Great Smoky Mountains National Park fees increasing by 25 percent for front-country campgrounds and picnic pavilions.
Front-country campgrounds are developed and can accommodate tents, travel trailers, and motorhomes. The campgrounds have restrooms with cold running water and flush toilets. Each individual campsite has a fire grate and picnic table.
The new fees, starting March 1, will help with the rising costs of operations, reduce maintenance requirements and initiate needed improvements.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park maintains developed campgrounds at 10 locations:
• Abrams Creek
• Balsam Mountain
• Big Creek
• Cades Cove
• Cataloochee
• Cosby
• Deep Creek
• Elkmont
• Look Rock
• Smokemont
“Park visitors have long enjoyed camping and picnicking across the park in spectacular settings that offer space for relaxation and renewal,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “Maintaining and servicing these facilities in the mountains presents a unique set of challenges and, with increasing costs, these fee increases are necessary to ensure the continual care and operation of these special places.”
There are nine open campgrounds, seven group campgrounds, six picnic pavilions and five horse campgrounds.
Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain and Big Creek campgrounds will be added to the National Recreation Reservation System to help improve operational efficiency.
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