Yogi in the Smokies, near Cherokee, North Carolina, is a fantastic spot for families looking to enjoy the great outdoors. This campground is packed with activities, making it a favorite among visitors, especially those with kids. 

You'll find a range of accommodations here, from tent sites to RV spots and even cozy cabins. The campground boasts a swimming pool, a playground, and a recreation building filled with fun activities for children. One reviewer highlighted the “mining” experience for kids, which adds a unique twist to the camping adventure.

Nature lovers will appreciate the nearby Raven Fork River, where you can fish, swim, or just relax by the water. The sounds of the river create a calming backdrop, perfect for unwinding after a day of exploring. Plus, Mingo Falls is just a short drive away, offering a beautiful hiking opportunity.

Visitors rave about the friendly staff and the clean facilities, including well-kept bathrooms and a camp store stocked with essentials. As one camper put it, “The general store is always meticulously clean and well stocked.” Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, Yogi in the Smokies is a great choice for making lasting family memories.

Yogi in the smokies

The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Cherokee. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Cherokee, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Cherokee camping trip.

Cherokee

The Best Camping Near Cherokee, North Carolina

Such a beautiful place. Lots of activities for children of all ages. 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.

Campground in the trees with flowing water 

This is a wonderful campground for kids and families. We always stay  around Halloween. They have the best activities for kids. Costume contest, trick-or-treating and pumpkin decorating is one of our favorites. There is also a haunted house which is really cool. The general store is always meticulously clean and well stocked. The bathrooms and facilities are always clean. We love waking up to the sound of the river in the morning. We will continue staying here around Halloween for years to come if we are so lucky.

Best campground for kids and family’s 

I used to visit this Yogi many times as a kid. It is a little more run down and needs a little TLC, but I would visit again in a heartbeat. Most of the waterfront sites are for small rigs/tents, but there are some for RVs/ larger pull behinds. The roads throughout the campground are a little rough and need attention. The river is so nice and calming. The staff were nice. The restrooms were mediocre, but did the job. We stayed in site 126 in 08/2020.

Camping on the river

This is a wonderful family campground with lots of activities for kids including tubing, trout fishing, swimming, and an arcade. But the most amazing part was that we saw Synchronous fire flies in late July. It was a once in a lifetime experience!￼

Synchronous a Fireflies in late July

I have never stayed a more kid friendly campground than this one. There are craft activities for children and even a“mining” experience. The children’s recreation building is adjacent to restrooms, the arcade, and a playground. The recreation director was working with some children when I visited the rec room. The signs throughout the campground are themed around Yogi Bear, and there are“statues” of Yogi and the ranger, as well as a playing field known as“Boo Boo Meadow.” 

  

The camp store has everything campers need in case they forgot something, and the pool is next to it. Ice cream is also a featured item. 

  

As far as campsites, the sites are shady and there is a variety of spaces for different types of camping. Our tent was close to the bath house, but we weren’t bothered with traffic. A lot of the campers had RVs with their own bath rooms. With the Raven Fork River running beside the campground, the sounds of the river could be heard all night. However, it is also close to the road, so road noise could also be heard. 

  

Just be aware that if you get a campsite next to the river, scout it out first. Some of the sites are not level and full of roots. Other tent sites have gravel, which is not ideal for tents that are not free-standing. 

  

Overall, this is a great campground for families with small children, but some of the sites are not ideal. I highly recommend this campground.

Great Campground for Families with Children

This is in our top 5 campgrounds to visit! We have stayed here multiple times both in RV sites and in the cabins. The staff is super friendly and helpful. River sites stay booked so plan ahead if you want one of those. We enjoy the swimming hole but beware, the water stays COLD even in the summertime. Mingo Falls is nearby and we like visiting the casino in Cherokee as well.

Our Favorite!

This is the "meet up" point for us and many of our camping friends. The sites are fairly level and they have added more gravel to the roads. 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.

  

Cabins 116 and 117 have dishes, cookware, etc. furnished.

135 and 135A are Jack and Jill sites, which we have used often with close friends. Sites along the river go fast, so make your reservations early.

  

If you can get by with 30 amp service, site 25 allows you to face your camper towards the swimming hole.

Photos of Yogi in the smokies

Real photos from real campers