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
Taylor R
VerifiedAugust 23, 2025 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Big Creek is a great campsite. The facilities are well maintained - there are two restrooms, one near the picnic area / parking lot, one near the tent camping sites. The group site is to the left of the parking lot when facing the river and the single sites are down the road to the right. I loved the Big Creek trail, though it was closed after 2 miles up the mountain, there's plenty of beautiful swimming spots, a great waterfall, and a cool walking bridge where the trail is closed. There was plenty of wood around to make a fire, the other campers were friendly, and so were the site workers. My only complaint is that this site doesn't have much privacy - you can see and hear people nearby at all times, but it does allow for community and conversation.
Taylor R
VerifiedAugust 23, 2025 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Big Creek is a great campsite. The facilities are well maintained - there are two restrooms, one near the picnic area / parking lot, one near the tent camping sites. The group site is to the left of the parking lot when facing the river and the single sites are down the road to the right. I loved the Big Creek trail, though it was closed after 2 miles up the mountain, there's plenty of beautiful swimming spots, a great waterfall, and a cool walking bridge where the trail is closed. There was plenty of wood around to make a fire, the other campers were friendly, and so were the site workers. My only complaint is that this site doesn't have much privacy - you can see and hear people nearby at all times, but it does allow for community and conversation.
Tate M
VerifiedAugust 21, 2025 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Chestnut Branch trail up to the A.T. is great
Tate M
VerifiedAugust 21, 2025 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Chestnut Branch trail up to the A.T. is great
Mark B
VerifiedAugust 2, 2025 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Incredible place to escape everything. Camp tender was super nice too. Definitely recommend.
Mark B
VerifiedAugust 2, 2025 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Incredible place to escape everything. Camp tender was super nice too. Definitely recommend.
Adrienne L
VerifiedJuly 14, 2025 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Nice secluded area of GSMNP. Couple nice hikes right from the campground. Sites were spacious and spread apart!
Adrienne L
VerifiedJuly 14, 2025 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
Nice secluded area of GSMNP. Couple nice hikes right from the campground. Sites were spacious and spread apart!
Mark W
VerifiedSeptember 26, 2024 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
One of my very favorite campsites. Third time staying there, and I will be back again. Thank you?
Mark W
VerifiedSeptember 26, 2024 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)
One of my very favorite campsites. Third time staying there, and I will be back again. Thank you?
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
