Cosby Campground

Campground · Tennessee · 157 bookable sites ·

Managed by the National Park Service

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (National Park) · Open Access

157
Bookable sites
30 ft
Max rig length
up to 6
People per site
2
Accessible sites
2,295 ft
Elevation
Peaceful camping in Cosby
Photo: NPS · Recreation.gov

Overview

Back country camping in a developed front country campground. 

Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this campground creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best that the Great Smoky Mountains National park has to offer. This campground is usually quieter and without the hustle and bustle of the busier campgrounds.

All campsites have a fire ring, picnic table and several trees. Tent pads are 16ft x 16ft. RV sites are less common and reservations are recommended on busy weekends. Some RV sites also include a tent pad. View map and site descriptions to find the perfect site or companion sites for you and your family! 

  • All sites in Cosby Campground are available by RESERVATION ONLY
  • NO CASH ACCEPTED AT CAMPGROUND OFFICE
    • ADA sites: A57, A61; G3
    • RV only: A01-03, A21, A23, A36; B48, B75, B88
    • RV w Tent pad: A17, A20, A25, A28, A57; B93
    • Van/Compact camper w Tent: A11; B20,B34-35, B58 (**These sites do not accomodate RVs)
  • To ensure a site, reserve online (same-day reservation available). To make reservations by phone call 877-444-6777 

Recreation

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from Cosby Campground, including the Appalachian Trail, just three miles away via the Lower Gap Trail.

Hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are 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

Cosby Campground provides campers with a secluded environment for traditional camping. Cosby is mostly a tent campground, with plenty of shade and tent pads at each site, along with fire rings, grills and tables, perfect for family meals and late night s'mores. The site offers modern amenities like flush toilets and drinking water. Some RV sites are available and there is a dump station at the campground. 

Tent pads are 16ft x 16ft. RV sites are less common and reservations are recommended on busy weekends. Some RV sites also include a tent pad. View map and site descriptions to find the perfect site or companion sites for you and your family! 

ADA sites: A57, A61

RV only: A01-03, A21, A23, A36; B48, B75, B88

RV w Tent pad: A17, A20, A25, A28, A57; B93

Van/Compact camper w Tent: A11; B20, B34-35, B58

To ensure a site, reserve online (same-day reservation available). To make reservations by phone call 877-444-6777 

RESERVATION ONLY- NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE CAMPGROUND OFFICE

Natural Features

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.

At 2,460 feet, Cosby Campground provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural history of Southern Appalachia. From the prehistoric Paleo Indians to the early 19th century European settlers, the park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes and artifacts that tell the stories of the people who once called these mountains home.

Nearby Attractions

Cosby, Tennessee, located about five miles from the campground, offers convenience stores and fuel.

Gatlinburg, a one of the Smokies' famous tourist towns, is located about 20 miles from the site, offering visitors tours, organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more.

The facts

  • 157 bookable sites
  • 2 accessible sites
  • Vehicles up to 30 ft
  • Up to 6 people per site
  • Loops: A-Loop, B-Loop

Site types

  • 134 Tent Only Nonelectric
  • 23 RV Nonelectric

Amenities

  • Campfires allowed
  • Fire pits
  • Picnic tables
  • Grills
  • Shade
  • Pets allowed
  • Water hookups — not available

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, sewer hookups.

