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Balsam Mountain Campground

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

🏕️ CampgroundGreat Smoky Mtns / Bryson CityNorth Carolina⭐ 4.4 (418)
Balsam Mountain Campground
🟢 4 open windows as of Oct 8 — soonest Fri Oct 9–Mon Oct 12
1 of the last 30 openings here were gone within 6 hours. That is shorter than the gap between the scheduled scans free alerts ride.
Availability checked 2h ago · changes fast, verify before you drive
🐕 Dogs allowed — all 43 sites here that publish a pet policy say yes.
Per-site pet policy from Recreation.gov site details (RIDB), checked 3d ago.
📈 CampSage caught 4 cancellations here in the last 7 days — set an alert below to catch the next one.
Book / check availability →🧭 Directions
💡 In short

Balsam Mountain Campground in North Carolina has 4 open booking windows on Recreation.gov right now, the soonest Fri Oct 9–Mon Oct 12. Reserve directly through the booking link above — cancellations go fast. To catch future openings the instant they appear, set a free CampSage cancellation alert.

📅 Open dates
Fri Oct 9 – Mon Oct 123 nights🗓 weekendbook these dates →opened 15h agosites #09, #26
Fri Oct 9 – Sun Oct 112 nights🗓 weekendbook these dates →opened 15h agosites #23, #03, #12, #20
Sat Oct 10 – Tue Oct 133 nightsbook these dates →👥 BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #28 & BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #29 next to each othersites #28, #29
Sun Oct 11 – Tue Oct 132 nightsbook these dates →👥 BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #21 & BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #22 next to each othersites #01, #13, #15, #21, #22, #27

📷 What these sites look like

Photos of sites that are open right now, from recreation.gov. Angles vary by park — usually the site and its parking pad.

Campsite BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #09 — Balsam Mountain Campground Site 9 Walk In
Site BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #09 · Balsam Mountain Campground Site 9 Walk InNPS
Campsite BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #09 — Balsam Mountain Campground Site 9
Site BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #09 · Balsam Mountain Campground Site 9NPS
Campsite BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #26 — A photo of Site 26 of Loop BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND at BAL
Site BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #26 · A photo of Site 26 of Loop BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND at BALNPS
Campsite BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #26 — A photo of Site 26 of Loop BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND at BAL
Site BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #26 · A photo of Site 26 of Loop BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND at BALNPS
Campsite BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #23 — A photo of Site 23 of Loop BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND at BAL
Site BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #23 · A photo of Site 23 of Loop BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND at BALNPS
Campsite BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #23 — A photo of Site 23 of Loop BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND at BAL
Site BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #23 · A photo of Site 23 of Loop BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND at BALNPS
Campsite BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #03 — Balsam Mountain Campground Site 3 Parking
Site BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #03 · Balsam Mountain Campground Site 3 ParkingNPS
Campsite BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #03 — Balsam Mountain Campground Site 3
Site BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #03 · Balsam Mountain Campground Site 3NPS
Campsite BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #12 — Balsam Mountain Campground Site 12
Site BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #12 · Balsam Mountain Campground Site 12NPS
Campsite BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #12 — Balsam Mountain Campground Stairs to Site 12
Site BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #12 · Balsam Mountain Campground Stairs to Site 12NPS
Campsite BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #20 — A photo of Site 20 of Loop BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND at BAL
Site BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #20 · A photo of Site 20 of Loop BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND at BALNPS
Campsite BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #20 — A photo of Site 20 of Loop BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND at BAL
Site BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND #20 · A photo of Site 20 of Loop BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND at BALNPS
⚡ EV charging nearby

Nearest DC fast charging: 10.2 mi away (straight line).

⚡ EV Connect10.2 midirections →
⚡ Greenlots11.6 midirections →
⚡ EV Connect11.6 midirections →

Distances are straight-line, not driving — the road can be much longer where a river, a lake or a canyon sits in between. From OpenStreetMap — community-mapped, so plug types can lag reality. Verify on your charging network’s app before counting on a charger.

🔭 Planning further ahead?

