About Balsam Mountain Campground
Number of accommodations: 42
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
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Rates, Sites & Availability
42 Sites Available
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42 Sites Available
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Reviews (680)
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
Jennifer S
VerifiedJuly 14, 2024 • Stayed at: 39, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
T
Jennifer S
VerifiedJuly 14, 2024 • Stayed at: 39, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
T
dena w
VerifiedJuly 9, 2024 • Stayed at: 25, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
the campground is definitely surrounded by beautiful mountains at 5300 elevation, great for summer time. bathrooms very clean, water is clear and cool on the face. the camp sites are very close to each other, it's ok if your neighbors are respectful and quiet. one of my neighbors was a group of young men who talked, laughed and drank until midnight every day. i ended up leaving 2 days earlier and went to a different campground. maybe the host can make sure that everyone is quiet at 10pm. thanks, many blessings!
Pavlo P
VerifiedJuly 9, 2024 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
The only campground at high elevation. no electricity at all. not too much places to go on foot from here.
13 average spot, in the open
14 trees for hammock open area
33 down stairs 1 car, ok pad
15 corner open area, lacks privacy
32 right next to rest room, bad
31 corner too close, in the open, bad
30 people walk right next to it, fire place good
27 people walk right next to it fire place with close to walkway
29 people walk right next to it fireplace close to walk way
26 next to road, 3rd best of tent walk in
28 last , good privacy best of tent walk in.
16 next to cornet open area.
17 up against trees, tent pads close ok
18 myroslavs good
25 close to road and next to steep hill but ok
19 good privacy good site.
24 next to road near steep hill better than 25 , bit more privacy
20 ok no tent pad trees around, privacy
21 ok trees for hammock
22 cool spot on hill
23 very private away
7 secluded not to big tent pad but ok
38 ok next to dish washing, openish
39 private good
40 private good
5 weird spot, no tent pad,near road on hill open
4 bad, near road, lack of space for everything
42 private good, shady
2 private good, shady
1 near road, ok, not too much space
43 private good
3 private good might not have a tent pad
8 great spot
9 hard to place chairs around fire ring ok, roots hill
37 private ok
10 private ok
11 private ok
36 downhill private less trees
12 less trees openish
35 ring is next to 34 ring, tent pad is away. Bad
34 ring in on a hill, dumb. Bad
dena w
VerifiedJuly 9, 2024 • Stayed at: 25, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
the campground is definitely surrounded by beautiful mountains at 5300 elevation, great for summer time. bathrooms very clean, water is clear and cool on the face. the camp sites are very close to each other, it's ok if your neighbors are respectful and quiet. one of my neighbors was a group of young men who talked, laughed and drank until midnight every day. i ended up leaving 2 days earlier and went to a different campground. maybe the host can make sure that everyone is quiet at 10pm. thanks, many blessings!
Jill H
VerifiedJuly 9, 2024 • Stayed at: 36, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
If you have a small RV, camper van, or travel trailer - the sites are not level. Be prepared. The elevation is great in the summer to beat the heat. Drive/bike/walk out of the campground to the end of the road to the Balsam Picnic area. Follow the trail to find two bench with the BEST west facing view of the Smoky Mtns, perfect for sunset. This is quite a bit of a drive (time-wise) with not a lot of trails around - but the elevation for cool sleeping at night was worth it.
Jill H
VerifiedJuly 9, 2024 • Stayed at: 36, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
If you have a small RV, camper van, or travel trailer - the sites are not level. Be prepared. The elevation is great in the summer to beat the heat. Drive/bike/walk out of the campground to the end of the road to the Balsam Picnic area. Follow the trail to find two bench with the BEST west facing view of the Smoky Mtns, perfect for sunset. This is quite a bit of a drive (time-wise) with not a lot of trails around - but the elevation for cool sleeping at night was worth it.
Pavlo P
VerifiedJuly 9, 2024 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
The only campground at high elevation. no electricity at all. not too much places to go on foot from here.
13 average spot, in the open
14 trees for hammock open area
33 down stairs 1 car, ok pad
15 corner open area, lacks privacy
32 right next to rest room, bad
31 corner too close, in the open, bad
30 people walk right next to it, fire place good
27 people walk right next to it fire place with close to walkway
29 people walk right next to it fireplace close to walk way
26 next to road, 3rd best of tent walk in
28 last , good privacy best of tent walk in.
16 next to cornet open area.
17 up against trees, tent pads close ok
18 myroslavs good
25 close to road and next to steep hill but ok
19 good privacy good site.
24 next to road near steep hill better than 25 , bit more privacy
20 ok no tent pad trees around, privacy
21 ok trees for hammock
22 cool spot on hill
23 very private away
7 secluded not to big tent pad but ok
38 ok next to dish washing, openish
39 private good
40 private good
5 weird spot, no tent pad,near road on hill open
4 bad, near road, lack of space for everything
42 private good, shady
2 private good, shady
1 near road, ok, not too much space
43 private good
3 private good might not have a tent pad
8 great spot
9 hard to place chairs around fire ring ok, roots hill
37 private ok
10 private ok
11 private ok
36 downhill private less trees
12 less trees openish
35 ring is next to 34 ring, tent pad is away. Bad
34 ring in on a hill, dumb. Bad
James S
VerifiedJuly 5, 2024 • Stayed at: 17, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
The camp host was good, restrooms were clean. The bugs were bad but that's no fault of the park system.
Cecil/Rachel B
VerifiedJuly 5, 2024 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Quiet, clean and peaceful.
Location Balsam Mountain Campground
Address:
253 Smokemont Campground Road
Cherokee, NC, 28719
United States
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 miles 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 miles to Balsam Mountain Campground.
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 35.5654 / -83.1743
Elevation: 1633 feet
Nearby National Park
Arch Rock Entrance
Approximate driving time: 54 min
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 5, 2026
