Campground
Deep Creek Campground
Deep Creek Campground sits right next to one of Great Smoky Mountains National Park's most popular creeks, at a mellow 1,800 feet where winters run mild and summers get hot and humid. You get 92 sites - 60 of them tent-only and 42 walk- or boat-to - with tent pads, iron fire rings, flush toilets, and seasonal drinking water, but no hookups and no showers, so come ready to camp for real. Spring wildflowers and fall color put on a show here, and reservations are required up to six months out on Recreation.gov. Bring the kids, hang the lantern, and keep the cooler locked in the truck - this is bear country.
Quick facts
- Reservation System
- Recreation.gov - reservations are required for every site.
- Reservation Window
- Book up to six months in advance; reservations are required, so don't count on rolling in and grabbing a spot.
- Reservation Tips
- Reservations are required for all 92 sites - there are zero first-come, first-served spots. Booking opens six months in advance on Recreation.gov, so set a calendar reminder and grab your dates early, especially for the spring wildflower and fall color windows.
- Season Dates
- Open seasonally; closed from late October through early May (listed closure: October 25, 2026 through May 1, 2027).
Reservations & season
- Reservation System
- Recreation.gov - reservations are required for every site.
- Reservation Window
- Book up to six months in advance; reservations are required, so don't count on rolling in and grabbing a spot.
- Reservation Tips
- Reservations are required for all 92 sites - there are zero first-come, first-served spots. Booking opens six months in advance on Recreation.gov, so set a calendar reminder and grab your dates early, especially for the spring wildflower and fall color windows.
- Season Dates
- Open seasonally; closed from late October through early May (listed closure: October 25, 2026 through May 1, 2027).
- Per Night Cost
- $30.00 per site, per night.
Sites & RV fit
- Sites Total
- 92
- Site Types
- Tent-only (60), walk- or boat-to (42), and group sites (3); RVs and trailers up to 26 feet are allowed but there are no RV-only or electric sites.
- Site Type Breakdown
- 92 total: 60 tent-only, 42 walk/boat-to, 3 group, 0 electrical hookup, 0 RV-only, 0 horse sites. All 92 are reservable; 0 first-come, first-served.
- RV Max Length
- 26 feet max for both RVs and trailers - measure the rig before you book, because there's no wiggle room listed.
- Group Sites Available
- 1
- Group Site Capacity
- 3 group sites are available; standard sites allow up to six people per campsite. Group site headcount limits are not listed in the official data.
- Hookups
- Dry camping only - zero electrical hookups. Charge the battery packs before you leave the house.
- Site Features
- Iron fire ring at each site, tent pads (all tents must be pitched on the pad where provided), paved site driveways. No food storage lockers - your vehicle or a solid-sided camper is the bear-proof storage here.
- Ground Type
- Tent pads are provided, and all tents must be pitched on the pad where one is provided; site driveways are paved.
Facilities
- Bathroom Types
- Flush toilets, available year-round - a real luxury for a no-hookup campground.
- Showers Available
- None. Zero showers on site - it's creek-country camping, so plan your hygiene routine accordingly.
- Potable Water
- Yes, seasonal - drinking water spigots run during the operating season. Still smart to roll in with a full jug.
- Dump Station
- Yes, seasonal dump station on site.
- Trash Service
- Trash and recycling collection is provided seasonally.
- Camp Store
- No camp store, and no ice for sale either. Stock up in Bryson City before you drive in.
- Firewood Availability
- No firewood sold on site. You may collect dead and downed wood in the park, or bring only USDA/state-certified heat-treated bundled firewood. Don't move firewood - it spreads pests.
- Cell Service
- No cell phone reception and no internet. Download offline maps and tell folks where you'll be before you arrive.
- Nearby Facilities
- Bryson City, NC is the closest town - the campground's physical address is 1912 East Deep Creek Road, Bryson City. Resupply there, since the campground has no store, ice, or firewood sales.
Access
- Road Type
- Paved roads - all vehicles OK, and site driveways are paved too.
- Road Conditions
- Access roads are paved and rated for all vehicles, so the family sedan makes it in just fine.
