Exploring Cades Cove- What To See Plus Helpful Tips From A Local

Cades Cove Campground is perched on the edge of one of the most scenic parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the peaceful and historic valley of Cades Cove. This is the biggest reason to pick Cades Cove versus the other 10 frontcountry campgrounds in the Smokies.

I grew up in nearby Knoxville and still live near the park today. I can tell you that Cades Cove is one of the best parts of the Smokies-- if you can manage to see it without the crowds. Camping here is one of the ways to do that.

Cades Cove Campground is pretty typical for a large national park campground-- it has 150+ individual campsites and 4 group campsites spread out over 3 loops so it is indeed large. It’s typical because the campsites are fairly close together and generally lack privacy, bathrooms have flush toilets and sinks (but no showers), and you will find a ranger station and a well-stocked campground store on site.

WHY YOU SHOULD CAMP AT CADES COVE CAMPGROUND

Location, location, location. Being so close to Cades Cove itself means you can walk over early in the morning before the loop road opens to cars and enjoy the scenic splendor of this gorgeous valley in a little peace and quiet.

Other reasons I like Cades Cove Campground is that it has good hiking trails that you can walk to from the campground, Abrams Creek for the kids to wade and splash in on hot days, and horseback rides at the stable in the cove for something different.

Take advantage of camping right there to see the sunrise over the mountains as this is truly spectacular and worth hauling yourself out of the sleeping bag (and I say this as 100% not a morning person. At all). Hint- Go to the far side of the cove by sunrise for the full effect. It’s awesome to watch.

As a camper at Cades Cove, you can easily pop over near sunset too. Going after most people have left for the day and getting to watch the sky light up in red and pink as the sun dips behind the mountains is a fairly unforgettable way to end a day in the Smokies.

You can even walk or bike the loop road at night, although I would definitely wait for a full moon. You won’t be the only one out there on those nights but it certainly isn’t busy. And it will definitely be an activity that the kids will remember.

Cades Cove has a gorgeous tranquility to it not found during the day when the hordes of cars cause hours long traffic jams. Camping right there puts you in the best position to find those moments in the early morning or evening. I continue to camp at Cades Cove Campground for this reason alone.

About Cades Cove

Once a thriving community of over 600 people that farmed and raised cattle, Cades Cove residents were bought out by the federal government when the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was formed in the early 1930s. The park service preserved some of their cabins, barns, and even the grist mill starting in 1945, so much of it looks just like it did when the people left.

The park has a short introduction to the history of Cades Cove on its website and Wikipedia has a far more detailed, and entertaining, entry. It includes descriptions of family feuds, Confederate marauders, and moonshining. (It is Wikipedia so take everything with a grain of salt but it makes for great reading.)

Nowadays you can drive the 11 mile, one way loop and stop at one of the 10 historic sites along the way, all of which are wonderfully preserved and restored early settler structures.

The park service kept the meadow in the center of Cades Cove instead of letting it reforest so you really get a feel for how the place looked in the late 1800s as a farming community. Plus, the lack of dense forest means you have an unobstructed view of the ridgelines surrounding the cove, making for fantastic panoramic photos.

A Review of Cades Cove Campground

The campground is split into 2 loops- B loop and C loop. (There are 5 A sites in B Loop and “A” stands for accessible.)

C loop forbids generators while B loop allows generators from 8am- 8pm. RVs and tents are pretty evenly mixed between the 2 loops although usually you will find a bit more tents on C loop because of the prohibition on generators.

Almost all sites can be used by RVs and tents except for a few tent-only sites scattered throughout the campground due to the driveway configuration for that specific site. The max length of the RV/motorhome allowed is listed in the site description on the recreation.gov website where you can reserve sites. It varies from site to site based on driveway length.

***Reservations are STRONGLY recommended, especially in summer and fall when the Smokies are extremely busy.

You are not required to buy a parking tag to park at your campsite but you will need one if you take your car anywhere else in the park. As of March 2023, you will need a parking pass to park anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes. Parking passes can be bought online, at all Visitor Centers, and at a few other places, like the Townsend Visitor Center. Passes are $5 for the day, $15 for the week, and $40 for a year. They are not transferable either, meaning you will need one for each car you plan on driving into the park. The GSMNP website has lots of details and FAQ about the new parking passes. These new passes will help pay for some much needed maintenance throughout the park, including at rest areas and campgrounds.

