fees, RV limits, trails & mountain biking

Tow String Horse Camp

National Park Service campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Cherokee, North Carolina.

$10nightly fee
3overnight sites
Reservablebooking
Not statedseason (agency text)
35 ftmax RV/trailer length
23named USFS/NPS trails within 5 mi (51.2 mi)
1.8 mibike trails within 5 mi

How it compares

  • With 3 sites it is the #84 largest of 86 North Carolina campgrounds that publish a site count (small and usually quieter).
  • Its lowest fee ($10) is equal to the North Carolina median of $10/night.
  • There are 50 other campgrounds in our data within 25 miles; 0 of them list a lower starting fee.
  • 77% of North Carolina campgrounds that publish a length limit accept a rig this long (35 ft).
  • 100% of sites with a shade rating are listed as shaded or partly shaded.
  • Pets allowed on 3 of 3 sites; campfires allowed on 3 (subject to seasonal fire bans).
  • Straight-line distance: Asheville ~42 mi, Knoxville ~46 mi, Abingdon ~109 mi.

Site mix

Equestrian3

Amenities & rules

Fire pitsGrillsLantern postsPicnic tablesTent padsPets allowed

Fee notes from the agency: 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…

Trails within 5 miles

TrailClosest pointMapped miles within 5 miSource
Chambers Cemetery Access0.1 mi0.6NPS
Tow String Horse Trail0.3 mi2.1NPS
Smokemont Stables Trail to Towstring Horse Trail0.4 mi1.8NPS
Conner Cemetery Access0.4 mi0.1NPS
Newton Bald Concession Horse Trail Loop0.8 mi1.4NPS
Queen Cemetery Access1.1 mi0.2NPS
Newton Bald Trail1.2 mi5.0NPS
Smokemont Loop Trail1.4 mi3.5NPS
Mountains-to-Sea Trail1.4 mi8.3NPS
Smokemont Nature Trail1.5 mi0.5NPS
Mingus Creek Trail1.5 mi5.4NPS
Nations Cemetery Access1.6 mi0.2NPS

+ 11 more named trails.

Mountain biking nearby

1.8 miles of bike-legal trail lie within 5 miles. Difficulty mix: Unrated: 1.8 mi

TrailClosest pointMiles within 5 miDifficulty (as tagged)KidsSource
Oconaluftee River Trail2.3 mi0.9UnratedOSM
fire tower3.8 mi0.9UnratedOSM

Ratings come only from OpenStreetMap mtb:scale / IMBA tags. Untagged trails show as "Unrated", and we never guess. Check conditions and maps on Trailforks or MTB Project.

Activities listed

Auto TouringBikingCampingFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHorse CampingHorseback RidingPicnickingWildlife Viewing

Nearest campgrounds

CampgroundMilesStateFee/nightSitesHookupsMax RVPetsBookingTrails ≤5 mi
Smokemont Campground
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
1.4NC$10142 E 5A 40 ftyes Reserve29 (66.4 mi)
Smokemont Group Camp
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
1.7NC$103 — —yes Reserve29 (67.3 mi)
Indian Creek Campground
Private campground
3.8NC—— — —— ?22 (36.9 mi)
Newton Bald #52
National Park Service
4.0NC—— — —— ?37 (86.7 mi)
Upper Chasteen #48
National Park Service
4.1NC—— — —— ?23 (55.6 mi)
Enlow Creek #47
National Park Service
5.4NC—— — —— ?18 (46.7 mi)

Hookups: E = electric (max amps), W = water, S = sewer. "—" means the agency doesn't publish it. Trail counts are named USFS/NPS trails within 5 miles. 🟢 = kid-friendly (green-rated) bike trail nearby.

From the managing agency

Overview Saddle up your horses for a camping trip in the stunning Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located in the North Carolina portion of the park, this campsite offers miles of horse trails with a breathtaking scenic backdrop. World-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, Great Smoky Mountains is America's most visited national park. You MUST have a HORSE to camp at Tow String Horse Camp! Recreation With access to several of the Smokies' popular horseback riding trails, equestrians will never be bored. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also a hiker's par… read the full description on Recreation.gov