The Ultimate RV Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States, hosting more than 11 million visitors every year. This UNESCO World Heritage site was dedicated in 1940 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern US with more than half a million acres.

Whether you’re making a stop on a motorhome road trip through the Deep South or have specifically picked up a campervan to see the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you’ve chosen a phenomenal place to explore.

Take a read through our Ultimate RV Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains to find out about the top attractions, where you can stay for the night with your campervan, and other useful tips and tricks to prepare for your visit.

Things to see with your campervan in the Great Smoky Mountains

There’s so much to see in the Great Smoky Mountains that you’ll need as much time as you can spare to fit it all in. Here are some of the best spots to visit in the park:

Image: Acroterion(Own work), CC-BY-SA-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

● The Clingmans Dome: The Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Tennessee at 6,643 feet, marked with a large tower where you can take in the surrounding scenery. The access road closes over winter (December-March), but for the rest of the year you can drive up then hike the half mile to the top. If you arrive in winter and are up for a challenge, take snowshoes or cross-country skis up the access road for a serene wintry view.

● Fontana Lake: A gorgeous lake that stretches 240 miles near the park’s southern border. Rent a kayak or stand up paddle board at the small village at the lake so you can head out onto the water to cruise around for the day.

Image: Ken Lund (Own work), CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Flickr

● Newfound Gap Road: One of the most scenic areas in the park can be enjoyed from the comfort of your RV as you travel 32 miles along the Newfound Gap Road. It is steep and windy in places but still suitable for motorhomes, and offers incredible views, as well as a crossing point with the Appalachian Trail where you’ll likely spot hikers stopping for a break.

● The Mountain Farm Museum: The museum and collection of historical buildings around it were all built in the 1800s, providing you with an interesting look into the past.

Image: Pulaw (Own work), CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Flickr

● Laurel Falls: Laurel Falls is one of the more accessible waterfalls in the park, and also one of the most spectacular. It’s a short hike from the parking lot to see this 80-foot high waterfall crash down at your feet.

Where to camp with a motorhome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

There are plenty of fantastic campgrounds where you can park your RV for the night so you can be up exploring first thing the next day. However, not a single site has electrical hookups, water hookups, or showers, so you may be best to book a fully equipped motorhome for a few creature comforts during your stay.

Motorhome campgrounds in the Smokies

There are nine campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that welcome motorhomes. Each one offers restrooms with flushing toilets and cold running water, and each site has its own picnic table and fire grate.

These nine campgrounds (and their RV size limits) are:

● Abrams Creek (12 feet).

● Balsam Mountain (30 feet).

● Cades Cove (40 feet.

● Cataloochee (31 feet).

● Cosby (25 feet).

● Deep Creek (26 feet).

● Elkmont (35 feet).

● Look Rock (no limit).

● Smokemont (40 feet).

Fees and prices vary between parks, as do open and close dates. Only Cades Cove and Smokemont are open year-round, and Cataloochee is the only ground that requires reservation all year. For the rest of them, you are best to book in advance whenever possible to avoid missing out on your preferred site.

Tent-only camping

Image: Vicpeters(Own work), CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Listed as ‘Backcountry Campsites’ on the government’s park website, you can park your RV and carry a tent further into the park for more of a wilderness experience. To do this, you will need to apply for a permit, and make a reservation in advance, so you’ll still need to plan where to go before you set off.

● If you’re planning on hiking any of the 72 miles of the Appalachian Trail that passes through the Smokies, you’ll stay in ‘shelters’ along the trail. These are essentially just three walls and a roof with no amenities, but still must be booked in advance.

● There are seven ‘Group Campsites’ in the park that have certain areas for tents only, but there must be a minimum of seven people in your group. The maximum length of stay in any of these sites is 14 nights, and check out is at noon.

● The Group Campsites are Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, Elkmont, and Smokemont. Note that Big Creek is the only campground in the park not to allow any RVs at all.

To reserve, call (877) 444-6777 or make a reservation online.

Important Great Smoky Mountains RV notes

● There are some winding, gravel roads in the park, including the Cataloochee Entrance Road, so prepare to pull over to let faster vehicles overtake you or to back up to allow oncoming traffic to pass.

● Consider renting a shorter RV, as it can give you more flexibility when choosing your campground due to size restrictions in some areas.

● You can only have a maximum of six people per site (unless you are booked at a group campsite).

● Food and food equipment must be stored and sealed inside your vehicle, or in one of the storage bins provided on site to avoid attracting black bears and other wildlife.

● You are only permitted to light fires in the grates provided, and you may only take wood from the site if it is already dead on the ground. You may only bring treated, federal-certified firewood into the park.

● vIf you’re new to travelling by motorhome, read up on our campground etiquette guide to learn the unofficial rules of any site.