Big Creek Campground map (click to enlarge)

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

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GENERAL INFORMATION

The Big Creek Group Campsite in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located on the northeast side of the park at the end of Big Creek Entrance Road near the Big Creek Campground. 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

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

TYPE OF CAMPING

The Big Creek Group Campsite is a walk-in, tents-only campsite. No RVs are allowed. Equipment must be carried to the camping area from the parking lot. There is parking for five vehicles.

NUMBER OF SITES

Big Creek has one group campsite that can hold up to 25 people. You need a minimum of seven people to camp here.

Picnic tables and grill at the Big Creek Group Campsite at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

AMENITIES

The group campsite at Big Creek has a large stand-up grill with three cooking grates (equal to three standard grills), three picnic tables, a fire pit, and three level tent pads, each capable of holding two large tents or four small tents. Tents must be pitched on the tent pads. A lantern post is at each tent pad and the picnic table area.

Big Creek Group Campsite at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Like all campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountains National 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 host lives on the opposite side of the road from the group campground). The campground does have a modern restroom with cold water.

There are no water or electricity hook-ups at the campsite.

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.

RESERVATIONS

Reservations are required for the Big Creek Group Campsite and can be made up to one year 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.

FEES

The current Big Creek Group campsite fee is $50/night. Prices can always change. The most current rates are given on Recreation.gov.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

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