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Best Glamping near Sylva, NC

1,216 Reviews

Moonshine Creek Campground and Cherokee-Great Smokies KOA offer luxury outdoor accommodations nestled in the scenic mountains surrounding Sylva, North Carolina. These glamping destinations feature premium canvas tents, comfortable yurts, and fully-furnished cabin-style glamping units with electricity, modern amenities, and climate control systems. "Beautiful campground. Walking distance to casino and main street shops. Despite its proximity, it is tucked away enough to still feel like you are camping," noted one visitor about the Cherokee location. Both resorts provide glampers with comfortable beds, private decks overlooking creeks or mountain views, and many units include en-suite bathrooms with hot showers. The glamping sites maintain a balance between wilderness immersion and resort-style comfort, with Moonshine Creek particularly known for its creek-side accommodations where guests can fall asleep to the sound of flowing water in plush bedding.

The Blue Ridge Parkway sits just minutes from these glamping resorts, allowing easy access to scenic overlooks and mountain trails. A visitor described their experience: "Plenty to do in this area, camping, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rafting or kayaking." Both glamping destinations offer on-site recreational activities including badminton and volleyball courts, while the Cherokee location provides convenient access to cultural attractions including the Oconaluftee Indian Village and Cherokee Museum. Glamping guests can explore nearby waterfall hikes, trout fishing in stocked creeks, or venture into downtown Sylva for local dining and craft breweries. The geodesic domes and safari-style accommodations are most popular during the April to November season when temperatures are mild, though some luxury units remain available year-round. Each resort-style campground maintains a camp store with essential supplies, and many glamping packages include firewood delivery service directly to private fire pits outside each accommodation.

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Best Glamping Sites Near Sylva, North Carolina (104)

    1. Indian Creek Campground

    24 Reviews
    Cherokee, NC
    12 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."

    "Campground: Indian Creek

    Overall: This is a very nice, small, quiet commercial campground way off of the beaten path."

    2. Cherokee-Great Smokies KOA

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

    "The heat did struggle to keep it warm but they had just gone through a pretty severe winter storm. They did provide us with extra linens which helped. The manager on duty, Tonya, was great."

    "If I’m not mistaken, the one we were at this time was either the same cabin or one close to it.  It is perfectly situated beside the river.  "

    3. Moonshine Creek Campground

    16 Reviews
    Balsam, NC
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 586-6666

    "We will definitely be back now that we have our A-frame camper. The campground is beautiful with a mountain stream flowing through the entire campground. Immaculate bathhouses and wonderful owners."

    "Our tent campsite was very secluded, included a fire pit, picnic table, over looking deck, running water and electric. Loved hearing the running creek from our tent site. Very clean bathrooms."

    4. Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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

    $30 / night

    "The only bad part was the non quiet hours- so It was loud at night. But the campsites are far apart, easy walking distance to bathrooms."

    "There are no hook ups for electric and sewer here, nor are their showers."

    5. Deep Creek Tube Center & Campground

    14 Reviews
    Bryson City, NC
    14 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."

    "We tent camped at an electric site and it was awesome. There’s shelters to camp under, a fire ring, and a picnic table. We were close to the bath house which was welcomed in the middle of the night."

    6. Greenbrier Campground

    70 Reviews
    Gatlinburg, TN
    28 miles
    Website

    $35 - $258 / night

    "Our oldest rented a bell tent, and when I say they are the cutest camping spot, I am not exaggerating. The bell tents sit on the river and away from all the RV sites."

    "We stayed 3 nights in the Baby Bear bell tent with our small children and it was perfect. We ended up arriving later than expected and the hosts were wonderful. Very nice and helpful our whole stay."

    7. Yogi in the smokies

    7 Reviews
    Cherokee, NC
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 497-9151

    $33 - $174 / night

    "The bathrooms are kept clean and most necessities can be found in the camp store. We usually pull our camper, but we have stayed in cabin 116."

    "Well kept swimming pool and bathroom areas. Lots of options on lodging. Short drive to downtown Cherokee, North Carolina. River access. Even has the start of a hike that goes to a Mingo falls."

    8. Fort Wilderness RV Park

    8 Reviews
    Whittier, NC
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 497-9331

    $139 / night

    "When I arrived I was greeted very nicely. I was offered a better camping site at no extra charge due to the many number of spaces available. It was a great place and I will gladly go back."

