The 68-site campground opened Oct. 15 and will remain so through the end of the season Sunday, Nov. 13. It is expected to be open between May and October going forward.

The Look Rock Campground and Picnic Area closed in 2013 after the water utility systems failed. In 2019, the park received money to install a handicap-accessible vault toilet, which allowed the picnic area to reopen with limited services. The campground can now reopen after a complete replacement of the water system. 

The campground is equipped with flush toilets and potable water, and all campground sites were rehabilitated, with new picnic tables and fire rings installed. Ten sites were renovated to accommodate larger recreational vehicles, offering the campground’s first-ever electric and water hookups. The campground and picnic area were also repaved during the rehabilitation. 

Donors to Friends of the Smokies were instrumental in raising the money needed for the renovations. The park received a total of $4.7 million for the project through donations, campground fees and federal funds, including a special federal fund source that requires matching funds from a philanthropic partner. 

Look Rock Campground is located along the Foothills Parkway between Walland and Chilhowee Lake, both in Tennessee. Campground reservations are available through recreation.gov.