GROUP SITES IN CADES COVE CAMPGROUND IN THE SMOKIES

There are 4 group sites on their own loop behind the individual sites. They are a decent size with 2 sites sleeping 20 people and 2 sites sleeping 30 people (min # of 7 people at both types). G3 has a large covered picnic table pavilion adjacent to it and is handicapped accessible. The group sites share one bathhouse with flush toilets but no showers.

BATHROOMS

There are restroom buildings with several flush toilets and sinks with running water- 2 buildings in B loop and 2 in C loop. Cades Cove does not have showers nor does any campground in the park.

The bathrooms are pretty basic and cleanliness can sometimes depend on your fellow campers being hygienic people since there about 35 or so campsites sharing each building. You don’t want to camp right next to the building for that reason either as there is lots of traffic coming in and out.

There is a dump station for RVs in B loop.

CADES COVE CAMPGROUND STORE

The camp store is pretty well stocked and you can get your heat-treated firewood, ice, and basic camping supplies there. (You can get ice and firewood after hours as well, plus whatever you can find in the vending machines.)

Cold drinks, lots of snack food, plus s’more supplies and basic picnic supplies (paper plates, Solo cups, napkins, etc) are also stocked in the camp store. You can find good coffee there too as Artistic Bean is a local coffee company. They don’t do lattes or any fancy things but at least the coffee in the pot is good.

The store has a seasonal deli offering pizzas, burgers, ice cream, and to go sandwiches for a picnic. The ice cream is a huge favorite with the kids.

Click on images below to enlarge

BIKE RENTALS

The campground store also rent bikes spring- fall and you are going to want to be first in line when they open at 730am on Wednesdays as the bikes are commonly all gone by 830am.

Last time I rented (June 2020), we were in line at 715 am and we got some of the last bikes by the time we got to the front at 8am. If you don’t get a bike on the first pass, then you end up waiting for people to return theirs so the wait times stretch to 90 minutes or more.

The bikes aren’t great but they aren’t bad either, meaning they are quite heavy but in good shape generally, with working brakes and the gears shifted as they should (on ours at least).

They do rent kids bikes and provide helmets with every bike rental--helmets are required for kids 16 and under. And I would recommend that everyone should wear one. The hills can be steep and the roads slick with dew, rain, mist, etc- it’s the Smokies. It’s wet all the time. Plus, I have seen deer suddenly decide to cross the road in between cyclists.

Every season there is at least one fatality or emergency helicopter airlift to our local hospital of someone who has wrecked their bike on the loop and was not wearing a helmet. Take your time and be safe!

GENERAL CAMPGROUND RULES

Dogs are allowed on a max 6 foot leash. Bikes are allowed as well, but not scooters or skateboards.

Food storage safety is enforced because bears happen. And coyotes and raccoons and other unwanted visitors to your campsite. Food must be stored in your vehicle or other hard-sided, bear-proof container when you are not preparing it or eating it. The rangers will confiscate anything they find left unattended.

Firewood must be heat-treated. You can buy it from the campground store or most grocery stores and gas stations in nearby Townsend and Walland will carry the correct kind. You can gather any down sticks you find as kindling but as this is an extremely busy campground, the ground is usually picked clean.

Quiet hours are from 10am - 6am. Please be a considerate neighbor. This campground is tightly packed and noise travels.

Six people are the max allowed per site and 2 vehicles. Campers, trailers, and pop- ups count as a vehicle.

You can use hammocks but you must stay in your campsite and no more than 2 hammocks attached to any tree.

Which Campsites Are The Best in Cades Cove Campground?

I think the sites on B loop tend to be a bit larger and more private in general but tent people enjoy C loop because generators aren’t allowed. None of the sites in Cades Cove Campground are really large so anything with a bit of shrubbery or some trees between you and your neighbors is what I call a good site.

Best Campsites In C Loop

(Generator Free Loop)

The rangers say C21 and C56 are their favorites in C loop and I have to say I agree. Those 2 sites are some of the largest and most private to be found in C loop.

Other favorites in C loop are C42 and C44.

Best Campsites In B Loop

(Generators Allowed 8am- 8pm)

The sites at the end of each row are generally the biggest and most private. I also like the ones on the last row that back up to the group sites (unless you get a loud group in one of the group sites I guess).

