National Park Service
Near Townsend, Tennessee: $30/night, rigs to 35 ft. Open Year-round. Book 6 months ahead via Recreation.gov.
National Park Service
Managing authority
Near Townsend, Tennessee
How much does camping at Cades Cove Campground (Great Smoky Mountains NP) cost, and when is it open?
Cades Cove Campground (Great Smoky Mountains NP) near Townsend, Tennessee (National Park Service) — camping fee $30/night, season Year-round, RV size limit Up to 35 ft. Reservations: 6 months ahead via Recreation.gov — book direct through the official channel.
The numbers
Fee range
$30/night
Season open
Year-round
RV size limit
Up to 35 ft
Reservation window
6 months ahead via Recreation.gov
The insider read
Most popular GSMNP campground. Cades Cove loop drive is the highlight — Wed mornings vehicle-free for bikers/walkers (May-Sept). Bear sightings routine.
Original analysis from PickRV — synthesised from public sources you can verify, pulling the operational details competitor guides typically skip.
Verify at nps.govOn site
Book it right
PickRV doesn't handle campground bookings — reserve direct through the official channel so policies and cancellations flow through one record.
Opens recreation.gov
Every fact above is sourced from the managing agency's canonical page. Cross-check fee, season, and size limit before you depend on them.
Match the campground's size limit and hookup level to a vehicle category, then plan the rest of the trip.
Keep exploring
Near Gatlinburg
NPSInsider tip · Synchronous firefly event (late May/early June) lottery — campers get auto access. Closest GSMNP camp to Gatlinburg. River-loop sites face the Little River.
Near Spencer
StateInsider tip · 256-ft Fall Creek Falls — tallest free-fall waterfall east of Mississippi. Cumberland Plateau gorge views. Inn restaurant on grounds.
Near Crossville
StateInsider tip · CCC-built historic stone bridge. Closer to Nashville (90 min) than Smokies. Golf + lake + cabins.
Near Oneida
NPSInsider tip · 125,000-acre wilderness on the Cumberland Plateau. Whitewater Cumberland River. Equestrian-friendly camp loop separate from family loop.
Nearby & related
Sourced costs, campground directories, and the places worth a detour — the next layer of Tennessee trip planning.
Before you go
Tennessee rules
Verified 2026-05-10