Cosby Campground, near Cosby, Tennessee, is a peaceful retreat tucked away in the [Great Smoky Mountains National Park](https://thedyrt.com/camping/north-carolina/near/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.

## 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 &amp; 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.

Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Cosby. Cosby is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Find the best campgrounds near Cosby, TN. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.

Cosby

The Best Camping Near Cosby, Tennessee

TeNnEsSeE

The Cosby campground tends to be a little quieter than Cades Cove or Elkmont, but I like it that way! There is ample parking nearby and trailheads. I was there when it was a little cooler and there was hardly anyone there, which was nice! There is a Mount Cammerer Trailhead right there, which is a fabulous hike. There is a stream nearby also!

Quiter part of the park with great hikes close!

Visited inthe Fall of 2015. Campground was clean, well supported and very convenient to hiking trails in the GSMNP.  The campground has tent and RV sites, restrooms with sinks and toilets, outside wash sinks,etc. No showers. Staff was friendly and informative. In October, avilability was very good and we enjoyed a site in the back, that had immediate access to trails, etc. A great visit.

Fall Splendor

Great area to have an adventure and get away from all the tourists visiting the Smokies. A few local campgrounds around with good hiking trails and access to the Appalachian trail. Great area to see the fall leaves. Definitely a great place to spend a week with the family. If you manage to get bored or want to get out of town, you can always drive a little further south to the main areas of the Smokies where you can find everything you could imagine. 

Lesser known area of the Smokies

Cosby is the by far the most secluded and private campground in the Smokies. While there is lack of waterfront sites it is much more peaceful than any of the others. It's very peaceful and close to awesome trails-Low Gap and Lower Mt Cammerer. Also the best hidden jewel nearby is Carver Orchard and Applehouse. Cosby town itself is a neat little corner of the world and very worth being away from Gatlinburg. 

Cosby=solitude in the GSM 

Read all about Mt Cammerer fire tower and planned it in my road trip. Car camped and headed in nice and early. It was a challenging climb and not for the faint of heart :) seriously, anyone could do it if you have all day as its 5+ miles up pretty much the entire way. Worth the hike for the view, but it was crowded at the top. We were informed near the top that dogs are not allowed, which was weird to me due to it being part of the Appalachian Trail and I hadn't seen anything about it in the literature I read? But I digress...So, if you enter from Cosby dogs are allowed in the campground but not on the trail?? Wildlife and all. Good hike, definitely worth the climb, put it on your list! :)

Going up?

Went here with my boyfriend about a year ago, so much fun. There's so much to do. I love the hiking trails and the nature. It's absolutely breathtaking. We met a couple friendly squirrels, and we stayed in a really pretty cabin. Really nice locals too.  

Love this state park

All of the campgrounds in these mountains were wonderful to camp, there were many different hiking trails around, that all had their own unique and glorious views! I cannot wait to go back!!

These mountains are just amazing

LGood scenic location, and especially if you don't like the crowds...but no showers, even rustic ones - which was a must have for us after a day of hiking.  Trails nearby, & they do have toilets and sinks.  Sites accommodate tents AND RVs.  There's an amphitheater which makes me want to have a wedding in this wooded cathedral!  Also fun for the kiddos to put on mock plays in ;)

Great scenic location

Great campground and love Great Smoky Mountains!! Lots of sites, deep in the woods and fantastic facilities! Check out the beautiful pictures!

Love the Great Smoky Mountains!

Let me just start out by saying that you can't go wrong staying anywhere in the Smoky Mountains Park. This spot is no different. The hard part is picking the right campground, considering there are still spaces open. I recommend choosing one based on where the majority of your activities will be. Cosby is great if you want to explore the eastern section of North Carolina sections of the park.

Can't Go Wrong Here 

Really quaint area with great history. I was really into hearing how this was the moonshine capital of the world at one point. The campgrounds are nice and close to some beautiful hiking.

Nice

This is probally the best campground on the Tennessee side, it is the most secluded and quiet.  It feels almost backcountry.  Most sites are first come first serve but there are a few you can try to nab on line.  Try mid week in the summer or spring and fall.  Running water with flush toilets is a bonus.  

