Available sites
42 total sites
RV Sites
Tent Sites
About Balsam Mountain Campground
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Parking
Restrooms
Fire Pit
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
- Restrooms
Cooking and Fire
- Fire Pit
- Campfire Ring
Parking and Transport
- Parking
Rates, Sites & Availability
42 Sites Available
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Site Details
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42 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (755)
What Guests Are Saying
Balsam Mountain Campground offers beautiful, well-maintained sites with plenty of wildlife and hiking opportunities, making it a perfect escape from summer heat. Many visitors appreciate the friendly hosts and clean facilities, while the atmosphere is described as quiet and serene. Although some sites may feel close together and there are occasional issues with amenities like firewood, the overall experience is highly praised, with many returning annually for its charm and natural beauty.
What Guests Are Saying
Balsam Mountain Campground offers beautiful, well-maintained sites with plenty of wildlife and hiking opportunities, making it a perfect escape from summer heat. Many visitors appreciate the friendly hosts and clean facilities, while the atmosphere is described as quiet and serene. Although some sites may feel close together and there are occasional issues with amenities like firewood, the overall experience is highly praised, with many returning annually for its charm and natural beauty.
Review Summary
Cindi E
VerifiedSeptember 28, 2020 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
The camp hosts were very helpful in making sure your experience was totally enjoyable. It is a beautiful and clean campground with clean restrooms. There is water available but no electricity so bring head lamps or flashlights. Each campsite is well taken care of, but all sites are very close to each one.
Two things that would be nice to update would be to provide bear proof food storage for each site and if possible make sites further apart.
Cindi E
VerifiedSeptember 28, 2020 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
The camp hosts were very helpful in making sure your experience was totally enjoyable. It is a beautiful and clean campground with clean restrooms. There is water available but no electricity so bring head lamps or flashlights. Each campsite is well taken care of, but all sites are very close to each one.
Two things that would be nice to update would be to provide bear proof food storage for each site and if possible make sites further apart.
Joe S
VerifiedOctober 2, 2020 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Clean, on top of a mountain, how much better can that get. Not to mention we had internet and cell phone connections!!! Easy access to water and bathrooms if needed. Do wish that some of the camping sites were larger but it was on a mountain. Very pleasant experience, highly recommend staying there
Joe S
VerifiedOctober 2, 2020 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Clean, on top of a mountain, how much better can that get. Not to mention we had internet and cell phone connections!!! Easy access to water and bathrooms if needed. Do wish that some of the camping sites were larger but it was on a mountain. Very pleasant experience, highly recommend staying there
Brian K
VerifiedOctober 3, 2020 • Stayed at: 28, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Amazing place. Wish it could be open year round
Donny B
VerifiedOctober 3, 2020 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Campsites very close but everyone was quite. I stayed at an inside tent site. The outside ones looked better. Tent pads were great. Roads in were good. Camp host was friendly.
Brian K
VerifiedOctober 3, 2020 • Stayed at: 28, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Amazing place. Wish it could be open year round
Donny B
VerifiedOctober 3, 2020 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Campsites very close but everyone was quite. I stayed at an inside tent site. The outside ones looked better. Tent pads were great. Roads in were good. Camp host was friendly.
Sonali M
VerifiedOctober 4, 2020 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
My boyfriend and I stayed for two nights at this campground in the tent-only area. We absolutely loved it. Since the elevation is so high it's significantly cooler which is nice. The scenery is lovely, and the hosts plus our neighbors were friendly and helpful. The only thing to note is that some sites are quite close together, our second night a large group was camping near us who were very loud, but the campground was so lovely it didn't ruin our trip. On the whole, absolutely recommend!
Eric K
VerifiedOctober 4, 2020 • Stayed at: 10, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Very nice and well kept campground. Only reason for losing a star is that the sites are packed way too close together
Location & Directions for Balsam Mountain Campground
253 Smokemont Campground Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 United States
Elevation: 1,633 ft
Getting There
From the North: From I-40 take Exit 20 Maggie Valley, NC and travel US-19 towards Cherokee, NC. Access the Blue Ridge Parkway at Soco Gap and continue South to mile 458.2, turning right onto Heintooga Ridge Road. Enter Great Smoky Mountains Nat...
From the North: From I-40 take Exit 20 Maggie Valley, NC and travel US-19 towards Cherokee, NC. Access the Blue Ridge Parkway at Soco Gap and continue South to mile 458.2, turning right onto Heintooga Ridge Road. Enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Black Camp Gap and continue 9 mi to Balsam Mountain Campground. From the South: Follow US-441/US-23 North. At Dillsboro merge onto US-74 West/US-441 North. At exit 74 merge onto US-441. Continue on US-441 through Cherokee, NC and into the park. Access the Blue Ridge Parkway traveling North to mile 458.2, turning left onto Heintooga Ridge Road. Enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Black Camp Gap and continue 9 mi to Balsam Mountain Campground.
Highway access
Balsam Mountain Campground is accessible via I-40, US-19, US-441, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. I-40 is approximately 20 miles to the north, with access via Exit 20 to US-19. US-441 also provides access through Cherokee, NC.
Nearby National Park
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Approximate driving time: 18 min
Arch Rock Entrance
Approximate driving time: 54 min
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: October 22, 2026
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Explore Cherokee, NC
Population: 2,059
Nearby city: Asheville, NC
Approx. 35 mi away (straight-line distance)
Elevation: 1,972 ft
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