About Balsam Mountain Campground
Number of accommodations: 42
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
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
Robert M
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 36, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Balsam Mtn was better before the check-in method was changed. Too many signs on all the posts. How do I know which site I want until I get there? It's hard to get phone reception way up there. We stayed at Gunter Hill campground. We tried to register on line and all sites were taken. We went there and hardly any sites were taken. Unless it has been improved, this process needs to be done away with.
John L
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 42, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
It’s a beautiful ride up to the campground, and it’s secluded. There are several nice camp sites there. Other than that I was disappointed. Lots of the sites are crammed together. Some like ours you practically park in the road beside your camp site. Larger campers barely got by without hitting our car. The pictures of the camp sites online are very misleading. I have a van with a awning I was planning on using because they were calling for rain but when we got there realized you could not use a awning because you’re parking on the side of a hill and walk down to the campsite. Online it listed it suitable for campers and rvs and last time I checked most campers and rvs have awnings. They should have listed this on their site. Also you can use generators there but instead of having limited hours of operation say for an hr or so in the morning and then Manet an hr or 2 in the afternoon . You can run them almost all day. Not what I wanted to listen to at 9:00 in the morning sitting there trying to enjoy nature. Probably won’t go back.
Dale P
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 32, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Stopped for an overnight stay after visiting 11 National Parks / Monuments in 16 days. Nice site, close to restrooms, our site had a very steep incline down to the campsite, which caused me to leave just 4 stars instead of 5. We will definitely stay again, but try to find a better level site.
james b
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 19, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Enjoyed my stay as usual! Everything was neat and clean. It's a very nice out of the way experience. The sunset viewing area is my favorite place to be in the evening. I will be back!
Jonathan L
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 12, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
An excellent campground at high altitude in the Smoky mountains. A great place to escape the southern heat in summer. Not a big campground but nice and well kept. Out of the way but convenient to nature and picturesque views.
Robert M
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 36, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Balsam Mtn was better before the check-in method was changed. Too many signs on all the posts. How do I know which site I want until I get there? It's hard to get phone reception way up there. We stayed at Gunter Hill campground. We tried to register on line and all sites were taken. We went there and hardly any sites were taken. Unless it has been improved, this process needs to be done away with.
John L
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 42, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
It’s a beautiful ride up to the campground, and it’s secluded. There are several nice camp sites there. Other than that I was disappointed. Lots of the sites are crammed together. Some like ours you practically park in the road beside your camp site. Larger campers barely got by without hitting our car. The pictures of the camp sites online are very misleading. I have a van with a awning I was planning on using because they were calling for rain but when we got there realized you could not use a awning because you’re parking on the side of a hill and walk down to the campsite. Online it listed it suitable for campers and rvs and last time I checked most campers and rvs have awnings. They should have listed this on their site. Also you can use generators there but instead of having limited hours of operation say for an hr or so in the morning and then Manet an hr or 2 in the afternoon . You can run them almost all day. Not what I wanted to listen to at 9:00 in the morning sitting there trying to enjoy nature. Probably won’t go back.
Dale P
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 32, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Stopped for an overnight stay after visiting 11 National Parks / Monuments in 16 days. Nice site, close to restrooms, our site had a very steep incline down to the campsite, which caused me to leave just 4 stars instead of 5. We will definitely stay again, but try to find a better level site.
james b
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 19, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Enjoyed my stay as usual! Everything was neat and clean. It's a very nice out of the way experience. The sunset viewing area is my favorite place to be in the evening. I will be back!
Jonathan L
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 12, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
An excellent campground at high altitude in the Smoky mountains. A great place to escape the southern heat in summer. Not a big campground but nice and well kept. Out of the way but convenient to nature and picturesque views.
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 4, 2026