    9. The Great Outdoors RV Resort

    8 Reviews
    Franklin, NC
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 349-0412

    $48 - $54 / night

    "The bathrooms and showers are nice and clean. The pet corral was enjoyed by my dog. The staff is very nice and helpful."

    "Well groomed campground in a central location in the mountains of North Carolina. Good amenities. Friendly staff."

    10. Grumpy Bear Campground

    7 Reviews
    Bryson City, NC
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 788-2095

    $50 - $55 / night

    "There are several places along the river to play in the water, set up a lawn chair, or float in a tube."

    "I stayed here a few years ago for an overnight (without my trailer, I slept in the truck cab), and the owners were very friendly despite that fact that I arrived after dark and really early in the season"

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Recent Glamping Photos near Sylva, NC

349 Photos of 104 Sylva Campgrounds

Glamping Reviews near Sylva, NC

1216 Reviews of 104 Sylva Campgrounds

  • Ashley M.
    Sep. 17, 2019

    Moonshine Creek Campground

    Beautiful Campground

    My husband and I stayed here for my birthday in one of the camping cabins. We will definitely be back now that we have our A-frame camper. The campground is beautiful with a mountain stream flowing through the entire campground. Immaculate bathhouses and wonderful owners. Great store onsite and lots to do in the surrounding area.

  • Nate H.
    Sep. 30, 2020

    Camp LeConte Luxury Outdoor Resort

    Vintage campers!

    Camp Leconte Luxury Resort is located in Gatlinburg near the Greenbriar area of the Smokies. It’s a fairly small campground right on the Parkway. It’s close to town, but far enough away to avoid traffic. The campground has nice, paved spots for rv’s. It has glamping tent cabins, as well as vintage campers. There is a camp store, but the campground is not far from a grocery store and liquor store. There’s a trolley stop nearby also, so if you’d like To go to the strip, you can take the trolley and not worry about parking. There’s a nice pool and playground. Very clean campground.

  • S
    Oct. 16, 2016

    Moonshine Creek Campground

    Moonshine Creek Campground

    Owners are very friendly. Our tent campsite was very secluded, included a fire pit, picnic table, over looking deck, running water and electric. Loved hearing the running creek from our tent site. Very clean bathrooms. Highly recommended!

  • 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.

  • Katie K.
    Sep. 11, 2020

    Townsend-Great Smokies KOA

    Perfect spot outside the smoky mountain national park

    My family and I have been camping at this campground for over 25 years now. When we first started going here it was a small family owned business and it has certainly changed since KOA took over but I think they’re all positive, just less of the charm. The sites along the river are by far the best, and the cost is reflective of that. They upgraded the bathhouse to be climate controlled recently... the best upgrade!!! The location is superb, right outside cades cove and a five min drive from put in for tubing down the river and one of the few places you can simply tune to without having to pay a service to shuttle you one way or the other. The staff is amazing. Definitely a must stop!

  • Sarah R.
    Jun. 21, 2021

    Greenbrier Campground

    Amazing location in the Smokies

    We stayed for a week on an RV back in site. The sites can be soemwhat close together, but with this mostly just being home base, we didn’t find it to be a problem. Our oldest rented a bell tent, and when I say they are the cutest camping spot, I am not exaggerating. The bell tents sit on the river and away from all the RV sites. They even include 2 full size beds and lamps/nightstands. The entire grounds is surrounded by a river that has a swimming hole and can be traversed in a tube. The playground is large and our son was there multiple times a day. They have a movie in the park each Friday and offer church services on Sundays. The trolley runs through the grounds and into downtown gatlinburg, but takes about 30 minutes to get to town. The bathrooms/showers are all private stalls and pretty well maintained. We will definitely be visiting again in the future.

  • Kristen B.
    Nov. 20, 2021

    Greenbrier Campground

    Great river front location close to the NP

    We stayed 3 nights in the Baby Bear bell tent with our small children and it was perfect. We ended up arriving later than expected and the hosts were wonderful. Very nice and helpful our whole stay. The river front bell tents are where it’s at! You’re a few steps from a small babbling creek. The kids loved wading and catching minnows. Even when it rained, the tent was comfortable and roomy. I can’t say enough great things about how clean the bath and shower houses are! Close enough to Gatlinburg and the National Park entrances, yet far from the crazy crowds. Would definitely return here.

  • Karen D.
    Jan. 22, 2019

    Camp LeConte Luxury Outdoor Resort

    Love Love Love this Campground

    We have been camping here for Thanksgiving for years. It is a family owned campground.

