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
Kayla E
VerifiedJune 13, 2022 • Stayed at: 38, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Great facilities and the most beautiful camping spot. Tent pad, table, bathrooms, and roads in fantastic condition. I love that this campground is so much more isolated than others in the Smokies and there were no RVers. My only complaint is that my neighbors consistently violated quiet hours. This is not the campground’s fault. However, there was no campground host on site to hold them accountable. I do wish that there was a host onsite to help patrol unwieldy campers.
Kelly M
VerifiedJune 13, 2022 • Stayed at: 40, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Very small site, but quiet campground and clean bathrooms. Nice bench for viewing sunset at the end of the road down the Flat Creek Trailhead just a little bit. Beautiful one-way gravel road there as well to get back down to Cherokee.
Kayla E
VerifiedJune 13, 2022 • Stayed at: 38, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Great facilities and the most beautiful camping spot. Tent pad, table, bathrooms, and roads in fantastic condition. I love that this campground is so much more isolated than others in the Smokies and there were no RVers. My only complaint is that my neighbors consistently violated quiet hours. This is not the campground’s fault. However, there was no campground host on site to hold them accountable. I do wish that there was a host onsite to help patrol unwieldy campers.
Thomas E
VerifiedJune 14, 2022 • Stayed at: 34, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Clean and great weather. Lows in the upper forties, great for camping out in
Doug N
VerifiedJune 14, 2022 • Stayed at: 26, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Remote and out of the way. Some of the tent only sites are very close to others. It would be ideal for a group of people that know each other or rent two sites to give yourself more space and buffer from others.
Thomas E
VerifiedJune 14, 2022 • Stayed at: 34, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Clean and great weather. Lows in the upper forties, great for camping out in
Doug N
VerifiedJune 14, 2022 • Stayed at: 26, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Remote and out of the way. Some of the tent only sites are very close to others. It would be ideal for a group of people that know each other or rent two sites to give yourself more space and buffer from others.
Justin O
VerifiedJune 17, 2022 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
We loved this little campground. The spaces are a little close together compared to other campgrounds in the park, but that just helped us make more friends with other people around the area. You see a lot of Elk on this side of the mountain. We had heard that a day or two before we came, a bear had came up while people were cooking, but we never saw any while we were there.
Also, we weren't expecting it, but we had Verizon cell service on the top of the mountain.
Justin O
VerifiedJune 17, 2022 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
We loved this little campground. The spaces are a little close together compared to other campgrounds in the park, but that just helped us make more friends with other people around the area. You see a lot of Elk on this side of the mountain. We had heard that a day or two before we came, a bear had came up while people were cooking, but we never saw any while we were there.
Also, we weren't expecting it, but we had Verizon cell service on the top of the mountain.
Mina P
VerifiedJune 18, 2022 • Stayed at: 25, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
The campground was absolutely beautiful, the surrounding area and the drive to the campground was stunning as well. The only downside would be driving to hikes/activities are further away as you have to drive around 30 minutes off the mountain. Make sure to bring your own hand soap as they only have hand sanitizers in the bathrooms. Other than that it was a beautiful campsite we would definitely recommend coming again.
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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