Mile High Campground, near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a fantastic spot for those who crave stunning mountain views and a rustic camping experience. The sites are known for their incredible vistas, especially from T1, where you can soak in the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains.

This campground keeps it simple with basic but clean facilities. While there are no electric hookups or showers, visitors appreciate the hot water available in the bathhouse and the friendly atmosphere. One camper noted, “The facilities are basic, but they are clean,” which sums up the vibe here perfectly.

For outdoor lovers, the campground is a gateway to several hiking trails, including the Mountain to the Sea Trail. Keep your eyes peeled for elk wandering through the area; many campers have spotted them during their stay. If you need supplies, Maggie Valley is just a short drive away, offering restaurants and a nice brewery to unwind after a day of adventure.

While some campers mentioned that the bathrooms could use an upgrade, the overall experience is enhanced by the breathtaking surroundings and the camaraderie among fellow campers. Whether you're pitching a tent or parking your RV, Mile High Campground is a solid choice for a memorable getaway in nature.

Mountain ranges and pristine streams are the backdrop for your camping adventure in Balsam Mt. At 5,300 feet, Balsam Mtn. provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild summer temperatures with heavy rainfall. Balsam Mtn. Campground offers an unforgettable outdoor experience with campsites for tents as well as RVs.

Mile High Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Searching for the best camping near Maggie Valley, NC? Maggie Valley 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 Maggie Valley, NC. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.

Maggie Valley

The Best Camping Near Maggie Valley, North Carolina

This campground has 38 Tent and RV sites, 6 Tent only sites, and 4 Cabins. Most sites have amazing unobstructed views. It was $25 a night to tent camp for 2 people. We stayed at Site T-0, and the views were amazing. Our friends stayed at Site 1, and they also had amazing views. The campground is a short drive off the Blue Ridge Parkway. All sites have a fire ring and a picnic table. The campground had hot showers, and an outdoor sink. Call in advance to reserve a site, this place books up fast.

BEAUTIFUL Views from most sites

The gps did get us to the right place! A narrow BIA road leads up to this charming rustic campground. $5 firewood, unbeatable views, hot shower, and flushing toilets! Perfect for our family of 5. Get there before dark to see the sunset or call ahead for weekend/busy times. We drove in on a weekday and got lucky but many more drove in after dark. Wildlife is abundant but they run dogs on some nights to deter bears. Boys and our pup all had a good night’s sleep. 
PS- They prefer a 2day minimum stay but are amenable. 


Amazing View!

The scenery is beautiful at Mile High Campground. It has delightful warm showers!




Beautiful

Nice campground hosts, firewood on site, good showers. Amazing views from the campsite and the nearby blue ridge parkway. 

Brilliant views

Hot showers, bathrooms and some of the the best views in the Smokies. 

Greateat views

This is the most beautiful campground I have ever been to. Each campsite is huge and surrounded by trees so you barely know that there are other campers. The view of the mountains from your campsite is unbeatable. Running water and sinks by the bathrooms so you can wash dishes. Hot showers and flushing toilets. Very clean. Family run campground. A warning though, the fog on the mountain is intense if you are driving it early in the morning or late at night. And elk are everywhere! Amazing place!!!

Heaven’s Window

This campground is about views. It doesn’t have water or electric hookups. It doesn’t have sewer hookups. It doesn’t have a swimming pool, playground equipment, an entertainment pavilion, or any of the other things many campgrounds and RV resorts have. The biggest attraction for Mile High Campgound is the view, but I guess I should say views(plural). The campground is adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but there is a long approach road to lessen any traffic noise—not that there would be any anyway. It seems to be situated on a ridge, so it offers different views in several directions. The host was nice and suggested that I pick a site before paying. I camped during the week and when it was cold, so I had a good choice of sites. She highlighted the available ones with the best views, and it was difficult to decide which one I liked best. I chose one with a view of a sunset rather than one with a sunrise, knowing I might not get up early enough to catch the sun rise. You can expect it to be at least ten degrees(or more) colder than down in the valleys. There is a reason it is called“Mile High.” This is a primitive campground, and there are no hookups that I know of. There is, however, a bath house with flush toilets and showers. The bath house is a bit rustic, but it serves the purpose. Some people might not like that it has a concrete floor and just one stand up sink, but again, it serves its purpose. There are also“toilet facilities” at opposite ends of the campground since it is a long, narrow campground. Since I forgot to take any firewood, I bought a bundle of kindling for$5.00. I knew I wouldn’t have a long fire anyway. As I mentioned earlier, there are no modern amenities like a swimming pool, playground, or recreation hall. Did I mention that this campground is all about the views? There is a platform for viewing the sunsets close to the camp office. The campground is within a short driving distance of several waterfalls, places to view elk, Harrah’s casino, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so sticking around the campground all day is not something you probably want to do. The towns of Maggie Valley and Cherokee are close, so if you like shopping, those towns have several quaint shops and other attractions. Overall, this campground is a pleasant campground to stay in because of the peace and quiet and the beauty.

Campground Close to Smokies and Blue Ridge Parkway with Great Views

A very quiet campground that does allow you to have a fire in your campsite.  There is wood for sale.  The bathhouse is very nice.  The views from most of the sites are breathtaking.   

