Balsam Mountain Campground
National Park Service campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Cherokee, North Carolina.
How it compares
- With 43 sites it is the #25 largest of 86 North Carolina campgrounds that publish a site count.
- Its lowest fee ($10) is equal to the North Carolina median of $10/night.
- There are 50 other campgrounds in our data within 25 miles; 0 of them list a lower starting fee.
- 96% of North Carolina campgrounds that publish a length limit accept a rig this long (24 ft).
- 100% of sites with a shade rating are listed as shaded or partly shaded.
- Pets allowed on 43 of 43 sites; campfires allowed on 43 (subject to seasonal fire bans).
- Straight-line distance: Asheville ~35 mi, Knoxville ~50 mi, Abingdon ~104 mi.
Site mix
Amenities & rules
Drinking waterFire pitsFlush toiletsFood storage lockersGrillsPicnic tablesQuiet areaTent padsPets allowedTentsRVs/trailers1 accessible site
Fee notes from the agency: Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. Customers that check out early or do not…
Trails within 5 miles
| Trail | Closest point | Mapped miles within 5 mi | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balsam Mountain Nature Trail | 0.1 mi | 0.6 | NPS |
| Flat Creek Trail | 0.3 mi | 2.5 | NPS |
| Rough Fork Trail | 0.7 mi | 6.0 | NPS |
| Hemphill Bald Trail | 0.7 mi | 7.9 | NPS |
| Caldwell Fork Trail | 2.3 mi | 3.6 | NPS |
| Spruce Mountain Trail | 2.9 mi | 1.1 | NPS |
| Mountains-to-Sea Trail | 3.4 mi | 8.0 | NPS |
| Hyatt Ridge Trail | 4.1 mi | 1.2 | NPS |
| Big Fork Ridge Trail | 4.2 mi | 2.9 | NPS |
| Cataloochee Divide Trail | 4.2 mi | 0.9 | NPS |
| Palmer Creek Trail | 4.3 mi | 1.7 | NPS |
| Beech Gap Trail | 4.4 mi | 2.1 | NPS |
+ 3 more named trails.
Mountain biking nearby
No bike-legal trails are mapped within 5 miles in OpenStreetMap or Forest Service data.
Ratings come only from OpenStreetMap mtb:scale / IMBA tags. Untagged trails show as "Unrated", and we never guess. Check conditions and maps on Trailforks or MTB Project.
Activities listed
Auto TouringBikingCampingFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHorse CampingHorseback RidingPicnickingWildlife Viewing
Nearest campgrounds
| Campground | Miles | State | Fee/night | Sites | Hookups | Max RV | Pets | Booking | Trails ≤5 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balsam Mt. Campground Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
0.0 | TN | — | — | — | — | — | First-come | 15 (40.2 mi) |
| Spruce Mountain #42 National Park Service |
2.9 | NC | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 19 (53.5 mi) |
| Caldwell Fork #41 National Park Service |
3.2 | NC | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 18 (49.7 mi) |
| Indian Creek Campground Private campground |
3.3 | NC | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 22 (36.9 mi) |
| Big Hemlock #40 National Park Service |
3.5 | NC | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 20 (58.1 mi) |
| Mile High Campground - Tent Sites OpenStreetMap listing |
3.5 | NC | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 6 (25.6 mi) |
Hookups: E = electric (max amps), W = water, S = sewer. "—" means the agency doesn't publish it. Trail counts are named USFS/NPS trails within 5 miles. 🟢 = kid-friendly (green-rated) bike trail nearby.