Group camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park centers on this dedicated site within the Cades Cove area, where forested terrain meets the park's most popular wildlife viewing loop. The campground accommodates groups of 10 or more from March through October, with sites that span a wider footprint than typical individual campsites.
Sites here provide more elbow room than the adjacent standard campground, though Crystal C. notes "the sites are a little larger and more spread out" compared to regular camping areas. Each group site includes picnic tables, fire rings, and level tent pads with mulch surfaces. The forested setting offers shade, though campers report variable spacing between neighboring groups depending on which section they occupy.
Wildlife encounters rank high among camper experiences, with bears, deer, and turkey frequently spotted throughout the area. The famous Cades Cove Loop Road provides direct access to historic buildings and meadows where wildlife congregates, particularly during morning and evening hours. Multiple hiking trails branch out from the campground vicinity, offering everything from short nature walks to longer mountain climbs. A camp store on-site sells firewood, ice cream, and basic supplies, with ranger programs available most evenings during peak season.
Road access requires navigation of the one-way Cades Cove Loop, which can create lengthy delays during busy periods as traffic backs up behind sightseers. Tyler M. warns of "many hours stuck behind tourists wanting to take pictures of every little thing they see." The campground lacks shower facilities, and bathroom cleanliness varies according to multiple reviews. Cell service remains spotty throughout the area.
Reservations open five months in advance and fill quickly for summer and fall dates, especially weekends when the loop road sees heaviest traffic.
Description
Overview
Over 2 million visitors annually come to enjoy the scenic beauty of Cades Cove and its many historic structures, popular biking and hiking trails and scenic waterfalls and streams. Tucked in the mountains under a lush, shaded canopy, this group campground offers the best that the Great Smoky Mountains National park has to offer.
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, turnoff at the sign and follow the 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.
Facilities
Cades Cove Group Camp provides a primitive camping experience, with conveniences such as flush toilets and drinking water, but there are no hookups or showers at the campground. with the modern conveniences of flush toilets and drinking water. The four group campsites can accommodate up to 20 guests each, and multiple sites may be reserved for larger groups. A camp store provides visitors with basic necessities as well as bike rentals, and events like Interpretive Programs in the nearby amphitheater and Bicycle Only Days on the loop road provide visitors with a fun and unique experience.
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.
Charges & 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 Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
Fee Info
Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee. Customers that check out early or do not plan to use their reservation MUST contact the campground office the day they leave or are due to check in, in order to receive a refund. Refund requests for early departure or non use of the site made AFTER the reservation has ended will be denied. Office phone numbers are given in the Facility Contact information for each campground.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundCades Cove Group Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in Tennessee
Directions
Cades Cove Campground 10042 Campground Drive Townsend, TN 37882 865-448-2472 Lat/Long: N35.6009 W083.7742 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.
Address
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Coordinates
35.60389163 N
83.77130993 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Group
- Equestrian
Features
For Campers
- Market
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 1 hr 5 min from Knoxville, TN
- 1 hr 30 min from Morristown, TN
- 1 hr 57 min from Cleveland, TN
- 2 hrs 37 min from Asheville, NC
