Balsam Mountain- Smoky Mountain NP: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer) Overall Rating: 4 - this would be a 3 except for the altitude and thus relief from the heat in lower elevations. Only a few of the trailer sites offer a degree of privacy. These are VERY nice. 4.5. This portion of the park is not nearly busy as other areas, so a big plus - Price: $15 with senior discount in 2023.
Usage during visit: high over the 4th. Still quiet. 60 - 70 % full mid week.
Site Privacy: Most sites have very poor privacy. Site Spacing: Varies.
Site surface: Blacktop - recently resurfaced. Reservations: Yes. Campground Noise: Very quiet Road Noise: None - maybe a little in sites 1 and 2. But there is not much traffic on the park road in this location.
Through Traffic in campground: Not an issue.
Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: Yes Generators: Allowed 8 AM to 8 PM. Bathroom: Very clean. Flush toilets Showers: Nope. Pull Throughs: All sites except one are “pull overs”. There is no island between Cell Service ;AT&T: Minimal.
Setting: Sort of on a wooded ridge with a drop off behind most sites. Nice.
Weather: Lots of clouds, rain and thundershowers during our stay. Bugs: Some mosquitoes. Solar: For fixed roof , not good. Folks have portable panels on the blacktop behind their trailers.
Host: Very active…..
Rig size: Not too big. Under 22’ for most sites I guess. Don’t fudge much from website posted size limitations for each site.
Sites: Most are “pull over” sites. The absolute best is our site, # 23 - It is also the only back-in site. Others that offer an acceptable degree of privacy, in my opinion, and in rough order beginning with the best are: 6, 7, 2,3, 40, 39, 37. I only evaluated the trailer sites.