Big Creek Group Camp
Great Smoky Mountains National Park — fishing, hiking
Location: Waynesville, NC, NC
Price: From $30 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (4 reviews)
Season: May through October
Big Creek Group Camp is located in the far northeastern corner of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near the Tennessee-North Carolina border. With the gentle waters of Big Creek running alongside the site, and a handful of trailheads within walking distance, this campsite offers an ideal setting for group camping excursions.Big Creek Group Camp offers an unforgettable outdoor experience combined with the convenience of flush toilets, drinking water and sinks. The campsite can accommodate
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/big-creek-group-camp to be notified when sites open up.
Big Creek Group Camp sits in the far northeastern corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park with gentle creek waters and multiple trailheads within walking distance, including access to the Appalachian Trail and numerous hiking/horseback riding trails.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear and American Elk observed in the area via iNaturalist—use proper food storage and maintain distance from wildlife.
Insider tips for Big Creek Group Camp: Book early—this is a federal campground with only 1 site and seasonal operation Bring your own water hauling setup; the campground has drinking water but limited facilities for a group Fish Big Creek on-site and explore nearby hiking trails to the Appalachian Trail without leaving the property
Skip Big Creek Group Camp if: You need RV hookups—no hookups available. You're visiting November-April—seasonal closure. You prefer established campgrounds with multiple site options—only 1 group site available.
Best time to visit Big Creek Group Camp: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Big Creek Horse Camp (Waynesville, NC), Cosby Group Camp (Cosby, TN), Cosby Picnic Pavilion (Cosby, TN), Cataloochee Group Camp (Waynesville, NC).
Cell Phone Coverage at Big Creek Group Camp
Cell signal at Big Creek Group Camp (Waynesville, NC): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
Big Creek Group Camp is located in the far northeastern corner of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near the Tennessee-North Carolina border. With the gentle waters of Big Creek running alongside the site, and a handful of trailheads within walking distance, this campsite offers an ideal setting for group camping excursions.Big Creek Group Camp offers an unforgettable outdoor experience combined with the convenience of flush toilets, drinking water and sinks. The campsite can accommodate up to 25 guests and tent pads, grills and fire rings are provided.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with only 1 site and seasonal operation
Bring your own water hauling setup; the campground has drinking water but limited facilities for a group
Fish Big Creek on-site and explore nearby hiking trails to the Appalachian Trail without leaving the property
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
Campground is at the end of Big Creek Entrance Rd. Waterville, NC, 28785 (Haywood County) Very close to the NC-TN State line. The campground is located off I-40 Exit 451 (Waterville). It sixteen miles east of Newport, TN. Follow Waterville road, crossing over the Pigeon River, past the Walters Power Generating Station and continue one mile to the 4-way intersection at Mt Sterling Gap. Follow the signs to Big Creek. The 4 way intersection is composed of Big Creek Campground Road and Waterville Rd
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#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, speakableHow much does Big Creek Group Camp cost per night?+
What season is Big Creek Group Camp open?+
Does Big Creek Group Camp have hookups?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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