B18, B19, B20, B21, B67, B68, B69, and B70 are all on the end of rows on the Abrams Creek side of B loop and all of those sites have good space from your neighbors.

Particularly, B21, B18, B70, and B68 are our first choices for campsites in Cades Cove, even with the generators on this loop and us being dedicated tent campers.

The campsites on the last row that back up to the group sites were also pretty nice so look for availability at B 70, B72, B 74, B76, B 78, B80, B84, and B85. These would be my second choice after the end of the rows near Abrams Creek. (Or C21 or C22 in C loop).

The sites on the opposite end of the rows of B loop from Abrams Creek (B39, B42, B43, B44, and B83), aren’t quite as private for tent people because of how the tent pads are situated but fine for RVs.

There are a few other campsites in B loop we like besides the ones at ends of the rows and on the last row. B59, B61, B38, B24, B16, and B14 are decent sites that at least have space to one side or the other. In fact, B16 is one we would be pretty happy with as a first choice.

Things To See and Do While Camping At Cades Cove Campground

As a camper at Cades Cove, you have plenty of things to do near the campground. Exploring the historic structures in Cades Cove, hiking nearby trails, horseback riding, and creekside picnics will keep your days filled with some of the best activities the Smokies has to offer. We’ve listed some of our favorites here along with some helpful tips to maximize your enjoyment of this beautiful area of the park.

The pretty scenery, great hiking trails in the cove, and the interesting historic structures make Cades Cove a popular attraction for all of the 6 million annual visitors to the Smokies. And all of those visitors means that the one way (and one lane) loop road gets unbelievably congested.

It can easily take an hour or more to drive the 11 miles around the cove (and that’s if you don’t stop anywhere). If a bear or a couple of elk are hanging out near the road, forget doing anything else that day. You will be stuck there for hours. No joke, you can walk the loop faster than you can drive some afternoons.

GO EARLY OR LATE WHEN EXPLORING CADES COVE

The key to seeing and actually enjoying Cades Cove’s scenic splendor is figuring out how to avoid everyone else. And that happens when the road is closed to cars-- before 8am everyday, or all day on Wednesdays from spring until late fall.

Or you can head to the loop road late in the afternoon/early evening when most people have returned back to their hotels in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. There is still traffic, just a lot less of it.

Camping at the park’s Cades Cove Campground means you are right there to get on the loop road early in the morning before the loop road opens at 8am, which is by far the best time to see wildlife. (The bears don’t like the crowds anymore than I do.)

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CAR-FREE WEDNESDAYS (SEASONALLY)

Take advantage of the park’s car free Wednesdays from May-September (check the website as specific dates change year to year.) This is a great way to explore the entire 11 mile loop and its historic sites in detail. On foot or on pedal is by far the best way to enjoy the scenic splendor of Cades Cove. You really get a sense of disconnecting and slowing down from modern life for a few hours.

It’s easy to find a peaceful corner at these car-free times and take a moment to soak up the pretty. You can do the whole 11 mile loop road or use the gravel lanes that cut through the middle of the valley to make either a 4 mile or an 8 mile long loop.

If you have young children, you can plop them in the stroller and walk the 4 mile loop if you aren’t up for the entire 11 miles. Distance runners love to do the “Loop Lope” and get a T- shirt while hikers with bad knees appreciate the chance to get some mileage in without tripping over roots and rocks.

You can also put a leash on the dog and head out on foot (dogs can go anywhere cars can go in the park but not on any trails). Just make sure leash is a good one because there are bears and deer and turkeys all close to the road at times. All those visitors means the animals of the park are pretty used to people and don’t always give a wide berth.

For more information on biking Cades Cove Loop, see our blog “Your Guide To Biking Cades Cove.” It tells you everything you need to know about biking the loop with kids.

Tips On Touring Cades Cove Loop In The Smokies

The kids will enjoy walking around the historic buildings to explore what life was like before electricity or heaven forbid, the internet. You can even go upstairs in some of the cabins to explore the lofts where usually all the kids in the family would have slept together. (So many chances to remind them how good they have it now!)

You can pick up a brochure explaining the history of the cove and what to see on an auto tour at the ranger’s station by Cades Cove Campground or at the Visitor Center in the Cable Mill Historic Area. I believe the booklet costs $1. Or you can buy it online.

STOP BY THE VISITOR CENTER

The Visitor Center is located in the Cable Mill Historic Area at the opposite end of the loop from the campground. If you have time, the kids may want to participate in a ranger program or complete their junior ranger badge here. This is a good stop if you only do one because there is a lot to see here.

