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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Site Details
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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
Matt S
VerifiedSeptember 30, 2021 • Stayed at: 36, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
very clean, nice campground host, great experience
michael c
VerifiedSeptember 30, 2021 • Stayed at: 07, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Beautiful campground, wonderful campground host. Nice and cool weather.
Jennifer C
VerifiedSeptember 30, 2021 • Stayed at: 22, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Probably one of the best campgrounds we've been to in the smoky's! The campsites are a little small, but the views coming up to the campground are worth it for sure! We went in late September and it was really cold at night, getting down to the high 30's, and we loved the change of temperature from the hot summer camping we've been doing. We had pretty good cell phone reception with AT&T and T-Mobile, which was a nice surprise! We also saw deer and elk both days we were there!
The camp hosts were super friendly and the campground was very clean!
The most important thing to me about this campground though, was that the bathrooms were the cleanest bathrooms I've probably ever been in! We were actually shocked at how clean they were.
We will definitely be coming back for our next trip to Maggie Valley!
Matt S
VerifiedSeptember 30, 2021 • Stayed at: 36, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
very clean, nice campground host, great experience
John C
VerifiedSeptember 22, 2021 • Stayed at: 23, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
I love this little campground. It is off the beaten trail enough to not be too overrun with crowds, but still easy front country camping. Balsam is my favorite campground in the Smokies.
John C
VerifiedSeptember 22, 2021 • Stayed at: 23, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
I love this little campground. It is off the beaten trail enough to not be too overrun with crowds, but still easy front country camping. Balsam is my favorite campground in the Smokies.
John H
VerifiedSeptember 21, 2021 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Staff were excellent. Campgrounds were fantastic. Bathrooms super clean. How do they do it? I will visit again!
John H
VerifiedSeptember 21, 2021 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Staff were excellent. Campgrounds were fantastic. Bathrooms super clean. How do they do it? I will visit again!
Kassandra M
VerifiedSeptember 20, 2021 • Stayed at: 43, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
great place for camping with family if you want peace and quite this place is for you
Doug T
VerifiedSeptember 20, 2021 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Sites are close together, without a lot of privacy, but the temperature and weather were great for early August. I think the experience would vary quite a bit based on your site selection. Will definitely return.
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
