Crockett's Breakfast Camp

One of the most beloved breakfast spots in the Smoky Mountains — a rustic, frontier-inspired restaurant on the Gatlinburg Parkway serving big, bold Appalachian breakfasts.

From the moment you walk in, the log cabin atmosphere and the smell of griddle cakes and fresh-baked biscuits set the tone. The portions are enormous, the menu is unlike anything else in the Smokies, and the line out front on a busy morning tells you everything you need to know.

Planning a trip? Put Crockett's on the first morning's itinerary and stay close with a Gatlinburg cabin rental minutes from the Parkway.

The story behind the name

Crockett's serves as the living legacy of David C. "Crockett" Maples — an original Appalachian frontiersman, honored soldier, and devoted family man, whose life was a story of intrigue, tragedy, survival, and triumph.

Stirred by his life and his devotion to serving others, the restaurant was built on a pledge to deliver quality food and genuine hospitality to everyone who walks through the door. That mission shows up in every dish.

What to order

Griddle cakes and waffles

The pancakes are made from Aretha Frankenstein's secret recipe — fluffy, golden, served with whipped butter and warm maple syrup, in stacks of two or three. Toppings run from chocolate chips and fresh strawberries to warm blueberry or blackberry compote, real whipped cream, and Georgia pecans.

Standouts include the Cinnamon Roll Swirl Pancakes, the Buckwheat Fruit & Nut Pancakes made with granola batter, and Hogs in a Blanket — country sausage links wrapped into the pancakes with two farm fresh eggs.

On the waffle side, Aretha's waffle anchors the menu, with variations including a pecan waffle topped with bananas and caramel, a granola-and-Greek-yogurt version, a cinnamon candied apple waffle made with Fuji apples simmered in hot cinnamon candies, and a bacon waffle with the bacon mixed right through the batter.

French toast

Made from fresh-baked English toasting bread dipped in egg custard, cinnamon, and vanilla. Available thick-cut with maple syrup and powdered sugar, stuffed with fruit cream cheese or peanut butter and jelly, or topped with fresh fruit and brown sugar.

The fried cinnamon roll

Fresh mountain-made cinnamon rolls battered in egg, pan-fried golden brown, and served with caramel sauce and real whipped cream. It comes up in nearly every guest review, and it isn't optional.

Eggs Benedict

Four versions, all served with Cherokee Sweet Corn Pone and your choice of candied apples, fresh fruit, grits, or Hunt Camp potatoes. The White Oak Flats is the classic with sugar cured ham; the Corned Beef Hash Benedict uses their signature hash pan-fried with potatoes, peppers, and herbs; and the Pot Roast Benedict puts pot roast and sausage gravy on a cathead biscuit.

Omelets and scramblers

Six omelets, from the loaded Crockett's Mountain Omelet — sausage, bacon, ham, peppers, jalapeños, and ranchero sauce — to a lighter egg white version with avocado and salsa fresca. Scramblers lean Southwestern, including a shredded beef scrambler served with warm corn tortillas and a breakfast quesadilla with bacon and pico.

The big plates

If you came hungry: the Elk Mountain Grande Burrito, huevos rancheros, the signature corned beef hash, pan-fried pork chops smothered in sausage gravy, chopped Angus steak and eggs, or the Postmaster's Favorite — country fried steak with homestyle sausage gravy and two eggs.

Sides run to biscuits, grits, Hunt Camp potatoes, candied apples, pecan smoked bacon, country sausage, corned beef hash, fresh fruit, and old fashioned oatmeal.

Menu items and availability change. See the current menu at crockettsbreakfastcamp.com.

Hours and location

Crockett's is open on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve during normal hours.

Waitlist: there are no traditional reservations. Join the call-ahead waitlist through their website or Google Maps before you leave your cabin — it's the single best way to cut your wait on a busy morning.

Parking: free, in the lot out front.

Tips for visiting

• Join the waitlist before you leave. On peak mornings the line is real. Getting in the queue from your cabin is the difference between eating at 8 and eating at 10
• Arrive at opening on a weekday. The 7 AM opening is your best shot at walking straight in
• Order the fried cinnamon roll. Split it if you have to, but order it
• The portions are very large. One entrée is a full meal — budget accordingly before everyone adds a side of everything
• Add the pecan smoked bacon. Whatever else you order

Nearby

Crockett's sits near the top of the Gatlinburg Parkway, which makes it a natural first stop before a full day out. See our things to do guide for more.

• Anakeesta — the mountaintop gondola and adventure park; a natural morning-to-afternoon pairing after breakfast
• Alum Cave Trail — one of the best hikes in the Smokies, twenty minutes from downtown. A big breakfast beforehand is smart planning
• Abrams Falls Trail — another classic worth fueling up for
• Moonshine tastings on the Parkway — several tasting rooms nearby, most with live bluegrass; a natural afternoon stop
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the entrance is minutes from downtown Gatlinburg

Frequently asked questions

Does Crockett's take reservations?

No traditional reservations — walk-ins only. Join the call-ahead waitlist through their website or Google Maps before you arrive to reduce your wait.

Is there free parking?

Yes, in the lot out front at 1103 Parkway.

Is Crockett's open on holidays?

Yes — Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve, during normal hours.

What are the most popular dishes?

Aretha Frankenstein's pancakes, the fried cinnamon roll, the Black Bear Camp Skillet, and the Elk Mountain Grande Burrito are the most ordered. The pecan smoked bacon side comes up in almost every guest review.

How long is the wait?

It varies. Weekday mornings at opening are often walk-in; weekend and peak-season mornings can run considerably longer. The online waitlist is the way around it.

Who was Crockett Maples?

David C. "Crockett" Maples was an Appalachian frontiersman, honored soldier, and devoted family man whose life of perseverance and service inspired the restaurant's founding. His full story is on the restaurant's website.

How far is it from Pigeon Forge?

About eight miles, roughly fifteen to twenty minutes via US-441. Our Pigeon Forge cabins work fine as a base if you don't mind the drive.