Best Cabin Camping near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws millions of visitors annually for its unbridled beauty and free admission. Expect long entrance lines but know that your experience will make it all worthwhile.

Great Smoky offers 10 front-country camping locations for tents and RVs. For those looking for a longer trek, the park has a host of backcountry campgrounds at just $4 per night. Ideally, you camp in the park. However, as this is the most visited national park, you may have to make other plans. If you can’t stay in the park, the best camping near the Great Smoky Mountains is usually found in the nearby national forests. If you’re looking for something with more amenities, the eclectic city of Asheville, NC is where you’ll want to be.

Best Cabin Sites Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park (169)

    1. Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    123 Reviews
    Gatlinburg, TN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 430-5560

    $30 / night

    "Elkmont is a huge campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

    They have plenty of sites for tents and RVs. There is a camp store, showers, and restrooms."

    "As the most visited national park by far, it’s not always easy to find peace in Great Smoky Mountains National Park."

    2. Cades Cove Campground

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

    $30 / night

    "Rustic camping, with tons of wildlife in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Well cared for, nice staff. Beautiful hiking trails, convenient store with bike rentals and wildlife watching."

    "Campground Review- Cades Cove is one of the most scenic areas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The 11 mile loop through Cades Cove is beautiful and full of wildlife."

    3. Greenbrier Campground

    70 Reviews
    Gatlinburg, TN
    12 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."

    "._

    Greenbriar is located near the Greenbriar entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, very near the arts and crafts district of Gatlinburg."

    4. Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA Campground

    54 Reviews
    Pigeon Forge, TN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 453-7903

    "This is more of a every want/need met glamping RV Resort. And it’s awesome!

    The RV sites are large and level, full hookup."

    "The sites are extremely, ridiculously close together which means our picnic table pad was 6 feet from our neighbors."

    5. Townsend-Great Smokies KOA

    28 Reviews
    Townsend, TN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 448-2241

    "Amazingly clean campgrounds 10 minutes from the entrance of the National Park and 20 minutes from the Visitor's Center."

    "The River is flowing behind the park, open to Tubers (Rental from the office), great outdoor playground and pool."

    6. Cherokee-Great Smokies KOA

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

    "We stayed here in order to visit both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Wheels Through Time museum."

    "We stayed in a deluxe cabin and I felt it was well worth it for the price. The heat did struggle to keep it warm but they had just gone through a pretty severe winter storm."

    7. Little Arrow Outdoor Resort

    22 Reviews
    Townsend, TN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 448-6363

    $60 - $185 / night

    "Little Arrow Outdoor Resort is an upscale campground located just minutes from Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The campground has several different types of accommodations."

    "Tiny homes, glamping tents, and cabins for rent. Then there are on river and off river RV sites. The on river rv sites have a gazebo over the picnic table."

    8. Camp Riverslanding

    21 Reviews
    Pigeon Forge, TN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 453-8181

    $76 - $92 / night

    "Located right by Parkway, it has easy access to plenty of things to do."

    "New looking bathrooms and shower house. Washers and dryers. Big and clean pool. Big bouncy contraption for kids. Utility hookups are close."

    9. Indian Creek Campground

    24 Reviews
    Cherokee, NC
    16 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."

    "We chose a primitive site secluded from all other campers since we tend to be a bit noisy."

    10. Deep Creek Tube Center & Campground

    14 Reviews
    Bryson City, NC
    10 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."

    "yea technically you are just outside of the great smoky mountain national park, but its so much fun here. Great spot to be on the NC side of the smokies."

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Cabin Reviews near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

1348 Reviews of 169 Great Smoky Mountains National Park Campgrounds


  • Lisa C.
    Sep. 19, 2022

    Little River Campground & RV Resort

    Such a gem!

