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Cosby Campground

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on Recreation.gov and National Park Service records. Published by Humblebee.

Campsites
157[1]
Nightly fee from
$30[2]
Reservations
Yes[3]
Longest RV or trailer
30 ft[4]

Cosby Campground is run by the National Park Service inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee[5]. Recreation.gov lists 157 campsites there, and NPS lists the fee as $30 per night[1][2].

What to expect

Recreation.gov lists 134 tent only sites and 23 RV sites, and none of the 157 sites have electric, water or sewer hookups[1][6]. The longest RV or trailer length allowed at any site is 30 feet[4]. NPS says all 157 sites are reservable and none are first come, first served[7]. NPS also says you must book, and you can do so as far as six months ahead[8]. The campground closes seasonally, and NPS lists a closure from 2026-10-25 to 2027-05-15[9]. Check-in is at 1:00 PM and check-out is at 12:00 PM on Recreation.gov[10][11]. NPS lists flush toilets, drinking water, a dump station and food storage lockers as seasonal, and says there are no showers and no cell reception[12].

Campsite details

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

Detail Value
Campsites[1] 157
Site types[1] 134 tent only nonelectric, 23 rv nonelectric
Sites (NPS count)[7] 157, 157 reservable, 0 first come, first served
Reservations[3] Yes, on Recreation.gov
Accessible sites[13] 2
Hookups[6] electric 0, water 0, sewer 0 sites
Longest RV or trailer[4] 30 ft (median 25 ft)
Equipment[14] RV or trailer at 18 sites, tent at 148 sites
Pets[15] Allowed at all listed sites
Campfires[16] Allowed at all listed sites
Check-in[10] 1:00 PM
Check-out[11] 12:00 PM
People per site[17] 6

Camping fees

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

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

Amenities

Before you go

Questions people ask

How much does Cosby Campground cost?
NPS lists the campsite fee at $30 per night, per site, for up to 6 people[2]. Fees can change, so confirm on Recreation.gov.
Do you need a reservation at Cosby Campground?
NPS says a reservation is required, and you can book as far as six months ahead[8]. All 157 sites are listed as reservable[7].
Does Cosby Campground have hookups?
Recreation.gov site details list 0 sites with electric, water or sewer hookups out of 157 campsites[6].
Are dogs allowed at Cosby Campground?
Recreation.gov site details list pets as allowed at all 157 campsites with this detail listed[15].
Are campfires allowed at Cosby Campground?
Recreation.gov lists campfires as allowed at all 66 campsites with this detail listed, and fire restrictions can apply at any time[16].

Facts and sources

  1. Recreation.gov lists 157 overnight campsites at Cosby Campground: 134 tent only nonelectric, 23 rv nonelectric. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  2. Camping fee, Campsite Fee: $30 per night. National Park Service
  3. Cosby Campground can be reserved on Recreation.gov. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  4. Longest RV or trailer length allowed at any site at Cosby Campground: 30 feet (median across sites with a listed limit: 25 feet). Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  5. Cosby Campground is a campground managed by the National Park Service in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  6. Hookups at Cosby Campground per Recreation.gov site details: 0 sites with electric hookups, 0 with water hookups, 0 with sewer hookups, out of 157 campsites. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  7. NPS lists 157 sites at Cosby Campground: 157 reservable and 0 first come, first served. National Park Service
  8. Reservation note from NPS: Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance. National Park Service
  9. Season and hours (NPS): Cosby Campground closes seasonally. See exceptions for exact dates of operation. Listed exceptions: Closed 2026-10-25 to 2027-05-15. National Park Service
  10. Check-in time at Cosby Campground on Recreation.gov: 1:00 PM. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  11. Check-out time at Cosby Campground on Recreation.gov: 12:00 PM. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  12. Amenities at Cosby Campground listed by NPS: toilets: Flush Toilets - seasonal; showers: None; drinking water: Yes - seasonal; dump station: Yes - seasonal; cell reception: No; camp store: No; firewood for sale: No; food storage lockers: Yes - seasonal;... National Park Service
  13. 2 of the 157 campsites at Cosby Campground are marked accessible on Recreation.gov. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  14. Permitted equipment at Cosby Campground: 18 sites accept an RV or trailer and 148 accept a tent. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  15. Pets allowed per Recreation.gov site details at Cosby Campground: yes at all 157 campsites with this detail listed. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  16. Campfires allowed per Recreation.gov site details at Cosby Campground: yes at all 66 campsites with this detail listed. Fire restrictions can apply at any time. Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  17. Maximum people per campsite at Cosby Campground: 6 at most sites (range 6 to 6). Recreation.gov (RIDB)
  18. NPS campground rules for Cosby 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.