The Ultimate Guide To Cades Cove Campground

A Complete Review of Cades Cove Campground- The Best Camp Sites, Activities and Tips

Having grown up in the area and as a current local who lives just 30 miles away from Cades Cove, we have years and years of experience at gorgeous Cades Cove whether hiking, biking, or camping.

This blog post will tell you everything you need to know about camping at Cades Cove Campground. The best campsites, best activities, how to explore the cove without people- all the hacks and know-how I have accumulated over the years to make your family’s trip the best it can be.

Cades Cove Campground is perched on the edge of one of the most scenic parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the peaceful and historic valley of Cades Cove.

The biggest reason to pick Cades Cove Campground is its amazingly beautiful location right next to the park’s most popular attraction- Cades Cove Loop Road.

I can tell you that Cades Cove is one of the best parts of the Smokies– if you can manage to see it without the crowds. Camping here is one of the best ways to do just that.

Not sure which campground to choose? Also see our Everything You Want To Know About Elkmont Campground.

A peaceful landscape with a tree in the foreground, overlooking a misty valley. A wooden fence runs horizontally, and mountains rise in the background under a clear blue sky. — One of my many, many favorite pictures of Cades Cove. This kind of beautiful scenery is not far from your campground and is why you camp here.

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Map of Great Smoky Mountains National Park highlighting Cades Cove. It shows roads, trails, and landmarks. Key locations and park boundaries are marked. Various amenities and scenic routes are visible across the map. — Map courtesy of the NPS with my own additions

Why You Should Camp At Cades Cove Campground

Location, location, location. Being so close to Cades Cove itself means you can walk over early in the morning before the loop road opens to cars and enjoy the scenic splendor of this gorgeous valley in a little peace and quiet.

Other reasons I like Cades Cove Campground is that it has good hiking trails that you can walk to from the campground, Abrams Creek for the kids to wade and splash in on hot days, and horseback rides at the stable in the cove for something different.

Take advantage of camping right there to see the sunrise over the mountains as this is truly spectacular and worth hauling yourself out of the sleeping bag (and I say this as 100% not a morning person. At all).

Hint- Go to the far side of the cove by sunrise for the full effect. It’s awesome to watch.

Sunrise over a rural landscape with a silhouette of a large tree on the left. The sky is painted with soft orange and pink hues, and mist lingers over distant hills in the background. A road stretches into the horizon. — Sunrise over the east end of Cades Cove. This view never gets old and I have seen it at least 20 times.

As a camper at Cades Cove, you can easily pop over near sunset too. Going after most people have left for the day and getting to watch the sky light up in red and pink as the sun dips behind the mountains is a fairly unforgettable way to end a day in the Smokies.

You can even walk or bike the loop road at night, although I would definitely wait for a full moon. You won’t be the only one out there on those nights, but it certainly isn’t busy. And it will definitely be an activity that the kids will remember.

A Review of Cades Cove Campground

Cades Cove Campground is pretty typical for a large national park campground– it has 150+ individual campsites and 4 group campsites spread out over 3 loops so it is indeed large.

It’s typical because the campsites are fairly close together and generally lack privacy, bathrooms have flush toilets and sinks (but no showers), and you will find a ranger station and a well-stocked campground store on site.

Campground Description

The campground is split into 2 loops- B loop and C loop. (There are 5 “A” sites in B Loop and “A” stands for accessible.)

Keep in mind that there is no electricity or hook-ups at the campground. C loop forbids generators, while B loop allows generators from 8am- 8pm.

RVs and tents are pretty evenly mixed between the 2 loops although usually you will find a bit more tents on C loop because of the prohibition on generators.

Almost all sites can be used by RVs and tents except for a few tent-only sites scattered throughout the campground due to the driveway configuration for that specific site.

The max length of the RV/motorhome allowed is listed in the site description on the recreation.gov website where you can reserve sites. It varies from site to site based on driveway length.

***Reservations are STRONGLY recommended, especially in summer and fall when the Smokies are extremely busy.

Parking Pass- You are not required to buy a parking tag to park at your campsite, but you will need one if you take your car anywhere else in the park.

As of March 2023, you will need a parking pass to park anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes.

Parking passes can be bought online, at all Visitor Centers, and at a few other places, like the Townsend Visitor Center. Passes are $5 for the day, $15 for the week, and $40 for a year.

Map of Cades Cove Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Features include ranger station, hiking and interpretive trails, picnic areas, restrooms, campsites, stables, store, and a map overview with north arrow. — Map Cades Cove Campground. Courtesy of NPS.

Bathrooms

There are restroom buildings with several flush toilets and sinks with running water- 2 buildings in B loop and 2 in C loop.