We watch the next 60 days closely — that's where cancellations show up. recreation.gov takes bookings out to about April 2027, so there may be 2+ night stays past our window.

📊 How often sites open up here

CampSage's scans caught 25 openings at Balsam Mountain Campground over the last 30 days, on 24 separate days, most of them for stays anywhere from same-day to about 13 days out and the openings typically covered 2–3 nights.

These are the openings our own scans saw — not a figure the booking system publishes. We re-check availability several times a day, so the real number can be higher.

🏕️ About this campground

💵 $30/nightStandard NonelectricTent Only Nonelectric🎒 backcountry🎒 biking🎒 car camping🎒 fishing🎒 hiking🎒 wildlife viewing

Ratings

4.4★★★★☆417 ratings
5★275
4★95
3★20
2★13
1★14
Star ratings from recreation.gov (they don't publish written review text). Read & leave reviews on recreation.gov ↗

📶 Cell coverage camper-reported

Verizon2.6/4
AT&T2.0/4
T-Mobile1.3/4
Sprint retired1.2/4

💡 Insider tips from campers

❓ Balsam Mountain Campground FAQ

How do I reserve a campsite at Balsam Mountain Campground?

Balsam Mountain Campground in North Carolina takes campsite reservations through Recreation.gov. On this page, use the “Book / check availability” button to open the live booking page, see which dates are free, and reserve your site.

How much does it cost to camp at Balsam Mountain Campground?

Campsite fees at Balsam Mountain Campground run about $30/night, as listed by Recreation.gov. Exact rates vary by site type, number of campers, and season.

How can I get a spot at Balsam Mountain Campground when it's fully booked?

Popular campgrounds like Balsam Mountain Campground often fill months ahead, but campers cancel every day and those sites reopen for booking. CampSage checks availability for you and sends a free email the instant a cancellation opens — set an alert on this page and you can grab the spot before anyone else.

How often do campsites open up at Balsam Mountain Campground?

CampSage's scans caught 25 openings at Balsam Mountain Campground over the last 30 days, on 24 separate days, most of them for stays anywhere from same-day to about 13 days out and the openings typically covered 2–3 nights. These are the openings our own scans saw — not a figure the booking system publishes. We re-check availability several times a day, so the real number can be higher.

Is Balsam Mountain Campground a good campground?

Balsam Mountain Campground holds an average rating of 4.4/5 from 418 camper ratings on Recreation.gov. The full star breakdown is shown above.

Is there cell service at Balsam Mountain Campground?

Of the carriers campers have reported on at Balsam Mountain Campground, Verizon rates highest at 2.6 out of 5 from 176 reports. See the carrier-by-carrier breakdown above — service can still vary by campsite, terrain, and weather.

Where is Balsam Mountain Campground located?

Balsam Mountain Campground is located in Great Smoky Mtns / Bryson City, North Carolina. Tap “Directions” above for driving directions, or see nearby campgrounds lower on this page.

🔔 Get a free opening alert
We'll email you when a site opens at Balsam Mountain Campground.
🎯 Only these dates (optional): to
🌙 Minimum stay (Pro):
Skip the 1-night midweek openings — only hear about stays worth the drive.
👥 Group size (Pro):
Camping with a group? Only hear about openings with that many sites NEXT TO EACH OTHER on the same dates — consecutive numbers in one loop, not just that many free somewhere in the park.
🚫 Skip site types (Pro):


Works where the booking system publishes per-site types (rec.gov campgrounds).
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📆 iCal feed  ·  📡 RSS feed

Running a camping/RV blog? Embed this widget free →

A live cancellation widget for Balsam Mountain Campground that updates itself — free, no account, no API key. The snippet includes a one-line credit under the widget; leaving it in is what keeps this free for everyone, and it tells your readers what they are looking at. Preview it.

Explore

Camping in Great Smoky Mountains National ParkEvery campground it managesCampgrounds near Great Smoky Mtns / Bryson CityNearby areas📖 Recreation.gov Booking Windows (2026)Booking guide📖 Campsite Cancellation Policies & RefundsBooking guide

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