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by Deborah Holmes, managing editor
Like all the campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove is nicely laid out with well-spaced, shady, private sites. That's the good news.
The bad news, especially if you're a spur-of-the-moment type camper, is that you need to plan well in advance if you want to stay here in the summer or during foliage season. The campground accepts reservations starting May 15 and the 159 sites fill up quickly.
Cades Cove auto road is nearby. On certain days, the road is open to bicycles and pedestrians only -- and the campground rents bikes.
Located near the extremely popular Cades Cove auto loop, the campground has some nice amenities, including hiking trails, bicycle rentals, flush toilets (but no showers), cold running water, and a dump station. Only campground hosts get water and electrical hookups here. A camp store sells groceries and fire wood and those all-important chocolate bars. If you need a connection with the outside world you're out of luck at this campground. As in most of the campgrounds in the park, cell phones don't work here. Another note: In all of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are allowed, but only in your vehicle and in developed campgrounds (on leash, of course). They are not allowed on trails, even those that wind their way through campgrounds.
Phone: 865-436-1220
Website: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/frontcountry-camping.htm
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Laurel Creek Road,
Off Scenic Hwy 73,
Blount, TN
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- Number of Sites: 159
- Dump Station
- Cellphones didn't work here when we visited this facility
Open all year
Level, well-shaded, well-spaced campsites. Even on a rainy day, the sites appeared well-drained. Can accept RVs up to 40' long. Use of generators restricted.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove, hiking trails, horse trails.
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Campgrounds Guide 
