Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Bryson City, NC

Deep Creek Tube Center & Campground maintains pet-friendly sites throughout their property, allowing dogs at tent sites, RV spaces, and cabins with no additional pet fees. The campground's location just one mile from Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides convenient access for pet owners seeking outdoor adventures. Campers browse The Dyrt when exploring the best sites near Bryson City, North Carolina. Reviews consistently mention the clean facilities and family-friendly atmosphere where dogs are welcome to join their owners. Other pet-accepting options include Grumpy Bear Campground along the Tuckasegee River and Kirkland Creek Campground and Cabins, both enforcing standard leash policies while offering various accommodation types for travelers with animals.

Multiple hiking trails accessible from Deep Creek accommodate leashed dogs, with paths leading to nearby waterfalls providing exercise opportunities for both pets and owners. The creek access at several campgrounds allows dogs to cool off during summer months, though swimming areas may have specific pet restrictions. Deep Creek's central location offers easy drives to veterinary services in Bryson City should emergency care be needed. Weather considerations include checking summer ground temperatures before walking dogs on exposed surfaces and being prepared for occasional rain. Many campsites include covered shelters that provide shade for pets during hot days, and most camping areas feature grassy spaces for quick pet walks and bathroom breaks between longer trail adventures.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Bryson City, North Carolina (452)

    1. Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    125 Reviews
    Gatlinburg, TN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 430-5560

    $30 / night

    "Right outside of Gatlinburg so plenty to do and see if you feel like exploring outside of the park."

    "Pets are allowed in the campground, but not on the trails. This campground has great access to hiking and fishing, as well as wildlife viewing."

    2. Smokemont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    53 Reviews
    Cherokee, NC
    12 miles
    +1 (828) 497-9270

    $30 / night

    "Smokemont is a great campground in the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains. It is a perfect base camp to enjoy this amazing national park."

    "We only stayed for 1 night but really enjoyed the campgrounds proximity to activities on the North Carolina side of the park."

    3. Deep Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    29 Reviews
    Bryson City, NC
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 488-3184

    $50 / night

    "Campsite has easy access from Bryson City and is a short hike from several beautiful waterfalls! I stayed for two nights on a long weekend trip to the Great Smoky Mountains."

    "I have been camping at Deep Creek for nearly four decades. We absolutely love tenting creekside! Advise a WAGON for hauling stuff from vehicle to site because these are NOT drive up spots."

    4. Cades Cove Campground

    98 Reviews
    Townsend, TN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 448-4103

    $30 / night

    "There’s a river that runs a long the outside of the campground. Good swimming holes. A store that sells food (the best ice cream), firewood & camping supplies."

    "Pros: beautiful and scenic

    • Near great trails
    • lots of wildlife - saw a bear!"

    5. Cherokee-Great Smokies KOA

    25 Reviews
    Cherokee, NC
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 497-9711

    "The campground has many amenities including an indoor pool and hot tub (unfortunately not open while we were there), a playground, a dog park, laundry facilities, a nice general store, on-site bike and"

    "A nice pool, games, paths, pet play areas, etc. Once you get set up here, there really is no reason to go off-site,it is a really nice KOA."

    6. Deep Creek Tube Center & Campground

    14 Reviews
    Bryson City, NC
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 488-6055

    "Campground review: Located in Bryson City, N.C. on Deep Creek, this campground has around 50 sites with full hookups."

    "This campground is just outside Bryson City, NC. Bryson is a great little town, several nice restaurants, Nantahala Brewing Co. and 20 min from the NOC. Highly recommended."

    7. Greenbrier Campground

    70 Reviews
    Gatlinburg, TN
    22 miles
    Website

    $35 - $258 / night

    "Greenbriar campground is located in Pittman Center, west of Gatlinburg, adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains. The campground is certainly one of the nicest camping spots I’ve n the area."

    "The dog park is near this area as well as a swimming area on the river. It’s a short walk to the office/store and all the activities they offer."