Quiet and Serene

now I understand why they call it the smoky mountains

lovely view

Theres plenty of places to camp around GSMNP, we backpacked up to Mount LeConte which was an exhausting 8 miles. Certainly make the trip out in the fall, but make sure you mind the rainy weather.   

Serious Delight

If you want secluded this is your campground! Nice and quiet, in the northern end of the park. Nice bathrooms with running water, but no showers. Standard picnic tables and fire rings. Get here early as this campground fills up , but it doesn't feel crowded. Great access to amazing hiking trails. 

Cosby campground-Smoky Mountain National Park 

Lose the crowds and find great day hikes and a simple lovely campground with an Appalachian feel. The campground was very lush and green in summer with lots of trees perfect for hammocking. It is kind of open and there’s not too much privacy though. They have a few ranger talks a week but otherwise there’s not a lot to do...until you hit the trails. There are trails leaving from this campground that connect to the Appalachian Trail and lots of other of varying difficulty. No showers but it’s not far from the entrance and a little town where you can pick up what you need to. Take the rangers seriously about bears, we saw prints in the morning not 1/4 mile from our RV. 


Smoky Mountain National Park 

We spent several days in May making our way through this awesome National Park. We took time to stay at various campgrounds as we visited various sites within the park. The Cosby campground was the first stop along our route and it did not disappoint.

We were traveling with our dog and the site had plenty of room for him to roam about on a long tether. And unlike many campsites, this area was very clear and there weren't many hazards that he kept getting hung up on (always a plus for us, as we try to abide by leash laws). Cosby Creek is also right at the campground which provided an afternoon of splashing and cooling off.

If you're entering the park from the northern boundary, this is the second campground available to stop at (Big Creek is right on the boundary line). So if your getting into the park late and you don't want to miss any of the amazing scenery in the dark, stop here. It's also relatively close to Gatlinburg if your looking for lodging close but not in the town itself.

The facilities are clean and well maintained and you may very well feel like the only person here!

Making our way through the Smokies!

Cool spot. We saw bears on the trails and lots of turkeys walking thru he campground.

Very nice place with lots of hiking trails. 

Was directed to Cosby by a NPS Ranger as an overlooked, beautiful campground. Arrived close to dark and had our pick of gorgeous, wooded sites- even on a weekend in July.

Despite height of the season, beautiful, private site

**This is a typical big (but not gigantic) National Park campground but with slightly simpler amenities. Large, densely wooded and shady, lovely little babbling brook. The rangers have programs regularly. Lots of trails leave at the campground and also nearby. There’s a touristy town nearby with more attractions...try the rafting trips from any of the companies in town. Love the 1.5 mile hike to the lookout.**

**Yay: Very large campsites, great privacy, beautiful area, well cared for, lots of dishwashing stations. Local friends say that this campground is never full. When we were there in late August there were only 2-3 unoccupied spots, so it’s not a guarantee...but you can make reservations.**

**Nay: No showers.**

**Surprise: the AT is so close, love the Cammerer Fire Tower. Lovely old CCC log cabins. We saw bear tracks very close to the campground! Go through Ashville if you’re heading that way, amazing character in that town.**

You can only camp here with a group and reservations are required. You get your own private (or private-ish, depending on the size of your group and how many other groups are around) part of the larger Cosby Campground, plus easy access to all the amenities of the main campground.

This is a typical big (but not gigantic) National Park campground but with slightly simpler amenities. Large, densely wooded and shady, lovely little babbling brook. The rangers have programs regularly. Lots of trails leave at the campground and also nearby. There’s a touristy town nearby with more attractions...try the rafting trips from any of the companies in town. Love the 1.5 mile hike to the lookout.

Yay: Very large campsites, great privacy, beautiful area, well cared for, lots of dishwashing stations. Local friends say that this campground is never full.

Nay: No showers.

Surprise: the AT is so close, love the Cammerer Fire Tower. Lovely old CCC log cabins. We saw bear tracks very close to the campground! Go through Ashville if you’re heading that way, amazing character in that town.

Groups only

Great sites available without reservations. Trailheadss conveniently located inside the campground. Peaceful trails.