Cades Cove does not have showers nor does any campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The bathrooms are pretty basic and cleanliness can sometimes depend on your fellow campers being hygienic people since there about 35 or so campsites sharing each building. Y

You don’t want to camp right next to the building for that reason either as there is lots of traffic coming in and out.

There is a dump station for RVs in B loop.

A small stone building with a brown door and several narrow windows, surrounded by lush green trees. A red tent is partially visible in the background, suggesting a campsite setting. A paved path leads to the entrance. — A typical bathhouse in Cades Cove Campground with separate mens and womens sides. Each side has about 3 toilet stalls and 2-3 sinks.

Cades Cove Campground Store

The camp store is pretty well stocked, and you can get your heat-treated firewood, ice, and basic camping supplies there. (You can get ice and firewood after hours as well, plus whatever you can find in the vending machines.)

Cold drinks, lots of snack food, plus s’more supplies and basic picnic supplies (paper plates, Solo cups, napkins, etc) are also stocked in the camp store.

You can find good coffee there too as Artistic Bean is a local coffee company. They don’t do lattes or any fancy things but at least the coffee in the pot is good.

The store has a seasonal deli offering pizzas, burgers, ice cream, and to go sandwiches for a picnic. The ice cream is a huge favorite with the kids.

Basic pharmacy, drinks, coffee, and lots of snack food
Camping Supplies- tarps, lights, ponchos, etc.
Deli and ice cream counter
You can get ice and firewood after hours out back

Bike Rentals and Biking Cades Cove Loop

The campground store also rent bikes from spring to fall so you can take advantage of car-free Wednesdays to bike the Cades Cove Loop.

See our detailed post Your Guide To Biking Cades Cove in the Smokies

The bikes aren’t great, but they aren’t bad either, meaning they are quite heavy but in good shape generally, with working brakes and the gears shifted as they should (on ours at least).

They do rent kids bikes and provide helmets with every bike rental–helmets are required for kids 16 and under.

A paved path leads to several bikes lined up near a building with a sloped roof in a wooded area. Two people walk along the path beside a blue trailer. An ice vending machine is on the left. Picnic tables are visible in the background. — As you can see, the rental bikes at Cades Cove Campground are greenway cruisers. There are a couple of kids bikes at the back.

A cyclist pauses on a tree-lined road as a deer and goat cross the path ahead. Another deer stands near the right side of the road, surrounded by lush greenery under a clear sky. — Deer crossing the road while cyclists patiently wait for them.

General Campground Rules

Dogs: Dogs are allowed on a max 6 foot leash.

Bikes/Scooters: Bikes are allowed as well, but not scooters or skateboards.

Food Storage: Food storage safety is enforced because bears happen. And coyotes and raccoons and other unwanted visitors may visit your campsite.

Food must be stored in your vehicle or other hard-sided, bear-proof container when you are not preparing it or eating it. The rangers will confiscate anything they find left unattended.

Firewood: Firewood must be heat-treated. You can buy it from the campground store or most grocery stores and gas stations in nearby Townsend and Walland will carry the correct kind.

You can gather any down sticks you find as kindling but as this is an extremely busy campground, the ground is usually picked clean.

Quiet hours are from 10am – 6am. Please be a considerate neighbor. This campground is tightly packed and noise travels.

Six people are the max allowed per site and 2 vehicles. Campers, trailers, and pop- ups count as a vehicle.

You can use hammocks but you must stay in your campsite and no more than 2 hammocks attached to any tree.

The Best Campsites in Cades Cove Campground

I think the sites on B loop tend to be a bit larger and more private in general, but tent people enjoy C loop because generators aren’t allowed.

None of the sites in Cades Cove Campground are really large, so anything with a bit of shrubbery or some trees between you and your neighbors is what I call a good site.

Best Campsites In C Loop

(Generator Free Loop)

The rangers say C21 and C56 are their favorites in C loop, and I have to say I agree. Those two sites are some of the largest and most private to be found in C loop.

A peaceful camping area in a forest with tall, leafy trees. A gravel and concrete campsite with a picnic table is visible. A sign marks the spot as "C8." Sunlight filters through the greenery, creating dappled shadows on the ground. — Campsite C56 in Cades Cove Campground.

A red pickup truck is parked next to a small travel trailer in a wooded campsite. A picnic table and grill are in the background, surrounded by tall trees and greenery. A sign with the number 9 is visible in the foreground. — C22 is a good site as is C21 next to it (not pictured but looks similar). Both of them have a little privacy due to the trees surrounding them.

Other favorites in C loop are C42 and C44.