    8. Turkey Creek Campground

    14 Reviews
    Almond, NC
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 307-3077

    $36 - $100 / night

    "Perfect place for rent camping with great bath facilities, plenty of firewood, and close to Fontana Lake, NOC, Bryson City, and GSMNP."

    "Conveniently located between NOC and Bryson City. Bathrooms were some of the best we have ever used in our years of camping."

    9. Kirkland Creek Campground and Cabins

    11 Reviews
    Bryson City, NC
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 488-6482

    $27 - $120 / night

    "It’s clean, well lit, appealing to the eye and in a perfect lockup the mountain just minutes from Bryson city. When I say clean I mean top of the line!"

    "Awesome little campground away from what seems like everything else, but still 30 mins or so from Bryson City. The staff was superb and extremely helpful."

    10. Indian Creek Campground

    24 Reviews
    Cherokee, NC
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 497-4361

    $26 - $37 / night

    "Indian Creek offers the most relaxing creekside camping in North Carolina. Every campsite is lush with greenery, private and well maintained after each occupancy."

    "If you want to step back in time, before cell phones, the rushing water to sooth you all day from anywhere on the campground, this is the place. The sites are spacious and well kept."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Bryson City, NC

3203 Reviews of 452 Bryson City Campgrounds


  • D
    Apr. 1, 2023

    Kirkland Creek Campground and Cabins

    An amazing spot off the beaten path

    What a great spot with a great host. It’s clean, well lit, appealing to the eye and in a perfect lockup the mountain just minutes from Bryson city. When I say clean I mean top of the line! The eggs are fresh, the fish pond is amazing and so is the horseshoe pit! Can’t beat it!

  • Justin O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2020

    Kirkland Creek Campground and Cabins

    Over the river and through the woods

    Awesome little campground away from what seems like everything else, but still 30 mins or so from Bryson City. The staff was superb and extremely helpful. We pull a 36ft trailer and the road getting to the campground is a little tight in places, but with their help I was able to get right where I needed to be within the campground. Awesome creek running through the place with a trout pond as well. Can’t wait to see what the owners do with the place in the near future as they just purchased it in September.

  • C
    Oct. 6, 2021

    Deep Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    August trip to Great Smokies

    Campsite has easy access from Bryson City and is a short hike from several beautiful waterfalls! I stayed for two nights on a long weekend trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. I selected Deep Creek Campground over other campgrounds in the national park so I would have cell service and internet access.

    Restrooms have flush toilets, kept clean and well-lit. Several places to access drinking water, but no showers are available.

    I didn’t play in the creek, but it’s a popular spot for tubing. There’s also a large picnic area for day users.

  • Erin D.
    Aug. 8, 2019

    Indian Creek Campground

    Creekside Camping

    Indian Creek offers the most relaxing creekside camping in North Carolina.

    Every campsite is lush with greenery, private and well maintained after each occupancy. The bathhouse is the cleanest I have found and the campsite store carries all of your forgotten necessities, and more!

    My husband and I love coming back to this campground, because how of well we and our kids sleep! The sound of the creek at night melts all of your worries away and takes you off to peaceful slumber.

    This campground is always in rotation for a visit.

  • Mambo M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 27, 2021

    Deep Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    Our summer fave!

    I have been camping at Deep Creek for nearly four decades. We absolutely love tenting creekside! Advise a WAGON for hauling stuff from vehicle to site because these are NOT drive up spots. Bugs are generally not a big issue. Most sites are shaded. Bathrooms always clean, though they do show age. Don’t expect a lot of privacy, but do expect you and your family/friends/pets to make friends! Shower just outside park for $3. Coin laundry in Bryson City, along with plenty of shopping and food. I have camped here in June, July, August, and September, in multiple sites. Happy tubing!

  • Katy S.
    Jul. 31, 2020

    Deep Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    A perfect spot next to Bryson City and the Smokies, limited space

    The Deep Creek Campground is located just minutes away from the charming Bryson City with its shops, breweries, little cafes an other attractions such as steam train rides on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.  It's located inside the GSM National Park and provides access to Deep Creek and its various fun activities - swimming, tubing, as well as several easily accessible waterfalls. 

