Cataloochee Campground

Elk
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

Featured amenities

Restrooms Restrooms

Sites & Rates

Average nightly rates

27 total sites

RV Sites

27 sites

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.

Number of accommodations: 27

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
Missing information?

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
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 10, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 11, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 12, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 13, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 14, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 15, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 16, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 17, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 18, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 19, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 2, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 20, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 21, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 22, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 23, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 24, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 25, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 26, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 27, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 3, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 4, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 5, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 6, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 7, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 8, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 9, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND RV
Electric Only
Price not available

Reviews (818)

What Guests Are Saying

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.

Review Summary

4.7
818 reviews
5
78.5%
642
4
15.2%
124
3
3.7%
30
2
2.1%
17
1
0.6%
5

Jamie C

Verified

May 8, 2023 Stayed at: 11, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

We LOVE Cataloochee. We camp here every year- and multiple times a year. Plan to come back real soon!

Henry C

Verified

May 7, 2023 Stayed at: 20, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

3

Campsite was great. Road was horrible, either a washboard or pothole all the way in after hitting the graveled portion of the road, including the paved portion on Park lands. To think of all the nice rail fences being built along the roads in TN and as always, nothing being done on the NC side of the Park..

Henry C

Verified

May 7, 2023 Stayed at: 20, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

3

Campsite was great. Road was horrible, either a washboard or pothole all the way in after hitting the graveled portion of the road, including the paved portion on Park lands. To think of all the nice rail fences being built along the roads in TN and as always, nothing being done on the NC side of the Park..

John E

Verified

May 5, 2023 Stayed at: 4, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

As always, the Cataloochee Campground was enjoyable to stay at for the week. All the grounds and facilities were very clean. Unfortunately my stay was punctuated by a loud, obnoxious group of 4 or 5 guys that disturbed those near them, myself included with their hollering, laughing and cursing until 2:30 PM one evening. And this was after the host told them to get quiet. The next morning the host told them to leave the campground immediately or she would contact the park's law enforcement personnel to have them evicted. The group cleared out by about 10;30 AM and the campground returned to being peaceful and quiet. I commend the host for taking care of this situation as promptly as she did.

John E

Verified

May 5, 2023 Stayed at: 4, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

As always, the Cataloochee Campground was enjoyable to stay at for the week. All the grounds and facilities were very clean. Unfortunately my stay was punctuated by a loud, obnoxious group of 4 or 5 guys that disturbed those near them, myself included with their hollering, laughing and cursing until 2:30 PM one evening. And this was after the host told them to get quiet. The next morning the host told them to leave the campground immediately or she would contact the park's law enforcement personnel to have them evicted. The group cleared out by about 10;30 AM and the campground returned to being peaceful and quiet. I commend the host for taking care of this situation as promptly as she did.

Sheri R

Verified

April 30, 2023 Stayed at: 17, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

Cataloochee Campground is one of our favorites! Great sites! Lots of good trails near by also,

Sheri R

Verified

April 30, 2023 Stayed at: 17, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

Cataloochee Campground is one of our favorites! Great sites! Lots of good trails near by also,

Jane S

Verified

April 22, 2023 Stayed at: 6, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

Appreciated that the restrooms were clean and that our Camp Host was very visible and available. Also appreciated that other campers observed the quiet hours. The hiking trails in the Cataloochee Area were varied in levels of challenge but all with interesting architectural relics and natural beauty. We enjoyed that we were able to bike in the area without too much road traffic.

Jane S

Verified

April 22, 2023 Stayed at: 6, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

Appreciated that the restrooms were clean and that our Camp Host was very visible and available. Also appreciated that other campers observed the quiet hours. The hiking trails in the Cataloochee Area were varied in levels of challenge but all with interesting architectural relics and natural beauty. We enjoyed that we were able to bike in the area without too much road traffic.

Joseph S

Verified

April 19, 2023 Stayed at: 8, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

Bring your bikes! Hike during the day then ride into the valley to see the elk in the evening . We had a wonderful time. Campground is quiet and the scenery is beautiful. We’ve been in summer fall and winter and each season has its own beauty.

Location Cataloochee Campground

Address:
3576 Ranger Station Rd
Waynesville, NC, 37876
United States

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.

Elevation: 801 feet

Nearby National Park

Yosemite National Park

Arch Rock Entrance

Approximate driving time: 55 min

Distance to downtown

22 mi drive to downtown Waynesville (about 49 min)

Nearby Campgrounds


Last updated: September 10, 2026

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