Openings · last 7 days
60
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 60 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233284
When Cataloochee Campground reopens
Cataloochee Campground's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
88
Openings · last 90 days
98
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dNo strong weekday pattern is evident in the openings Campsite Sniper has detected: 98 openings spread across the week.
Hour-of-day pattern
First detected by hour · local time · last 90 daysThe largest concentrations of detected openings were first detected during the 08:00 and 11:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 32 of 98 detected openings (32.7%). Hours show when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, in Eastern Time, not when the change was made upstream.
Lead-time profile
Days before stay date · percentilesHalf of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 13.5 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 4–28 days out. Set an alert if you want Campsite Sniper to monitor future openings.
Highest-churn sites
Most openings · 90d| Site | Openings | Share of all openings |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | 9 | 9.2% |
| 11 | 9 | 9.2% |
| 8 | 7 | 7.1% |
| 5 | 6 | 6.1% |
| 6 | 6 | 6.1% |
Site 13 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 9. One free watch covers every site here.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 25, 2026 · of 27 monitored sites
Of the 1,026 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 25, 2026): 60 open for online reservation · 966 reserved.
Where the open windows are
94.2% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 60 of 1,026 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 25, 2026Not open online94.2%
Open site-nights60 / 1,026
Reserved (of online inventory)966 / 1,026
Weekday openings37
Weekend openings23
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 37 fall on weekdays and 23 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026September holds the most room. 33 of 351 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 27 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 |
|---|---|
| 27 | 8 |
| 13 | 6 |
| 16 | 5 |
| 25 | 4 |
| 19 | 3 |
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 snapshotNext open dateSat · Sep 19
Next open weekendSat · Sep 19
The next bookable night is Sep 19; the first open weekend starts Sep 19. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
60 open site-nights across 24 sites at Cataloochee Campground, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 6 2-night, 2 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 21 at site 16.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 34 ft. 23 sites take 25 ft.
All 24 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 25 ft | None | 8 | 3 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Oct 1, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 25 |
| 13 | 28 ft | None | 6 | 2 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Oct 1, Oct 11, Oct 25 |
| 16 | 32 ft | None | 5 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Oct 25 |
| 25 | 27 ft | None | 4 | 1 night | Sep 19, Sep 24, Oct 1, Oct 6 |
| 19 | 20 ft | None | 3 | 1 night | Sep 20, Oct 1, Oct 25 |
| 20 | 32 ft | None | 3 | 1 night | Sep 20, Sep 22, Oct 25 |
| 24 | 22 ft | None | 3 | 1 night | Sep 21, Sep 24, Oct 1 |
| 26 | 26 ft | None | 3 | 2 nights | Sep 22, Oct 13, Oct 14 |
| 1 | 31 ft | None | 2 | 1 night | Oct 1, Oct 25 |
| 11 | 32 ft | None | 2 | 1 night | Sep 20, Sep 23 |
| 12 | 34 ft | None | 2 | 1 night | Sep 27, Oct 25 |
| 14 | 32 ft | None | 2 | 1 night | Sep 23, Oct 25 |
| 15 | 27 ft | None | 2 | 1 night | Sep 22, Oct 1 |
| 18 | 30 ft | None | 2 | 1 night | Sep 24, Oct 25 |
| 21 | 24 ft | None | 2 | 2 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23 |
| 23 | 28 ft | None | 2 | 1 night | Sep 21, Sep 24 |
| 9 | 28 ft | None | 2 | 1 night | Oct 11, Oct 15 |
| 17 | 32 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 20 |
| 2 | 25 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 27 |
| 22 | 27 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 22 |
| 3 | 24 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Oct 15 |
| 4 | 32 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Oct 25 |
| 6 | 32 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Oct 25 |
| 8 | 32 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 24 |
About Cataloochee Campground
Overview
Cataloochee campground is located in the historic Cataloochee Valley--a relatively remote part of Smoky Mountain National Park. The secluded setting offers visitors the ability to enjoy a multitude of recreational activities like hiking and fishing, without the crowds, which are sometimes common in other parts of the park.
Recreation
The Cataloochee Valley features an extensive trail system that is less heavily used compared to other areas of the park. The two main trails, Caldwell Fork and nearby Rough Fork Trail, run mostly parallel to one another in the central portion of the valley. Either of these trails extend alongside scenic creeks and streams and support both hikers and horeseback riders.
For hikers only, the 3.9-mile Boogerman Trail forms a nice loop off the Caldwell Fork Trail and is less than a mile walk from the campground.
Anglers will agree that some of the best Rainbow and Brook trout fishing in the area can be found in the Cataloochee Basin, one of the most remote sections of the park. Fly fishing is particularly good during spring months when aquatic insects hatch in large numbers.
The park also holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park. A handful of which can be found in the Cataloochee Valley, including the nearby Palmer House, built in 1869, which contains a self-guided museum.
Facilities
Cataloochee offers a traditional outdoor camping experience with the added convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. There are no hookups or showers at the campground.
Hiking trails and fishing streams are easily accessible from the site and the nearby Cataloochee Group Camp can accommodate larger parties of guests.
Additionally, the Cataloochee Horse Camp provides convenient camping for horseback riding enthusiasts.
Natural Features
Cataloochee Campground is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and pristine mountain streams, like nearby Cataloochee Creek. Elk are common in this part of the park, during the spring and fall.
At a 2,600 foot elevation, Cataloochee provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Whether blanketed in bright spring wildflowers or exploding with vivid fall colors, the scenery at Cataloochee never disappoints.
Nearby Attractions
A number of the park's famous historical buildings, including the Steve Woody and Caldwell Houses, both built in the late 19th-century, are nearby the campground.
The Steve Woody House, built in 1880, is located along the Rough Fork trail, an easy 2-mile roundtrip hike from the parking lot at the end of Ranger Station Road.
27 monitored sitesRVs up to 34 ftNo hookups27 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 6
Getting there
From I-40 take Exit 20 in North Carolina. Turn right onto Cove Creek Road and follow to the Park boundary. The road goes from pavement to gravel to pavement. Upon reaching the pavement the second time, turn left. Go 2.5 miles to an intersection and continue another .5 miles to the left.
3576 Ranger Station Rd, Waynesville, NC 37876828-497-9270
BackpackingCampingFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-233284 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-233284 · Cataloochee Campground · Waynesville NC12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Cataloochee Campground?
Reservations for Cataloochee Campground are made through Recreation.gov. 94.2% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 60 of 1,026 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 98 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. 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 16:19 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.
How often do new openings appear at Cataloochee Campground?
Campsite Sniper detected 60 site-date openings at Cataloochee Campground in the last 7 days, 88 over 30 days and 98 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Cataloochee Campground?
2 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 21 at site 16. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Cataloochee Campground fit a 35-foot RV?
No RV-analyzable site here has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 34 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Cataloochee Campground?
September 2026, with 33 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 351.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Cataloochee Campground?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 13.5 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 4-28 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
When is the next open date at Cataloochee Campground?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Sat, Sep 19 and the next open weekend starts Sat, Sep 19. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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