Round Bottom Horse Camp
Campground · North Carolina · 5 bookable sites ·
Managed by the National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (National Park) · Open Access
- 5
- Bookable sites
- 35 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 6
- People per site
- 3,045 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Saddle up your horses for a camping trip in the stunning Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located in the North Carolina portion of the park, this campsite offers miles of horse trails with a breathtaking backdrop. Whether blanketed in bright spring wildflowers or vivid fall colors, the scenery at Round Bottom never disappoints.
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 America's most visited national park.
You MUST have a HORSE to camp at Round Bottom Horse Camp!
Recreation
With access to several of the Smokies' popular horseback riding trails, equestrians will never be bored.Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, offering over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from the picnic area. But hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are also 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, it's 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
Round Bottom offers a traditional outdoor camping experience
You MUST have a HORSE to camp at Round Bottom Horse Camp!
Natural Features
Round Bottom Horse Camp is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges, pristine mountain streams and rivers and clear blue skies that set the backdrop for your camping and horseback riding adventure.At 3,060 feet elevation, the campground provides a moderate climate, typified by mild winters and hot, humid summers.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural tapestry of Southern Appalachian history. The mountains have had a long human history spanning thousands of years, from the prehistoric Paleo Indians to early European settlement in the 1800s to loggers and Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees in the 20th century. The park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes, and artifacts that tell the stories of people who once called these mountains home.
Nearby Attractions
Cherokee, North Carolina, located about 13 miles away, offers fuel and grocery stores.The facts
- 5 bookable sites
- Vehicles up to 35 ft
- Up to 6 people per site
- Loops: Horse Camp 001-005
Site types
- 5 Equestrian Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, grills.
5 campsites at Round Bottom Horse Camp
Check-in 1:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Horse Camp 001-005 | Equestrian Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 002 | Horse Camp 001-005 | Equestrian Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 003 | Horse Camp 001-005 | Equestrian Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 004 | Horse Camp 001-005 | Equestrian Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 005 | Horse Camp 001-005 | Equestrian Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
Getting there
Round Bottom horse camp is located about 9 miles NW of Cherokee, NC.
From Cherokee, NC: Take US 441 north. Just before entering the park, turn right at last traffic light onto Acquoni Road. Go one block, acorss river, and turn left onto Big Cove Road (marked by detour sign). Go 9 miles to a tee. Turn right and go 0.9 mile to the end of the pavement. Take the gravel Straight Fork-Round Bottom road, adjacent to a trout rearing facility, 3.5 miles to the horse camp.
From Gatlinburg, TN: Take Newfound Gap Road (US 441 South) towards Cherokee, NC. Exit the park into Cherokee and turn left at the first traffic light. Go one block, across river, and turn left onto Big Cove Road (marked by detour sign). Continue with directions above.
35.61546, -83.21193 · 35°36'55.7"N 83°12'42.9"W
Typical weather
Typically 80°F in Jul, down to 46°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 46 | 51 | 58 | 68 | 74 | 78 | 80 | 80 | 75 | 67 | 58 | 50 |
| Low °F | 23 | 26 | 31 | 38 | 47 | 54 | 58 | 57 | 52 | 38 | 31 | 27 |
| Precip in | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 6.7 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Fees and stay limits
Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. Customers that check out early or do not plan to use their reservation MUST contact the campground office the day they leave or are due to check in, in order to receive a refund. Refund requests for early departure or non use of the site made AFTER the reservation has ended will be denied. Office phone numbers are given in the Facility Contact information for each campground.
From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Round Bottom Horse Camp
- Can you reserve a site at Round Bottom Horse Camp?
- Yes, Round Bottom Horse Camp is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Round Bottom Horse Camp have?
- 5 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Round Bottom Horse Camp?
- 35 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Round Bottom Horse Camp?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Round Bottom Horse Camp.
- Are campfires allowed at Round Bottom Horse Camp?
- Campfires are allowed at Round Bottom Horse Camp. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Camping near Round Bottom Horse Camp
- Balsam Mountain Campground 4.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cataloochee Horse Camp 5.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Smokemont Group Camp 6.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Smokemont Campground 6.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Tow String Horse Camp 7.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cataloochee Campground 7.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Collins Creek Picnic Pavilion 7.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cataloochee Group Camp 8.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cosby Group Camp 9.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cosby Campground 9.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Balsam Mt. Campground 4.1 mi · Campground
- Oconaluftee Visitor Center 8.8 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone 865-436-1261 OR 828-497-9270
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-08-11.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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