A historic grist mill, smokehouse, and two barns are in the Cable Mill Historic Area as well as the Becky Cable house, which was one of the largest and fanciest houses in the cove. The grist mill is a working mill and has frequent demonstrations. The kids like the long flume that brings water to the wheel from the creek.

You’ll find decent restrooms next to the parking area for the Cable Mill Historic Area and the Visitor Center has a book store/ gift shop. You will find lots of great books about the cove and the Smokies in general, especially a few excellent but harder-to-find, locally published books. The kids corner is well stocked too.

You can also get water bottles and a few pre-packaged snacks like trail mix at the Visitor Center but they otherwise don’t carry much in the way of food so don’t plan on this as anything but an emergency option for hungry kiddos.

HIT THE LESS CROWDED PLACES ON CADES COVE LOOP ROAD

All of the historic sites are interesting but if you are looking to explore in a little bit of peace and quiet, stick to the ones not directly on the road like #2- Primitive Baptist Church, #5- Elijah Oliver Cabin, and #7- Henry Whitehead Cabin.

#10 -Carter Shields Cabin is another favorite although it is right on the loop road. Not many people stop at this little place though, because it is the last one on the loop and they tend to be over it by that time.

The John Oliver Cabin is a little away from the road but since it is the first place people come to when beginning the loop, everyone usually stops here. It is beautiful but tends to be crowded. Take advantage of camping here and walk over late one afternoon from the campground. (See “Hikes” below).

EXPLORE CADES COVE BY BIKE

As said before, exploring the loop by bike is by far the most fun. It will take you maybe 60- 90 min to bike the whole 11 miles without stopping at any places (more like 90 at a leisurely pace and walking up some of the steeper hills). So you can stop at most or all of the historic places to look around and still finish the loop easily in 3-5 hours.

Start mid- morning after a hearty breakfast, pack a lunch to enjoy at the far side of the cove, and you will still be done by early afternoon, just in time for a nap back at the campsite. That’s my kind of vacation.

*INSIDER TIP- TAKE TWO DAYS If TOURING THE COVE BY CAR

If you can’t make it here on a Wednesday for the car-free day, then I would do the loop over 2 days in order to minimize time in the soul-sucking traffic. Plan on being ready right when the loop opens at 8 am on both days.

On Day 1, I would head straight back to the far end of the loop to see the #4- Missionary Baptist Church, #5- Elijah Oliver Cabin, #6- Cable Mill Historic Area, and #7- Henry Whitehead House. Then come back to the campground.

On Day 2, again start at 8am. Go first to #2- Primitive Baptist Church and #3- the Missionary Baptist Church, then cut off the loop at Hyatt Lane to come across to the #8- Dan Lawson House. Then finish the loop back to the campground, stopping at #9- Tipton Shields Place and #10- Carter Shields Cabin on the way out.

If you are camping, I would hike over to #1- John Oliver Cabin one afternoon/evening along the Rich Mountain Trail, which starts from parking area at the beginning of the loop road. This is an easy, kid- friendly short hike and evening is a better time to see animals. See Hikes below.

Easy Hiking Trails Near Cades Cove Campground

These trails are within walking distance of the Cades Cove Campground

NATURE TRAIL

Cades Cove has a cute little nature trail off of C loop.

ANTHONY CREEK TRAIL

Actually starting from the picnic area adjacent to the campground, Anthony Creek Trail is one of our favorites in the park. Wide and fairly flat for the first 1.5 miles, it is an easy enough trail even for small children although it does have several single-log bridges. You can hike its entire 3.5 mile length to where it intersects with Bote Mountain Trail or you can turn right at 1.7 miles onto Russell Field and hike up this steep trail to the Appalachian Trail (3.5 miles). Both are great trails through dense forest.

Hiking In The Smokys has a good description of Anthony Creek Trail to Russell Field as well as a description of Anthony Creek Trail to Bote Mountain (to Spence Field).

RICH MOUNTAIN TRAIL

The trailhead is located at the beginning of the one-way section of the road thru Cades Cove, near the parking area that is just before the gates that close the loop road at night. You can hike the relatively flat, 1.4 mile long section to the John Oliver Cabin which is definitely the best way to visit this cabin if you are camping in Cades Cove.