    Husband and I wanted to get away and found this campground- it is such a gem! You can't see it well from the road, but there is a huge sign out by the road. Trust it! You're in the right place. You drive across a small bridge across the Little River when you get to the campground, but it can handle big rigs. We saw many massive Class A campers while we were here for 6 nights. We pull a 30 ft travel trailer and used a pull through site- very large spot as far as rv sites go. They have back in spots for campers and tents literally on the bank of the river and you're allowed to swim, play, tube, etc in the river at your own risk. Camp store has firewood and a few essentials, but they don't sell propane. We got ours filled at the Tractor Supply in Alcoa, TN nearby. They had crafts and hayrides while we were here. Wifi is free but not great. Verizon cell service was good enough at 3 bars the whole time. No on-site laundry services, so we had to go into town to use laundromat (nearby town of Townsend is adorable but no laundromat). The grounds offer tent, cabin, and rv sites with various levels of electric, water, cable and sewer access. Our site had 30amp, water, sewer and cable. Nice and level site, large fire pit, sturdy plastic and metal picnic table and large beautiful mature trees. The bathhouse is seriously impressive and is, by far, the nicest campground bathhouse I've ever used! One of my favorite features was random and I never knew I was missing it in my life until now.. the bathrooms have strong AC pumping right into each bathroom, making everything nice and cool when you come in from the hot campsite.. wonderful! Good view of the mountains in the distance and minutes away from Great Smoky Mountain National Park entrance. This is a wonderful find!

  • Lisa C.
    Sep. 19, 2022

    Tuckaleechee Campground

    Now called Little River Campground, absolutely wonderful!

    Husband and I wanted to get away and found this campground- it is such a gem! You can't see it well from the road, but there is a huge sign out by the road. Trust it! You're in the right place. You drive across a small bridge across the Little River when you get to the campground, but it can handle big rigs. We saw many massive Class A campers while we were here for 6 nights. We pull a 30 ft travel trailer and used a pull through site- very large spot as far as rv sites go. They have back in spots for campers and tents literally on the bank of the river and you're allowed to swim, play, tube, etc in the river at your own risk. Camp store has firewood and a few essentials, but they don't sell propane. We got ours filled at the Tractor Supply in Alcoa, TN nearby. They had crafts and hayrides while we were here. Wifi is free but not great. Verizon cell service was good enough at 3 bars the whole time. No on-site laundry services, so we had to go into town to use laundromat (nearby town of Townsend is adorable but no laundromat). The grounds offer tent, cabin, and rv sites with various levels of electric, water, cable and sewer access. Our site had 30amp, water, sewer and cable. Nice and level site, large fire pit, sturdy plastic and metal picnic table and large beautiful mature trees. The bathhouse is seriously impressive and is, by far, the nicest campground bathhouse I've ever used! One of my favorite features was random and I never knew I was missing it in my life until now.. the bathrooms have strong AC pumping right into each bathroom, making everything nice and cool when you come in from the hot campsite.. wonderful! Good view of the mountains in the distance and minutes away from Great Smoky Mountain National Park entrance. This is a wonderful find!

  • Meggers B.
    Apr. 16, 2022

    Little Arrow Outdoor Resort

    Upscale and quiet

    Little Arrow Outdoor Resort is an upscale campground located just minutes from Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The campground has several different types of accommodations. We stayed in a large, pull-through buddy site, a space that accommodates two RVs. Buddy sites are paved and have hookups for both RVs. We loved the covered cabana with outdoor string lights, a cooking area with a sink, and a large table and chairs because it was the perfect place to hang out with our friends who shared the site with us. Our dogs' favorite part of the campground was our site's turf grass patch. Everything, from the facilities, decor, and signage to the pavilion, nature trail, and gift shop, has personalized touches, which add to the experience. 

    I enjoyed Townsend and the campground so much that I won't ever stay close to the Gatlinburg side of the national park again.

  • Lori H.
    Jan. 5, 2021

    GlampKnox

    Perfect Getaway!

    Glampknox is located in Knoxville, close to downtown and The Smoky Mountains. The area is rural and beautiful, and the views from the site are wonderful, and the location is very convenient!

    The property has a beautiful cabin that is also available to rent, as well as a wedding/event barn venue. There are horses on the property too. It is some of the most picturesque property you’ll find!

    The site has a really nice tent cabin, with a covered porch, rocking chairs, and a wood burning stove. The tent has two twin beds, and they were super comfy. It has battery powered lanterns inside for light.

    The site does have restrooms and an outdoor shower, both of which are just a short walk down to the barn. There is a large fire pit in front of the tent, and plenty of space for extra tents and great trees for hammocks. There is also a hiking trail around the property. The host also had firewood stacked for us at the tent.

