Cades Cove Campground

I've camped here a few times, great location, but zero for privacy. Tent pads are within 10 feet of your neighbor's picnic table/fire pit. Restrooms have flushing toilets, no showers. Awesome camp store, bike rentals a bonus.

We stayed at Cades Cove Mar 10-Mar 17, 2025. This was our first time here and first time in the park itself. I will say, our first 24 hours were quite an adventure with the weather; we were predicted to have a violent windstorm and in Cades Cove everything is under tree cover. A Park Police officer came by and suggested we evacuate to the visitor center parking lot where there was no tree cover. The windstorm didn’t blow out to be as bad as they thought, but I greatly appreciated the caution they showed. For the site, we stayed a week in C48. The site was pretty level and wide & long enough to accommodate both our 35A and toad. It was an easy-angled back-in with tree cover. Of course the’re no hookups, so we ran our generator in the morning & night before quiet hours started. There’s the traditional fire-ring and picnic. The restroom was right in the middle of our loops it looked like the customary park buildings; we didn’t utilize it, so we couldn’t vouch for cleanliness. The visitor center/store that was near the entrance of the campground was nice and pretty well-stocked. They had some day programs for the children and rangers came through often. The CG has a very safe feel and very comfortable. Townsend is a winding 11 miles into town where there is a very nice IGA foods with friendly staff (They had good coffee too). There is also an excellent ACE hardware (propane) whose employees were fabulous, a laundromat that was clean and serviced and one of the three towns coffee shops (Artistic Bean, they had fabulous Almond Croissants) all in one central mini-mall; the other two of the three coffee shops is Towns End Coffee Co and The Dancing Bean. If there were others I didn’t find them. The visitor center there is very nice as well, it’s staff was friendly as well. Needless to say we didn’t have bad experiences in Cades Cove or Townsend. We already have our reservations for November 2025

Our family loved camping at this beautiful campground! The obvious main draw is the proximity to the 11-mile loop through Cades Cove, but there is much more to enjoy: Abrams Creek flowing right alongside the campground, the hiking trails, the unconcerned neighborhood bears going about their business, and the fireflies in the evenings all made for a very memorable stay.

Stayed in group camp bear,deer,squirrel, and turkey in camp quite and peaceful lots of room in group camps it is primitive so no power sink at bathroom to wash dishes. PUT YOUR FOOD UP IN YOUR CAR OR BEAR PROOF BOX Leave it out and you'll have a bear problem every time we leave camp trash goes to trash can

Me and 3 friends camped here for 2 nights. I will 100% be coming back. The rangers were extremely friendly and helpful while checking in. The bathrooms are clean, and each campsite is spacious and has a fire pit and picnic table. The only downside was there is absolutely zero service, but if you are looking for a getaway, it was the perfect spot to relax. We drove the outer loop as well, it was beautiful. The campground store was extremely pricey, so make sure to bring food and anything else you may need in case.

I officiated a wedding here at Cades Cove and Gosh, it's so, beautiful. Sometimes, it's just an elopement but there's so many mountain back drops and photo opportunities at every turn and corner. I'm here about twice a week and usually catch site of a bear, wild horses, turkeys, or a deer. Even the empty churches and buildings have photo opportunities! Be aware that there's no cell reception, text, nothing, so huge tip... Carpool when you can and if meeting someone, correlate walkie talkies like I do between my couples, their photographer, and myself because you don't want to do the loop again just to be late to your own wedding! Don't forget your permit, your rings, and your Tennessee wedding license!

Cades Cove campground was amazing! We had super nice neighbors and the facility was just fine. Actually quiet during the posted quiet times which was very enjoyable. What more can I say? The pad for tent was nice and level and had a great sleep!

We stayed on B 5, was very disappointed with the condition of the site, and the area. Had weeds ,needed mowing,had cigarette butts everywhere. bathrooms was not clean. they mowed while we was gone,blew grass all over our site on our tent and parking area. We love going around the loop to see wildlife,but we won't be staying in campground anymore.

LOUD! Our family stayed in one of the "C" campsites. The site was large, so there was plenty of room for a couple of tents and to spread out. There were even some nice trees to hang the hammock. But all that being said, our site was extremely loud. So much so that we won't be considering another stay at this campground. I may be spoiled though. Maybe this is the way folks camp in the Smokies. Where I come from, and you're not going to like this, California, respecting other people's boundaries and solitude is the norm. I know, I know, ....California is full of hippies and bleeding heart liberals. Who cares what they say or want. I'm with you on this. But I assure you that I'm not one of those. I just want to have a peaceful outing with the kids. Unfortunately that wasn't to be. Not on this trip anyway. Let's see, at 1a.m. a group rolls in, and proceeds to act like it's one in the afternoon. That, along with a womans restroom door that kept slamming, didn't allow for much sleep. I know that you can't choose your neighbors, but the stream of ladies allowing that door to slam again and again, well, it's just unforgivable. I mean it could be heard throughout the whole campground!! But obviously no thought was given to suppress the door from slamming shut! I guess their need to pee took more precedence. The sites aren't overly close together, but there is definitely line of sight with your neighbors. If you're lucky, the sight you see in the site next to you will be as good a sight as it was to me. Let's just say that the view took the edge off the loss of sleep. If that darn slamming door would have let up the view could have been reflected in my dreams. No such luck. I guess I'll have to wait until I get home. I hope the dream isn't the reoccurring one about me at school in my underwear. Quick Tip: However loud that it was, the campground is beautiful. Bring along the bug spray. The bugs don't care how loud it is, and they don't discriminate. Those suckers will bite cute ladies just as well as sleepy guys.

To be clear up front, this is about the drive through the Campground and not a stay onsite. I was with family a nearby campground and we were told about the driving path through Cades Cove. We had already observed bison (numerous) and a bear en route and were excited to learn we could see more of the same and other woodland creatures on this path. It was literally like getting in the school pickup line upon entering. But why not? A chance to view wildlife, for free, from the safety and comfort of your vehicle. Sometimes creatures were off in the distance (note: bring binoculars for such an occasion). Some were right beside the road (also something to consider if you have your windows down). But all of it was majestic. The scenery, the sun setting, the animals moving leisurely and without fear. It was as if they knew we were only passing through. My only regret is 1) we didn't come earlier in our stay (we went the last day we were in the area) and 2) that I don't own a professional camera. Numerous opportunities for beautiful photos. Don't make my mistake and go as often as you can.