Trailheads onsite

This was our first time camping so we don't have much to compare this campground to, but we enjoyed this area immensely! For the beginning of May it was mostly full of campers, yet it was still quiet and serene. Cosby has the reputation for being one of the lesser populated campgrounds in the park.

Pros: Spacious sites for a small group; fire pit &amp; grate at each site; tree cover was great; bear proof dumpsters available; washing station for dirty dishes; bathrooms with running water; and there are two nature trails located within the campground.

I would definitely recommend choosing this campground since it is so quiet and well-kept. We didn't mind the drive to Gatlinburg (~30 minutes) or Newfound Gap (another ~15-20 minutes).

Lovely Place!

My husband and I had a great stay at Cosby Campground
. I loved the nearby waterfall and babbling brook which we could hear from our tent at night when we went to go to sleep. The Great Smoky Mountains park had an honor system for the camp grounds so you could show up at anytime and just leave money in an envelope, which was really nice. The camp area was clean and well maintained. There were large restrooms that were clean
as well. Firewood is available just outside the park in the tiny town of Cosby at the Fireworks store. Also check out the cool hippie store and a small local bar with carryout beer. 

and well taken care of as well. Firewood is available just outside tge park in the ti

Sweet sleep with the sounds of a Waterfall

This is a great car camping experience that still gives you the feel of being in the wilderness. 

there are 100 sites and some can be reserved ahead of time.  sites have tent pads, fire ring, picnic table and grill . 

There's a great trail that follows a creek adjacent to the campgrounds. drinking water and flush toilets available. There are no showers on premise, but we jumped in that creek to clean and cool off after a day of hiking.

amenities tucked in the woods

This location is a great choice for anyone who wants to visit GSMNP while avoiding some of the crowds. This campground rareIy fills up, allowing for the opportunity to pick your site when you get there. The campsites are well maintained as well as the bathrooms. Please note than none of the campgrounds within GSMNP have showers. The campground has sites for tent camping &amp; RVs.

Within the campgrounds are several hiking trails for a variety of hiking abilities. The hike to Hen Wallows is nice with some rugged patches, but worth it in the end. On Fridays they have special Ranger programs. were lucky enough to learn about moon-shining from guys on the moonshiner TV show. It was very interesting! 

Note that dogs are welcome in the campground but not on the majority of the trails. 


Avoid the crowds 

Lovely area to camp and hike. Not as many people usually on this side of the park. 

Beautiful & Quiet

A no-frills campground inside GSMNP. Cosby is a small town about a 45 minute easy drive from Gatlinburg. Heavily wooded, lends itself nicely to hammock camping. Campsites are clean and bath houses are interspersed nicely throughout the campground. Bath houses are very basic: flush toilet (paper provided) and stainless steel sinks- no soap or dryers and are very clean. Campground is quiet and one can listen to the sounds of the creek from your tent.

No cell service.

Several hiking trails are accessible within the campground.

No store, though several small stores/gas stations outside the campground sell approved firewood and ice. One or two small sandwich shops are open in the small town.

Parking for tent camping really is limited to one car per campsite. Small parking spaces.

Many sites are on an incline and accessed by stairs. Tent pads, picnic tables and fire rings are mostly level. There are grates attached to the fire rings that can be laid back if not in use.

We enjoyed our stay here very much, though check the weather forecast: it rained at the campground while we were out and had no idea it had rained. :)

Beautiful and Basic

The campground is really beautiful. well maintained facilities. the campground is pet friendly but the park is not. you can't take your dog on any trails except 2\. Those are 45 minutes and 2 hours from the campground. The only downside to this location is it is 45 minutes to Gatlinburg.

Beautiful campground but a ways from Gatlinburg.

The campground is really beautiful.  well maintained facilities. the campground is pet friendly but the park is not.  you can't take your dog on any trails except 2.  Those are 45 minutes and 2 hours from the campground.  The only downside to this location is it is 45 minutes to Gatlinburg.

Cosby Campground is on a first-come, first serve basis with more than 100 sites available. Cosby campground has mostly tent camping sites with only a couple rv options. Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table, grill, and tent pad. The campground also has flush toilets and drinking water available

This national park is home to great hiking, backcountry fishing, and wildlife viewing. Be sure to check out all the historic cabins in the park.

