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Established Camping

Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cosby Campground, near Cosby, Tennessee, is a peaceful retreat tucked away in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This campground offers a mix of tent and RV sites, allowing you to enjoy the great outdoors while being surrounded by the lush beauty of the Smokies.

Visitors often rave about the serene atmosphere, with many noting how quiet and clean the campground is. One camper mentioned, “It was very quiet and clean and peaceful,” which is a sentiment echoed by others who appreciate the spaciousness between sites. While there are no electric hookups or drinking water on-site, the campground does provide clean restrooms and a sanitary dump station for convenience.

For those eager to explore, the campground is just a short walk from the Appalachian Trail, making it easy to access some fantastic hiking opportunities. Reviewers have highlighted the nearby stream, which adds to the charm and provides a fun spot for kids to play. As one camper put it, “There is a stream that runs through the back of the site that our kids loved.”

With its beautiful surroundings and access to trails, Cosby Campground is perfect for anyone looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying a quiet camping experience. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, you’ll find plenty to appreciate in this slice of the Smokies.

Description

National Park Service

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Overview

Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade beside Cosby Creek. This group campground creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has to offer.

Recreation

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from Cosby Campground, including the Appalachian Trail, just three miles away via the Lower Gap Trail.Hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are also popular activities. White water rafting on the nearby Pigeon River. Top tourist towns of gatlinburg, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge are just 20 miles away. Campers can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance. Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 bears living in the park, it's not uncommon for visitors to spot one. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy.

Facilities

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from Cosby Campground, including the Appalachian Trail, just three miles away via the Lower Gap Trail.Hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are also popular activities. White water rafting on the nearby Pigeon River. Top tourist towns of gatlinburg, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge are just 20 miles away. Campers can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance. Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 bears living in the park, it's not uncommon for visitors to spot one. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy.

Natural Features

World-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian culture, Great Smoky Mountains is America's most visited national park. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Cosby never disappoints. At 2,460 feet, Cosby Campground provides a moderate climate, typified by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural history of Southern Appalachia. From the prehistoric Paleo Indians to the early 19th century European settlements, the park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes and artifacts, which tell the stories of the people who once called these mountains home.

Nearby Attractions

Cosby, Tennessee, located about five miles from the campground, offers convenience stores and fuel. Gatlinburg, a one of the Smokies' famous tourist towns, is located about 20 miles from the site, offering visitors tours, organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more.

Charges & Cancellations

Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.

Fee Info

Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee. Customers that check out early or do not plan to use their reservation MUST contact the campground office the day they leave or are due to check in, in order to receive a refund. Refund requests for early departure or non use of the site made AFTER the reservation has ended will be denied. Office phone numbers are given in the Facility Contact information for each campground.

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Location

Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in Tennessee

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Cosby, TN, proceed south on TN 32 about 1.5 miles from junction with US 321. Turn right at Cosby sign. Group camp is another 2.2 miles.

Address

127 Cosby Park Road
Cosby, TN 37722

Coordinates

35.7527778 N
83.2061111 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
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  • Verizon
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  • AT&T
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  • T-Mobile
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Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Reservable
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Drive Time


Reviews

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73 Reviews

Reviewed Oct. 14, 2024

Cosby Campground: A Hidden Gem in the Great Smoky Mountains

Cosby Campground, nestled within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offers a serene escape for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Surrounded by lush forests and vibrant wildlife, this campground features well-maintained sites for tents and RVs, making it ideal for families and solo adventurers alike

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Reviewed Oct. 14, 2024

Cosby Campground: A Hidden Gem in the Great Smoky Mountains

Cosby Campground, nestled within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offers a serene escape for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Surrounded by lush forests and vibrant wildlife, this campground features well-maintained sites for tents and RVs, making it ideal for families and solo adventurers alike.