    Highly recommend GlampKnox for the perfect getaway!

  • M
    Jul. 20, 2018

    Adventure Trail Campground - **CLOSED**

    Rustic Cabin Camping Experience

    My family is usually tent campers, but we decided this year we didn't want to deal with the hassle of setting up & breaking down camp. We chose this campground because of the rustic camping cabins they offer. The price is right, and the experience felt just like our usual camping trips without the set-up (& no worries about leaking tents during rain!).

    Cabins are VERY rustic (perfect for us), one-room, with a handful of bunk beds & electricity. Ours had 3 bunk beds, so slept all 6 of us easily. You bring your own bed linens, and use the same shower-house/restrooms as tent campers would. Your site has a picnic table & fire ring. I believe they asked us to keep food out of the cabin. Not a big deal, since the cabins are basically just enough room to sleep anyway. We did breakfast most mornings of our week-long stay at our own campsite, as well as a few easy dinners (hotdogs), but for our bigger dinners we used their picnic shelter (which has a decent grill & a lot more space). If the park had been very busy, it might have been a little difficult to do so, since they only have the one picnic shelter, but we honestly didn't see more than a handful of other guests during our stay.

    The grounds themselves are nicely kept. They come around every morning & pick up your trash from your campsite. They do have a pool, playground, park store, bathhouse. All the essentials. Did notice that the pool & bathhouse were often closed for cleaning mid-day. The bathhouse had a sign stating cleaning took place between 1-2pm, but it seemed like that block of time always ran over quite a bit. Not too big a deal, since most days we were out doing things off-site for the bulk of mid-day, but if you were tent camping & stay on the campground all day I could see that being a lot more annoying. The bathhouse is pretty typical of most state and national parks - maybe even a bit nicer. Kept well cleaned.

    For the price, & the number of additional amenities, this place was perfect! Lots of waterfalls, hikes, & opportunities for outdoor activities in the area. Cherokee's not far away, and definitely worth a visit.

  • Cristy M.
    Jul. 21, 2018

    Townsend-Great Smokies KOA

    Right outside of Great Smoky Mountain National Park

    Amazingly clean campgrounds 10 minutes from the entrance of the National Park and 20 minutes from the Visitor's Center.

    You have a choice of "rustic" tent sites, tent sites with water/electric/cable hook-ups, RV, or Cabins. All sites are pet-friendly including cabins. All camp sites include fire pit and picnic table.

    Lots of amenities are included in your stay. 2 bathroom areas, 1 shower area, pool, wi-fi, etc.

    There's a general store in front of the campgrounds with gas station and small cafe attached. The general store will even deliver your purchased firewood to your site.

    This Koa is near a lot recreational places and some restaurants. Also near towns like Gatlinburg, Pidgeon Forge and Knoxville.

    A nice vacation spot.

  • Meg  S.
    Jul. 1, 2015

    Cades Cove Campground

    Beautiful and Quiet in the Fall, Tons of Wildlife

    Rustic camping, with tons of wildlife in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Well cared for, nice staff. Beautiful hiking trails, convenient store with bike rentals and wildlife watching. Remember to keep your food well locked, this is black bear territory, and since many people can't follow simple directions, and do feed the wildlife, the black bears in the smokies are not afraid of people, and associate them with food. There is some nose pollution from the generators. No electricity, no showers, no cell service, perfect for a weekend getaway into the wild.

  • Davina B.
    May. 9, 2019

    Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    Great place to base a Smokies trip!

    Elkmont is a huge campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

    They have plenty of sites for tents and RVs. There is a camp store, showers, and restrooms. They provide potable water access. Some sites do have electric hookups for medical needs, which are also handicap accessible. Most site are primitive sites with no water or electric hookup available. Some loops do allow the use of generators during certain hours. 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.

    We spent our weekend trip hiking and enjoying the butterflies that fill the park in September.

