C56
Great Smoky Mountains National Park › Tennessee
› Blount County
› Cades Cove Campground
› Campsite #C56
Campsite #C56 at Cades Cove Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
$30
Campsite #C56
| Drive-In | 6 people |
| 24 ft | Back-In |
| 2 | fair |
2/26
2/27
Campsite #C56 Features: Drive-In access, Back-In parking, 24-foot driveway, Fire ring w/ Grill, Picnic Table, RV Site, Tent Site, Trailer Site, Pets Allowed
Campsite Reviews (25)
4.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 52% |
| 4 star | | 28% |
| 3 star | | 8% |
| 2 star | | 8% |
| 1 star | | 4% |
@AmyB6929249 · Camped on Dec 31, 2025 at Campsite #C56
For winter off season camping and as long as youre experienced and prepared to be completely self sufficient youll have a great time. Staff and law enforcement were out and visible throughout the day and night. Campground was clean. Staff was friendly.
No Service
@RickC6666798 · Camped on Jul 24, 2025 at Campsite #C56
Exploring the cove near the end of the day can help avoid some of the crowds and increase your chances of spotting wildlife.
No Service
@JenniferUCFDAD · Camped on Apr 11, 2025 at Campsite #C56
Perfectly located campground for riding bicycles and to the town of Townsend. Very clean bathrooms (no showers) and grounds. Sites were well spaced apart,
No Service
@RidleyS4967793 · Camped on Feb 9, 2025 at Campsite #C56
Absolutely no cell service, but that is A-ok
No Service
@BillyA0A6CE0BC · Camped on Jan 18, 2025 at Campsite #C56
We love visiting Cades Cove! We have driven the loop many times and camped a couple times now as well. Nothing but great things to say, the campground is very peaceful and always clean.
@HannahR5786163 · Camped on Jan 2, 2025 at Campsite #C56
Disappointing that we were surrounded by RVs using generators since apparently B loop wasnt open, which we werent aware of when we booked. We wanted a more peaceful experience, but campsite was good otherwise.
No Service
@JeffreyT545024 · Camped on Dec 11, 2024 at Campsite #C56
The park rangers were attentive and nice and the site is easy to get to as every site is pull up. The downsides: Campgrounds are stacked on each other. During freezing weather the bear proof garbage cans are frozen shut. Rangers recommending keeping food, bath goods, smelly stuff in car and there is a bear box on site for those with soft convertibles or jeep soft tops. Would make sense to have more of these throughout camp (or each site to protect cars from aggressive bears as they do in Redwoods NP). Rangers do not patrol grounds during quiet hours as a few sites had generators running all night even though not allowed.
No Service
@AliciaS4412732 · Camped on Nov 20, 2024 at Campsite #C56
Camped here in mid-November & campground was mostly empty which was nice. Sites are big and level. Campground store has coffee and snacks which is great. My complaints would have to be that the national park has inexplicably pulled soap out of the bathrooms (Cosby Campground too, which makes me think this has been done at all campgrounds), and there is not even hand cleaner. Be prepared to bring your own soap (honestly - so gross - we pay for parking passes now but we cant have soap???). Also the water was supposed to be turned on until Thanksgiving, but was already shut off as of 11-20 at the bathroom dish washing station. There is also no campground host so no one to enforce any rules should that be needed.
No Service
@GeorgeB9630400 · Camped on Sep 18, 2024 at Campsite #C56
Cades cove is wonderful. Campsites are great, bathrooms could be better. Electric bikes on closed loop Wednesdays are getting out of control. Not sure what non motorized vehicles mean.
No Service
@SharonH5098220 · Camped on Oct 31, 2023 at Campsite #C56
We enjoyed this campsite. The bathrooms were very clean and a quiet neighborhood on the no generators side. We would definitely stay here again.
Major Issues
@TimC9142347 · Camped on Sep 3, 2023 at Campsite #C56
Stayed at C56 and it offered a nice feeling of seclusion/privacy even though there were other campsites all around us. Would stay again.
No Service
@JohnK6536193 · Camped on Jun 6, 2023 at Campsite #C56
Moderately east roads to Cades Cove Campground, and easy traffic when we came into the campground entrance. Very friendly and helpful ranger and volunteer staff dying check-in. Well-maintained camp roads, common areas, and camp sites. The general store had basic supplies, tourist memorabilia, & ice cream. The only issue we encountered was the continuing noise of other campers late into the night; but, otherwise we slept well. Then the bike ride on the Wednesday-No-Vehicles-on-Cades Loop Road. BEARS! DEER! TURKEYS! and beautiful mountain view’s!!
No Service
@KarenB2737002 · Camped on May 20, 2023 at Campsite #C56
It was crowded but what could one expect from a campground in one of the most heavily visited NP in the USA?
No Service
@SteveL9386340 · Camped on Apr 28, 2023 at Campsite #C56
Really enjoyed being close to the Cades Cove loop so we could walk part of it.
No Service
@TamraM4919436 · Camped on Mar 23, 2023 at Campsite #C56
Budget cuts, no staff in office, toilets and bathrooms need thorough cleaning. Disappointed for a National Park. Left early.