- Vehicle Restrictions
- No more than two motor vehicles or one vehicle with a trailer per campsite; RVs and trailers limited to 26 feet. Keep all wheels - including trailer and guest-car wheels - on the pavement, and park only in designated spaces.
- Clearance Needed
- Standard clearance - the roads in are paved.
- Gate Hours
- The campground operates all day, every day during its season; no nightly gate lock-out hours are listed.
- Nearest Gas Services
- Bryson City, NC - the campground sits at 1912 East Deep Creek Road just outside town. No ice, firewood, or store in the campground, so fuel up and stock up there.
- Elevation
- 1,800 feet (549 m).
- Accessibility
- One accessible campsite, accessible restrooms, and an accessible path to the restroom and parking area. Interior roads and site driveways are paved.
- ADA Accessible Sites
- One accessible campsite. Restrooms are accessible, with an accessible path to the restroom and parking area.
Rules & safety
- Bear Country
- Yes
- Food Storage Requirements
- No food lockers provided. All food and anything used to prepare or store it must be sealed in a vehicle or in a camping unit made of solid, non-pliable material whenever it's not in use. In this park, keep at least 100 yards from bears.
- Fire Restrictions
- Campfires are permitted only in the established fire rings provided at each campsite.
- Generator Hours
- Generator use is prohibited from 8 pm to 8 am.
- Quiet Hours
- 10 pm to 6 am.
- Max Stay Limit
- 14 consecutive days at a time.
- Alcohol Permitted
- 0
What it is like
- Onsite Activities
- The campground sits next to one of the park's most popular creeks, with spring wildflowers and vivid fall color right around camp. The Deep Creek Waterfalls Loop and the Deep Creek Trail to Indian Creek Falls start nearby.
- Trailheads Nearby
- Yes - the Deep Creek Waterfalls Loop, Deep Creek Trail to Indian Creek Falls, and the Goldmine Loop via Tunnel Bypass Trail are in this corner of the park, with Juney Whank Falls, Indian Creek Falls, and Tom Branch-area cascades on the waterfall circuit.
- Wildlife Viewing
- This is black bear country. Park rules require staying at least 100 yards from bears and 25 yards from other wildlife - bring the binoculars instead of getting closer.
- Scenic Views
- Creekside scenery - the campground sits next to one of the park's most popular creeks, with bright spring wildflowers and vivid fall colors in season.
- Noise Level
- Expect creek noise as the soundtrack - the campground sits right beside Deep Creek. Quiet hours run 10 pm-6 am and generators are off 8 pm-8 am.
- Best Time To Visit
- Spring for the wildflower bloom or fall for the vivid color - the two seasons the NPS calls out as the showstoppers here. Summers are hot and humid, so plan creek time.
- Vibe Check
- This is a forested creekside campground, not a parking lot - it sits beside one of the park's most popular creeks at 1,800 feet, and most sites (60 of 92) are tent-only. With no hookups, no showers, and no cell service, the vibe is classic old-school national park camping: fire rings, creek noise, and lanterns after dark.
- Camp Here If Skip If
- BOOK IF: You're a tent camper or small-rig family (26 ft max) who wants creekside sites, flush toilets, and waterfall trails out the back of camp. SKIP IF: You need hookups, showers, cell signal, or a big-rig site - there are none of those here.
- Tips Advice
- - Book the moment your window opens: reservations are required and open six months out on Recreation.gov. - No showers and seasonal water - bring a wash basin and a full water jug. - Buy certified heat-treated firewood or collect dead and downed wood in the park; nothing is sold on site. - Lock every scrap of food and cookware in the vehicle when you're not using it - no bear boxes here. - No cell signal: download offline maps and print the reservation confirmation. - Measure the rig - 26 feet is the hard limit for RVs and trailers.
More details
- Park Area
- Deep Creek (near Bryson City, NC)
- Sites Tent Only
- 60
- Sites Group
- 3
- Family Friendly Notes
- A solid family basecamp: paved roads for bikes and wagons, flush toilets year-round, tent pads for easy setup, and a popular creek next door. Keep kids clear of wildlife - 100 yards from bears, 25 yards from everything else - and keep snacks sealed in the car.