Great views

great tent sites. clean and big bathrooms.

wonderful. hidden gem.

I was just passing through when I stayed at Cosby Campground and I wish I could have stayed for longer. The nature in the surrounding area is incredible and the other campers were very friendly. It's a fairly large campground with multiple loops, some reservable, some not, some for tent campers, some for RVs.

The hosts were very helpful in finding a good spot. The bathrooms have flush toilets and sinks but no showers and were kept in good condition. The sites are far enough a part that you don't feel crammed in. A lot of the tent sites had stairs/trails up or down a small so that the site itself was set off the road.

This is one of the first National Parks I've visited in a while that allows wood collection. You are not allowed to bring in your own campfire wood unless it was purchased locally and have been treated to appropriate standards. It was a little rainy and chilly in later October but the sites still were more or less filled by early evening.

Friendly Campground

My hubby and I were in the Smokies last weekend to camp, hike and take in the changing fall colors - along with a few thousand other people. We were told that the only campground with an open spot for tent camping would be Cosby. Cosby was not close to any of the other attractions we wanted to see, but we went there nonetheless as we were ready to camp. We are so glad that we went to Cosby. It is quieter as it is not located in the more popular areas - and this made it the perfect spot for my husband and I as we are not too fond of crowds. We found quiet hiking trails nearby - compared with the rest of the Smokies that had very crowded hiking trails.

The campground staff was friendly, informative and helpful. The bathrooms were very clean and the campgrounds as well. We will definitely camp in Cosby again!

Tranquil oasis in the lush Smokies

Cosby Campground is amazing! Most sites are walk up, so you don’t need a reservation, and there are probably 100+ sites, so even during the busiest of times you can find a good site. Each site has plenty of space too, so you’re not on top of the site next to you. No showers, but several restrooms in the campground. The trailhead for Mt. Cammerer via Low Gap leaves from here also, and that was a great hike, the first 3+miles are rough and steep, but once you hit the AT it gets easier. Highly recommend Cosby Campground!!! 

Cosby Campground is the bomb! 

When traveling to the Smoky Mountains there are so many options for camping. Depending on your preference, group size or location you can find sites scattered throughout the park which suit your needs. As a solo traveler, a lot of times I miss out on the awesome amenities offered by the various group camps around the country, however I decided while enjoying my time in the Smoky Mountains to check out a few of them just to see what I was missing.

Cosby Group Camp is about 5 miles from the town of Cosby. Despite being in the park, unlike many which are located inside its bounds this means you are closer to amenities like modern stores and plenty of supplies. The roads here are wide and sites are spacious and the sites are secluded in a beautiful shaded array tall trees.

The bathrooms here are much nicer than some of the campgrounds in the area and offer flushing toilets and drinking water, although I didn't notice any showers when I was visiting.

The camp is made of 3 main sites, so it by no means is the largest group camp in the park, so if you are looking I would suggest trying to make your reservations early. Each site has tent pads and firings with grills. Picnic tables are scattered throughout the site and plenty of parking is available for guests so you could probably have a pretty sizable group in each of the sites.

I'd say this site would be great for a group of friends traveling together or a family out on a vacation together. And I think the overall best part of the site was that it only was $30 for each site, which is crazy considering some of the solo sites I had looked at in the area were that much with the same amenities.

TIPS:

* Stop off in Crosby if you need food or other supplies, the closest next town would be Gatlinburg which has tons of entertainment.

* Book in advance, don't try to arrive and book on same day, that apparently is rare.

* Keep in mind this campground is not open year round so if you are traveling check online first before trying to stay to make sure it is open. Dates are flexible for opening based on weather in the area.

Great Setting For Larger Groups

I was too early in the season to stay at Cosby (it doesn't open until id/late April), but I was exploring this area of the park and spent some time wandering through the campground. I wished i'd been there a few weeks later to enjoy this area. A beautiful river runs along the road into the campground and there is a picnic area and amphitheater for Ranger programs in season. Of all the no-frills campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this one falls on the more basic end of the spectrum and the low cost reflects it.

