Big Creek Campground map (click to enlarge)

See the Big Creek Region web page for an interactive location map.

---

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Big Creek Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located on the northeast side of the park at the end of Big Creek Entrance Road. This is an extremely rough dirt road with potholes so big that if you hit one your radio will skip. If you have ever seen the movie Escape From New York, driving down Big Creek Entrance Road is like driving over the bridge filled with land mines, as you are constantly swerving left and right to avoid them. However, other than a low-rider, any vehicle can make it—no 4-wheel drive required—but if you have a really nice car, I don’t suggest camping at Big Creek.

CAMPING SEASON

Big Creek Campground is usually open from late March until the end of October. The exact opening and closing dates change each year, so be sure to visit the National Park Service’s Frontcountry Camping web page for the latest schedule.

TYPE OF CAMPING

Big Creek Campground is a walk-in, tents-only campground. No RVs are allowed. There is a separate area for group camping. See the Big Creek Group Campsite web page here on National Park Planner for details on this campground.

Campsite 10 at Big Creek Campground

NUMBER OF SITES

Big Creek is an intimate campground with only twelve campsites. Camping here is like camping with Robin Hood’s band of Merry Men in Sherwood Forest. Even though it is “off the beaten path,” the Big Creek Campground can fill up on summer weekends, though rarely is there a problem during the week. The campsites are walk-ins, meaning that you park in a common lot and carry your equipment to your site, maybe 100 yards at the farthest point. Though the campground is located up a small hill from the parking lot, the camping area itself is fairly level.

Campsite 1 at Big Creek Campground

Campsites 10, 11, and 12 are are located on a bluff above Big Creek and are the best sites at the campground. Campsites 3, 4, and 6 are also on the creek, but not as directly on it as the aforementioned sites. The rest are within hearing distance of the water. There are designated campsites, so it’s not like you are camping in a large field and can pitch your tent anywhere.

Campsite 7 at Big Creek Campground

Campsites at Big Creek can accommodate up to six people. If you have more than this, reserve two or more sites or stay at the group campground.

AMENITIES

Like all campgrounds in the park, there are no showers, but there are private companies that offer fee-based shower facilities outside of the park. Ask the campground host for directions to the closest one. The campground does have modern restrooms with cold water and a dishwashing station.

There are no water or electricity hook-ups at the campsites. If you need 5-amp connections for medical devices you must camp at Smokemont, Cades Cove, or Elkmont, the only campgrounds with this amenity.

There is no camp store at the campground, but there is a privately owned general store at the intersection of Mt. Sterling and Big Creek Entrance roads.

There is an emergency phone available at the Big Creek Ranger Station located one mile from the campground. There is no Ranger presence at the actual campground.

Each individual campsite has a level, 16′ x 16′ tent pad, and you can put as many tents on the pad as you can fit (in most cases, two). If you have more tents than pad space, you must pay for another site. All tents must be on the tent pad. Each site also has a picnic table, lantern post, and a grill / fire ring.

Food must be stored either in your vehicle or in the bear box located near the parking lot.

Campsite 5 at Big Creek Campground

RESERVATIONS

Reservations are required for all campsites at Big Creek Campground and can be made up to six months in advance at Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. It is not possible to pay at the campground. If you show up without a reservation, you must leave and find a place with phone service and make one. There is no cell service at the campground.

Big Creek Campground is not gated, so you can arrive after hours. If you forgot your site number, check the camp bulletin board, for each day Rangers post reservation information. Please note that I forgot my site number when camping at another of the campgrounds at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the site information was not available as it should have been. I had to drive back to the nearest town where I could get a cell phone signal so I could log into Recreation.gov and find my number. Lesson learned—don’t forget your site number.

Big Creek Campground bulletin board with reservation information

FEES

The current individual campsite fee is $17.50/night. Owners of a Senior or Access pass receive a discount on individual campsites.

Prices can always change. The most current rates are given on the Recreation.gov web pages.

CAMPGROUND RULES

• Check out time is noon. Check in is 1 PM.

• All food must be stored in food storage boxes (if provided) or in your vehicle.

• Stays within Great Smokey Mountains National Park are limited to 14 consecutive days at any one campground, and no more than 60 total camping days in a year. If you wish to camp more than 14 days at a particular campground, you must leave that campground for at least one day before returning. To do this, you can return home or simply switch to another campground for a day.

• No more than two vehicles are allowed at a campsite (some sites hold only one). Park on the pavement only and/or in designated spaces.

• Do not bring your own firewood to Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Firewood is available for sale inside the park, but not at Big Creek Campground. You can also gather wood inside the park that is on the ground and dead.

• Pets are allowed as long as they stay on a leash no longer than six feet. However, no pets are allowed on the hiking trails, other than horses, and you cannot leave them unattended at your campsite.

• Alcohol is permitted in the campground as long as the people drinking are at least 21-years-old, which goes without saying.

• Quiet hours are in effect from 10 pm to 6 am. No generators are allowed at Big Creek Campground.

• Hammocks are allowed in the campground with the following guidelines: Must be over the footprint of the campsite, limited to trees 10 inches in diameter with adequate padding around the tree and only 2 hammocks are allowed to be suspended from the same tree.

Back to the Top