Camping Near Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN

Camping around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge comes in two kinds. Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the campgrounds are simple: every site has a fire grate and a picnic table, and every campground has restrooms with flush toilets and cold running water. There are no showers in the park, and the park says only some sites at Look Rock have electric and water hookups. Outside the park, the private campgrounds and RV resorts along the rivers offer RV hookups, and many add pools or rental cabins.

National park campgrounds require advance reservations year-round. You can book up to six months ahead on Recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777, and Elkmont, the big one closest to Gatlinburg, fills up early for summer and October weekends. The private campgrounds listed below take reservations directly.

Bears are a real concern at every campground here. Keep food and coolers locked in your vehicle or a bear box, and never leave anything out overnight, even for a few minutes.

Last updated: November 9, 2026

Camping Inside the National Park

The park runs 10 developed campgrounds. Only Cades Cove and Smokemont are open year-round; the other eight close seasonally, so confirm dates on the park’s frontcountry camping page before you book. These are the rules that catch people out:

• Reservations: required in advance at every campground, and group sites need one too.
• Check-in and check-out: check-in is 1:00 p.m. and check-out is noon.
• Site limits: up to six people and two vehicles per site, and one RV or trailer at RV sites. Camping is allowed in designated campsites only, not in pull-outs or parking lots.
• Length of stay: 14 consecutive days at most, and no more than 60 total days in a calendar year across all park campgrounds.
• Firewood: only bundled, certified heat-treated firewood may be brought into the park, or you can collect dead and down wood in the park. Cades Cove, Smokemont and Elkmont sell heat-treated wood during their March to November operating season.
• Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter). In the park, pets are allowed only on roads, the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
• RV dump stations: at Cades Cove, Cosby, Deep Creek, Look Rock and Smokemont campgrounds, plus one across the road from the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
• Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., with generator quiet hours from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Camping fees and the campground opening dates change, so check the park and Recreation.gov for current details. Planning a winter or shoulder-season trip? Road conditions matter too: see the park’s Current Conditions page and our Smoky Mountains webcams for a quick look at the high country.

Camping Near Pigeon Forge

Most of the private campgrounds below are in or around Pigeon Forge, with 18 on Pigeon Forge addresses along Wears Valley Road, Veterans Boulevard, Henderson Springs Road, Huskey Street and Pine Mountain Road.

Tent campers have fewer choices than RV owners. The Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg KOA at 3122 Veterans Boulevard lists tent sites with water and electric hookups on grass pads, each with a picnic table, fire ring and charcoal grill, and its bathhouses have hot showers. Jellystone Park Pigeon Forge at 3404 Whaley Drive lists cabins, glamping tents and RV sites but no standard tent sites. For any other campground, ask whether it has tent sites before you book.

For cabins, the KOA offers camping cabins and deluxe cabins with full baths, and Jellystone Park has Bear Essentials cabins with a bathroom, kitchenette, heat and air conditioning. Clabough’s Campground & Cabins, Foothills RV Park & Cabins and Riveredge RV Park & Cabin Rentals also offer cabins, and Gateway RV Campground lists nine. Call each one for what is available on your dates.

The KOA says it is open all year and is one of the only campgrounds in the area that operates year-round. In the national park only Cades Cove and Smokemont stay open all year, so if you plan to camp in winter, confirm dates with the campground before you book.

The Pigeon Forge trolley’s South Parkway and Wears Valley routes serve campgrounds along them, and the KOA says a trolley stops on site from March through December. Check the city’s routes and schedules page for current stops.

Private Campgrounds and RV Parks

These private campgrounds, RV parks and resorts are in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville, with a few in Townsend and Cosby. Call or check each campground’s website for current rates, hookups, rules and availability.

Sevierville (Nearby)

These Sevierville campgrounds are a short drive from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

For phone numbers, rates and reservations, use each campground’s website or call them directly.

Rather have a roof? Browse Gatlinburg hotels and Pigeon Forge hotels for hotels, resorts and cabin rental companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I go tent camping near Pigeon Forge?

The Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg KOA at 3122 Veterans Boulevard lists tent sites with water and electric hookups. Great Smoky Mountains National Park campgrounds also take tents and require reservations. Jellystone Park Pigeon Forge lists glamping tents rather than standard tent sites.

Are there campgrounds near Pigeon Forge with cabins?

Yes. The Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg KOA offers camping cabins and deluxe cabins, and Jellystone Park Pigeon Forge has Bear Essentials cabins. Clabough’s Campground & Cabins, Foothills RV Park & Cabins and Riveredge RV Park & Cabin Rentals also offer cabins.

Are any campgrounds near Pigeon Forge open year-round?

The Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg KOA says it is open all year. In the national park, only Cades Cove and Smokemont are open year-round. Dates can change, so confirm with the campground before you book.

Do I need a reservation to camp in the Smokies?

Yes. The National Park Service requires advance reservations at all of the park’s campgrounds year-round, and first-come, first-served sites are no longer offered. Reserve on Recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777. Reservations can be made up to six months ahead.

Which Smokies campgrounds are open all year?

Cades Cove and Smokemont are the only two national park campgrounds open year-round. The park’s other campgrounds close seasonally, so check the park’s frontcountry camping page for current dates.

Are there showers at national park campgrounds?

No. The park says showers are not available in its campgrounds, though shower facilities are available in the communities around the park. Each campground has restrooms with flush toilets and cold running water.

Can I bring my own firewood?

Only certified heat-treated firewood that is bundled and marked with a USDA or state seal may be brought into the park. You can also collect dead and down wood in the park for campfires.

Can I camp with my dog in the national park?

Pets are allowed in campgrounds on a leash no longer than six feet. In the park, pets are allowed only on roads, the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.

How long can I stay at a national park campground?

You can stay up to 14 consecutive days at a time, with no more than 60 total days in a calendar year across all park campgrounds.