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Reviewed Oct. 4, 2024

Discover Adventure and Tranquility at Cosby Campground in the Great Smoky

Cosby Campground sounds like a gem for those seeking a peaceful yet adventure-filled getaway in the Great Smoky Mountains! The mix of serene camping, hiking access to renowned trails like the Appalachian Trail, and proximity to tourist towns like Gatlinburg makes it a great spot. With opportunities for fishing, wildlife spotting(1,500 bears– wow!), and rafting on the Pigeon River, it offers something for everyone. Plus, its rich history and biodiversity make it an even more unique experience. Definitely worth checking out for anyone craving both nature and nearby attractions!

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Reviewed Sep. 21, 2024

Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cosby Campground, located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offers a serene escape into nature with its lush surroundings and access to scenic trails. Featuring 26 sites, it provides a peaceful camping experience, ideal for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can enjoy hiking, wildlife viewing, and proximity to attractions like the Cosby Nature Trail. With amenities such as picnic tables and fire rings, it’s a perfect spot for a memorable camping adventure in the heart of the Smokies.

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Reviewed Aug. 11, 2024

Great mountains if Beauty.

This was a good campsite for the Uppermiddle class to bring their families and RV to say they camped. But nothing really to do but hike.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Perry N., August 11, 2024
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Perry N., August 11, 2024
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Perry N., August 11, 2024
  • (14) View All
Reviewed Dec. 29, 2022

Quite and clean campground

It was a bit of a drive to the park and depending on traffic it could take a while. Otherwise it’s a clean and decent campground.

Siteb53
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Nick P., December 29, 2022
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Nick P., December 29, 2022
Reviewed Aug. 23, 2022

Beat The Crowds

This place is awesome!! There is something like 150 sites but there was only 12 sites filled when we got there. We were in A20 and we had that whole side of A loop to ourselves. There is a stream that runs through the back of the site that our kids loved. One downside was that a assertive mother bear and her three cubs showed up at dinner time and would not leave. Despite yelling and banging pots she repeatedly came into our camp. Everything was perfect up until momma bear invited herself to dinner

SiteA20
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jul. 25, 2022

An immersive rainforest location

Visited here in early may and let me tell you theres nothing like being immersed in the smoky mountain rainforests. The Cosby campground its self is very secluded in the northern part of the park and has a lot of different plots for people to pick from. The bathrooms are somewhat clean and the plots are a little close together although there are some that are farther away from each other. I highly recommend this campsite to all who want to be immersed in what the smokey mountains has to offer. It is also probably a 15-20 min walk to the Appalachian trail.

Site58
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Graham , July 25, 2022
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Graham , July 25, 2022
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Graham , July 25, 2022
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Jun. 22, 2022

Really quiet tent camping

Arrived late, and our same day reservation had not gone through yet, so no tag awaiting us at the gate shack on arrival. Camped anyway in reserved spot and took care of the paperwork in the AM. Available water was not on site but at nearby restroom building at outdoor sink. Clean restrooms.

SiteB19
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Jeremey D., June 22, 2022
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Jeremey D., June 22, 2022
Reviewed Apr. 30, 2022

Mixed feelings

For visiting during the off-season in April I wasn’t expecting it to be so popular. Most people were quiet but there isn’t much privacy between sites. Only a handful of RV sites in loop A so hope you don’t get next to the generator happy RV campers like we did. Bathrooms are nice and cleaned daily. Showers, ice, and wood can be found at a little store up the road.

SiteA16
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Lauren , April 30, 2022
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Lauren , April 30, 2022
Reviewed Apr. 25, 2022

Pretty nice campground in the Smokies.

Clean, well maintained campground, spots are a little closer together than I prefer but still a nice campground. Clean bathrooms, lots of trails to explore.

Siteb35
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Bill G., April 25, 2022
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Bill G., April 25, 2022
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Bill G., April 25, 2022
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Oct. 13, 2021

How I learned to quit hating the Smokies

I love the Smokies, but I can’t stand the throngs of tourists. Cosby campground solved this conundrum.

Cosby is about half an hour outside of Gatlinburg and worth every minute.

A16 was big and shady. There were a few steps down to it. Plenty of trees and distance to the nearest neighbors. Backs up to a creek, but if you want a spot where you can play in the creek, choose A20.