It's rustic  

Visited for just one night in mid-August and absolutely loved it. Stayed at T1, which you can’t pull your car up to, but we were able to park a couple hundred feet away. The views are incredible, we were literally in the clouds. I highly recommend this spot. Also lots of butterflies in the area if that’s your thing 🦋

Favorite Campground Yet💛

Favorite campground! RTT friendly. Gorgeous views and sunsets. Great staff!!

Love it

We were SO excited about this campsite based on the reviews.  I booked well in advance and got site 2 for two nights.  The owners were lovely checking us in and the site had an INCREDIBLE view...at first.  After about an hour while we set up our site, our neighbors at site 3 came back from whatever hike they were on, and then another car pulled up totaling 8 people, 3 tents, a child and two dogs.  I'm all about people camping together and having a good time, but I thought there was a limit to how many tents/humans were allowed per site here.  Needless to say, we could hear every word of their conversations and felt like it really impeded on what we had hoped would be a quiet, rustic experience.  Then the clouds rolled in and we could barely see 5 feet in front of us.  Of course no one can control the weather, but be warned that if the forecast is cloudy, you WILL be COLD and WET.  The temperature dropped to about 45 (in June!) and because it was so wet, it was difficult to keep a fire going.  After a couple hours, my boyfriend and I decided to cancel our second night and move on since the forecast called for more clouds the next day.  The whole reason we booked here was for the views which, sadly, we lost very early on.  Positives: bathrooms were simple and clean, the staff was adamant about adhering to coronavirus precautions (masks, distancing), and we did see some massive Elk roaming in the fog which was pretty cool.  If the weather is good, I'm sure it's great.  But if it's not...you've been warned.

Cloudy Views

We stayed on one of the tent only spaces. Check in was easy, decent sized spot that was private enough. Firewood was delivered to the site for us. The campground was pretty spread out so even though it was full it didn’t feel crowded

Great view, quiet camp

We spent an evening at Mile High Campground while traveling through the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smoky Mountain National Park. The campsite was great, right off the Parkway, beautiful sprawling views, and quite/private spaces.

Beautiful Views

Probably the most spiritual experience camping I've ever had. I'm not an expert and just learning a lot but the pups and I went up labor Day weekend 2020 and it was a trip beyond expectations.

Captivating

From what we were able to see the views are amazing, unfortunately it rained for most of the time we were here so I can’t give it five stars (yet) because I don’t feel I was able to experience the area. Our site was rather private. The restrooms were rather rustic, but clean - and there is no electricity (but there is cell service and hot showers). 

Beautiful views

One of my all time favorites! It’s situated atop a ridge, so most sites have amazing views and the weather is cool in the summer. We have had mice issues in the past, so I do recommend storing food in mouse-proof containers. Also great for seeing elk. Located in the MST so you can hike directly from the campsite. My Verizon phone works well here.

We'd give it 5 stars, but the bathrooms need updating 
and could be cleaner. Sites up from the bath house up the rising peninsula section are our favorites.  Becoming fairly busy in summer, due to all of us writing such good reviews.  Shhh!

Views of Sunsets Spectacular!

My girlfriend and I had a good time here. There were lots of sites with great views of the mountains. Showers were hot and the people were friendly. We will definitely be back.


Amazing views

More rustic, so don’t expect luxurious amenities - but the location is what will bring me back. I only wish they would invest in some bear-proof trash cans, as they are around and seem to like getting into the trash. Practice good food handling and storage as you should in bear country and you won’t have any problems. 

Spectacular views!

We camped here for 2 nights. The campground is off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We camped at site 11 and it was very spacious and private. Unfortunately it didn't have the spectacular views. 

The campsites have a picnic bench and a fire pit.

There is no electricity, but good cell service and hot water in the showers. The whole bathhouse would need an update but it was nothing that bothered us. Near our campsite was an outhouse with 2 flushing toilets. There are sinks outside to wash your hands or dishes. 

The campground was very quiet and everybody was super friendly and helpful. 

There is a pretty high chance that you see some elk walking through the campground. It was very impressive.

There are several hiking trails nearby, for example the Mountain to the Sea Trail. 

If you forgot something, it is about a 15 min drive to Maggie Valley. There are also restaurants and a very nice brewery.

We would definitely camp here again, especially in the fall.

Beautiful spot in nature

We stumbled on this campground after 5 and the lady who runs the place was kind enough to help us out and register us. We were in site #1. The views are absolutely spectacular! It is pretty rustic and the bathrooms need upgrading. That is the only reason I am giving it 4 stars. Everyone was nice and if you are lucky (we weren't) you can see the elk pass through. We will definitely be back!

The facilities are basic, but they are clean. The people are friendly, and the sites are incredible. T1 has an incredible view. 

Amazing Views!!!

This place is gorgeous.  All the sites are arranged for phenomenal views of the surrounding mountains.  I love the cuts in the tree lines so you can have a vista view from your picnic table.  

The showers were hot.  The toilets were clean.  The water was pristine and easily accessed.  

I sleep off the ground, so a lot of campgrounds are understandably not equipped for a couple of easily accessed trees to hold up a hammock.  After calling and asking for a good site that would fit, I arrived to find that not only the site I was given (#16) was perfect, but many other tent sites looked easily accommodating for hammocks as well.  

The sunset alone was more than worth it.  I didn't see any elk, but did fall asleep listening to some owls call to each other, and caught sight of three young bears crossing the road as I left camp.  

The only real question left is "When can I go back?"  The visit was simply too short.

Photos of Mile High Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Real photos from real campers