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
Laura S
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 43, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
This was our second time returning to this campground, and we had a great experience. The whole campground is impeccably clean, including the bathrooms, and I love how secluded it is with very little light pollution. I look forward to returning again someday.
Mark C
VerifiedJanuary 20, 2020 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Elevation of this campsite makes it a great escape from summer heat. Nice one way gravel road leaves the campsite for a beautiful ride through the park. Highly recommend.
Jason R
VerifiedJanuary 20, 2020 • Stayed at: 06, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Wonderful location. Wide open views of the Milky Way above. Clean camp sites, and excellent restrooms/showers. Just back down the main road in are some excellent overlooks to catch sunrise and sunset. Passed several Elk, very near camp. Lots of great hiking. If you have a long morning for your drive out the Heintooga Round Bottom Road is a nice drive, which leads to a nice river side drive on the forest floor. The family and I loved this place.
Mark C
VerifiedJanuary 20, 2020 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Elevation of this campsite makes it a great escape from summer heat. Nice one way gravel road leaves the campsite for a beautiful ride through the park. Highly recommend.
Jason R
VerifiedJanuary 20, 2020 • Stayed at: 06, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Wonderful location. Wide open views of the Milky Way above. Clean camp sites, and excellent restrooms/showers. Just back down the main road in are some excellent overlooks to catch sunrise and sunset. Passed several Elk, very near camp. Lots of great hiking. If you have a long morning for your drive out the Heintooga Round Bottom Road is a nice drive, which leads to a nice river side drive on the forest floor. The family and I loved this place.
Charles T
VerifiedJanuary 18, 2020 • Stayed at: 28, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Nice place. Clean, Great views. Bring everything you need as it is a significant trip to get to a store. Some minor parking lot issues near site 30 with holes in the pavement.
Jackie F
VerifiedJanuary 18, 2020 • Stayed at: 40, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Very clean, no noise, friendlier campers
Ryan P
VerifiedJanuary 18, 2020 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Small sites packed close together means you’re taking your chances in the neighbor lottery at this campground. However, it provides easy access to a lot of great hiking and unique ecosystems, all of which see way less pressure than the more popular areas in the park. Take the time to drive back down to Cherokee via the one-way Balsam Mountain Road and you’ll likely see some wildlife. if you’re a birder, the trip will go through some prime habitat for hard-to-spot Appalachian species, so bring your binoculars. If you’re a fly fisherman, there’s some rarely fished water down the road where all three Smoky Mountain species can be found.
Charles T
VerifiedJanuary 18, 2020 • Stayed at: 28, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Nice place. Clean, Great views. Bring everything you need as it is a significant trip to get to a store. Some minor parking lot issues near site 30 with holes in the pavement.
Jackie F
VerifiedJanuary 18, 2020 • Stayed at: 40, Loop: BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
Very clean, no noise, friendlier campers
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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