Bathroom (no showers) and dish sink were an easy walk over.

Cute 1-mile trail for kids. Longer, more interesting ones if your travel companions aren’t whiny.

SiteA16
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Rachel K., October 13, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Rachel K., October 13, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Rachel K., October 13, 2021
Reviewed Oct. 7, 2021

Beautiful campground w/ lots of trails

Drive in is a nice paved road, got our information on where our sites where from the Camp Host, Who was super informative. They don’t sell ice or firewood but there is small convenient store 100 yds away from the entrance to the Cosby campground. Disney land pricing for firewood but really Nice to have so close. The campsites are pretty close to each other, campsites are on both sides of the one way road, pretty full the weekend we went.

First night we got in around 12pm, set up our site, made drinks and did the 1 mile nature trail inside the campground, very nice and well maintained. Site B86 was so close but was the higher of the 2 campsites, and had flatter ground around the fire ring. We moved a tent over there for the first night to have extra space but ours did accommodate 3 tents, the rest of the stay. Friday went on a 10.2 mile hike leaving right out of the campground. We took the Appalachian Trail to Mt. Cammerer to an old fire tower built in 1956. The views on a clear day were absolutely beautiful. Third day, we went whitewater rafting down the street, on the pigeon river. Highly recommend going to the Tennessee Moonshine place down the street from the campground, Moonshine Slushes are the bomb, get the shine floater lol.

Stayed September 30- October 4th. Temperature was 68-72 degrees during the day, 58-65 degrees at night.

SiteB87
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Jason H., October 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Jason H., October 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Jason H., October 7, 2021
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Sep. 18, 2021

Quiet and peaceful campground

This place is great! It was very quiet and clean and peaceful. There was a good amount of space between the different campsites, and the bathrooms were very nice! This was my first time camping, and I'm sure a first trip can make or break it for a lot of campers, but I will definitely be venturing out again soon! This campground also has ♿ sites, which I somehow accidentally booked, so I can tell you it has a since smooth paved surface all the way up to the tent pad, the fire pit, and the bathroom. The picnic table has a section of seat removed from one side so a wheelchair can be wheeled up to it. Other sites have hills or steps between the tent pad, fire pit, and vehicle areas.

SiteA61
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Aug. 4, 2021

Peace & Quiet

My days beforehand had been spent at Smokemont Campground and Cosby offers a completely different vibe while still camping within the national park’s boundaries.

It was quiet and outdoorsy and definitely did not have the hubbub of Smokemont with campers coming and going all the time.

There are plenty of trails to check out here, a really beautiful picnic area and the bathrooms are well maintained.

……..

It had drizzled on and off all day at Dollywood, but around 6 pm, the rain began again and I could tell it wasn’t going to let up this time. Which was fine because the park closed at 7 pm and I was already making my way to the exit anyway, but I hoped that by the time I reached my camp 25 miles and almost a hour’s drive away that the rain would’ve stopped. It didn’t. And there actually must’ve been more sustained downpours up there because everything inside my tent was soaked. Despite having a footprint, water was coming through floor and, despite having a rain fly, water was dripping in through ceiling. Directly onto my air mattress and sleeping bags. It was near dark at that point and there’s no way I could’ve cooked dinner, so I just zipped myself in and read myself to sleep as water softly dripped onto my face.

You never want to have one of these nights while camping, but you certainly don’t want to have one of these nights on your ✨last night✨ at a camp. I awoke the next morning to more rain. Cold, wet and frustrated, I de-poled my tent as quickly as I could, balled it all up and shoved it my trunk without an ounce of the care or concern that I usually put into packing up.

