Cataloochee Campground
Cataloochee campground is located in the historic Cataloochee Valley--a relatively remote part of Smoky Mountain National Park. The secluded setting offers visitors the ability to enjoy a multitude of recreational activities like hiking and fishing, without the crowds, which are sometimes common in other parts of the park.
The group site has its own page: Cataloochee Group Camp.
More like this: reservable in North Carolina · pets allowed in North Carolina
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 27 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 27 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
27 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back-in | 27 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 2 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 3 | Back-in | 24 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 4 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 5 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 6 | Back-in | 27 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 7 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 8 | Back-in | 32 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 9 | Back-in | 24 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 10 | Back-in | 32 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
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 | None |
| Max vehicle length | 34 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). |
Cataloochee offers a traditional outdoor camping experience with the added convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. There are no hookups or showers at the campground. Hiking trails and fishing streams are easily accessible from the site and the nearby Cataloochee Group Camp can accommodate larger parties of guests. Additionally, the Cataloochee Horse Camp provides convenient camping for horseback riding enthusiasts.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-40 take Exit 20 in North Carolina. Turn right onto Cove Creek Road and follow to the Park boundary. The road goes from pavement to gravel to pavement. Upon reaching the pavement the second time, turn left. Go 2.5 miles to an intersection and continue another.5 miles to the left.
| Nearest town | Waynesville, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35.6312° N, 83.0855° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 11.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Black Balsam Outdoors ↗ | 19.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 35.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Cataloochee Campground Tour 4K - Find that perfect Smoky Mountain campsite
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Cherokee National Forest, which overlaps National Forests in North Carolina.
- inCherokee National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,228,298 acres
- inNational Forests in North Carolina ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,026,237 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
- Davis Family HouseBuilding · Crabtree · 6.3 mi
- Shackford HallBuilding · Lake Junaluska · 9.5 mi
- Lambeth InnBuilding · Lake Junaluska · 9.7 mi
Natural features
Cataloochee Campground is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and pristine mountain streams, like nearby Cataloochee Creek. Elk are common in this part of the park, during the spring and fall. At a 2,600 foot elevation, Cataloochee provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Whether blanketed in bright spring wildflowers or exploding with vivid fall colors, the scenery at Cataloochee never disappoints.
Recreation
The Cataloochee Valley features an extensive trail system that is less heavily used compared to other areas of the park. The two main trails, Caldwell Fork and nearby Rough Fork Trail, run mostly parallel to one another in the central portion of the valley. Either of these trails extend alongside scenic creeks and streams and support both hikers and horeseback riders. For hikers only, the 3.9-mile Boogerman Trail forms a nice loop off the Caldwell Fork Trail and is less than a mile walk from the campground. Anglers will agree that some of the best Rainbow and Brook trout fishing in the area can be found in the Cataloochee Basin, one of the most remote sections of the park. Fly fishing is particularly good during spring months when aquatic insects hatch in large numbers. The park also 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 handful of which can be found in the Cataloochee Valley, including the nearby Palmer House, built in 1869, which contains a self-guided museum.
Nearby
A number of the park's famous historical buildings, including the Steve Woody and Caldwell Houses, both built in the late 19th-century, are nearby the campground. The Steve Woody House, built in 1880, is located along the Rough Fork trail, an easy 2-mile roundtrip hike from the parking lot at the end of Ranger Station Road.
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 Cataloochee Campground?
Sites at Cataloochee 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 Cataloochee 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 Cataloochee Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Cataloochee Campground have?
27 sites, including 27 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Cataloochee Campground?
The longest site here provides 34 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
Are there showers or a dump station at Cataloochee Campground?
Cataloochee offers a traditional outdoor camping experience with the added convenience of flush toilets and drinking water.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Cataloochee Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cataloochee Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Cataloochee Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Cataloochee Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Cataloochee Campground?
The Cataloochee Valley features an extensive trail system that is less heavily used compared to other areas of the park. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Cataloochee Campground?
Waynesville, North Carolina. A number of the park's famous historical buildings, including the Steve Woody and Caldwell Houses, both built in the late 19th-century, are nearby the campground.
Source: Getting there
What if Cataloochee Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cataloochee Group Camp (1.5 mi), Cataloochee Horse Camp (1.7 mi), and Balsam Mountain Campground (6.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby