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State Park

Photo: NPSPublic domainRecreation.gov

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State parks set their own rules and reservation systems. Fire bans, road closures, and operating dates change seasonally — check the state park website before traveling.

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157

Total Sites

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0 Reviews

134 Tent23 RV

Official sources & verification

Managed by State Park

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Reserve or permit

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  • Operator:423-487-2683
  • Address:127 Cosby Park Road · Cosby, TN · 37722
We display cached information from agency feeds. Hours, fees, permits, closures, fire restrictions, and conditions change without notice. Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Confirm current conditions for this campground using the links above before you go — you are responsible for compliance. Last verified by us: Aug 8, 2026. Our copy is more than a month old — please reconfirm with the agency before relying on it.Spot an error in our data?

Live availability

via Recreation.gov
See every open campground nearbySame dates & filters, across the whole area

Availability is a recent snapshot, not a live hold — you always complete the booking on recreation.gov.

About

Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this campground creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best that the Great Smoky Mountains National park has to offer. More than 100 campsites are available at Cosby TN Campgrounds on a first-come, first-served basis and 26 campsites are available for advanced reservations. All campsites accommodate tents and, even when all reservation sites are booked, tent campers are likely to find a great site anytime except Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day weekends. RV sites are less common and reservations are recommended on busy weekends. Call (423) 487-2683 to check availability. This campground is usually quieter and without the hustle and bustle of the busier campgrounds. Come and give this campground a try! Natural Features: World-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian culture, Great Smoky Mountains is Americas most visited national park. At 2,460 feet, Cosby Campground provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural history of Southern Appalachia. From the prehistoric Paleo Indians to the early 19th century European settlers, the park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes and artifacts that tell the stories of the people who once called these mountains home. Recreation: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hikers paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from Cosby Campground, including the Appalachian Trail, just three miles away via the Lower Gap Trail. Hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are popular activities. Campers can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance. Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 bears living in the park, its not uncommon for visitors to spot one. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy. The park also holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park. Facilities: Cosby Campground provides campers with a secluded environment for traditional camping. Though some RV sites are available, Cosby is mostly a tent campground, with plenty of shade and tent pads at each site, along with fire rings, grills and tables, perfect for family meals and late night smores. The site offers modern amenities like flush toilets and drinking water. Although 26 sites are reservable, an additional 131 sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Nearby Attractions: Cosby, Tennessee, located about five miles from the campground, offers convenience stores and fuel. Gatlinburg, a one of the Smokies famous tourist towns, is located about 20 miles from the site, offering visitors tours, organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more. ACTIVITIES Historic & Cultural Site: Historic Sites Fishing Hiking Horseback Riding Visitor Center: Ranger Station Wildlife Viewing Day Use Area: Amphitheater

Reviews

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How busy it gets

Recreation.gov
Very popular4.5

870 camper reviews on Recreation.gov

Amenities

Showers
Flush Toilets
Dump Station
Accessible
Picnic Tables
Fire Rings
Trash Service

Cell reception

Camper reports · checked Sep 29, 2026

No Service

Average 0.2 of 4 bars · 699 reports across 3 carriers

Unable to get a signal. Can not make phone calls; No data.

  • Verizon

    No Service

    0.2/4

    356 reports

  • AT&T

    No Service

    0.2/4

    221 reports

  • T-Mobile

    No Service

    0.1/4

    122 reports

Reported by campers on Recreation.gov, not measured by us. Reception varies by handset, weather, and where you stand in the campground. Recreation.gov

Check-in & Check-out

Check-in 1:00 PM

Check-out 12:00 PM

Park Regulations

All food and equipment used to prepare and store food must be sealed in a vehicle or in a camping unit constructed of solid, non-pliable material, or as otherwise directed, at all times when not in use. Campfires are permitted only in fire rings. You may collect dead and downed wood in the park for campfires. Only heat-treated firewood that is bundled and certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a state agency may be brought into the park. Quiet hours are 10 pm-6 am. Generator use is prohibited 8 pm-8 am. Your stay is limited to 14 consecutive days at a time. You may have up to six people per campsite. No more than two motor vehicles or one vehicle with trailer are allowed per campsite. Please keep wheels, including trailer wheels and guest cars, on the pavement. Park only in designated spaces. All tents must be pitched on the pad, where provided.

Published by the National Park Service. Rules change seasonally and by area within a park — confirm current regulations with the agency before you go.

Campground Rules

  • Campfires generally permitted — verify current fire restrictions before lighting

Reservations

This campground accepts reservations. Book early for popular dates.

Make a Reservation

Individual Sites (150)

A01
#A01

A01

Loop A-Loop

Check official pricing Max 6 guests25 ft
CampsiteRVPets OKCampfires
Reserve
A02
#A02

A02

Loop A-Loop

Check official pricing Max 6 guests25 ft
CampsiteRVPets OKCampfires
Reserve
A03
#A03

A03

Loop A-Loop

Check official pricing Max 6 guests25 ft
CampsiteRVPets OKCampfires
Reserve
A04
#A04

A04

Loop A-Loop

CampsiteTentPets OKCampfires
Reserve
A05
#A05

A05

Loop A-Loop

CampsiteTentPets OKCampfires
Reserve
A06
#A06

A06

Loop A-Loop

CampsiteTentPets OKCampfires
Reserve

In this park

Trails at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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Within ~30 miles

Trails near Cosby Campground

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Hunt context

Hunting unit around this campground

During hunting seasons, wear blaze orange and check regulations — see the Tennessee hunting page

Nearby Campgrounds

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