Collins Creek Picnic Area at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
See the Smokemont Region web page for an interactive location map.
Collins Creek Picnic Area, the largest in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is located in the Smokemont Region a few miles north of the Smokemont Campground on Highway 441. Two loops containing 182 tables are laid out in a Figure-8 pattern. Each loop has its own restroom. Parking is done in common lots, and you must carry your supplies to the tables, which aren’t too far away. None of the tables are right alongside Collins Creek, though the creek is nearby.
Tables are not far from the parking lot at Collins Creek Picnic Area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The picnic area is typically open from April until the end of October. From May 1st through August 31st the hours are from sunrise to 8 PM. For the rest of the operating season, the picnic area is open until sunset. Times can always change, so before making picnicking plans be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s Picnicking web page for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
All picnic tables are on level cement pads, so despite any uneven terrain you don’t have to worry about your cucumbers rolling off the table. Each pad has its own grill. Most pads have only one table, but there are some with two tables for larger families or small groups. Tables cannot be moved, so there is no way to string together multiple tables for a Pilgrim-style picnic.
Double and single picnic table pads at Collins Creek Picnic Area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Some of the tables are uphill from the parking area. If you can’t make the short climb, drive around to the other side of the loop and park at ground level. You may well find empty tables close to where you park and won’t have to make the trek across the field to the tables you first saw on the hill.
Tables on a hill at Collins Creek Picnic Area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
A few tables are reserved for disabled visitors. These are located along paved walkways and tend to be close to the restrooms. However, most of the tables at Collins Creek Picnic Area are near the parking lot, so those using wheelchairs, canes, or walkers have plenty to choose from other than the designated tables.
Handicap access table at the Collins Creek Picnic Area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
At the far end of Collins Creek Picnic Area is a 70-seat pavilion that can be reserved for a fee if you want to host a group. There are eighteen picnic tables, two large grills, and a water spigot. Reservations can be made online at Recreation.gov, or you can call (877) 444-6777. The rest of the tables—including the pavilion when not reserved—are taken on a first come, first served basis.
Pavilion at Collins Creek Picnic Area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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Last updated on February 8, 2025
