Big Creek Campground
Big Creek Campground is located in a remote portion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Backcountry camping in a front country setting. There are flushing toilets and potable water. This is a tent only campground with a short walk from the parking area. The beautiful flowing waters of Big Creek parallel the campground offering the visitor a pleasant soundscape and peaceful beauty. Big Creek is an oasis for hiking, swimming, wildlife, fishing, and relaxation.
The group site has its own page: Big Creek Group Camp.
More like this: reservable in North Carolina · tent only in North Carolina · pets allowed in North Carolina
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 12 |
Site guide
12 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime | ||
| 002 | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 003 | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 004 | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 005 | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 006 | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Prime |
| 007 | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Prime |
| 008 | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Prime |
| 009 | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Prime |
| 010 | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Prime |
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
| Max vehicle length | 18 ft |
| Equipment | 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). |
Big Creek Campground offers 12 tent only campsites for a traditional outdoor camping experience with the added convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. There are no hookups or showers at the campground. There is an emergency phone available at the Big Creek Ranger Station located 1 mile from the campground. No generator use or recreational vehicles are allowed in Big Creek Campground. There is a food storage locker available for public use.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Campground is at the end of Big Creek Entrance Rd. Waterville, NC, 28785 (Haywood County). GPS coordinates are 35°45'00.3"N 83°06'38.6"W. The 4 way intersection is composed of Big Creek Campground Road and Waterville Rd (from I-40) + Mt. Sterling Road (from Cataloochee) + Hwy 32 (from Cosby). Drive up to the end of Big Creek Entrance Road.
| Nearest town | Gatlinburg, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35.7502° N, 83.1114° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 black bear living in the park, it is not uncommon for visitors to spot one.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 5.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Bluff Mountain Outfitters ↗ | 18.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | A&L RV Sales ↗ | 31.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Big Creek Campground and Picnic Area Tour 4K - Find that perfect campsite in the Smokies
Trails nearby
- 1.4 miAnst - Appalachian Rd ↗159.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_scenic_or_historic
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
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
On the National Register nearby
- Vinson HouseBuilding · Newport · 10.5 mi
- Tyson McCarter PlaceBuilding · Gatlinburg · 10.6 mi
- Shults Grove Methodist ChurchBuilding · Cosby · 10.6 mi
Natural features
Located at an elevation of 1,700' Big Creek Campground is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and a pristine mountain stream. Black Bear sightings are not uncommon and some lucky visitors may spot River Otter playing in Big Creek.
Recreation
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks. The Big Creek area offers some of the most challenging hikes within the Park. Baxter Creek trail begins near the campground and with an elevation gain of 4200' from trail head to the summit of Mt Sterling provides a strenuous work out for the strongest of hikers. The nearby Big Creek trail offers a pleasant hike along the waters of Big Creek with a beautiful waterfall along the way. Local anglers agree that Big Creek offers some of the best trout fishing in the area. Fly fishing is particularly good during spring months when aquatic insects hatch in large numbers. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy.
Nearby
Nearby attractions include the Cataloochee Valley, Newport, TN, Cosby Campground, Hartford Whitewater Rafting, the Appalachian Trail and the Max Patch/Pisgah National Forest.
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 Big Creek Campground?
Sites at Big Creek 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 Big Creek 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 Big Creek Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Big Creek Campground have?
12 sites, including 12 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Big Creek Campground?
The longest site here provides 18 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 Big Creek Campground?
Big Creek Campground offers 12 tent only campsites for a traditional outdoor camping experience with the added convenience of flush toilets and drinking water.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Big Creek Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Big Creek Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Big Creek Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Big Creek Campground?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Big Creek Campground?
Gatlinburg, North Carolina. Nearby attractions include the Cataloochee Valley, Newport, TN, Cosby Campground, Hartford Whitewater Rafting, the Appalachian Trail and the Max Patch/Pisgah National Forest.
Source: Getting there
What if Big Creek Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Big Creek Group Camp (0.2 mi), Big Creek Horse Camp (0.4 mi), and Cosby Group Camp (5.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Big Creek Campground in?
Big Creek Campground is a Great Smoky Mountains National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.