@BrianS9986332 · Camped on Mar 10, 2022 at Campsite #C56
Even though my time was cut short due to weather, this was one of the most peaceful and "soul recharging" trips I have had in quite a long time. The campground was top notch and ran smoothly. Look forward to many return visits. Thank you to all the hard working park staff who do what they do behind the scenes, so to speak, to make sure visitors have a top notch experience.
@BoM20260FE1824 · Camped on Dec 3, 2021 at Campsite #C56
Cades Cove is 2 1/2 hours from my home and weve been going there for 15 years. We raised our 2 boys camping there and I still enjoy being there as much as I did the first time we went. Weve hiked all over, been around the loop dozens of times, and sat around hundreds of campfires and still plan on going every chance we get.
@BoM510 · Camped on Dec 3, 2021 at Campsite #C56
Cades Cove is 2 1/2 hours from my home and we’ve been going there for 15 years. We raised our 2 boys camping there and I still enjoy being there as much as I did the first time we went. We’ve hiked all over, been around the loop dozens of times, and sat around hundreds of campfires and still plan on going every chance we get.
@LizM9240496 · Camped on Oct 17, 2021 at Campsite #C56
Loved being at Cades Cove camping this fall (10/17-10/21). The weather was absolutely perfect for camping. Site 56 appeared larger than most and had some nice tree/foliage buffer around it for privacy. Only drawback was the dumpsters were emptied around 7 in the morning several times during our 5 day stay. The signage in the campground leading to sites could be better too. We were disappointed that there wasnt a day during the week that cars were not allowed in the loop, like there is during the summer, so that we could ride our bikes without the bumper to bumper traffic all day/ everyday. Wish there was a separate walking/bike path in Cades Cove! Might actually cut down on some of the vehicle traffic. We did 3 wonderful hikes but our favorite was the 8.2 mile Middle Prong to Greenbrier Ridge and back. The trail follows the stream with beautiful scenery and waterfalls along the way! We also went horseback riding and thoroughly enjoyed that too. Well be back!
@AndreaH128 · Camped on Sep 20, 2021 at Campsite #C56
Five bears, 3 turkeys and 2 deer and rain,rain,and more rain made for an excellent time! I had a great campsite. We set up a tent and had a level drive for my no build Odyssey van camper. There was plenty of trees that enabled us to put up tarps to keep a good size area dry so we could enjoy our time outside.
The bathrooms were well stocked and kept clean. The camp store offered enough selections of food and snacks to keep anyone happy though they are extremely overpriced....I hope some profit goes back to the park! Everyone was very nice and most all fellow campers were respectful.
I don't understand the reservation system for when I was making our reservations it appeared that there was very few sites available. When we arrived we found that very few sites were actually being used. This I could not understand. It appears that you can't just show up and select a site to use.
We did take advantage of driving the Cades Cove loop and enjoyed stopping at all the sites along the way!
The bathrooms were well stocked and kept clean. The camp store offered enough selections of food and snacks to keep anyone happy though they are extremely overpriced....I hope some profit goes back to the park! Everyone was very nice and most all fellow campers were respectful.
I don't understand the reservation system for when I was making our reservations it appeared that there was very few sites available. When we arrived we found that very few sites were actually being used. This I could not understand. It appears that you can't just show up and select a site to use.
We did take advantage of driving the Cades Cove loop and enjoyed stopping at all the sites along the way!
@MeredithC100 · Camped on Jul 27, 2021 at Campsite #C56
Clean, respectful, well stocked store, kind and helpful rangers, well groomed sites. Perfect!
Good
@PhilipN581 · Camped on Jul 11, 2021 at Campsite #C56
Excellent, quiet campground. Not sure who was in charge of cleaning the restrooms, but they did a fantastic job. I was really impressed with the clean bathrooms.
No Service
@JohnK538 · Camped on May 23, 2021 at Campsite #C56
I spent a week at the campground and enjoyed my stay. The only draw backs to the campground were the amount of people and the prices at the camp store. Some items are marked up greatly with the closest alterative shopping being twenty miles away. Nine dollars for a sack of wood that you can purchase for six dollars anywhere else for example. As for the amount of people issue, some campsites are literally on top of each other. My site was one of the most private ones and I was still trying to fall asleep with screaming kids ten feet from my tent in the next camp site. Overall I really enjoyed my time spent here and will be back again... with ear plugs for sleeping early to be up before sunrise.
No Service
@michaeld547 · Camped on Jan 29, 2021 at Campsite #C56
If Cades Cove is your destination then this is the campground for you. You can do the Cades Cove loop and turn right into the campground to get whatever you need and then get right back on either the nature trails or back to the loop. We had plenty of wildlife in the campground. The bath houses were clean and well stocked. But it’s bare bones, no showers, no hot water, no hook ups of any sort and the camp store was closed. Also, no cell phone service. So bring your supplies with you, if you do forget something you’re only about 40 minutes away from Townsend. All in all a great experience.
No Service
@BrittonW639 · Camped on Jan 16, 2021 at Campsite #C56
They closed the road due to snow so I could not get in. I called the campground number as directed online, nut never got an answer, and voicemail says "do not leave message". So I could not cancel and there is no way to get a refund.
I understand weather issues come up, but should I lose my fee if the park closed the road in? I drove all the way to townsend without any road issues.
I understand weather issues come up, but should I lose my fee if the park closed the road in? I drove all the way to townsend without any road issues.
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