  • J
    Apr. 6, 2021

    Moonshine Creek Campground

    Best laid out and maintained park

    The park is very well maintained. You can tell the owner takes pride in the park. The place is laid out so that almost every site is creekside. Bathrooms are placed all throughout the park. plenty of parking. extremely nice bath house with 4 showers and dressing area separate as well as 4 toilet rooms also had 3 washers and 4 dryers, looked very new. plenty of hot water. we stayed in a camping cabin which had a full bed and sleeping loft. the loft is very large, 3 10-12 yrs old as well as 3 3-4 yr olds fit up there nice and comfy. they have camping cabins, fully equipped cabins, rv sites as well as tent sites. every site has a grill/fire pit and picnic table. they gave a camp store with firewood and just about anything else you need or forgot to bring. the town of sylva nc is only 15 minutes away and it has fast food, restaurants and, grocery and a walmart.


Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Experience the beauty of cabin camping near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, where nature meets comfort in a stunning setting.

Explore Scenic Trails and Waterfalls

  • Enjoy easy access to breathtaking hikes like Spruce Falls, just a short drive from Indian Creek Campground, perfect for families looking to explore the great outdoors.
  • The Deep Creek Tube Center & Campground offers proximity to numerous trails and the chance to tube down the creek, making it a fun-filled adventure for all ages.
  • Stay at Little Arrow Outdoor Resort and take advantage of nearby hiking opportunities while enjoying the resort's amenities.

Family-Friendly Amenities and Activities

  • Greenbrier Campground features playgrounds and a lazy river, ensuring kids have plenty of activities to keep them entertained.
  • At Cades Cove Campground, families can enjoy wildlife sightings right from their cabin, enhancing the camping experience.
  • The Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA Campground provides a range of amenities, including a pool and organized activities, making it a great choice for families.

Prices and Booking Information

  • Cabin camping prices in the area typically range from $50 to $150 per night, depending on the season and amenities offered.
  • Camp Riverslanding offers well-reviewed cabins with riverfront views, perfect for a relaxing getaway.
  • For a unique experience, consider Buddy Bear In The Smokies Campground, where you can enjoy a cozy cabin stay while being close to local attractions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the cabin camping options within Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park itself has limited cabin options directly within park boundaries. Historic cabins in the Elkmont Campground area are managed by the National Park Service, though these are primarily for day use. For overnight cabin stays, most visitors opt for Cades Cove Campground area, which offers a rustic camping experience in the heart of the park with nearby historic cabins. Note that most cabin accommodations are actually located just outside park boundaries in the surrounding gateway communities, providing easier access to modern amenities while still being minutes from park entrances.

Are there cabins available at campgrounds near the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains?

Yes, several campgrounds on the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains offer cabin accommodations. Moonshine Creek Campground provides well-maintained facilities with creek-side sites and cabin options. Gorgeous Stays offers unique accommodations including tiny cabins and heated glamping options, perfect for those wanting a more comfortable experience. These North Carolina campgrounds provide convenient access to the eastern portions of the park while offering the comfort of cabin lodging, making them excellent bases for exploring Cherokee, Bryson City, and the Deep Creek areas of the park.

What are the nearest gateway towns with cabin camping options for Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

The nearest gateway towns with excellent cabin options include Townsend and Pigeon Forge on the Tennessee side, and Cherokee and Bryson City on the North Carolina side. In Townsend, Tuckaleechee Campground offers cabin accommodations along the Little River, just minutes from the park entrance. Near Knoxville, GlampKnox provides a beautiful cabin option in a rural setting with convenient access to both downtown and the Smokies. Pigeon Forge has numerous cabin rentals, including those at Camp Riverslanding. These gateway communities balance proximity to park attractions with access to restaurants, shopping, and entertainment, making them ideal cabin bases for park exploration.

What amenities are included in Great Smoky Mountains cabin camping compared to regular campsites?

Cabin camping near Great Smoky Mountains typically offers significant upgrades over standard campsites. At Townsend-Great Smokies KOA, cabins include amenities like electricity, beds with mattresses, climate control, and many are pet-friendly. Little Arrow Outdoor Resort provides upscale cabins with full kitchens, bathrooms, furnished living spaces, and sometimes hot tubs. Unlike regular campsites where you bring all your own gear, cabins typically provide furniture, cooking facilities, and protection from weather. While traditional campsites offer more direct connection with nature at a lower price point, cabins deliver convenience, comfort, and less setup time, making them ideal for families, longer stays, or those new to outdoor recreation.