A wooded campsite with a picnic table, fire pit, and a tent in the background. A paved path winds through the site, surrounded by tall trees. A campsite marker labeled "C-36" is visible in the foreground. — C42 in Cades Cove Campground has a decent amount of room around it although C40 is pretty close on the right.

A lush green forest with a narrow dirt path winding through the trees. The pathway is bordered by dense vegetation, and a small sign is visible near some rocks in the foreground. The scene is tranquil and verdant. — Campsite C44 is another good choice for decent amount of room from neighbors.

Best Campsites In B Loop

(Generators Allowed 8am- 8pm)

The sites at the end of each row are generally the biggest and most private. I also like the ones on the last row that back up to the group sites (unless you get a loud group in one of the group sites I guess).

B18, B19, B20, B21, B67, B68, B69, and B70 are all on the end of rows on the Abrams Creek side of B loop, and all of those sites have good space from your neighbors.

Particularly, B21, B18, B70, and B68 are our first choices for campsites in Cades Cove, even with the generators on this loop and us being dedicated tent campers.

A white pickup truck is parked next to a camper trailer in a forested campsite. The trailer has an extended awning, and there is a picnic table nearby. The campsite is surrounded by lush green trees. — B21 is a great site on the end of a row and near Abrams Creek.

A white RV is parked in a wooded campsite surrounded by tall trees and greenery. A small parking marker is visible near the vehicle. The scene is calm and natural, suggesting a peaceful outdoor setting. — B18 is one of our favorites as it is at the end of a row on the Abrams Creek side of B loop.

The campsites on the last row that back up to the group sites were also pretty nice so look for availability at B70, B72, B74, B76, B78, B80, B84, and B85.

These would be my second choice after the end of the rows near Abrams Creek. (Or C21 or C22 in C loop).

A campsite in a forest features a gray car parked on a paved area. A white and orange tent is set up nearby. A wooden picnic table is positioned on a gravel pad, surrounded by lush green trees and grass. — B78 is typical of the good B sites along the back row of B loop but it does back up to the group sites so if you get a rowdy group of Boy Scouts it could be loud.

A green minivan is parked next to a campsite in a forest. A blue tarp is set up over a picnic area with a tent. Trees surround the site, and a gravel pathway leads through the area. A small wooden marker is near the path. — B85 is a good site on the end of a row and also on the last row so fairly quiet.

The sites on the opposite end of the rows of B loop from Abrams Creek (B39, B42, B43, B44, and B83), aren’t quite as private for tent people because of how the tent pads are situated but would be fine for RVs.

A camper trailer parked in a wooded campsite with a small fire pit nearby. Two bicycles are leaning against the trailer, surrounded by tall green trees. An American flag is attached to the trailer. — B42 is a great site on the end of the row, especially if you have a camper.

There are a few other campsites in B loop we like besides the ones at ends of the rows and on the last row. B59, B61, B38, B24, B16, and B14 are decent sites that at least have space to one side or the other.

In fact, B16 is one we would be pretty happy with as a first choice. Although not located at the end of a row, B16 is really private for a campsite.

A serene campground with a picnic table in a wooded area. Tall trees with lush green foliage surround a gravel path. A small sign is visible on a tree, and tents can be seen in the distance among the trees. — B61 is a good one among the middle of the row options if all the end of the row options are taken.

A peaceful forest campsite with several tents set up among the trees. In the foreground, there is a picnic table on a gravel area, surrounded by lush greenery. A paved path runs alongside the site. — B59 another good middle of the row option. You can see B61 just behind it. This is actually considered quite spaced out for Cades Cove and better than most of the sites.

Campsite with a reserved sign on a post labeled "B 39." The site features a gravel area with a picnic table and a fire pit, surrounded by lush green trees and grass. — B38 is another pretty typical middle of the row campsite. Although it has a little separation from its neighbor to the left, you can see the edge of the tent pad for B36 on the right of the picture.

A small orange and white tent is pitched on a gravel pad surrounded by lush green trees. Next to the tent is a picnic table and a camping chair. A paved path leads to the campsite. The scene is bright and peaceful. — B24 is a tent only site due to the parking area and has a decent amount of space. Not much privacy though.

A wooded campsite featuring a gravel area with a picnic table and a fire pit. Surrounding the site are lush green trees. A small brown sign with a campsite number is visible to the right. A tent is seen in the background among the trees. — B14 is another of the better middle of the row options.

Group Sites In Cades Cove Campground

There are 4 group sites on their own loop behind the individual sites. They are a decent size with 2 sites sleeping 20 people and 2 sites sleeping 30 people (min # of 7 people at both types).

Group campsite G2 (sleeps 20)
Group campsite G4 (sleeps 30).