Book on Recreation.gov

157 campsites at Cosby Campground

Check-in 1:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceGradeMax rigPeople
A01A-LoopRv NonelectricBack InPavedSlight—6 🐾
A02A-LoopRv NonelectricBack InPavedSlight25 ft6 🐾
A03A-LoopRv NonelectricBack InPavedSlight25 ft6 🐾
A04A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedModerate—6 🐾
A05A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
A06A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
A07A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
A08A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
A09A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
A10A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
A11A-LoopRv NonelectricBack In—Slight20 ft6 🐾
A12A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
A13A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
A14A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight20 ft6 🐾
A15A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight25 ft6 🐾
A16A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight30 ft6 🐾
A17A-LoopRv NonelectricBack In—Slight25 ft6 🐾
A18A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
A19A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight15 ft6 🐾
A20A-LoopRv NonelectricBack In—Slight25 ft6 🐾
A21A-LoopRv NonelectricBack InPaved—25 ft6 🐾
A22A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A23A-LoopRv Nonelectric—Paved—25 ft6 🐾
A24A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A25A-LoopRv NonelectricBack In——25 ft6 🐾
A26A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A27A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
A28A-LoopRv NonelectricBack In——25 ft6 🐾
A29A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
A30A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
A31A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
A32A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
A33A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
A34A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
A35A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
A36A-LoopRv NonelectricParallelPaved—25 ft6 🐾
A37A-LoopTent Only Nonelectric—Gravel——6 🐾
A38A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A39A-LoopTent Only Nonelectric—Paved——6 🐾
A40A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A41A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
A42A-LoopRv NonelectricBack In—Slight—6 🐾
A43A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
A44A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A45A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A46A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A47A-LoopTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel——6 🐾
A48A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A49A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A50A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A51A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
A52A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A53A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A54A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A55A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A56A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A57A-LoopRv NonelectricBack In—Moderate25 ft6♿ 🐾
A58A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
A59A-LoopRv NonelectricBack In——25 ft6 🐾
A60A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A61A-LoopRv NonelectricBack In——25 ft6♿ 🐾
A62A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A63A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
A64A-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B01B-LoopTent Only Nonelectric—Paved——6 🐾
B02B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B03B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B04B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B05B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B06B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B07B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B08B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B09B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B10B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B11B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B12B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B13B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B14B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B15B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B16B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B17B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B18B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B19B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B20B-LoopRv NonelectricParallel——22 ft6 🐾
B21B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B22B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B23B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B24B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B25B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B26B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B27B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B28B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B29B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B30B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B31B-LoopTent Only Nonelectric—Gravel——6 🐾
B32B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B33B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B34B-LoopRv NonelectricParallel———6 🐾
B35B-LoopRv Nonelectric———20 ft6 🐾
B36B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B37B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B38B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B39B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B40B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B41B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B42B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B43B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B44B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B45B-LoopTent Only Nonelectric—Gravel——6 🐾
B46B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B47B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B48B-LoopRv NonelectricParallelPaved—20 ft6 🐾
B49B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B50B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B51B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B52B-LoopTent Only Nonelectric—Paved——6 🐾
B53B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B54B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B55B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B56B-LoopTent Only Nonelectric—Gravel——6 🐾
B57B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B58B-LoopRv NonelectricParallel——20 ft6 🐾
B59B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B60B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B61B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B62B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B63B-LoopTent Only Nonelectric—Paved——6 🐾
B64B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B65B-LoopTent Only Nonelectric—Paved——6 🐾
B66B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelGravel——6 🐾
B67B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B68B-LoopTent Only Nonelectric—Paved——6 🐾
B69B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B70B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B71B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B72B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPaved——6 🐾
B73B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B74B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B75B-LoopRv NonelectricBack InPavedSlight25 ft6 🐾
B76B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B77B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B78B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B79B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B80B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B81B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B82B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B83B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedModerate—6 🐾
B84B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedModerate—6 🐾
B85B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedModerate—6 🐾
B86B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedModerate—6 🐾
B87B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedModerate—6 🐾
B88B-LoopRv NonelectricBack InPavedSlight25 ft6 🐾
B89B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B90B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B91B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B92B-LoopTent Only NonelectricParallelPavedSlight—6 🐾
B93B-LoopRv NonelectricBack In—Moderate25 ft6 🐾

Getting there

From Cosby, TN, proceed south on TN 32 about 1.5 miles south of the junction with US 321. Turn right at Cosby sign. Campground is another 2 miles.

35.75454, -83.20925 · 35°45'16.4"N 83°12'33.3"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 86°F in Jul, down to 49°F in Jan.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F495361717783868580706051
Low °F293238465462656459483732
Precip in4.23.94.74.54.66.46.54.64.02.73.44.4

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 6.3 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 Cosby Campground

Can you reserve a site at Cosby Campground?
Yes, Cosby Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Cosby Campground have?
157 sites.
What is the maximum RV length at Cosby Campground?
30 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Cosby Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cosby Campground.
Does Cosby Campground have hookups?
No hookups are recorded here.
Are campfires allowed at Cosby Campground?
Campfires are allowed at Cosby Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Camping near Cosby Campground

Comments

Contact

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.