If your family is up for a longer and more strenuous hike, then do the an 8.5 mile loop (go Rich Mountain to Indian Grave Gap Trail to Crooked Arm Ridge Trail) which takes you up to the ridge looking over Cades Cove and back down again to the trailhead.

Hiking In The Smokys also has a detailed description of Rich Mountain- Indian Grave Gap- Crooked Arm.

These trails are just a short drive from the Cades Cove Campground

ABRAMS FALLS TRAIL

One of the most popular trails in the park, Abrams Falls is a lovely hike that is 5.2 miles round-trip and is only moderately difficult so definitely a possibility for most families. Because it is so popular, I would absolutely plan on doing this first thing in the morning as the parking area can quickly fill up in the summer or on fall weekends.

I last did this hike on a car-free Wednesday, biking to the trailhead off the loop road, doing the hike, and then biking back to my car at the picnic area. If you are up for it, this is a pretty perfect way to spend a day. I started at 830 am and was finished by 1 pm. The hike took me 2.5 hours with a lunch stop at the falls.

As always, we love the description of Abrams Falls Trail in the blog Hiking In The Smokys.

GREGORY BALD TRAIL

This is a strenuous hike but absolutely worth it especially in mid to late June when the azaleas atop the bald burst into flame. At 11.3 miles round-trip and 3000 ft of elevation gain, this hike is not for small kids or anybody without some hiking experience. But for those up to it, this is one of the best hikes in the Smokies.

The trailhead is at the end of Forge Creek Rd, which is the short road heading due south from loop road near the Cable Mill Historic Area.

Gregory Bald Trail (via Gregory Ridge Trail) in Hiking In The Smokys is our go- to description.

Horseback Riding In Cades Cove

Cades Cove Riding Stables has guided trail rides, carriage rides, and even hay rides for all kinds of riders, kids to grandparents. They are located just across the road from the campground, so it’s easy to walk to in order to be first in line when they open at 9am.

TRAIL RIDES

Trail rides are an hour long and cost $35 per person ages 13 and older ($25 for ages 6-12). You have to be at least 4 ft tall, 6 years old, and under 250 pounds. Helmets are required for kids under 16 and strongly recommended for everyone else (they are provided free of charge).

CARRIAGE RIDES

The carriage rides are 30 -45 min and cost $15 per person ages 13 and up ($10 per person ages 2-12). The trail rides and carriage rides use their own trail from the stables that eventually meets up with Anthony Creek Trail. It is a pretty ride, but not terribly exciting. The cowboys do their best though to make it entertaining, and some of them are quite the comedians. The carriage rides are a very popular option for younger kids.

HAYRIDES

The hayrides are truck pulled and go around the loop road so they can take 1-3 hours depending on traffic. They are the same price as the carriage rides and leave at scheduled times 3-4 times a day depending on the season. See the website for details.

The stables are open 9-430 everyday March- Nov and are generally first-come, first-served.

Splashing Around In Abrams Creek

Abrams Creek is a year-round creek and is always refreshingly brisk- just deep enough to sit down in spots but not deep enough for swimming. It is perfect place for kids to rock hop and splash on hot summer days.

Take a long bike ride or hike in the morning and then spend the afternoon at the creek. It is the closest you’ll get to a bath while camping at Cades Cove anyway!

If you’re not staying at the campground, you can still enjoy Abrams Creek from the Cades Cove Picnic Area.

Other Places To Stay Besides Cades Cove Campground

So you couldn’t get a good campsite or maybe you have someone who isn’t super into camping, especially if showers aren’t an option. What is your best Plan B option, where you can still take advantage of being near the cove for early morning starts and evening visits?

The answer is Townsend, Tennessee, also known as the “Peaceful Side Of The Smokies.” Just 25 minutes from the campground, this cute little town has a fraction of the traffic of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge but still has lots of amenities like good restaurants and a decent sized grocery store.

It even has a mini golf place (but no indoor skydiving) and only one fudge shop instead of one on every corner like in Gatlinburg. It is by far our preference for staying near the Smokies when you can’t camp in the park itself.

Little Arrow Resort has glamping tents and tiny houses in a beautifully renovated campground with good WiFi, a coffee bar, and a swimming pool. This is great option for those who need to camp but want a shower. For cabin rentals and other options, check out our blog of the places we recommend in “Where To Stay In Townsend- The Gateway To the Smokies.”

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