Smoky Waters Campground in Great Smoky Mountains — photo 1

Smoky Waters Campground

Great Smoky Mountains

About this campsite

Campground: Smoky Waters Campground.

Location

Common questions about Smoky Waters Campground

Is Smoky Waters Campground free to camp at?

Yes. Smoky Waters Campground in TN is a free camp, so there is no nightly fee to stay. There is no booking system for it, so plan on first in, best dressed, especially on long weekends. We hold no facilities list for it, so go in self sufficient with your own water and a way to deal with rubbish.

Can you book Smoky Waters Campground online?

We hold no online booking link for Smoky Waters Campground, so it is not bookable through this page. For sites like this, turning up early in the day is the surest way to get a spot, particularly in peak season.

Where is Smoky Waters Campground?

Smoky Waters Campground sits in TN. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

Nearby Campsites

within 50km
West Prong #18 — TN6.2 km away

TN

West Prong #18

Campground: West Prong #18. Operated by National Park Service.

METCALF BOTTOMS PICNIC PAVILION — TN6.9 km away

TN

METCALF BOTTOMS PICNIC PAVILION

Overview Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this picnic pavilion creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Recreation Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, offering over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from the picnic area. But hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are also popular activities. Visitors can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance. Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 bears living in the park, it's not uncommon for visitors to spot one. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy. The park also holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park. Facilities Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion can accommodate up to 70 guests and offers a covered eating area and multiple grills, making it an ideal location for a party or family get-together. The pavilion may be reserved for a morning or evening block, so visitors who wish to use the area for a full day should reserve both time slots. Natural Features World-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian culture, Great Smoky Mountains is America's most visited national park. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Metcalf Bottoms never disappoints. At 1,700 feet, Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural history of Southern Appalachia. From the prehistoric Paleo Indians to the early European settlements in the 1800s, the park strives to protect its historic structures, landscapes and artifacts that tell the stories of the people who once called these mountains home. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (865) 430-5560. Nearby Attractions Gatlinburg, a one of the Smokies' famous tourist towns, is located about 11 miles from the picnic area. Visitors tours, organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more, are all offered. Charges & Cancellations Customers who cancel a day-use facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will forfeit the total day-use fee.

Turkeypen Ridge #6 — TN7.7 km away

TN

Turkeypen Ridge #6

Campground: Turkeypen Ridge #6. Operated by National Park Service.

Rich Mountain #5 — TN8.2 km away

TN

Rich Mountain #5

Campground: Rich Mountain #5. Operated by National Park Service.

Upper Henderson #19 — TN9.1 km away

TN

Upper Henderson #19

Campground: Upper Henderson #19. Operated by National Park Service.

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A 4WD with a rooftop tent set up at a eucalyptus bush camp
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Smoky Waters Campground