Campground · NC
BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND
NC · Great Smoky Mountains National Park
BALSAM MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND is generally easy to book. Across the 6 months we have reservation data for, difficulty peaks in October (5/10) and eases to its lowest in June (2/10). The heat strip below breaks down every month — pick one for its full odds, lead-time chart, and easier nearby alternatives.
Booking difficulty by month
Midweek tip: in the busiest month (October), arrivals are lightest on Wednesday — shift your dates to improve your odds.
When reservations open
Booking window
Reservations open on a rolling 6-month window at 7:00 AM America/New York.
For example, sites for April 15, 2027 become bookable on October 15, 2026. Set a reminder a few minutes before release for the best shot.
Standard Recreation.gov 6-month rolling window: sites become bookable 6 months before arrival at 7:00 AM ET.
Sites & amenities
- 14 tent-only sites
- 43 RV sites
- 1 accessible sites
- Max RV length 24 ft
Activities: WILDLIFE VIEWING, HIKING, CAMPING, BIKING
How much does it cost to camp at Balsam Mountain Campground?
Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. Customers that check out early or do not plan to use their reservation MUST contact the campground office the day they leave or are due to check in, in order to receive a refund. Refund requests for early departure or non use of the site made AFTER the reservation has ended will be denied.
Fee details as listed on Recreation.gov. Rates and passes change by season, so confirm the current price on Recreation.gov before you book.