Most pet friendly camping near Balsam, North Carolina sits at elevations between 3,000-5,500 feet, creating significantly cooler summer temperatures than nearby lowland areas. Temperature differences of 10-15 degrees are common between Balsam and surrounding valleys, making it a popular summer destination. Many campgrounds in this mountainous region feature dense forest cover providing natural shade at campsites.
What to Do
Trout fishing in stocked waters: Indian Creek Campground offers fishing directly from many campsites with the proper permits. "The creek at the back is beautiful and a great place for kids to play and tube from one end of the campground to the other," notes one Indian Creek visitor. Another camper shares: "With a Reservation Fishing permit you can fish from your backyard!"
Blue line trout fishing: More adventurous anglers can find remote fishing spots. "I parked at the smokemont car camping area, then packed into one of the backcountry sites for a weekend of blue line trout fishing on the Bradley Creek headwaters, feeding into the Oconaluftee River," reports one Smokemont Campground visitor.
Elk viewing opportunities: Fall brings special wildlife viewing chances. "We spent 5 nights and watched them early am and afternoons every day. They will get up close-and personal. The rangers keep a watch out, tho, and try to warn u if they are coming too close," explains a Cataloochee camper. For best viewing, arrive at designated areas before sunrise or 1-2 hours before sunset.
What Campers Like
Creekside camping: Many campgrounds feature sites directly along mountain streams. "Our site was right next to the stream and little covered bridge. It sounded like it was always raining," reports one Moonshine Creek Campground visitor. Sites along water features are typically the first to be reserved.
High elevation comfort: The mountain elevation provides natural air conditioning. "Being over a mile high, temperatures can be cool, even in summer, for a great relief from temperatures in lower elevations," notes one Balsam Mountain Campground visitor. Temperature drops of 5-10°F after sunset are common year-round.
Historic structures: Several campgrounds offer access to preserved mountain heritage buildings. "There are historical homesteads, a school, churches and cemetery to take you back in time," shares one Cataloochee visitor. These structures can be explored during daylight hours and often have interpretive signs explaining their significance.
What You Should Know
Limited cell service: Most campgrounds have spotty or nonexistent connectivity. "There is an outside double sink for doing dishes and cleaning fish. It was always clean and had extra dish soap, sponges, plastic grocery bags and trash can right nearby," notes one Indian Creek visitor, who also mentioned: "NO ATT service and Wi-Fi spotty and slow except when in pavilion."
Narrow access roads: Some campgrounds have challenging approaches. "Access to Cataloochee is via a narrow, winding, mountain road. A 3-mile stretch of gravel road contains many narrow, blind curves," explains a Cataloochee Campground reviewer. Large RVs may need to research alternate routes or contact campgrounds directly for access information.
Elevation weather changes: Mountain elevations create unique weather patterns. "The road through the park shut down the night we were there due to snow and ice in the higher elevations, so keep weather in mind when visiting in the colder months," cautions a Smokemont visitor. Temperature differences between daytime and nighttime can exceed 30°F in spring and fall.
Tips for Camping with Families
Water play opportunities: Many campgrounds offer safe creek access for children. "My grands enjoyed playing in the shallow river in front of our campsite," shares one Smokemont visitor. Most creek beds are rocky, so water shoes are recommended for comfort and safety.
Wildlife education: The area provides natural learning opportunities. "We even had elk walk through one morning," reports one camper. Several campgrounds offer Junior Ranger programs in summer months where children can earn badges by completing educational activities about local wildlife and ecology.
Kid-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds have dedicated recreational areas. "The Stonebridge RV Resort is clean, well kept campground right in Maggie Valley. The creek at the back is beautiful and a great place for kids to play and tube from one end of the campground to the other," notes a reviewer. "There is a large play area at the end that has plenty of play equipment and room to run."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger vehicles: Some campgrounds have limited space for bigger rigs. "The sites are close together with the neighbor's hook ups next to your picnic table," notes one Stonebridge RV visitor. When making reservations, request detailed site dimensions if traveling with RVs over 30 feet.
Hookup variations: Electrical service varies widely between campgrounds. "We stayed in a tent site and one night in their primitive cabin. I loved every minute of being there and would have stayed longer if it wasn't booked up," explains an Indian Creek visitor. Many campgrounds offer a mix of full-hookup, partial-hookup, and primitive sites at different price points.
Winter camping options: Limited facilities remain open year-round. "Campground has been open at least since June 2025. Nice, secluded campground," shares one Balsam Mountain visitor, who also notes generators are allowed from 8 AM to 8 PM with a 60 dB maximum noise level.
