North Carolina · Camping · Cherokee

Balsam Mountain Campground

Photo: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain

43
sites: Sep–Oct
best months

Clear today

Weather is good · OpenWeather · checked 11 h ago

Is Balsam Mountain Campground open right now?

Closure reported

The National Park Service lists a closure that covers Balsam Mountain Campground.

Straight Fork and the one-way section of Balsam Mountain Road closed.
Park closure covering Great Smoky Mountains National Park · NPS · Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Seasonal road closures
Park closure covering Great Smoky Mountains National Park · NPS · Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Park Headquarters Road is closed
Park closure covering Great Smoky Mountains National Park · NPS · Great Smoky Mountains National Park

As of Nov 10, 6:00 PM EST · Source: NPS · Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

43 sites for tent and RV campingReservable on Recreation.gov
At 5,358 ft
Near CherokeeGreat Smoky Mountains National Park

Balsam Mountain Campground is located in a relatively remote part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The secluded setting offers visitors the ability to enjoy a multitude of recreational activities without the crowds which are sometimes common in other parts of the park.

Local outfitters

Hurshel's Outfitters28 mi away
GSM Outfitters28 mi away

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Also worth it near here
- Bunches CreekCanoeing · ~4 min drive
- Cataloochee Ski AreaDownhill skiing · ~8 min drive
- Mountains-to-Sea TrailHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: Dallas Epperson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Mingo FallsWaterfall · ~10 min drivePhoto: Kaldari, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Best time to visit Balsam Mountain Campground
Best months: September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
1. Jan
  39° / 22°
  13 wet
2. Feb
  42° / 25°
  12 wet
3. Mar
  49° / 30°
  13 wet
4. Apr
  58° / 38°
  13 wet
5. May
  66° / 47°
  15 wet
6. Jun
  71° / 54°
  16 wet
7. Jul
  74° / 57°
  16 wet
8. Aug
  72° / 56°
  14 wet
9. Sep
  68° / 51°
  11 wet
10. Oct
  59° / 41°
  10 wet
11. Nov
  50° / 32°
  10 wet
12. Dec
  43° / 27°
  12 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Newfound Gap, TN, 14.7 mi away at 5,040 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Closures we've recorded since August 2026
- Balsam Mountain Campground is closed
  Great Smoky Mountains National Park · seen Oct 11, 2026 → lifted Oct 12, 2026 · National Park Service
- US 441/Newfound Gap Road and Balsam Mountain Campground is closed
  Great Smoky Mountains National Park · seen Aug 29, 2026 → lifted Oct 11, 2026 · National Park Service
- Straight Fork and the one-way section of Balsam Mountain Road closed.
  Great Smoky Mountains National Park · seen Aug 23, 2026, no lift recorded · National Park Service