Smokemont Campground

The campground and river that runs through it was beautiful and kept the kids busy between hikes and other excursions. Short drive to Clingman's Dome and also nice to have a short drive to Cherokee for supplies. We spent a day in Bryson City taking the steam engine up the mountain and white water rafting down and recommend that for sure!

This spot is great for shade trees. For rainy times it’s NOT great because of “gravity” lol all of the water runs right down into the tent pad bc it’s not raised in the front only the back. Otherwise a nice spot.

Close to the bathroom and bear proof trash can ,but not “too” close. Tent pad is raised so doesn’t hold water like some of the other spots. Only draw back to this spot is it’s right on the roadway near the beginning of the park so everyone has to drive past .. so dogs or little ones it’s an added concern.

Nice and quiet

Overall good

Loved the sound of the water flowing at the campground. Bathrooms and sites were tidy.

Have camped there many times before, but this time we had an angry/aggressive man in the campsite next to us complaining about generator usage - even though we were in the generator loop. Our understanding when we booked the campsite was that generators can be used from 8am-8pm. This is stated on the website and also a large sign when entering the park. We then came to find out there is a little know fact regarding generators that is listed in information that was never given to us when we received our confirmation or when we checked in. The ranger Jackie was great and really tried to mediate the issue but we felt totally uncomfortable and left without spending the night - and we will never return. Jackie was the only positive in the entire experience.

Great site and helpful staff. Love the GSMNP.

Quiet hours we're not enforced. Many campers were excessively noisy very early in the morning as they were preparing their RVs to leave and there was excessive noise late at night. Worse than that, early on Sunday morning, a park employee was weed eating in the campsite. The men's bathroom was worse than most porta-jons. Fortunately, the beauty of the campground is exceptional.

I've been coming to smokemont for over 50 years with my family. The whole parking pass requirement seems ridiculous. We've also noticed a decline in campers over the years - too many rules that seem senseless!! For the second year in a row, we've had a situation with our reservations and the National Parks Lifetime pass. If YOUR reservation system accepts the pass for more than one reservation, it's your problem - not mine! We were made to feel like criminals!

There is also a situation with regard to poison ivy and wasps. I get it they are all part of nature, but we were all stung repeatedly and are still battling the after shock of poison ivy.