Cataloochee Campground

3576 Ranger Station Rd, Waynesville, North Carolina, United States
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Elk
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND
Cataloochee Map
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

Featured amenities

Restrooms Restrooms
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About Cataloochee Campground

Cataloochee campground is located in the historic Cataloochee Valley--a relatively remote part of Smoky Mountain National Park. The secluded setting offers visitors the ability to enjoy a multitude of recreational activities like hiking and fishing, without the crowds, which are sometimes common in other parts of the park.

Available sites

27 total sites
RV Sites 27 sites Check Availability

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - May 1 to Oct 25

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Restrooms Restrooms
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
  • Restrooms
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Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

27 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 1, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 33 ft long · Gravel
🚐 10, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 45 ft long · Gravel
🚐 11, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 34 ft long · Gravel
🚐 12, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 45 ft long · Gravel
🚐 13, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 34 ft long · Gravel
🚐 14, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 44 ft long · Gravel
🚐 15, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 40 ft long · Gravel
🚐 16, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 40 ft long · Gravel
🚐 17, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 40 ft long · Gravel
🚐 18, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 40 ft long · Gravel
🚐 19, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 34 ft long · Gravel
🚐 2, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 33 ft long · Gravel
🚐 20, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 40 ft long · Gravel
🚐 21, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 45 ft long · Gravel
🚐 22, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 45 ft long · Gravel
🚐 23, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 44 ft long · Gravel
🚐 24, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 42 ft long · Gravel
🚐 25, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 46 ft long · Gravel
🚐 26, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 34 ft long · Gravel
🚐 27, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 45 ft long · Gravel
🚐 3, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 33 ft long · Gravel
🚐 4, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 36 ft long · Gravel
🚐 5, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 40 ft long · Gravel
🚐 6, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 38 ft long · Gravel
🚐 7, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 34 ft long · Gravel
🚐 8, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 38 ft long · Gravel
🚐 9, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Pet Friendly · 38 ft long · Gravel

Reviews

863 reviews

Summary

AI generated

Cataloochee Campground offers a beautiful and peaceful camping experience, with friendly hosts and abundant wildlife, including elk and bears. The area is well-maintained, featuring clean facilities and a lovely creek, making it ideal for photography and exploration. However, access can be challenging due to rough roads, and some sites may have issues with standing water and proximity to neighbors.

Based on guest feedback

4.7

Overall rating

Based on 863 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 77.8% (671)
4 stars 15.9% (137)
3 stars 3.6% (31)
2 stars 2.1% (18)
1 star 0.7% (6)

Showing 863 reviews

Verified Only
Sort by: Oldest First
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Rachel R

Verified

April 15, 2021 Stayed at: 21, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

A beautiful and quiet campground! Our first time in the Smokies. It's fun to be in a remote part of the park, and there are some great hikes around there (we especially enjoyed Boogerman - bring water shoes!). The stream passing right next to the campsite provided a wonderful lullaby through the days and nights. We had a few elk pass through the campsite one evening just to nose around, which was magical. Ginger, the site host, was an absolutely incredibly kind and knowledgeable host who offered us extra help when we needed a cell signal to address some car problems. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting her and our stay at Cataloochee.

Helpful

Jeffrey F

Verified

April 15, 2021 Stayed at: 10, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

Probably the best camping spot we’ve ever had! Right on the river, very spread apart, no noisy folks at all.
We went for a short drive and kind the elk herd at sundown. Very cool. The next morning, we had a young bull in our campsite! It hung around for two hours without a care in the world. Very cool!
Ginger, the camp host was great and personable. Excellent experience, if you don’t mind the 10 mi of mountain road leading to camp.

Helpful

Donald S

Verified

April 16, 2021 Stayed at: 18, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

Campsite are well spread out. Helpful host. Elk wandering through ever late afternoon.

Helpful

Donald S

Verified

April 16, 2021 Stayed at: 18, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

Campsite are well spread out. Helpful host. Elk wandering through ever late afternoon.

Helpful

Jimmy B

Verified

April 21, 2021 Stayed at: 14, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

Campground host checked us in immediately. Site 12 was very spacious compared to others we saw. We pulled a 28 ft travel trailer there well after checkout time to avoid meeting other trailers leaving and left early on our checkout day for the same reason. No problems whatsoever. This was our 4th or 5th time camping there over the years.

Helpful

Jimmy B

Verified

April 21, 2021 Stayed at: 14, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

Campground host checked us in immediately. Site 12 was very spacious compared to others we saw. We pulled a 28 ft travel trailer there well after checkout time to avoid meeting other trailers leaving and left early on our checkout day for the same reason. No problems whatsoever. This was our 4th or 5th time camping there over the years.

Helpful

Location & Directions for Cataloochee Campground

3576 Ranger Station Rd, Waynesville, NC 37876 United States

Elevation: 801 ft

Getting There

From I-40 take Exit 20 in North Carolina. Turn right onto Cove Creek Road and follow to the Park boundary. The road goes from pavement to gravel to pavement. Upon reaching the pavement the second time, turn left. Go 2.5 mi to an intersection and c...

Nearest town

Waynesville, NC - 22 mi

About 49 min to downtown

Highway access

Cataloochee Campground is accessible via I-40, with Exit 20 providing the nearest access point. From the interstate, travelers can reach the campground by following Cove Creek Road to the park boundary.

Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The closest entrance is: Cataloochee Entrance

Approximate drive: 2.1 mi · 4 min

Near Yosemite National Park

The closest entrance is: Arch Rock Entrance

Approximate drive: 32.3 mi · 55 min

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Nearby destinations

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8 mi away

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Lake Junaluska

10 mi away

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Explore destination

Waynesville

11 mi away

City

Last updated: October 24, 2026

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Explore Waynesville, NC

Population: 10,502

Nearby city: Asheville, NC

Approx. 30 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 2,749 ft

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