Available sites
42 total sites
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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
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42 Sites Available
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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
Gary T
VerifiedJuly 26, 2023 • Stayed at: 19, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Lovely and quiet. Just be sure you have everything you need because it's a long drive back to humans.
Tim B
VerifiedJuly 26, 2023 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
About as far from the crowds in Gatlinburg as you can get. A very beautiful campground that is one of the cleanest I've been in. Mild temperatures even in July. I do wish the campsite photos were up to date because #5 looked very shady on the site photos but those trees have been gone for some time. It is about a 30 minute drive from the main park road but we got used to it. We had our 9 and 11 year old sons with us and after hiking in the morning we would float in the numerous creeks in and around the park in the afternoon. Pro tip, bring your own inner tubes if you have space. The camp hosts (Don and Pamela) were very friendly and organized. They had to leave for a few days while we were there but the friendly National Parks Site Manager (S. Larsen) was a wealth of information and was able to recommend some great hikes in the area, the Flat Rock Trail has an amazing sunset overlook. I would 100% stay here again.
Gary T
VerifiedJuly 26, 2023 • Stayed at: 19, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Lovely and quiet. Just be sure you have everything you need because it's a long drive back to humans.
Tim B
VerifiedJuly 26, 2023 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
About as far from the crowds in Gatlinburg as you can get. A very beautiful campground that is one of the cleanest I've been in. Mild temperatures even in July. I do wish the campsite photos were up to date because #5 looked very shady on the site photos but those trees have been gone for some time. It is about a 30 minute drive from the main park road but we got used to it. We had our 9 and 11 year old sons with us and after hiking in the morning we would float in the numerous creeks in and around the park in the afternoon. Pro tip, bring your own inner tubes if you have space. The camp hosts (Don and Pamela) were very friendly and organized. They had to leave for a few days while we were there but the friendly National Parks Site Manager (S. Larsen) was a wealth of information and was able to recommend some great hikes in the area, the Flat Rock Trail has an amazing sunset overlook. I would 100% stay here again.
Taylor T
VerifiedJuly 24, 2023 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
The campground was beautiful but the sites were incredibly close to each other. So close, that you could hear snoring from all over the campground. Add to that the guy in a tent 20 ft away talking on speakerphone from 10pm-1:30am and it made for an incredibly frustrating experience. We left 3 days early and won’t be back. Sites are just way too close together.
Taylor T
VerifiedJuly 24, 2023 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
The campground was beautiful but the sites were incredibly close to each other. So close, that you could hear snoring from all over the campground. Add to that the guy in a tent 20 ft away talking on speakerphone from 10pm-1:30am and it made for an incredibly frustrating experience. We left 3 days early and won’t be back. Sites are just way too close together.
Martin Y
VerifiedJuly 23, 2023 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
The campground is great. We have stayed multiple times and really enjoyed it. The host this time was very bad. He had an attitude with everyone as they checked in. I talked to people at least 5 other sites that had the same experience witg him. Bad attitude. We all witnessed him spend 30 minutes in someones campsite going thru there site. He wanted to look thru everything when no one was at a site but when someone was loud intentionally, he wouldn’t do anything about that. I love the campground but when you have someone as a host that intentionally makes everyone in the campground not welcome, I will not go back. I have camped all over and never seen a host as bad!!!!
Martin Y
VerifiedJuly 23, 2023 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
The campground is great. We have stayed multiple times and really enjoyed it. The host this time was very bad. He had an attitude with everyone as they checked in. I talked to people at least 5 other sites that had the same experience witg him. Bad attitude. We all witnessed him spend 30 minutes in someones campsite going thru there site. He wanted to look thru everything when no one was at a site but when someone was loud intentionally, he wouldn’t do anything about that. I love the campground but when you have someone as a host that intentionally makes everyone in the campground not welcome, I will not go back. I have camped all over and never seen a host as bad!!!!
Marita v
VerifiedJuly 16, 2023 • Stayed at: 03, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Balsam mountain is food for the soul. The place is serene.
Marita v
VerifiedJuly 16, 2023 • Stayed at: 03, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Balsam mountain is food for the soul. The place is serene.
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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