I was beyond over the rain, but as I was driving out of my loop, I told myself that I shouldn’t leave feeling this way, that I needed to make peace with the situation, so that the bad experiences didn’t cloud the positive ones (no pun intended!) when I looked back on my experience. So I pulled over to the group picnic area, which was large and most importantly ✨covered✨ to make myself some coffee. I wandered along the picnic grounds as I drank, listened to the stream and happily soaked in my final, gray morning in the Smoky Mountains.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Katie M., August 4, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Katie M., August 4, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Katie M., August 4, 2021
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Jul. 28, 2021

Gorgeous

Beautiful, spotless sites. Quiet and peaceful, surrounded by trees. Bear country- they are very strict about keeping food inaccessible- park rangers will fine up to 1,000 dollars. Enjoyed the local hikes, very close to Appalachian trail.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Vanessa F., July 28, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Vanessa F., July 28, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Vanessa F., July 28, 2021
Reviewed Jul. 26, 2021

Great Hiking

I wish there were showers, but Smoky Mountain NP has so many good hiking trails and some of them start in this campground. Even the easy 1 mile Nature Trail was beautiful.

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jun. 29, 2021

Quiet with easy access

This campground is in a remote part of the mountains but is very easy to find. My niece and I stayed here for 1 night recently and completely enjoyed the stay. You get a view of the mountains from the road, there is lots of hiking to be found, and plenty of water to enjoy hearing. One of the trails in the park takes you to a waterfall but first you must cross a cool log bridge over a rocky creek. 

This campground is located in bear county and they do a great job making sure that you are aware of this fact and know what to do. They provide bear-proof garbage throughout the grounds and every few campsites, has a bear-proof box that you can keep food in if you aren't traveling by a hard-shelled vehicle (their words). Bathrooms are readily accessible and are kept clean. They also have a place to clean your dishes outside the bathrooms so that all scents stay away from your campsite.

The night we stayed, it was very windy. Be prepared for this as the area is full of trees, it sounds like roaring at times even though it wasn't doing much at all. It wasn't stormy, just extra windy that night. This could be a little scary to kids who aren't prepared.

SiteA48
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Kara R., June 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Kara R., June 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Kara R., June 29, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jun. 28, 2021

Great Alternative to the Hustle and Bustle Around Gatlinburg!

I lucked out and found a spot here for a night after arriving in Gatlinburg without a plan.

The corner kitchen just down the road had an excellent pulled pork sandwich on my way through.

Really cool hike up to Low Gap and onto the AT from the campground.

Campground itself had small restrooms and the tent sites were either above or below your parking spot (slight walk).

The Nature Trail had some beautiful spots to sit and relax right on the creek!

Site42
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Tucker B., June 28, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Tucker B., June 28, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Tucker B., June 28, 2021
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Jun. 2, 2021

Can’t Go Wrong

This was our first trip to the Smoky Mountains and what a beautiful way to see it. Beautiful grounds, friendly and quiet neighbors, and the sites were secluded. Trails all around!! We did a trail run in the early morning and came upon a rattlesnake at the top so just...like...be careful.

SiteB92
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed May. 27, 2021

Incredible all around

Sites are spread out nicely, beautiful trees all throughout. Plenty of trailheads to discover that have creeks and views very close (perfect for kids). Bathrooms amongst the cleanest I’ve seen at a campground. Plenty of wildlife around campground: fireflies, turkeys, moths, AT hikers, etc.

B loop is certainly better than A loop if you’re tent camping. I think all tent campers can agree that the further from those noisy RVs you can get, the better. RV sites listed on Recreation.gov

SiteB58
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Natalee F., May 27, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Natalee F., May 27, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Natalee F., May 27, 2021
  • (8) View All
Reviewed May. 22, 2021

Two night camping stay

I was surprised when I showed up. I didn’t realize there was not a private pad to park a vehicle. If you plan on using a rooftop tent be prepared to park in the road. Facilities were nice and well maintained. Buy firewood beforehand. They do not sell it at the campsite. Hiking trails were awesome. Plenty for everyone including our almost 2 year old. Weather was nice, chilly at night.

