Big Creek Horse Camp
Great Smoky Mountains National Park — fishing, hiking
Location: Waynesville, NC, NC
Price: From $36 per night
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (10 reviews)
Season: May through October
The only horse camp in the Great Smoky Mountains with potable water and flushing toilets! Pack up your horses for a getaway at Big Creek Horse Camp, located on far northeastern side of Smoky Mountains National Park, approximately 16 miles from Newport, Tennessee. This campsite sits along the gently rolling waters of Big Creek and offers miles of horse trails with breathtaking scenic backdrops.
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, Showers, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/big-creek-horse-camp to be notified when sites open up.
Big Creek Horse Camp is the only horse camp in Great Smoky Mountains with potable water and flushing toilets, offering miles of scenic horse trails along gently rolling creek waters on the park's northeastern side.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear and American Elk present in area. Also watch for North American River Otters near Big Creek and Ruffed Grouse in rolling terrain.
Insider tips for Big Creek Horse Camp: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 5 tent sites and high demand You MUST have a horse to camp here; this is exclusively a horse camp Located 16 miles east of Newport, TN via I-40 Exit 451 (Waterville) — easily accessible from that corridor
Skip Big Creek Horse Camp if: You don't have a horse — camping is restricted to horse owners only. You need RV hookups — no hookups available at sites; bring self-contained unit or tent camp only. You want year-round access — seasonal operations May through October only.
Best time to visit Big Creek Horse Camp: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Big Creek Group Camp (Waynesville, NC), Cosby Group Camp (Cosby, TN), Cosby Picnic Pavilion (Cosby, TN), Harmon Den Campground (Mars Hill, NC).
Cell Phone Coverage at Big Creek Horse Camp
Cell signal at Big Creek Horse 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.
The only horse camp in the Great Smoky Mountains with potable water and flushing toilets! Pack up your horses for a getaway at Big Creek Horse Camp, located on far northeastern side of Smoky Mountains National Park, approximately 16 miles from Newport, Tennessee. This campsite sits along the gently rolling waters of Big Creek and offers miles of horse trails with breathtaking scenic backdrops.
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 5 tent sites and high demand
You MUST have a horse to camp here; this is exclusively a horse camp
Located 16 miles east of Newport, TN via I-40 Exit 451 (Waterville)
easily accessible from that corridor
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 →
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. Drive up Big Creek Park Road. Shortly after passing the Ranger Station, take the first left turn into the horse camp. Coordinates: 35°45'15.7"N 83°06'25.8"W 35.754361, -83.107167 Mailing Address: (Do not use
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 Horse Camp cost per night?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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