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.
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.
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.
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!!!
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!
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.
great tent sites. clean and big bathrooms.
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.
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.
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.
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. :)
Lovely area to camp and hike. Not as many people usually on this side of the park.
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 & 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.
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.
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
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 & 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).
Great sites available without reservations. Trailheadss conveniently located inside the campground. Peaceful trails.
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.
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.
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.
Cool spot. We saw bears on the trails and lots of turkeys walking thru he campground.
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!
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.
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.
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.
now I understand why they call it the smoky mountains
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.
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.
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.
Great campground and love Great Smoky Mountains!! Lots of sites, deep in the woods and fantastic facilities! Check out the beautiful pictures!