SiteB36
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Matthew D., May 22, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Matthew D., May 22, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Matthew D., May 22, 2021
  • (6) View All
Reviewed May. 3, 2021

Minimalist and quiet

Cosby is a less-well-known campground in SMNP. Most of the sites are tent-only, with a few, like ours, for trailers and no tent pad. The campground is laid out on a mountain slope, so the loops switchback up the hill. Even though you can see your neighbors, the varied terrain and trees help give some privacy. Our family loved the nearby 1 mile nature loop that followed a beautiful creek through tulip poplar groves. The bathrooms were tended nightly by rangers and stayed fairly clean, though no hot water or showers. We loved that the campground stayed fairly quiet so we could really enjoy being in nature. Our site was within easy distance of the toilet facility and dish washing station. We could see our neighbors left to right, but the loop above the hill from us was mostly blocked from view by a line of trees.

Site48
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Andra S., May 3, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Andra S., May 3, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Andra S., May 3, 2021
Reviewed Apr. 16, 2021

Winter Hike through Campground

Spent 1/2 day hiking the trails and through the campground here. Observed Super camping sites in this less accessed entry point to the Smoky Mountains. I have this down for an actual stay here. Many wooded spots and close to waterfalls and phenomenal hiking. 40 minutes from Gatlinburg

Sitewalk through
Month of VisitFebruary
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Chris A., April 16, 2021
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Chris A., April 16, 2021
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Feb. 22, 2021

Our favorite place in the Smokies

My husband and I have been camping in the Smokies and surrounding areas for years. This is our favorite spot. Much quieter than the other campgrounds in the park. Several wonderful hikes right out of the campground.

Reviewed Sep. 28, 2020

True camping at its best! Private wooded sites and more!

Cosby Campground is a stunningly beautiful place to camp. Clean, bathrooms, very private sites. Mostly tent sites a few RV sites. But, No Electric, No Cell Service, and No Showers! What a good feeling to be totally disconnected. I literally could not check my messages, work emails, phone calls. No excuses.

Just out of a Totally off grid few days at Cosby Campground in Tennessee. We did a 5 mile hike up the side of a mountain, 2,300 feet in elevation gain, to Henwallow Falls that kicked our asses! Steep hills, mud, slippery rocks and roots, over narrow log bridges to get to the waterfall and then... back down. We are hurting today! But a good kind of accomplishment pain. We did it!

Our pictures are of site 88 and site 75. Two big RV spots for our tiny squaredrop camper. Remember, no power. We used out jackery 1000 for recharging small electronics the 5 days we were there. #88 was more private. But if we had to go again... we saw #93. Great Big and Private RV site in a corner. #AtlasJeeper @AtlasJeeper

  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Marlene V., September 28, 2020
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Marlene V., September 28, 2020
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Marlene V., September 28, 2020
  • (22) View All
Reviewed Sep. 17, 2020

Great introduction to the Great Smokies

After a careful amount of research I selected this campground as my destination and home for a couple days as I got acquainted with the Great Smoky Mountains. The campground itself is pretty immaculate. The NPS personnel are friendly, helpful, and professional. The trail right by my campsite leads directly to the Low Gap Trail, which is apparently the most difficult trail in the entire park (which I learned from a ranger on the way DOWN).

The park and staff are very serious about bears, for good reason. I can say I didn’t personally experience any sign, sight, or sound of one while I was there. I did come across someone on my hike who ran across one while hiking the day before. They’re definitely out there, so bone up on your preparedness and come equipped. I was alone, so I had a bear bell at my waist, ringing with every step.

Cosby is a neat little town. The prices at Janice’s Diner are crazy low, just make sure you bring cash.

  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Tim B., September 17, 2020
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Tim B., September 17, 2020
  • Review photo of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Tim B., September 17, 2020
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Aug. 24, 2020

Nice place

Stayed here last year for a quick getaway and it was perfect for our needs

Reviewed Jun. 25, 2020

Wooded Wonderland

We had an great time. Several hiking trail heads start in the campground. The AT is also just a short walk from the campgrounds. Beautiful trees and wildlife! We met a bear. Would be 5 stars except for how far it is from Gatlinburg and the main areas of the National Park

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are fires allowed at Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not have wifi.