Gateway to the Smokies, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is a cozy campground that offers a private escape for campers looking to unwind. With two spacious sites, you’ll find plenty of room to set up your tent or RV and enjoy the natural surroundings.

This family-owned spot is known for its peaceful atmosphere, with visitors often highlighting the soothing sounds of nearby waterfalls. One camper mentioned, “It is really private here, we were able to listen to our music and have a great time without having to worry about anyone.” Each site comes equipped with a fire pit, picnic table, and grill, making it easy to enjoy meals outdoors and gather around the fire at night.

For those eager to explore, the campground is just a short drive from the North Carolina entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Campers have enjoyed activities like hiking, tubing, and biking, with one reviewer noting it was a “great base camp” for their adventures. Plus, with a Dollar General nearby, stocking up on supplies is a breeze.

While the campground doesn’t offer drinking water or electric hookups, it’s a perfect spot for those looking to disconnect and enjoy nature. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, Gateway to the Smokies provides a welcoming atmosphere for all.

We are a small family owned and operated campground featuring two very large and private campsites on just over an acre of land. We are located right outside of Cherokee, NC and a short 10 minute drive to Bryson City, Sylva, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the North Carolina entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When making a booking request through thedyrt.com, please email us as well at: michaelg012977@gmail.com to let us know which campsite you would like based on the following: Site# 1 is our Creekside Campsite. It's a walk-in Tents only site which has a 16'x16' tent pad, a picnic table, fire ring and a brand new park style charcoal grill. The Creekside area is only about 75 feet from where you'll park your car and the shared portable toilet. This site gets lots of Sun in the front part of the meadow and lots of shade from very mature maple and black walnut trees towards the back end where the tent pad is located. Site# 2 is our Hilltop Campsite. It is considered a Dry Camping/ No Hookups site. This site has a large flat grassy area with trees all around the perimeter providing some shade at different times of the day. It also has a picnic table, a brick fire pit and a brand new park style charcoal grill. The Hilltop site is available for tent campers as well as those traveling with smaller sized RVs. Perfect for camper vans, truck campers, smaller sized Class B and C's as well as travel trailers up to 20' in length. \\*\\* We can not accommodate any large class A or 5th wheels due to the steepness and curvature of the road. Four wheel drive or AWD is recommended to reach the hilltop site. Two wheel drive vehicles can make it just fine when the ground is dry however the Great Smoky Mountains area is considered a temperate rain forest and it can snow in early Spring and Winter. To reach Site#2 cross the bridge over the creek and follow the road until you get to the top of the hill. When you've reached the level lot this is your camping area. You will have plenty of room to turn your rig around without having to back up. For this reason we have it listed as a pull through site. AGAIN No class A or 5th wheels are allowed. Directly across the highway from our property is a Dollar General and a Beer and Wine store. There is also a gas station close by on the same side of the highway that you could walk to. Behind the property is several acres of natural forest and on the other side beyond the trees is pasture land. \\*Please note, Our property is easily and conveniently accessed directly from US Highway 441 which is the main road to and from Cherokee and the National Park. The sounds of cars can be heard passing by at times. Please check out our reviews and photos here on this listing, on Google and on Instagram as most people are not bothered by it. Please feel free to send me a message with any questions or concerns and I’ll be more than happy to respond as soon as possible. I can also recommend local eateries breweries hiking trails and activities. Thank You and we hope to see you soon!

Gateway to the Smokies

Are you in need of a campground near Whittier, NC? Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Whittier campgrounds just for you. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Whittier. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

Whittier

The Best Camping Near Whittier, North Carolina

Gateway to the Smokies is a small family owned and operated campground with two very large and private campsites on over an acre of land. It is located right off of US Highway 441 just 7 miles to the North Carolina Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is a Dollar General located right across the highway which was very convenient for refilling coolers with ice. They also sold propane, charcoal for the grill, drinks, snacks and any thing you'd need for camping! Site 1 sits along the creek and is a walk-in Tents Only campsite with a 16' tent pad. Site 2 is up the hill on a nice grassy area large enough to turn around a 1/2 ton size pickup truck and 20' travel trailer without having to back up. Both sites have a fire pit, park style grill, and a picnic table. There is also a shared portable toilet located near the site 1 parking area. There is no potable water and no hookups but I'm sure you could boil water from the creek. Generators are allowed with no restrictions unless there is other campers on property then quiet times are from 10pm- 7am. Verizon service worked fine w 3 bars of service. Great spot for exploring the NC side of the Smoky Mountains. Saved money using Dyrt Pro Discount compared to other apps the property is listed on.

Small Family Owned Campground  with two very large and private campsites.

I love the waterfalls on this property.  They are so soothing to listen to as we grill out, sit at the fire pit, and play in the water. It is really private here, we were able to listen to our music and have a great time without having to worry about anyone.👍 This campsite is a great base camp, too. We went to the Tsali biking trails, tubed down Deep Creek, and hiked around in the Smokies. It was perfect. We already have our next visit booked. Thank you!!

Private and Lots of Space

We booked campsite 2, as one of our guys was camping in a truck bed tent.  It was definitely closer to the busy street than we imagined, but you will feel secluded. It’s very private; and the host communicated well. Great location! Would return!

Photos of Gateway to the Smokies

Real photos from real campers