Glamping at Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Under Canvas

Glamping at Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Under Canvas

If you’re looking to connect with nature and experience Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a luxurious but eco-friendly camping environment, you are going to love the “glamping” (glamorous camping) company, Under Canvas.

Located on the Tennessee side of the park, Under Canvas is just 10 miles away from Gatlinburg which is often considered the gateway to the Smokies and is a popular place for tourists to stay while visiting the park.

Originally we had looked into a hotel in Gatlinburg for our stay but after reading about the crowds, tourist traps and traffic on the weekends, we opted to stay at the much more relaxed and nature-oriented “glampsite”.

Glamping at Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Under Canvas.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Under Canvas site is located just outside the park but makes for an easy place to base yourself during your visit to the Smokies.

The staff is knowledgeable and you’ll find recommended hikes or park activities in your welcome packet.

Did you know Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited National Park in the USA? With 11.3 million visitors a year, it’s even more popular than the Grand Canyon and Yosemite.

Read: GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – 18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Luxury Tents

While there are a number of tent options, we chose the safari tent which is the most affordable. Other tents offer private bathrooms, stargazing roofs or adjacent rooms.

These upgrades are nice but can double the price of your stay. So depending on your budget, you may choose a tent with more amenities but we found the safari tent to be more than enough!

Safari Tent

Our cabin-style Safari tents offer plush king size beds and a wood-burning stove to keep the tent warm at night. Community bathrooms with private stalls, which include hot showers, flushing toilets, and sinks are conveniently located.

Sleeps: 2 adults

Bathroom: Communal Bathhouse

Key Features

King size bed with luxurious linens
Shared bathroom facilities moments from your tent
Wood burning stove with complimentary firewood
Additional cots and bedding can be provided for up to 2 children

Open Seasonally: May 28th – November 30th

The campgrounds are seasonal but good news! If you plan to visit the Smoky Mountains in the fall when the leaves turn fiery shades of orange and red, Under Canvas will still be open.

Although Great Smoky Mountains National Park is opened year long, Under Canvas shuts down at the end of November in Tennessee. In other locations, the dates vary greatly!

Book your stay here.

Nightly Bonfire

Each night, there will be a bonfire in the common area. Some evenings will include live music and prior to Covid, there were morning yoga classes you could join. But in an attempt to encourage social distancing, just the bonfires are running this season.

You can pick up your included s’mores package from the front desk!

Food Onsite

You can bring your own food and cook in the communal BBQ areas or you can order from the small cafe onsite. They have a variety of sandwiches, salads and curry bowls you can choose from for dinner.

Coffee, tea, hot cocoa and s’mores are complimentary.

Breakfast is available for purchase at the cafe in the main tent.

Alcohol is also served onsite for a reasonable price. Beer and spritzers are just $5.

Hot Showers

Depending on which tent you book, there will either be private or communal showers. We booked the cheapest option, the safari tent and found the bathrooms to be spotless!

And while the shower block as a whole was shared, each bathroom stall and shower was it’s own private room, unlike the traditional locker room setup you see at some campsites.

And what makes this company so great…

WATER CONSERVATION: Pull-chain showers and low flow toilets use significantly less water than hotels

REDUCE: Wherever possible, we have eliminated single use plastics across all camps.

SOLAR POWERED: Camps utilize solar energy wherever possible to mitigate electricity needs.

REUSE: We choose compostable and sustainable materials that can be reused and recycled.

LEAVE NO TRACE: Our development approach serves to protect and preserve our environment.

UNPLUG: Our wifi free glampgrounds foster connection with family, friends, and nature

Overall, an enchanting experience!

This glamping site is quite a bit more expensive than your regular campsite but it really is a magical experience. And if you want to camp in the Smokies and you’ve flown in and don’t have any of your camping gear, this is an excellent option.

But if you’re looking for a more affordable campground near the Smokies, I recommend Moonshine Creek Campground. We stayed here our first night for only $35 and loved it!

Drive Blue Ridge Parkway nearby!

The Great Smoky Mountains are the beginning point of the iconic road trip route, Blue Ridge Parkway.

This scenic parkway runs for 469 miles before linking to Shenandoah National Park.

As you drive, you’ll encounter one breathtaking overlook after another! But don’t worry, the highway is perfectly designed to allow for you to pull over and soak in the sights.

I found this interactive map to be really helpful while planning our trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Pisgah Inn was my favorite stop along the parkway! It made for a great place to have dinner while enjoying uninterrupted views. If possible, book a room there! Otherwise, you can stop by for dinner like we did.