC · 1 fast, ChargePoint NetworkMap · 888-758-4389
- HAYWOOD EMC STATION1 12.3 mi · Waynesville, NC · 1 fast, ChargePoint NetworkMap · 888-758-4389
- Haywood EMC 13.6 mi · Waynesville, NC · 1 Level 2Map · NA
Public chargers; check the network app for hours and prices.
Dump station
- Cosby Campground 5.5 mi
- Smokemont Group Camp 17.3 mi
- Smokemont Campground 17.5 mi
At these campgrounds - ask whether non-campers may use it and what it costs.
Drinking water
- Big Creek Horse Camp 0.4 mi
- Cosby Group Camp 5.3 mi
- Cosby Campground 5.5 mi
At these campgrounds - bring your own hose for filling tanks.
Straight-line distances, up to 40 miles. Propane and EV charging: NLR Alternative Fuel Stations (U.S. Department of Energy). Dump station and water: the official data of nearby campgrounds.
From the official listing description, directions and rules
Big Creek Campground is located in a remote portion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Backcountry camping in a front country setting. There are flushing toilets and potable water. This is a tent only campground with a short walk from the parking area. The beautiful flowing waters of Big Creek parallel the campground offering the visitor a pleasant soundscape and peaceful beauty. Big Creek is an oasis for hiking, swimming, wildlife, fishing, and relaxation.
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. The Big Creek area offers some of the most challenging hikes within the Park. Baxter Creek trail begins near the campground and with an elevation gain of 4200' from trail head to the summit of Mt Sterling provides a strenuous work out for the strongest of hikers. The nearby Big Creek trail offers a pleasant hike along the waters of Big Creek with a beautiful waterfall along the way.
Natural Features
Located at an elevation of 1,700' Big Creek Campground is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and a pristine mountain stream. Black Bear sightings are not uncommon and some lucky visitors may spot River Otter playing in Big Creek.
Weather forecast - next 7 days
Loading the National Weather Service forecast...
Climate by month
Average daily high and low and monthly precipitation, 1991-2020 normals from the NOAA station Waterville 2 - 1.8 mi away, station at 1,430 ft - 297 ft lower than the campground (1,727 ft). Long-term averages, not a forecast; the open season is listed separately above.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48 | 29 | 4.22 |
| Feb | 53 | 32 | 3.90 |
| Mar | 61 | 38 | 4.72 |
| Apr | 71 | 46 | 4.45 |
| May | 77 | 54 | 4.56 |
| Jun | 83 | 62 | 6.38 |
| Jul | 86 | 65 | 6.49 |
| Aug | 85 | 64 | 4.61 |
| Sep | 80 | 59 | 4.00 |
| Oct | 70 | 48 | 2.74 |
| Nov | 60 | 37 | 3.44 |
| Dec | 51 | 32 | 4.37 |
Highlight months with an average high between and °F:
Propane for heat how long a tank lasts here
Sleeping bag and pad what rating you need here
Photos, reviews and questions
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Sources and data dates where every fact comes from
| Fact | Source | Fetched from the source |
|---|---|---|
| Campsites | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Aug 14, 2026 |
| Reservable online | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Aug 14, 2026 |
| Tent sites | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Aug 14, 2026 |
| Electric hookups | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Aug 14, 2026 |
| Drinking water | National Park Service | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Flush toilets | National Park Service | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Showers | National Park Service | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Dump station | National Park Service | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Pull-through sites | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Aug 14, 2026 |
| Pets allowed | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Aug 14, 2026 |
| Longest RV / trailer listed | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Aug 14, 2026 |
| Elevation | USGS elevation (EPQS) | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Lowest listed fee | National Park Service | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Highest listed fee | National Park Service | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Open season | National Park Service | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Official page | National Park Service | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Official reservations | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Aug 14, 2026 |
| Phone | Recreation.gov (RIDB) | Oct 27, 2026 source updated Aug 14, 2026 |
Last successful data update for this page: Oct 27, 2026. That is when we last read the official sources - not a personal visit, and not the date the source itself changed (shown per fact above). Found something wrong? Report an error.