Cades Cove Campground
Over 2 million visitors annually come to enjoy the scenic beauty of Cades Cove and its many historic structures. Popular activities here include hiking, biking, touring the 11-mile Cades Cove loop road and observing wildlife. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Cades Cove never disappoints.
The group site has its own page: Cades Cove Group.
More like this: electric hookups in Tennessee · reservable in Tennessee · big rigs in Tennessee · pets allowed in Tennessee
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 130 |
| Tent-only | 31 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 42 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
161 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A01 | B:Generator Use | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| A04 | B:Generator Use | Standard | Back-in | 42 | Paved | Full | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| A05 | B:Generator Use | Standard | Back-in | 42 | Paved | Full | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| B01 | B:Generator Use | Standard | Back-in | 28 | Paved | Full | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| B02 | B:Generator Use | Standard | Back-in | 43 | Paved | Full | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| B03 | B:Generator Use | Standard | Back-in | 21 | Paved | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| B04 | B:Generator Use | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Paved | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| B05 | B:Generator Use | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Paved | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| B06 | B:Generator Use | Standard | Back-in | 28 | Paved | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| B07 | B:Generator Use | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 42 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Fees | Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). |
| Accessibility | Sites A01, A02, A03, A04 and 7 more are listed accessible |
Cades Cove Campground is open year round and combines the feel of primitive camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. During the off season, only sites C1-12 and C26-61 are open to camping by reservation only. Once B Loop closes for the season then generators will be allowed in Loop C, with restricted hours, UNTIL Loop B reopens for camping. During peak season (May - October) a camp store provides visitors with basic necessities as well as bike rentals. Events like Interpretive Programs in the nearby amphitheater and Bicycle Only Days on the loop road provide visitors with a fun and unique experience.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Maryville, TN: Take U.S. 321 North (you'll actually be driving south!) from Maryville to Townsend, TN (about 22 miles). At the traffic light in Townsend, continue straight on TN 73 and follow signs to Cades Cove. From Pigeon Forge, TN take US 321 South (you'll be driving westerly) to Townsend, TN. Turn left (south) at Townsend onto TN 73.
| Nearest town | Townsend, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 35.6027° N, 83.7763° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Cades Cove New Dump Station ↗ | 0.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | GSM Outfitters ↗ | 11.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | A&L RV Sales ↗ | 27.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Cades Cove Campground: FULL REVIEW
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside National Forests in North Carolina.
- inNational Forests in North Carolina ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,026,237 acres
- 14.4 miJoyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 19,246 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Minnis McCampbell BarnBuilding · Townsend · 4.3 mi
- James McCampbell BarnBuilding · Townsend · 4.4 mi
- John F. Shea HouseBuilding · Townsend · 5.3 mi
Natural features
Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. It offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park. Large numbers of white-tailed deer are frequently seen, and sightings of black bear, coyote, ground hog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals are also possible. For hundreds of years Cherokee Indians hunted in Cades Cove but archeologists have found no evidence of major settlements. The first Europeans settled in the cove sometime between 1818 and 1821. By 1830 the population of the area had already swelled to 271.
Recreation
The Great Smoky Mountains are a hikers paradise and visitors to Cades Cove Campground love the 5-mile roundtrip hike to Abram Falls. From Cades Cove Loop Road, follow the signage at the turnoff for directions to the trailhead. Although Abrams Falls is only 20 feet high, the large volume of water rushing over falls more than makes up for its lack of height. The long, deep pool at its base is very picturesque. The trail to the falls traverses pine-oak forest on the ridges and hemlock and rhododendron forest along the creek. The waterfall and creek are named for Cherokee Chief Abram or Abraham whose village once stood several miles downstream. A nearby horse stable provides one-hour horseback rides as well as hay rides and carriage rides from March through October, offering recreational activities for the entire family. Campers can also enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance.
Nearby
The park holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park, a few of which are easily accessible from the Cades Cove loop road. Townsend, located about nine miles away, offers full service grocery stores and fuel.
Guidebooks for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Fly Fishing Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National ParkIan Rutter and Charity Rutter, 2024Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cades Cove Campground?
Sites at Cades Cove Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Cades Cove Campground?
Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation).
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cades Cove Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Cades Cove Campground have?
164 sites, including 130 standard sites without power and 31 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Cades Cove Campground?
The longest site here provides 42 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Cades Cove Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Cades Cove Campground?
Cades Cove Campground is open year round and combines the feel of primitive camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets and drinking water.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Cades Cove Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cades Cove Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Cades Cove Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Cades Cove Campground?
Sites A01, A02, A03, and A04 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 11 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Cades Cove Campground?
The Great Smoky Mountains are a hikers paradise and visitors to Cades Cove Campground love the 5-mile roundtrip hike to Abram Falls. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Cades Cove Campground?
Townsend, Tennessee. The park holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States.
Source: Getting there