G3 has a large covered picnic table pavilion adjacent to it and is handicapped accessible. The group sites share one bathhouse with flush toilets but no showers.

Things To See and Do While Camping At Cades Cove Campground

As a camper at Cades Cove, you have plenty of things to do near the campground.

Exploring the historic structures in Cades Cove, hiking nearby trails like Anthony Creek, Rich Mountain Trail to John Oliver Cabin, and Abrams Falls, horseback riding, and creekside picnics will keep your days filled with some of the best activities the Smokies has to offer.

See our Fun Things To Do When Visiting Cades Cove In The Smoky Mountains for more details on our favorite hikes and other fun activities to maximize your enjoyment of this beautiful area of the park.

The pretty scenery, great hiking trails, and the interesting historic structures make Cades Cove a popular attraction for all of the 6 million annual visitors to the Smokies.

And all of those visitors means that the one way (and one lane) Cades Cove Loop Road gets unbelievably congested.

It can easily take an hour or more to drive the 11 miles around the Cove (and that’s if you don’t stop anywhere).

The good news is that camping at Cades Cove Campground means you are right there to get on the loop road early in the morning which is by far the best time to see wildlife. (The bears don’t like the crowds anymore than I do.)

You can also explore the loop at your leisure, seeing part of it one day and returning another.

If you are camping, I would hike over to John Oliver Cabin one afternoon/early evening along the Rich Mountain Trail, which starts from the parking area at the beginning of the loop road. This is an easy, kid-friendly short hike.

A line of cars is stopped on a narrow, tree-lined road, surrounded by lush green fields and hills. The scene suggests a traffic jam in a rural area with picturesque forested views. — A very typical weekend in Cades Cove. Photo courtesy of Lee Coursey (CC-BY-2.0)

Bike Or Walk Cades Cove Loop On Car-Free Wednesdays (seasonally)

Consider trying to reserve a campsite on a Tuesday evening so you can take advantage of the park’s car-free Wednesdays from May-September (check the website as specific dates change year to year.)

This is a great way to explore the entire 11 mile loop and its historic sites in detail.

On foot or on pedal is by far the best way to enjoy the scenic splendor of Cades Cove. You really get a sense of disconnecting and slowing down from modern life for a few hours.

For more information on biking Cades Cove Loop, see our blog Your Guide To Biking Cades Cove in the Smokies. It tells you everything you need to know about biking the loop with kids.

A rural gravel road bordered by a wooden fence winds into the distance, flanked by lush green fields and trees. Mountains rise under a partly cloudy sky. A black bear is seen walking on the road, far away. — Our bear sighting on Hyatt Lane in Cades Cove

John Oliver Cabin- You can reach it from the Rich Mountain Trail near the campground
Rich Mountain Trail is just beyond the parking area at the beginning of Cades Cove Loop Road.

Other Places To Stay Besides Cades Cove Campground

So you couldn’t get a good campsite or maybe you have someone who isn’t super into camping, especially if showers aren’t an option.

What is your best Plan B option where you can still take advantage of being near the cove for early morning starts and evening visits?

The answer is Townsend, Tennessee, also known as the “Peaceful Side Of The Smokies.”

Just 25 minutes from the campground, this cute little town has a fraction of the traffic of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge but still has lots of amenities like good restaurants and a decent sized grocery store.

It even has a mini golf place (but no indoor skydiving) and only one fudge shop instead of one on every corner like in Gatlinburg.

Townsend, TN is by far our preference for staying near the Smokies when you can’t camp in the park itself.

Little Arrow Outdoor Resort has glamping tents and tiny houses in a beautifully renovated campground with good WiFi, a coffee bar, and a swimming pool. This is great option for those who need to camp but want a shower.

For cabin rentals and other options, check out our blog of the places we recommend in Where To Stay In Townsend, TN– Gateway To The Smokies and Exploring Townsend: A Local’s Guide To Fun.

Other Blogs About The Smokies

Check out our Smokies page to see all of our favorite places in the park we love so much – best hikes, favorite campgrounds, biking Cades Cove, lodging, and more.

Planning A Family Vacation To The Smokies? See Our Local’s Guide To The Smokies

If you want more info about the Tennessee side of the Smokies and especially about our favorite family-friendly trails, check out our Great Smoky Mountains National Park Guidebook available on Amazon.

It lists recommended lodging options if you are not camping as well as activities and restaurants in nearby Townsend, TN.

We give you a detailed, 5 day itinerary that hits the highlights of the park while missing the crowds and introduces you to the Smokies we know and love as locals.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Kids: A Local’s Guide — Buy on Amazon