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

Nancy H

Verified

August 3, 2021 Stayed at: 25, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

3

The campground was kept up and the toilets were clean, even though there were only two for each gender. The camp spots were close together and there wasn't anything between for privacy. That is just my personal preference. We don't hike so if you are a hiker it would be a nice place. The campground host was very nice and had a lot of information. There wasn't any firewood to purchase at the campsite, you had to purchase that somewhere in the town or you could pick up branches from the ground. Of coarse there wasn't enough to make even a small campfire. The thing that ruined it for us was the road getting there. It was the scariest road I had ever been on! It was about 10 miles of twisty turny hairpin curves. About half of it was gravel and just about wide enough for 1 and half cars. The side of the road had no guardrails and if you went off it was a mile down. They would never know where you disappeared to. You had to crawl along and pray no one else was coming around the hairpin curve that you couldn't see and that if so they were crawling along also. Other than that road the campsite wasn't bad.

Nancy H

Verified

August 3, 2021 Stayed at: 25, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

3

The campground was kept up and the toilets were clean, even though there were only two for each gender. The camp spots were close together and there wasn't anything between for privacy. That is just my personal preference. We don't hike so if you are a hiker it would be a nice place. The campground host was very nice and had a lot of information. There wasn't any firewood to purchase at the campsite, you had to purchase that somewhere in the town or you could pick up branches from the ground. Of coarse there wasn't enough to make even a small campfire. The thing that ruined it for us was the road getting there. It was the scariest road I had ever been on! It was about 10 miles of twisty turny hairpin curves. About half of it was gravel and just about wide enough for 1 and half cars. The side of the road had no guardrails and if you went off it was a mile down. They would never know where you disappeared to. You had to crawl along and pray no one else was coming around the hairpin curve that you couldn't see and that if so they were crawling along also. Other than that road the campsite wasn't bad.

Kenneth R

Verified

July 31, 2021 Stayed at: 22, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

Mini-family reunion - 19 individuals. Many great memories over many years.

Kenneth R

Verified

July 31, 2021 Stayed at: 22, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

Mini-family reunion - 19 individuals. Many great memories over many years.

Claire T

Verified

July 30, 2021 Stayed at: 17, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

This is a beautiful and remote campsite, with sites right on the river and trails you can walk to. The host this summer did a great job keeping the campsites and bathroom clean too. No showers available. And warning - the road to get up the mountain is pretty scary -unpaved and narrow.

Claire T

Verified

July 30, 2021 Stayed at: 17, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

This is a beautiful and remote campsite, with sites right on the river and trails you can walk to. The host this summer did a great job keeping the campsites and bathroom clean too. No showers available. And warning - the road to get up the mountain is pretty scary -unpaved and narrow.

Marilyn P

Verified

July 29, 2021 Stayed at: 15, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

Loved the campground and the area. Quiet and very peaceful. Not a bad campsite in the place.

Lauren B

Verified

July 29, 2021 Stayed at: 26, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

Beautiful campground, and well worth the scary drive up the dirt road. Very clean and well maintained, and other guests were very respectful.

Marilyn P

Verified

July 29, 2021 Stayed at: 15, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

Loved the campground and the area. Quiet and very peaceful. Not a bad campsite in the place.

Lauren B

Verified

July 29, 2021 Stayed at: 26, Loop: CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND

5

Beautiful campground, and well worth the scary drive up the dirt road. Very clean and well maintained, and other guests were very respectful.

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

National Park Service Logo
Managed by National Park Service