Openings · last 7 days
31
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 31 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-273821
When Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park) reopens
Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park)'s openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
67
Openings · last 90 days
72
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dThursday accounted for the largest share of the openings Campsite Sniper detected. 23 of 72 openings detected in the last 90 days occurred on a Thursday (31.9%), with Tuesday (17) and Monday (8) next in line.
Hour-of-day pattern
First detected by hour · local time · last 90 daysThe largest concentrations of detected openings were first detected during the 06:00 and 08:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 22 of 72 detected openings (30.6%). 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 19 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 10.8–34.2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 011 | 16 | 22.2% |
| 001 | 13 | 18.1% |
| 010 | 9 | 12.5% |
| 005 | 7 | 9.7% |
| 008 | 7 | 9.7% |
Site 011 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 16. One free watch covers every site here.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 25, 2026 · of 12 monitored sites
Of the 456 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 25, 2026): 128 open for online reservation · 328 reserved.
Where the open windows are
71.9% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 128 of 456 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 25, 2026Not open online71.9%
Open site-nights128 / 456
Reserved (of online inventory)328 / 456
Weekday openings96
Weekend openings32
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 96 fall on weekdays and 32 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026September holds the most room. 74 of 156 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 001 | 17 |
| 005 | 17 |
| 002 | 14 |
| 007 | 14 |
| 006 | 13 |
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 dateSun · Sep 20
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
The next bookable night is Sep 20; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
128 open site-nights across 12 sites at Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park), from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 30 2-night, 19 3-night, 1 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 20 at site 008.
All 12 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Not recorded | None | 17 | 8 nights | Sep 20, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 8 +5 more |
| 005 | 18 ft | None | 17 | 6 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 5, Oct 6 +5 more |
| 002 | Not recorded | None | 14 | 4 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 3, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 18, Oct 19 +2 more |
| 007 | 18 ft | None | 14 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 18 +2 more |
| 006 | 18 ft | None | 13 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +1 more |
| 008 | 18 ft | None | 12 | 6 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 25 |
| 009 | 18 ft | None | 9 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 8, Oct 12 |
| 011 | 18 ft | None | 8 | 3 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 28, Sep 29, Oct 1, Oct 8, Oct 11 |
| 003 | Not recorded | None | 7 | 4 nights | Sep 24, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 8, Oct 25 |
| 010 | 18 ft | None | 7 | 3 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Oct 19, Oct 20 |
| 004 | Not recorded | None | 5 | 3 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Oct 1, Oct 4 |
| 012 | 18 ft | None | 5 | 4 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Oct 1 |
About Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park)
Overview
Big Creek Campground is located in a remote portion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Backcountry camping in a front country setting. There are flushing toilets and potable water. This is a tent only campground with a short walk from the parking area. The beautiful flowing waters of Big Creek parallel the campground offering the visitor a pleasant soundscape and peaceful beauty. Big Creek is an oasis for hiking, swimming, wildlife, fishing, and relaxation.
Recreation
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks. The Big Creek area offers some of the most challenging hikes within the Park. Baxter Creek trail begins near the campground and with an elevation gain of 4200' from trail head to the summit of Mt Sterling provides a strenuous work out for the strongest of hikers. The nearby Big Creek trail offers a pleasant hike along the waters of Big Creek with a beautiful waterfall along the way. Local anglers agree that Big Creek offers some of the best trout fishing in the area. Fly fishing is particularly good during spring months when aquatic insects hatch in large numbers. Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 black bear living in the park, it is not uncommon for visitors to spot one. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy.
Facilities
Big Creek Campground offers 12 TENT ONLY campsites for a traditional outdoor camping experience with the added convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. There are no hookups or showers at the campground. There is an emergency phone available at the Big Creek Ranger Station located 1 mile from the campground. No generator use or recreational vehicles are allowed in Big Creek Campground. There is a food storage locker available for public use.
Natural Features
Located at an elevation of 1,700' Big Creek Campground is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and a pristine mountain stream. Black Bear sightings are not uncommon and some lucky visitors may spot River Otter playing in Big Creek.
Nearby Attractions
Nearby attractions include the Cataloochee Valley, Newport, TN, Cosby Campground, Hartford Whitewater Rafting, the Appalachian Trail and the Max Patch/Pisgah National Forest.
12 monitored sitesRVs up to 18 ftNo hookups12 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 6
Getting there
Campground is at the end of Big Creek Entrance Rd. Waterville, NC, 28785 (Haywood County) GPS coordinates are 35°45'00.3"N 83°06'38.6"W The 4 way intersection is composed of Big Creek Campground Road and Waterville Rd (from I-40) + Mt. Sterling Road (from Cataloochee) + Hwy 32 (from Cosby) Drive up to the end of Big Creek Entrance Road. You will pass the Ranger Station, horse camp, group camp, and hiker parking.
107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738865-436-1261
BoatingCampingFishingHikingVisitor CenterWater SportsWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-273821 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-273821 · Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park) · Gatlinburg TN12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park)?
Reservations for Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park) are made through Recreation.gov. 71.9% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 128 of 456 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 72 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 Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park)?
Campsite Sniper detected 31 site-date openings at Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park) in the last 7 days, 67 over 30 days and 72 over the last 90.
Which day of the week had the most detected openings at Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park)?
Thursday accounted for the largest share of the openings Campsite Sniper detected in the last 90 days: 23 of 72 (31.9%). Days reflect when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, not when the change occurred upstream.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park)?
19 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 20 at site 008. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park) fit a 35-foot RV?
No RV-analyzable site here has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 18 ft. 8 of those 12 sites have a recorded maximum length and 4 do not; they are not counted as fitting.
Which month has the most availability at Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park)?
September 2026, with 74 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 156.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park)?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 19 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 10.8-34.2 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
When is the next open date at Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park)?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Sun, Sep 20 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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