About Big Creek Campground (Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
Number of accommodations: 12
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Fishing
Hiking
Swimming
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
12 Sites Available
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Site Details
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12 Sites Available
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Reviews (318)
What Guests Are Saying
Big Creek Campground offers a serene and well-maintained camping experience with only 12 tent-only sites near a beautiful creek and waterfall. Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the facilities, friendly staff, and access to great hiking trails. Some concerns include close proximity of sites and occasional issues with unauthorized campers, but overall, guests express a strong desire to return.
What Guests Are Saying
Big Creek Campground offers a serene and well-maintained camping experience with only 12 tent-only sites near a beautiful creek and waterfall. Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the facilities, friendly staff, and access to great hiking trails. Some concerns include close proximity of sites and occasional issues with unauthorized campers, but overall, guests express a strong desire to return.
Review Summary
Sean S
VerifiedAugust 18, 2021 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Great location, sites are somewhat close together but not too tight.
Close to a stream and a short hike to a swimming hole and waterfall.
Sean S
VerifiedAugust 18, 2021 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Great location, sites are somewhat close together but not too tight.
Close to a stream and a short hike to a swimming hole and waterfall.
Grayson C
VerifiedAugust 17, 2021 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Deep in nature! Tent only. No flush toilet or showers, just you and nature.
Grayson C
VerifiedAugust 17, 2021 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Deep in nature! Tent only. No flush toilet or showers, just you and nature.
Sari L
VerifiedJuly 26, 2021 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Great!
Sari L
VerifiedJuly 26, 2021 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Great!
Jennie G
VerifiedJuly 23, 2021 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
We camped here with four families for a week. We chose this campsite because it seemed secluded and had running water in the bathrooms. I was hesitant at first because it was in July and very rainy, so it smelled wet and moldy, and the bathrooms on Sunday didn’t smell good either. But they cleaned the bathrooms a couple times that week, and we got used to the mold smell. We didn’t see a Ranger at the station or a park host, but we did see a Ranger come patrol a couple times. We had a cell signal with AT&T, but not Verizon.
The campsite was peaceful, but the public parking lot by the bridge and trailhead was VERY busy almost every day. Oh, and there was a TON of poison ivy around the camp, but luckily none of our kids were allergic.
We were prepared to walk to our sites, and brought a wagon to haul our food stuff back and forth to the car each day. The site numbers were a little confusing. We thought 5&6 were next to each other, but they weren’t (5&7 were).
The Big Creek store was closed whenever we went, but they did have an honor system set up for ice and firewood ($3 for ice, $10 for firewood), with some lighter fluid and fire starters as well. This was super handy as the next closest place was 20 min away!
The creek by our sites was a bit stagnant and dirty, so we went to our favorite spot by the bridge and the kids played there for hours. The Midnight Hole trail was steep for us (with nine kids 5-11), but short and doable, and they loved swimming there too. After visiting other areas of the park, we were indeed grateful for the seclusion and dry ground (one campsite we went to - Cataloochee - had puddles everywhere). The trees also blocked any wind and kept the temperature pleasant.
We even had a bear visitor one night that wouldn’t go away, so a ranger drove all the way over at 11pm to trap and remove it, and let the kids help set the bait and taught us all about bears, so it turned out to be a wonderful experience!
Jennie G
VerifiedJuly 23, 2021 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
We camped here with four families for a week. We chose this campsite because it seemed secluded and had running water in the bathrooms. I was hesitant at first because it was in July and very rainy, so it smelled wet and moldy, and the bathrooms on Sunday didn’t smell good either. But they cleaned the bathrooms a couple times that week, and we got used to the mold smell. We didn’t see a Ranger at the station or a park host, but we did see a Ranger come patrol a couple times. We had a cell signal with AT&T, but not Verizon.
The campsite was peaceful, but the public parking lot by the bridge and trailhead was VERY busy almost every day. Oh, and there was a TON of poison ivy around the camp, but luckily none of our kids were allergic.
We were prepared to walk to our sites, and brought a wagon to haul our food stuff back and forth to the car each day. The site numbers were a little confusing. We thought 5&6 were next to each other, but they weren’t (5&7 were).
The Big Creek store was closed whenever we went, but they did have an honor system set up for ice and firewood ($3 for ice, $10 for firewood), with some lighter fluid and fire starters as well. This was super handy as the next closest place was 20 min away!
The creek by our sites was a bit stagnant and dirty, so we went to our favorite spot by the bridge and the kids played there for hours. The Midnight Hole trail was steep for us (with nine kids 5-11), but short and doable, and they loved swimming there too. After visiting other areas of the park, we were indeed grateful for the seclusion and dry ground (one campsite we went to - Cataloochee - had puddles everywhere). The trees also blocked any wind and kept the temperature pleasant.
We even had a bear visitor one night that wouldn’t go away, so a ranger drove all the way over at 11pm to trap and remove it, and let the kids help set the bait and taught us all about bears, so it turned out to be a wonderful experience!
Therese S
VerifiedJuly 6, 2021 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Beautiful campsite!
Colleen C
VerifiedJuly 6, 2021 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
The site is beautiful. You park your cars in a lot not at your specific site. This isn't a big deal but it does mean that you haul your stuff a bit further. The setting is spectacular. The creek is beautiful. And the swimming hole is a perfectly close hike. Loved it.
Location Big Creek Campground (Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
Address:
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN, 37738
United States
Campground is at the end of Big Creek Entrance Rd. Waterville, NC, 28785 (Haywood County)
GPS coordinates are 35°45'00.3"N 83°06'38.6"W
The 4 way intersection is composed of Big Creek Campground Road and Waterville Rd (from I-40) + Mt. Sterling Road (from Cataloochee) + Hwy 32 (from Cosby)
Drive up to the end of Big Creek Entrance Road. You will pass the Ranger Station, horse camp, group camp, and hiker parking.
Big Creek Campground is accessible from I-40 via Waterville Road. Other nearby roads include Mt. Sterling Road and Hwy 32, providing access from Cataloochee and Cosby.
Latitude & Longitude: 35.7502 / -83.1114
Elevation: 527 feet
Nearby National Park
Arch Rock Entrance
Approximate driving time: 44 min
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