    The bathhouse is the cleanest one I have ever seen and used. The fire pits are clean when you check in. They are right on the Trolley Route, just simply walk to the road and the Trolley will stop and pick you up.

    They have Safari Tents, Tent Sites, Tree Houses, Retro Campers, Pull Thru and Back up Sites that will hold the largest of RV's. The RV sites have fire pits, grills, and a grass area that is always mowed.

    They have a swimming pool and outdoor activity center. They have special activities going on at different times to keep the little ones entertained.

  • Jessica S.
    Jul. 10, 2018

    Oconee State Park Campground

    Cute cabins in beautiful state park

    We spent 2 nights in one of the cabins in this beautiful state park during a road trip through South Carolina. And let me say, 2 nights was not enough! The cabin itself was very well kept. There was air conditioning, 2 bedrooms, 1 full kitchen, 1 full bathroom, and a fire place. We stopped at a Walmart in one of the towns before the park to stock up on food.

    There are multiple cabins scattered around the lake but they are a good distance apart from each other so you won't be disturbed by your neighbors. There was a fire ring and picnic in front of the cabin where we made smores after dinner and a cute screened porch with rocking chairs where we had coffee and breakfast on every morning. The cabin was right next to the small lake, which had a short trail going around it. We saw people fishing and I believe you can rent canoes as well in the park.

    You definitely need more than 2 days to explore this cute little park. There are multiple hiking trails near by and definitely a lot of wild life. But it was definitely a peaceful and quiet park perfect for a relaxing weekend away.

Guide to Sylva

Sylva sits in a valley of the Plott Balsam mountain range at 2,036 feet elevation, creating distinct seasonal camping conditions throughout the year. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, while spring and fall offer milder conditions ideal for camping. Yurt accommodations in the area provide a popular middle ground between tent camping and cabin rentals, especially during the transition seasons when temperatures fluctuate.

What to do

Trout fishing in mountain streams: The Tuckasegee River running through the Sylva area offers excellent fishing opportunities. At Indian Creek Campground, "The creek is stocked with trout, so bring your fishing gear!" according to Rich S., who notes that some sites have the creek directly in the backyard where "we could fish sitting right by our picnic table and fire ring."

Explore nearby waterfalls: Within 30 minutes of Sylva, you can access several waterfall trails. Mingo Falls is particularly accessible, as Steve G. notes, "a short 0.44 mile round trip hike up 161 stairs, then a relatively level trail to the base of a beautiful waterfall." The trailhead is located just minutes from Cherokee.

Visit historic ghost towns: The abandoned structures at Elkmont provide a fascinating glimpse into the area's past. "The campground has a wonderful area and the history of the place is amazing," mentions Amy P. from Elkmont Campground, where you can explore Daisy Town, a collection of former vacation homes now preserved as a ghost town.

What campers like

Creek-side camping spots: Sites along mountain streams are consistently rated as favorites. At Moonshine Creek Campground, Shannon T. describes their experience: "Our tent campsite was very secluded, included a fire pit, picnic table, over looking deck, running water and electric. Loved hearing the running creek from our tent site."

Yurt camping options: Several campgrounds near Sylva offer yurt accommodations as alternatives to traditional camping. The Cherokee-Great Smokies KOA includes yurts among their lodging options, which Crystal C. describes as providing "that rustic mountain feel but with modern amenities" while still allowing you to enjoy "access to every amenity there was to offer."

Clean facilities: Many campers specifically mention the cleanliness of bathhouses as a standout feature. At Indian Creek Campground, Mary B. observes, "The cleanest bathrooms I have seen at a campground," while Shane H. notes the bath house is "extremely clean" with "several spacious sites lining the river."

What you should know

Site selection matters: Not all sites are created equal, especially for tent campers. At Deep Creek Tube Center & Campground, Andra S. advises, "Try to get a spot on the river, sites 1-10, but we stayed in 12 and it was fine. There are plenty of trees for shade, and this area of WNC rains a good amount, so everything is very green."

Seasonal considerations: Most smaller campgrounds in the area operate seasonally. Moonshine Creek Campground only operates "April to November," according to their listing, making advance planning essential during peak periods. Fall color weekends book months in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Sylva, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Sylva, NC is Indian Creek Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 24 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Sylva, NC?

TheDyrt.com has all 104 glamping camping locations near Sylva, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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