Cataloochee Campground
The Quick Take
Cataloochee is the Smokies' best-kept secret campground, and that's by design. Tucked at the end of a narrow, winding gravel road that discourages casual visitors, this tiny valley campground feels more like a backcountry experience than a frontcountry one. With fewer than thirty sites nestled along a creek in a historic valley, it's the polar opposite of the park's mega-campgrounds like Elkmont or Cades Cove. The trade-off is real: no showers, no camp store, and cell service is nonexistent — you're genuinely off the grid. But what you get in return is a quiet, intimate camp surrounded by some of the best elk-viewing territory on the East Coast. If you've ever pulled into a packed Smokies campground and wished everyone would just go away, Cataloochee is your answer. Choose this spot if you value wildlife encounters and solitude over convenience.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 27 sites are reservable.
Book at Great Smoky Mountains LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Accessible restrooms available. Campground is not ADA accessible. Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Rules to Know
- Fires:Campfires are permitted only in fire rings.
- Generators:Quiet hours are 10 pm-6 am.
Pro Tips
The elk herd in Cataloochee Valley is most active at dawn and dusk — set up camp early and walk to the old Palmer Chapel or the fields near Caldwell House around sunset. You'll often see elk grazing within a few hundred yards, no hiking required.
That gravel access road is no joke. It's roughly eleven miles of switchbacks with blind curves and no guardrails on some drop-offs. Don't attempt it after dark your first time in, and if you're bringing an RV, know that horse trailers share the road and passing can mean one of you backs up.
With no camp store anywhere nearby and zero cell service, pack in everything you need before you arrive. The nearest supplies are in Maggie Valley, about forty-five minutes away once you account for the gravel road. Bring extra firewood too — the park requires it be USDA-certified heat-treated, and there's nowhere to buy it in the valley.
Photos
NPS Photo
NPS Photo
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
Please note, the entrance road to Cataloochee Valley is a winding, gravel road that has some steep drop offs with no guard rails. Horse trailer traffic may be encountered on the road. Because the road is narrow, it may be necessary to stop or back up to allow other vehicles to pass.
Get directions
