The present invention is directed to a coated plug wrap for a smoking article. The coated plug wrap is comprised of a base paper and a coating. In accordance with the present disclosure, the base paper may be comprised of hardwood pulp fibers and optionally, softwood pulp fibers. The base paper may be coated with a coating material such as an acrylate, a styrene, a butadiene, a starch, a starch derivative, a cellulose derivative, an alginate, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl acetate, a gelatin, a gum, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the coated plug wrap may be incorporated into a smoking article.