No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Big Creek Horse Camp continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 190 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 25, 2026): 174 open for online reservation · 16 reserved.
Where the open windows are
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 25, 2026Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 96 fall on weekdays and 78 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026October holds the most room. 109 of 125 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 5 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 1 | 38 |
| 2 | 34 |
| 3 | 34 |
| 4 | 34 |
| 5 | 34 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotThe next bookable night is Sep 18; the first open weekend starts Sep 18. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
Multi-night stays. 9 2-night, 9 3-night, 9 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 18 at site 1.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 35 ft. 5 sites take 25 ft, 5 sites take 35 ft.
All 5 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35 ft | None | 38 | 38 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +26 more |
| 2 | 35 ft | None | 34 | 27 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +22 more |
| 3 | 35 ft | None | 34 | 27 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +22 more |
| 4 | 35 ft | None | 34 | 27 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +22 more |
| 5 | 35 ft | None | 34 | 27 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +22 more |
About Big Creek Horse Camp
Overview
The only horse camp in the Great Smoky Mountains with potable water and flushing toilets!
Pack up your horses for a getaway at Big Creek Horse Camp, located on far northeastern side of Smoky Mountains National Park, approximately 16 miles from Newport, Tennessee. This campsite sits along the gently rolling waters of Big Creek and offers miles of horse trails with breathtaking scenic backdrops.
You MUST have a HORSE to camp in Big Creek Horse Camp!
Recreation
The rolling terrain surrounding the campsite makes for some of the best horseback riding trails in the park. Numerous trails are accessible from Big Creek and for riders looking for a little hiking, the Appalachian Trail can be easily reached via the 2.1 mile Chestnut Branch Trail, located within walking distance from the camp.
Day Use horse area- so invite your horse riding friends and family for a fun day even if they don't want to camp with you.
Campers can also enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams that snake through the mountains, with Rainbow and Brook trout available in abundance, particularly during spring months.
Facilities
Big Creek Horse Camp is fairly primitive, providing only the basic amenities, but an unforgettable outdoors experience. The sites are large and the facility does offer flush toilets, drinking water and plenty of shade.
Since horses are not permitted in the camping area, horse stalls and hitching rails are provided to guests.
There are no hookups or showers at the campground, but water is available from the campground spigot.
You MUST have a HORSE to camp in Big Creek Horse Camp!
Natural Features
At a 1,700 foot elevation, Big Creek provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. The camp is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and pristine mountain streams.
Nearby Mouse Creek Falls, a 35 foot waterfall forming at the confluence of Mouse Creek and Big Creek, is reachable by horseback or on foot via the Big Creek trailhead located on-site.
The beautiful falls splits over moss covered rocks and falls about 20 ft. before pooling and falling another 15 ft. into Big Creek. The falls can be reached via the Big Creek Trail, which is covered in wildflowers during spring months.
Nearby Attractions
The Big Creek Group Campground is located nearby, with plenty of space for larger groups.
Full service grocery stores and medical facilities are located 16 miles away in Newport, Tennessee.
Getting there
The campground is located off I-40 Exit 451 (Waterville). It sixteen miles east of Newport, TN. Follow Waterville road, crossing over the Pigeon River, past the Walters Power Generating Station and continue one mile to the 4-way intersection at Mt Sterling Gap. Follow the signs to Big Creek. Drive up Big Creek Park Road. Shortly after passing the Ranger Station, take the first left turn into the horse camp. Coordinates: 35°45'15.7"N 83°06'25.8"W 35.754361, -83.107167 Mailing Address: (Do not use GPS directions by name) 236 Big Creek Park Road Newport, Tennessee, 37821
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Photo gallery
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Big Creek Horse Camp?
Reservations for Big Creek Horse Camp are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 174 of 190 tracked site-nights are open (91.6%), though availability can change. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 14:17 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Big Creek Horse Camp?
9 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 18 at site 1. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Big Creek Horse Camp fit a 35-foot RV?
5 of the 5 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 35 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Big Creek Horse Camp?
October 2026, with 109 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 125.
When is the next open date at Big Creek Horse Camp?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 18 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 18. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Stop refreshing. Let the app watch it.
Lakefront, hookups, your RV length, weekends only - set it as picky as you want.
We run paced availability checks for Big Creek Horse Camp. One watch covers every matching site.
When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.