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
Young L
VerifiedSeptember 4, 2021 • Stayed at: 39, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
The bathrooms were very clean and the hosts were very kind…..great place to camping.^^
Tom P
VerifiedSeptember 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
clean tent only sites and clean restrooms
Sharad S
VerifiedSeptember 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 30, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Nice secluded campground up in the hill. The facilities are clean and well maintained. The campsites are very close, though we got lucky as there were not many campers during our stay, else would have felt too crowded.
Tom P
VerifiedSeptember 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
clean tent only sites and clean restrooms
Sharad S
VerifiedSeptember 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 30, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Nice secluded campground up in the hill. The facilities are clean and well maintained. The campsites are very close, though we got lucky as there were not many campers during our stay, else would have felt too crowded.
Tom P
VerifiedAugust 31, 2021 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
tent only sites in great shape and the restrooms were clean
Tom P
VerifiedAugust 31, 2021 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
tent only sites in great shape and the restrooms were clean
Milton B
VerifiedAugust 27, 2021 • Stayed at: 03, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Clean campground. Clean bathrooms. Pleasant and helpful campground hosts. Could not ask for more except for less rain, but then the remnants of tropical storm Fred did pass through while we were there and we were aware of it. Even the campground host made sure we knew about it. Not much “you” could do about that. Apparently there were some trees down across the roads leading into the campground after the storm passed through and our understanding is that they were cleared within one day. Strong work!
Milton B
VerifiedAugust 27, 2021 • Stayed at: 03, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Clean campground. Clean bathrooms. Pleasant and helpful campground hosts. Could not ask for more except for less rain, but then the remnants of tropical storm Fred did pass through while we were there and we were aware of it. Even the campground host made sure we knew about it. Not much “you” could do about that. Apparently there were some trees down across the roads leading into the campground after the storm passed through and our understanding is that they were cleared within one day. Strong work!
Stuart E
VerifiedAugust 26, 2021 • Stayed at: 42, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Camp Hosts are top notch. This is my second experience with having good support by the hosts. The experience at Balsam was "bad" due to the tropical storm that blew through, and NOT, the fault of the Park service. The Host and local Ranger informed me of the impending conditions so I elected to leave after one night. WISE move since there was significant damage in the mountains. Advice given was science based weather reports and up front on time. THANK YOU
I'll go back another time.
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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