Cades Cove is the Smokies' flagship frontcountry campground — 159 sites tucked at the mouth of the park's most famous valley, and one of only two campgrounds open all year. You get flush toilets, cold running water, and a camp store with a snack bar, plus bike and horse rentals a short walk away. Sites are a mix of tent and RV-friendly spots under partial shade, and the 11-mile loop road out front serves up deer, black bears, and historic cabins at dawn. It's busy and social, not a solitude play, but for first-timers it's the easiest, most amenity-rich basecamp in the park.
✅ BOOK IF: You want the park's easiest, most amenity-rich basecamp with wildlife at the doorstep. ❌ SKIP IF: You need hookups or showers, or you're after backcountry quiet.
Tent, RV (no hookups)
Great for families: flat sites, a camp store, easy wildlife viewing, and gentle bike riding on the loop.
Late spring and early fall; October is peak (and crowded) for foliage.
Big, open, and social — a bustling basecamp, not a solitude retreat. Expect neighbors close by.
Camper reviews (via The Dyrt and Recreation.gov) rank Cades Cove among the park's most popular campgrounds, praising the wildlife along the loop road, the on-site store, and how easy it is for first-timers. The recurring gripes are crowds, tightly packed sites, and, like every Smokies campground, no showers.
Tent, RV (no hookups)
Cades Cove Loop Road (11-mile scenic drive/bike), wildlife viewing, historic cabins and churches, ranger programs
Recreation.gov (Booking: 6 months out — sites release daily at 10 AM ET)
Pets Allowed - Leashed pets (6 ft max) allowed in the campground and on roads, but not on most park trails.
" Camper reviews (via The Dyrt and Recreation.gov) rank Cades Cove among the park's most popular campgrounds, praising the wildlife along the loop road, the on-site store, and how easy it is for first-timers. The recurring gripes are crowds, tightly packed sites, and, like every Smokies campground, no showers."
Yes. Cades Cove is reservation-only through Recreation.gov, with a rolling 6-month booking window; peak fall and summer weekends sell out.
No. There are no showers anywhere in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The campground has flush toilets and cold running water only.
There are RV-suitable sites but no hookups (dry camping only). Check the site dimensions on Recreation.gov before booking a larger rig.
Yes, very much so. Store all food and scented items in your vehicle. Black bears are frequently seen along the Cades Cove Loop.
It's one of the park's larger, more social campgrounds, so expect neighbors. Quiet hours are enforced from about 10 PM to 6 AM.
6 listings
4 listings
Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research. Learn how YourNPGuide works →
We use basic, essential analytics to measure traffic. You can also allow deeper first-party analytics that help us improve our park guides. We never sell your data. Learn more
We use basic, essential analytics to measure traffic, plus optional deeper analytics to improve our park guides. We never sell your data. Choose what you allow. Learn more
Essential analytics that measure basic traffic stay on. The deeper, first-party analytics below are optional — turn on what you are comfortable with. We never sell your data. Read the notice
Site function plus basic visit counts via Google Analytics and Search Console — needed to see how many people visit. Always on.
How far you scroll, whether you finish an article, and which sections are read — so we know which guides to improve.
Clicks on links and buttons, and searches you run on the site — so we can fix confusing navigation and content gaps.
