Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion

Great Smoky Mountains National Park — riverside, fishing, hiking

Location: GATLINBURG, TN, TN

Price: From $32 per night

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (30 reviews)

Season: May through October

Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this picnic pavilion creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion can accommodate up to 70 guests and offers a covered eating area and multiple grills, making it an ideal location for a party or family get-together. The pavilion may be reserved for a morning or evening block, so visitors who wish to use the area for a full day should rese

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/metcalf-bottoms-picnic-pavilion to be notified when sites open up.

Metcalf Bottoms offers a secluded, shaded setting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with direct access to over 800 miles of maintained trails and the Little River for fishing and wading.

Wildlife alert: Eastern Black Bear and American Black Bear present in area; Timber Rattlesnake also documented within 8km radius.

Insider tips for Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion: Book early as this is a popular federal campground with only 2 tent sites Walk to the river and wade in the cold water for a refreshing experience The picnic pavilion accommodates large groups for gatherings

Skip Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion if: You need RV hookups or electrical hookups. You visit outside May-October operating season. Bathroom and facility cleanliness is a priority based on some visitor reports.

Best time to visit Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.

Nearby campgrounds: Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains (Gatlinburg, TN), Appalachian Clubhouse (Gatlinburg, TN), Twin Creeks Picnic Pavilion (GATLINBURG, TN), Anthony Creek Horse Camp (Townsend, TN).

Cell Phone Coverage at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion

Cell signal at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion (GATLINBURG, 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.

CamperWatch
CamperWatch›TN›Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion
Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion — photo 1
Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion — photo 2
Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion — photo 3
See all photos
Great Smoky Mountains National Park — riverside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion

Share:
GATLINBURG, TN, TN★ 4.7 (30 reviews)From $32/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this picnic pavilion creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion can accommodate up to 70 guests and offers a covered eating area and multiple grills, making it an ideal location for a party or family get-together. The pavilion may be reserved for a morning or evening block, so visitors who wish to use the area for a full day should reserve both time slots.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 Metcalf Bottoms never disappoints.

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
HookupsNo hookups.
PetsAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Fishing

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 need RV hookups or electrical hookups✕ You visit outside May-October operating season✕ Bathroom and facility cleanliness is a priority based on some visitor reports

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early as this is a popular federal campground with only 2 tent sites

Walk to the river and wade in the cold water for a refreshing experience

The picnic pavilion accommodates large groups for gatherings

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally during these months only

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: Eastern Black Bear and American Black Bear present in area; Timber Rattlesnake also documented within 8km radius.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
865-436-1261· Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Getting there →

There is no street address for the picnic pavilion Pavilion is 15 miles west of Gatlinburg, TN on Little River Road. Take Newfound Gap Road (akaUS441) south from Gatlinburg and turn west on Little River Road (TN73) at the Sugarlands Visitors Center. Go 10 miles and turn right at picnic area sign. Picnic pavilion is on west side of picnic area.

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.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion cost per night?+
Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion costs $32 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion open?+
Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion?+
Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion?+
Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion 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 Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion open, and what are check-in times?+
Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion 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.

$32 /night★ 4.7 (30)
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 Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion cost per night?+
What season is Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion open?+
Does Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains

Gatlinburg, TN

From $30/night

Appalachian Clubhouse

Gatlinburg, TN

From $300/night

Twin Creeks Picnic Pavilion

GATLINBURG, TN

From $75/night

Anthony Creek Horse Camp

Townsend, TN

From $30/night

Own a campground nearby?

List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.

List your campground →
$32 /nightNo booking fees
+TRIPCheck availability