Unlike the more popular campgrounds where sites are practically on top of each other, Cosby’s sites are generally farther from each other, offering a little more privacy. Most of the sites are better suited to tent campers, though a few of them are designated RV sites offering a back-in parking pad. The parking at the sites is parallel to the road and then the picnic table, fire ring and tent pad are either above or below the parking area, sometimes a dozen stairs or more. This isn’t necessarily a problem, but you’re in bear country, so all food needs to be secured in your car when not in use. You won’t want to haul your cooler up and down a few times each day, etc. A few of the sites are small, with limited space around the picnic table and/or fire ring. The B loop seems steeper than the A loop. It also contains 3 group camp sites. As with other campgrounds in the park, bathrooms provide flush toilets and sinks with a dishwashing sink outside. No showers. Buy heat treated firewood outside the park or you can gather firewood in the park. No camp store here.

Several trails leave from the campground, including the popular Hen Wallow Falls trail. A beautiful river runs alongside the road into the picnic area and campground. The Roaring Fork Auto Road isn’t too far away, with hikes to more waterfalls and Mt. LeConte; Greenbrier is another starting point for hikes, including Ramsey Falls. There’s rafting available during the summer just outside the park. It’s about 25 minutes to Gatlinburg in the spring, probably longer during peak season . I wouldn’t make it my home base for a week-long visit to the Smokies, but it’s worth a night or two here to explore this side of the park, away from all the crowds. It’s at least 90 minutes from here to Cades Cove and that’s a spring, low crowd estimate; I can’t image how long it would take during peak season. 

100 of the 140 sites are online reservation only; if you have an RV you'll probably want reservations to be sure you get a spot that is optimized for an RV. No cell service.

Less crowded campground; stay while exploring this part of the Smokies

Some campgrounds in gatlinburg feel a little too crowded, not Cosby. I loved this site plenty of room, nice and quiet;  the only negative was the bathroom were dark which made me a little nervous at night but I am a little paranoid. Other than the bathroom not having electricity it was a great experience. I will say we stayed there at the end of 2017 so they may have update the bathrooms since then.

Simple and secluded

Cosby was a great campground. Sites did not seem too close with all the trees around. B loop is better than A loop but requires a reservation for most sites. Most sites have steps up or down to the site along the backside of B loop. 

Tenting in the Smoky’s

Nice and peaceful as this campground is very private. In a beautiful spot on the she of the smoky mountains. Bring extra water and bug spray!

Nice campground

This is our favorite campground in the Smokies, we go here often.  FYI there are NO showers at campgrounds in the GSMNP.  There aren't any groceries stores near by so have what you need before.  There are a few small stores near the entrance.  There are way fewer tourist on the east side of GSMNP.  Chataloochee Valley is nice day trip to see all the Elk and historical buildings also really nice hiking.

Quiet side of the Smokies

I truly love this campground. It is for campers who want to get back to the basics. No electricity, no water hookup at the sites, and no sites that accommodate large campers or trailers. Instead, the campground offers beautiful scenery, lovely trails, and peace and quiet. If you’re not a “glamper” and you want to get away from it all in a rustic, peaceful atmosphere, then this is the place for you.

Simple Pleasures 

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

Wooded Wonderland 

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

Nice place 

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. 

Great introduction to the  Great Smokies

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



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

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. 

Our favorite place in the Smokies

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 

Winter Hike through Campground 

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.

Minimalist and quiet

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. 

Two night camping stay

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

Incredible all around

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.

Can’t Go Wrong

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!

Great Alternative to the Hustle and Bustle Around Gatlinburg!

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.

Quiet with easy access

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.

Great Hiking

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. 

Gorgeous

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. 

Peace & Quiet

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.

Quiet and peaceful campground

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. 

Beautiful campground w/ lots of trails 

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.

How I learned to quit hating 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. 

Pretty nice campground in the Smokies.

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. 

Mixed feelings 

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.

Really quiet tent camping

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.


An immersive rainforest location 

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

Beat The Crowds

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.

Quite and clean campground 

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.

Great mountains if Beauty.

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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Photos of Cosby Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Real photos from real campers