North Carolina · Tennessee · National Park
Where to stay at Great Smoky Mountains
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS + NOAA
The NPS lists 13 campgrounds with 939 sites at Great Smoky Mountains (checked Oct 26, 2026). Its API has no hotel or lodge data, so check the park page for in-park lodging. October is the busiest month, so book earliest for it. Average overnight lows fall to 22°F in the coldest month.
Campgrounds the NPS lists
| Campground | Sites | Reservable | First-come | Listed fee | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkmont Campground | 211 | 211 | 0 | $30 campsite | Nov 29, 2026 to Apr 3, 2027 |
| Cades Cove Campground | 161 | 164 | 0 | $30 camping | None listed |
| Cosby Campground | 157 | 157 | 0 | $30 campsite | Oct 25, 2026 to May 15, 2027 |
| Smokemont Campground | 142 | 142 | 0 | $30 camping | None listed |
| Deep Creek Campground | 92 | 92 | 0 | $30 camping | Oct 25, 2026 to May 1, 2027 |
| Look Rock Campground | 68 | 68 | 0 | $30 standard non-electric camping; $36 standard electric camping | Oct 25, 2026 to May 8, 2027 |
| Balsam Mountain Campground | 43 | 43 | 0 | $30 camping | Oct 12, 2026 to May 15, 2027 |
| Cataloochee Campground | 27 | 27 | 0 | $30 camping | Oct 25, 2026 to May 1, 2027 |
| Abrams Creek Campground | 16 | 16 | 0 | $30 camping | Oct 25, 2026 to May 8, 2027 |
| Big Creek Campground | 12 | 12 | 0 | $30 camping | Oct 25, 2026 to May 15, 2027 |
| Elkmont Group Campground | 4 | 4 | 0 | $53 camping fee, tent only area; $35 camping fee, tent only area | Oct 31, 2026 to May 8, 2027 |
| Cades Cove Group Campground | 3 | 4 | 0 | $35 group site #1-2; $65 group site #3 | Nov 27, 2026 to Apr 18, 2027 |
| Smokemont Group Campground | 3 | 3 | 0 | $50 camping | Nov 1, 2026 to May 8, 2027 |
Source: NPS API campgrounds, checked Oct 26, 2026. First-come and reservable tags can lag the park’s own page; confirm there.
Booking pressure by month
Crowd index from NPS recreation visits, 2025 (100 = average month). Higher bars mean more demand for beds and sites. October scored 163.
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026.
Overnight lows
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 25 | 30 | 38 | 47 | 54 | 57 | 57 | 51 | 41 | 32 | 27 |
Average lows reach freezing (32°F or below) in January, February, March and December. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (monthly). Higher campgrounds run colder.
More on Great Smoky Mountains: tour or DIY overview. TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.