Cosby Group Camp
Campground · Tennessee · 3 bookable sites ·
Managed by the National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (National Park) · Open Access
- 3
- Bookable sites
- up to 20
- People per site
- 1
- Accessible site
- 2,315 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade beside Cosby Creek. This group campground creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has to offer.
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 also popular activities. White water rafting on the nearby Pigeon River. Top tourist towns of gatlinburg, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge are just 20 miles away.
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.
Facilities
Cosby Group Camp provides campers with a secluded environment for traditional tent camping. There are three group sites (one accessible site) that can accommodate up to 20 visitors each. 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. The nearby Cosby Campground offers reservable sites and first-come, first-serve sites for smaller groups or overflow.
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. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Cosby never disappoints.At 2,460 feet, Cosby Campground provides a moderate climate, typified 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 settlements, the park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes and artifacts, which 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.
Charges & Cancellations
Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
The facts
- 3 bookable sites
- 1 accessible site
- Up to 20 people per site
- Loops: Group Sites 1-3
Site types
- 3 Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups.
3 campsites at Cosby Group Camp
Check-in 1:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Access | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP01 | Group Sites 1-3 | Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric | — | Paved | Drive In | — | 20 | 🐾 |
| GP02 | Group Sites 1-3 | Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric | — | Paved | Hike In | — | 20 | 🐾 |
| GP03 | Group Sites 1-3 | Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Drive In | — | 20 | ♿ 🐾 |
Getting there
From Cosby, TN, proceed south on TN 32 about 1.5 miles from junction with US 321. Turn right at Cosby sign. Group camp is another 2.2 miles.
35.75305, -83.20673 · 35°45'11.0"N 83°12'24.2"W
Typical weather
Typically 86°F in Jul, down to 49°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 49 | 53 | 61 | 71 | 77 | 83 | 86 | 85 | 80 | 70 | 60 | 51 |
| Low °F | 29 | 32 | 38 | 46 | 54 | 62 | 65 | 64 | 59 | 48 | 37 | 32 |
| Precip in | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 4.4 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 6.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Fees and stay limits
Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use 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 Group Camp
- Can you reserve a site at Cosby Group Camp?
- Yes, Cosby Group Camp is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Cosby Group Camp have?
- 3 sites.
- Are pets allowed at Cosby Group Camp?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Cosby Group Camp.
- Are campfires allowed at Cosby Group Camp?
- Campfires are allowed at Cosby Group Camp. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Camping near Cosby Group Camp
- Cosby Campground 0.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cosby Picnic Pavilion 1.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Big Creek Campground (Great Smoky Mountains National Park) 5.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Big Creek Group Camp 5.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Big Creek Horse Camp 5.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Round Bottom Horse Camp 9.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cataloochee Horse Camp 10 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cataloochee Group Camp 10.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Greenbrier Picnic Pavilion 10.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cataloochee Campground 10.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Pigeon River 5.8 mi · Facility
- Pigeon River Area 9.2 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone 423-487-2683
- 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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