Cades Cove Campground Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tennessee
Cades Cove Overview
Cades Cove Campground has 159 campsites and is located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park offering some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the park. Reservations are accepted May 1 through October 31 and are first-come first serve November 1 through April 30.
Campground amenities include a store, drinking water, flush toilets and a dump station. There is also a nice picnic area adjacent to Green Branch creek. The campground offers easy access to many wilderness areas trails. Each campsite also has a table, fire ring with flip-over grill. No hookups are available at Cades Cove campground. Cell service is not available in the area.
Cades Cove – Area Recreation
The Park is the most visited in the United States with 8-10 million enjoying the many outdoor recreational activities in the area. Some of the outdoor recreation opportunities at Great Smoky Mountains National Park include auto touring, bicycling, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking. There are also many historic sites and buildings you can explore in the area.
Elkmont Campground is also nearby and in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s about 22 miles away and has 220 campsites. Cumberland Mountain State Park is also nice if you’re headed west.
Make a Reservation for Cades Cove
Amenities
- BBQ Grills
- Camp Store
- Campground Host
- Campsite Tables
- Cell Service - None
- Drinking Water
- Dump Station
- Equestrian trail
- Equipment Rentals
- Fire Pit
- Fire Rings
- Firewood Available
- Grills
- Group Pavilion
- Ice
- Pets OK
- Picnic Tables
- Ranger Station
- Recycling Center
- Restrooms (Flush Toilets)
- Trash Collection
- Vending Machines
- Visitor Center
Activities
- Biking
- Bird Watching
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Historic Sites
- Horseback riding
- Mountain Biking
- Nature Trails
- Photography
- Picnicking
- River
- Visitor Center
- Walking Trails
- Wildlife Viewing
Townsend, Tennessee 37882
865 448-2472
Lat / Long:
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Campsite Types
- ADA
- RV
- Tent
- Trailer
# of Campsites:
159
Campsite Vehicle Size:
Up to 42 feet.
Season:
Year Round
Elevation:
1,807
Cades Cove Comments & Reviews
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I love the National Parks. They are so beautiful. But I don’t like to book reservations through the service they are using. The people don’t know nothing about the parks other than what the web-site says. I booked a handicap spot at Cades Cove and told the lady we used cpaps and oxygen and she said I could use the generator in that spot. I got in trouble the next day for using the generator and told them I needed my equipment for breathing and said she would be back to see if she could help and never showed up again. The parks need to do there own booking and they need to have a section for people who needs medical devices to use there generators if they are no electricity . Breathing is very important. If I had a heart attack it would have been the parks fault.
Awesome – glad CampsitePhotos.com was able to help out with campsite selection and you had a great time!
wanting to book 4 sites for the thanksgiving weekend but live out of state. we can not risk that there will be spots when we show up coming 7hrs away. wish there was something that could be done about this. 🙁
Hi Nicola,
Cades Cove campground accepts campsite reservations May 1 through October 31 and are first-come first serve November 1 through April 30. So unfortunately, you won’t be able to make advanced reservations to guarantee a campsite. It is hard to tell if the campground will fill up, but it will most likely be popular over Thanksgiving weekend.
Are there RV hook-ups at the sites?
Hi Chuck,
There are no hookups at any of the campsites at Cades Cove campground.
We made reservations at the Cade’s cove campground and I’ve misplaced them where can I find out what the dates were ?
Hi Mary Ann,
For Cades Cove campground, you made your reservations through Recreation.gov. Click HERE to visit the site and you can login to your account to check your reservations/dates.
Is Cade’s Cove Campground open?
Hi Jack,
We checked with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website, and although the latest press release indicating they are opening some facilities, it was not specific as to Cades Cove Campground. I recommend you call the park directly to check on the status: (865) 436-1200
Need help! When I try to check availability of Cades Cove sites a pop up on the bottom shows rec.gov not responding due to long running script. When I try to stop script the screen goes into stall mode and I can’t get anything to work. Where can I find out how to get this to work? Thanks
Hi Phillip,
It may be a temporary issue with Rec.gov. I just checked and was able to go to the Cades Cove page and check availabilty: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232488
Jack, Thanks for your reply and help. I tried to get on at all the sites that I have used for years to make reservations and check availability but still have the same results. I can’t even get into my account to check future reservations that I have made. Thanks again!
Where is potable water located in Cades Cove campground
Hi Thomas,
We double checked the map and it doesn’t show where the water spigots are at Cades Cove canmpground. Most likely they are close to the restrooms, as well as scattered about the campground. Sorry we couldn’t be more specific.
I have heard that the 11 mile loop around Cades Cove is going to be closed in September 2021. This is not good news. But, I never take hearsay. Can someone there let me know. I have reservations in the campground Sept. 6-13. Thanks
Hi James,
We have not heard any report about Cades Cove campground closing in September 2021. It is open year round. Rec.gov shows some campsites reserved and is taking reservations for available sites through the year. Also, the National Park service page has no announcements and shows it open year round.
yes – the Cades Cove loop will be closed September 7-30 for repaving.
Hi James,
Thanks for the info!
Is this the only way to get in to the camp site?
Hi Michell,
Here are the directions to get to Cades Cove campground:
From Maryville, TN: Take U.S. 321 North (you’ll actually be driving south!) from Maryville to Townsend, TN (about 22 miles). At the traffic light in Townsend, continue straight on TN 73 and follow signs to Cades Cove.
From Pigeon Forge, TN take US 321 South (you’ll be driving westerly) to Townsend, TN. Turn left (south) at Townsend onto TN 73. Follow signs to Cades Cove.