    The campground itself is quite open, the sites not separated from each other at all. Each site has a pad and the staff is super adamant about all tents and even hammocks being on or above the pads. I'm giving the campground 4 stars only because of the lack of privacy and limited space. The rest is great and I love this campground. The bathrooms are clean.  The shower is located outside of the campsite as far as I remember, requires a short drive.

    Here's what you can do while at Deep Creek:

    • Swim in the cold waters of Deep Creek just a few steps from your tent.
    • Rent a tube and ride it down the rapids
    • Hike the waterfalls - Deep Creek area loop hikes include Juney Whank Falls(0.6 mile), Three Waterfalls Loop(2.4 miles), and Deep Creek-Indian Creek Loop(4.4 miles). The trail head is located right behind the campground.
    • Hike Noland Divide Trail, a 8 mile long (one way) strenuous path that will take you up to Clingman's Dome. You can hike about 3 miles up to see a very pretty view of Bryson City.
    • Drive to town to enjoy local bear, ice cream or ride the train.
    • Take a scenic drive along Blue Ridge, watch sunset from a West-facing overlook.
  • S
    Jul. 17, 2020

    Kirkland Creek Campground and Cabins

    Pleasant surprise

    My daughter and I were looking for a campground in or near Bryson City to reserve last week. Very nice and peaceful campsite for RV or Tent camping. We thoroughly enjoyed our night there. It’s kind of tucked into the hills off the beaten path. Nice family operates the site. Definitely recommend.

  • D
    Mar. 13, 2019

    Crawford's Campground - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

    Great Family campground.

    A family owned and operated, 11 acre full service, pet friendly camping facility. We are conveniently located just 20 minutes outside the historic town of Murphy North Carolina, at an elevation of 1850 feet, surrounded by mountains! Closer to the natural beauty the area is known for. We are nestled in the center of a peaceful valley with a 360 degree view of the mountains that surround us. The campsites border the many bubbling streams that pass through our valley.

    _A Full Service Campground, w_e have 2 separate bath houses with private individual bathing facilities, 3 _Bunkhouses as well as Primitive sites.  _We have a large pavilion for your group meetings, family reunions, fully lighted with electricity available.

  • Hines
    Sep. 21, 2020

    Deep Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    THE camping spot for Bryson City

    This is THE prime camping area for Bryson City.   Tubing is within walking distance, train station is just a few miles away, breweries & restaurants are just a few miles away as well.

    Spots aren't that big, as another review noted.  If you can check out which spot you think you want before your actual stay, that would be ideal.


Guide to Bryson City

Discover the best spots for pets-allowed camping near Bryson City, North Carolina, where you and your furry friends can enjoy the great outdoors together.

Pet-friendly campgrounds include Greenbrier Campground

  • At Greenbrier Campground, pets are welcome, making it a great choice for families traveling with dogs.
  • This campground features a beautiful river nearby, perfect for your pet to splash around while you relax.
  • With plenty of activities for kids and adults alike, your whole family, including your pets, will have a memorable stay.

Dog-friendly activities while camping near Bryson City

  • Enjoy hiking trails that are accessible from Smokemont Campground, where you can explore the stunning scenery with your dog by your side.
  • The nearby Oconaluftee River offers opportunities for fishing and swimming, allowing your pet to cool off after a day of adventure at Cades Cove Campground.
  • Take advantage of the scenic drives and picnic spots around Cataloochee Campground, where you can enjoy a meal outdoors with your pet.

Pet owners like the amenities at Townsend-Great Smokies KOA

  • Townsend-Great Smokies KOA offers a range of amenities, including a camp store and clean facilities, ensuring a comfortable stay for you and your pet.
  • With easy access to hiking trails and the nearby river, this campground provides a perfect setting for outdoor fun with your furry companion.
  • The friendly atmosphere and well-maintained grounds make it a popular choice among pet owners looking for a relaxing getaway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bryson City, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Bryson City, NC is Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a 4.7-star rating from 125 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Bryson City, NC?

TheDyrt.com has all 452 dog-friendly camping locations near Bryson City, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.