Anthony Creek Horse Camp

Great Smoky Mountains National Park — riverside, fishing, hiking

Location: Townsend, TN, TN

Price: From $30 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (7 reviews)

Season: May through October

Anthony Creek Horse Camp is located near the gently rolling waters of Anthony Creek. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Anthony Creek never disappoints. You MUST have a HORSE to camp in Anthony Creek Horse Camp!

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Showers, Electric Hookups, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/anthony-creek-horse-camp to be notified when sites open up.

Anthony Creek Horse Camp offers direct access to several of the Smokies' popular horseback riding trails, including the Anthony Creek Trail that ascends Bote Mountain. The campground is situated near gently rolling creek waters with scenic wildflowers in spring and vivid fall colors.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Coyote, and White-tailed Deer observed in the area. Barred Owls and Red-shouldered Hawks also present.

Insider tips for Anthony Creek Horse Camp: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 3 total sites and seasonal operations (May-October only) You MUST have a horse to camp here; this is exclusively a horse camp, not a general campground No hookups available, so bring a self-contained RV or plan to tent camp

Skip Anthony Creek Horse Camp if: You don't have a horse — the campground requires equestrian access. You need RV hookups — no electric or water hookups at sites. You're traveling outside May-October — the campground is seasonal.

Best time to visit Anthony Creek Horse Camp: May — Campground opens in May and wildflowers are described as bright and abundant during spring. September-October — Campground operates through October with vivid fall colors documented as a highlight of the scenery.

Nearby campgrounds: Cades Cove Group (Gatlinburg, TN), Cades Cove Campground (Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN), Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion (GATLINBURG, TN), Abram’S Creek Campground (Gatlinburg, TN).

Cell Phone Coverage at Anthony Creek Horse Camp

Cell signal at Anthony Creek Horse Camp (Townsend, TN): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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CamperWatch›TN›Anthony Creek Horse Camp
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park — riverside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Anthony Creek Horse Camp

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Townsend, TN, TN★ 4 (7 reviews)From $30/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Anthony Creek Horse Camp is located near the gently rolling waters of Anthony Creek. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Anthony Creek never disappoints. You MUST have a HORSE to camp in Anthony Creek Horse Camp!

Best for:AnglersHikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV24 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Bring self-contained unit or tent camp.
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsShowers
Recreation
Picnic TablesElectric Hookups
Family & Pets
Drinking WaterFishing

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You don't have a horse — the campground requires equestrian access✕ You need RV hookups — no electric or water hookups at sites✕ You're traveling outside May-October — the campground is seasonal

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with only 3 total sites and seasonal operations (May-October only)

You MUST have a horse to camp here; this is exclusively a horse camp, not a general campground

No hookups available, so bring a self-contained RV or plan to tent camp

Best: May

Campground opens in May and wildflowers are described as bright and abundant during spring

Best: September-October

Campground operates through October with vivid fall colors documented as a highlight of the scenery

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: American Black Bear, Coyote, and White-tailed Deer observed in the area. Barred Owls and Red-shouldered Hawks also present.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
865-448-4103· Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Getting there →

From Maryville, TN: Take U.S. 321 North (you'll actually be driving south!) from Maryville to Townsend, TN (about 22 miles). At the traffic light in Townsend, continue straight on TN 73 and follow signs to Cades Cove. From Pigeon Forge, TN take US 321 South (you'll be driving westerly) to Townsend, TN. Turn left (south) at Townsend onto TN 73. Follow signs to Cades Cove. The horse camp is accessed through the back of the Cades Cove picnic area, through an unlocked gate.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Great Smoky Mountains National Park fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Great Smoky Mountains National Park before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Anthony Creek Horse Camp cost per night?+
Anthony Creek Horse Camp costs $30 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Bring self-contained unit or tent camp.
What season is Anthony Creek Horse Camp open?+
Anthony Creek Horse Camp is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Anthony Creek Horse Camp have hookups?+
No hookups. Bring self-contained unit or tent camp.
What is the maximum RV length at Anthony Creek Horse Camp?+
Anthony Creek Horse Camp can accommodate RVs up to 24 feet.
How do I make reservations at Anthony Creek Horse Camp?+
Anthony Creek Horse Camp is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Anthony Creek Horse Camp?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Anthony Creek Horse Camp is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Anthony Creek Horse Camp open, and what are check-in times?+
Anthony Creek Horse Camp is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

National Park Services Concessionaire
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$30 /night★ 4 (7)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Anthony Creek Horse Camp cost per night?+
What season is Anthony Creek Horse Camp open?+
Does Anthony Creek Horse Camp have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Cades Cove Group

Gatlinburg, TN

From $50/night

Cades Cove Campground

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

From $30/night

Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion

GATLINBURG, TN

From $32/night

Abram’S Creek Campground

Gatlinburg, TN

From $30/night

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