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Cades Cove Campground

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on Recreation.gov and National Park Service records. Published by Humblebee.

Campsites
161[1]
Nightly fee from
$30[2]
Reservations
Yes[3]
Longest RV or trailer
42 ft[4]

Cades Cove Campground sits inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and is run by the National Park Service[5]. Recreation.gov lists 161 campsites here, and you book them through Recreation.gov[1][3].

What to expect

The campground stays open all year, but in winter only part of Loop C takes campers and you need a reservation[6]. Loop B and other parts of Loop C open from mid-spring until Nov. 30[6]. NPS says you must reserve a site, and you can book up to six months ahead[7]. Of the 161 sites, 31 are for tents only[1]. Recreation.gov shows 127 sites that accept an RV or trailer[8]. The longest rig any site lists is 42 feet, while the median listed limit is 29 feet[4]. There are flush toilets and drinking water, but no showers[9].

Campsite details

From Recreation.gov campsite records. Details can change, so check the listing before you book.

Detail Value
Campsites[1] 161
Site types[1] 130 standard nonelectric, 31 tent only nonelectric
Reservations[3] Yes, on Recreation.gov
Accessible sites[10] 9
Hookups[11] electric 2, water 0, sewer 0 sites
Longest RV or trailer[4] 42 ft (median 29 ft)
Equipment[8] RV or trailer at 127 sites, tent at 160 sites
Pets[12] Allowed at all listed sites
Campfires[13] Allowed at all listed sites
Check-in[14] 1:00 PM
Check-out[15] 12:00 PM
People per site[16] 6

Camping fees

Nightly fees listed by the National Park Service. Fees can change by season.

Site or fee Per night
Camping Fee[2] $30

Amenities

Before you go

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to camp at Cades Cove Campground?
NPS lists a camping fee of $30 per site, per night[2]. Fees can change, so check Recreation.gov before you book.
Do I need a reservation at Cades Cove Campground?
Yes. NPS says reservations are required and can be made up to six months ahead[7].
What is the RV length limit at Cades Cove Campground?
The longest RV or trailer listed for any site is 42 feet[4]. The median listed limit is 29 feet, so check the exact site before booking[4].
Does Cades Cove Campground have hookups?
Recreation.gov shows electric hookups at 2 of 161 sites and no water or sewer hookups[11]. A dump station is available year round[9].
Are dogs and campfires allowed at Cades Cove Campground?
Recreation.gov site details list pets and campfires as allowed at all 161 sites[12][13]. Fires go only in fire rings, and fire restrictions can apply[17][13].

Facts and sources

  1. Recreation.gov lists 161 overnight campsites at Cades Cove Campground: 130 standard nonelectric, 31 tent only nonelectric. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  2. Camping fee, Camping Fee: $30 per night. National Park Service
  3. Cades Cove Campground can be reserved on Recreation.gov. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  4. Longest RV or trailer length allowed at any site at Cades Cove Campground: 42 feet (median across sites with a listed limit: 29 feet). Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  5. Cades Cove Campground is a campground managed by the National Park Service in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  6. Season and hours (NPS): Cades Cove Campground is open year-round. Loop B and parts of Loop C are open from mid-spring through Nov. 30. During the winter, only sites C1-12 and C26-61 are open (reservations required). National Park Service
  7. Reservation note from NPS: Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance. National Park Service
  8. Permitted equipment at Cades Cove Campground: 127 sites accept an RV or trailer and 160 accept a tent. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  9. Amenities at Cades Cove Campground listed by NPS: toilets: Flush Toilets - year round; showers: None; drinking water: Yes - year round; dump station: Yes - year round; cell reception: No; camp store: Yes - seasonal; firewood for sale: Yes - seasonal; food... National Park Service
  10. 9 of the 161 campsites at Cades Cove Campground are marked accessible on Recreation.gov. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  11. Hookups at Cades Cove Campground per Recreation.gov site details: 2 sites with electric hookups, 0 with water hookups, 0 with sewer hookups, out of 161 campsites. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  12. Pets allowed per Recreation.gov site details at Cades Cove Campground: yes at all 161 campsites with this detail listed. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  13. Campfires allowed per Recreation.gov site details at Cades Cove Campground: yes at all 161 campsites with this detail listed. Fire restrictions can apply at any time. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  14. Check-in time at Cades Cove Campground on Recreation.gov: 1:00 PM. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  15. Check-out time at Cades Cove Campground on Recreation.gov: 12:00 PM. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  16. Maximum people per campsite at Cades Cove Campground: 6 at most sites (range 6 to 6). Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  17. NPS campground rules for Cades Cove Campground. National Park Service

Site details come from Recreation.gov campsite records. They can lag behind changes on the ground. Fees change by season and site type. Quote only fee facts and say they can change. Description and rules facts are sources for facts only: retell in your own words, never copy 8 or more words in a row. Hookup, pet and campfire counts are per listed campsite record, not a promise for every site.

Campsite data: Recreation Information Database (RIDB), Recreation.gov, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Not endorsed by Recreation.gov or any agency.