Campground · NC
CATALOOCHEE GROUP CAMP
NC · Great Smoky Mountains National Park
CATALOOCHEE GROUP CAMP is generally lottery-hard to book. Across the 7 months we have reservation data for, difficulty peaks in May (10/10) and eases to its lowest in April (7/10). 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 (May), 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
- 3 tent-only sites
Activities: HISTORIC & CULTURAL SITE, BACKPACKING, WILDLIFE VIEWING, CAMPING
How much does it cost to camp at Cataloochee Group Camp?
Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use 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. Office phone numbers are given in the Facility Contact information for each campground.
Fee details as listed on Recreation.gov. Rates and passes change by season, so confirm the current price on Recreation.gov before you book.