Cades Cove Group Campground
The Quick Take
Cades Cove Group Campground is one of the most exclusive reservations in the Smokies — with only three sites available, this is essentially a private group camping experience tucked into the park's most iconic valley. You get potable water and a nearby camp store with bike rentals, but forget about flush toilets, showers, or cell service. That trade-off is the point: your scout troop or family reunion gets a semi-primitive basecamp with wildlife-rich meadows and the famous Loop Road practically at your doorstep. The mid-March through October season means you can catch both wildflower season and fall color. This is the campground for organized groups who want to feel like they have a corner of Cades Cove to themselves without roughing it so hard that someone mutinies by day two.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 3 sites are reservable.
Book at Great Smoky Mountains LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
No RVs. No electrical hookups.
Pro Tips
With only three sites, this campground books up fast — make your reservation the moment the booking window opens, especially for peak weekends in June and October. Midweek stays in September are your best shot at snagging a last-minute spot.
Time your trip to coincide with a Wednesday or Saturday morning bicycle-only period on the Loop Road. Your group can rent bikes at the camp store and ride the eleven-mile loop without a single car — arguably the best way to spot deer, turkeys, and black bears in Cades Cove.
No flush toilets and no showers means you should pack baby wipes, a solar shower bag, and extra layers. Nights in the valley drop cooler than you expect even in summer, and the dampness from morning fog makes everything feel ten degrees colder.
