Available sites
42 total sites
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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
Morgan R
VerifiedAugust 19, 2024 • Stayed at: 43, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Beautiful campsites with a decent amount of privacy, most were bordered with wildflowers! The camp host was so kind and helpful. The bathrooms were the cleanest campsite bathrooms I've ever experienced, which was a huge relief to us camping with a newly potty trained toddler. We couldn't have asked for a better weekend and will definitely be back!
Johnny D
VerifiedAugust 19, 2024 • Stayed at: 31, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
I really like Balsam Mountain. It's high enough in the mountains that it gets nice and cool in the summer and there's plenty of fallen wood for fire along with nice trails all around.
Cheryl M
VerifiedAugust 6, 2024 • Stayed at: 32, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Campground host E and J were so gracious and made me feel welcome. Bathrooms were clean, campground was peaceful and there was a lovely walk to an overlook right up the road.
Cheryl M
VerifiedAugust 6, 2024 • Stayed at: 32, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Campground host E and J were so gracious and made me feel welcome. Bathrooms were clean, campground was peaceful and there was a lovely walk to an overlook right up the road.
Gregory V
VerifiedAugust 4, 2024 • Stayed at: 23, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Stayed at site 23. Camp hosts were great. Site was well maintained, but the table had too much of a slope to be able to use my camp stove. Site was well shaded, which made relying on solar a bit problematic.
Ruth C
VerifiedAugust 4, 2024 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Very nice and quiet. Lovely and cool at this elevation even though late July. Never saw the campground host and the campground was only about a third full. I do wish they would have hand wash soap in the bathrooms.
Gregory V
VerifiedAugust 4, 2024 • Stayed at: 23, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Stayed at site 23. Camp hosts were great. Site was well maintained, but the table had too much of a slope to be able to use my camp stove. Site was well shaded, which made relying on solar a bit problematic.
Ruth C
VerifiedAugust 4, 2024 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Very nice and quiet. Lovely and cool at this elevation even though late July. Never saw the campground host and the campground was only about a third full. I do wish they would have hand wash soap in the bathrooms.
Michael H
VerifiedAugust 2, 2024 • Stayed at: 07, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Quiet, peaceful, and much cooler temps than other places due to the very high elevation. Camp hosts Ed and Judy were great!
Michael H
VerifiedAugust 2, 2024 • Stayed at: 07, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Quiet, peaceful, and much cooler temps than other places due to the very high elevation. Camp hosts Ed and Judy were great!
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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