- Amphitheater
- No amphitheater at this campground.
- Boat Launch
- No boat launch is listed, though 42 of the sites are designated walk- or boat-to sites.
- Nearby Attractions
- Juney Whank Falls, Indian Creek Falls, and the Deep Creek Valley Overlook are in this area of the park; Bryson City, NC sits just outside the campground entrance.
- Terrain Type
- Creekside mountain valley at 1,800 feet elevation, with paved interior roads and driveways.
- Temperature Ranges
- Mild winters and hot, humid summers at this 1,800-foot elevation. Mountain weather can flip fast from warm and sunny to cold and rainy, so pack layers and rain gear in every season.
- Snow Season
- The campground is closed from late October through early May, so you won't be camping here in the snowy months; winters at this elevation are described as mild.
- Setup Strategy
- Interior roads and site driveways are paved, so getting in is easy - but keep every wheel on the pavement, including trailer and guest-car wheels, and park only in designated spaces. RVs and trailers are capped at 26 feet with no hookups anywhere, and 42 of the 92 sites are walk- or boat-to, so read your site description carefully before you commit. Tents go on the pad where one is provided.
- Bath Laundry Recon
- Flush toilets year-round - genuinely rare for a no-hookup campground - but that's where the pampering ends: no showers at all and no laundry on site. Pack a solar shower or wash basin, and plan laundry for town.
- Review Summary
- The word on the trail matches the official line: Deep Creek is a creekside favorite in a park where the scenery, per the NPS itself, never disappoints - wildflowers in spring, big color in fall. Campers should come expecting real camping: flush toilets and water, but no showers, no hookups, and no cell signal.
Location
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need a reservation, or can I just show up?
You need a reservation - all 92 sites are reservation-only with zero first-come, first-served spots. Book on Recreation.gov up to six months in advance.
Can my 30-foot RV fit at Deep Creek?
No - the limit is 26 feet for both RVs and trailers. There are also no electrical hookups and no RV-only sites, so bigger rigs should look elsewhere in the park.
Are there showers or hookups?
Neither. There are no showers and zero hookups. You do get year-round flush toilets, seasonal drinking water, and a seasonal dump station, so it's comfortable dry camping rather than roughing it completely.
Is it safe with bears around?
It's black bear country, and the rules keep you safe: seal all food and cooking gear in your vehicle or a solid-sided camper whenever it's not in use, and stay at least 100 yards from any bear. There are no food lockers, so the vehicle is your bear-proof storage.
Will I have cell service to check in with home?
No - there's no cell reception and no internet at the campground. Download offline maps, print your reservation, and let folks know your plans before you arrive.
Is it quiet at night?
Quiet hours run 10 pm to 6 am and generators are banned from 8 pm to 8 am, so evenings settle down to creek noise. The campground sits right beside Deep Creek, which makes for good white noise.
Can I bring my own firewood for the campfire?
Only if it's heat-treated, bundled, and certified by the USDA or a state agency - otherwise leave it home. You can collect dead and downed wood inside the park, and fires are allowed only in the established fire rings at each site.
More at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Elkmont Group Campground
Four tent-only group sites for 15-30 campers in the Smokies. Reserve early - there are only four of them.
Elkmont Campground
211 reservation-only sites near Sugarlands. Tent pads, flush toilets, no hookups or showers. Classic Smokies base camp.
Cades Cove Campground
159 year-round sites at the mouth of the Smokies' most famous valley — store, bikes, and bears out front.
Smokemont Campground
142 riverside sites on the quiet NC side — open year-round, with elk grazing nearby.
Elkmont Campground
The park's largest camp — ~220 riverside sites near Gatlinburg, and firefly-show central in June.
Cosby Campground
157 shady, low-key sites in a quiet NE-Tennessee corner — the locals' pick for tent and hammock camping.
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Sources
- National Park Service
- YourNPGuide Editorial
Editorial review: YourNPGuide Editorial Team. Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research; no firsthand visit is implied unless explicitly documented. Learn how YourNPGuide works.
Last updated July 2026. Report an issue.