Great Smoky Mountains National Park

## Overview

Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this picnic pavilion creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

#### Natural Features:

World-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian culture, Great Smoky Mountains is Americas most visited national park. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Metcalf Bottoms never disappoints.   
  
At 1,700 feet, Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers.   
  
Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural history of Southern Appalachia. From the prehistoric Paleo Indians to the early European settlements in the 1800s, the park strives to protect its historic structures, landscapes and artifacts that tell the stories of the people who once called these mountains home.

#### Recreation:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hikers paradise, offering over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from the picnic area. But hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are also popular activities.   
  
Visitors can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance.   
  
Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 bears living in the park, its 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.   
  
The park also holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park.

#### Facilities:

Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion can accommodate up to 70 guests and offers a covered eating area and multiple grills, making it an ideal location for a party or family get-together.  
  
The pavilion may be reserved for a morning or evening block, so visitors who wish to use the area for a full day should reserve both time slots. 

#### Nearby Attractions:

Gatlinburg, a one of the Smokies famous tourist towns, is located about 11 miles from the picnic area. Visitors tours, organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more, are all offered.

Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion

We welcome you to Honeysuckle Meadows – a beautiful, peaceful RV resort and campground located in Wears Valley, Tennessee. We sit in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, just minutes from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. So if you’re looking for a place to camp in comfort and peace while you enjoy this magnificent part of the country, you’ve found it. Our campsites have everything you need for a comfortable stay (even WI-FI!), and we have our own private pond, a large swimming pool, and a deli & grill that serves up some of the best burgers this side of the Smokies.

Honeysuckle Meadows RV resort

Cove Creek RV Resort offers luxury RV living with an unencumbered view of Cove Mountain in the peaceful Smoky Mountain area known as Wears Valley, right between Pigeon Forge and Townsend TN.  Our upscale RV Resort location is ideal for avoiding most traffic, yet places you near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove, Townsend river tubing and the best Pigeon Forge attractions including; Dollywood, the Titanic Museum, live entertainment and great restaurants.  We invite you to choose Cove Creek for your RV vacation and enjoy first class amenities alongside the trickling hum of Cove Creek.  It’s a 5 star holiday in the Smokies!

Cove Creek RV Resort 

Smoker Holler RV Resort

Cove Mountain RV Park is up and going! This location offers 41 spacious sites with 2 year round creeks and Great views of Cove Mountain and Round Top Mountain. We offer Long Term and Nightly site rentals Year Round.Full Hook-up with 30/50 amp service, DirecTV, City Water, and Sewer. Please contact us for Reservations or any questions 865-429-5577

Cove Mountain RV Resort

Elkmont Group Campground

Rich history with fresh adventure! Just **steps away from the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park**, Little Arrow invites you to take aim at adventure. Our cozy accommodations have been thoughtfully designed with perks like wood-burning fireplaces, plush bedding, and more to meet your unique needs! With **RV Sites, Cabins, Glamping Tents, Tiny Homes, an Airstream, and a Vacation Home**, escaping to your own wilderness retreat has never been easier! We're passionate about the mountains that surround us and strive to make the most of our stunning environment. From a swimming pool, easy river access, 24/7 coffee lounge, a club house, hiking trail, and exciting activities onsite, your visit will be full of adventure!

Little Arrow Outdoor Resort

Townsend-Great Smokies KOA

Lazy Daze Campground

Located eight miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Elkmont Campground is the largest and busiest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making a great place for camping near Nashville. At an elevation of 2,150 feet, the area enjoys a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Recreation The Little River runs through the campground offering visitors the option to camp waterfront. Campers can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the Little River and countless other streams and rivers that snake through the mountains. 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, with a number of those trails easily accessible from Elkmont Campground. The nearby and popular Laurel Falls Trail leads to a spectacular 80-ft. waterfall. Hiking and fishing are not the only reasons for visiting the Smokies: Picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are popular activities. With around 1,500 bears living in the park, it's not uncommon for visitors to spot one. From the big animals like bears, deer, and elk, down to microscopic organisms, the Smokies are the most biologically-diverse area in the world's temperate zone. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy. The park also holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park. Facilities Elkmont Campground has 200 tent / RV campsites with paved driveways, gravel tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. Although most sites will accommodate tents or RVs, extreme slope or length of driveway make certain sites more suitable for tents than RVs. Please check the descriptions and measurements of individual sites. In addition to these tent / RV sites, Elkmont has 20 walk-in sites for tents. Campers on these beautiful wooded sites will have a short walk from their parking area to their tent pad. Nine of Elkmont's campsites are wheelchair accessible ADA sites. These sites have wide concrete driveways, raised fire rings, and wheelchair accessible picnic tables. All of these sites are located near accessible restrooms. Three of the sites provide 5 amp electrical service for medical equipment. Restrooms at Elkmont Campground have flush toilets, cold running water, and utility sinks. Potable water is available at spigots near each restroom; use of hoses is not allowed. Elkmont Campground does NOT have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups. There is no RV dump/fill station at Elkmont campground. The nearest RV dump/fill station is located across from Sugarlands Visitor Center approximately 6 miles from Elkmont. Elkmont is strictly an overnight campground; there are no day-use facilities. The nearest picnic area is Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, west of Elkmont on Little River Road. Due to its central location and variety of amenities, Elkmont Campground tends to be heavily used during the summer vacation months and in October. Sites along Little River are in particularly high demand. Even when Elkmont is full, campsites are often available at Cosby Campground, located at the northeast corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Natural Features Generations of campers have returned to Elkmont year after year, drawn by the sounds of the river, the tranquility of the forest, and the variety of recreational activities in the Elkmont area. Little River and Jakes Creek run through the campground, offering easy access for fishing or cool summertime splashing. Trailheads for Little River Trail, Jakes Creek Trail, and Elkmont Nature Trail are located adjacent to the campground. Historic remnants of Little River Lumber Company's logging camp and old buildings from the Elkmont resort community offer campers a glimpse of life at Elkmont nearly a century ago. Nearby Attractions Gatlinburg, one of the Smokies' most famous tourist towns, is located about nine miles from Elkmont and offers organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more. ADA Access: N

Elkmont Campground

## Overview

The Appalachian Clubhouse is a historic building constructed in 1934 in the Elkmont Historic District. The structure has been rehabilitated by the National Park Service to closely resemble its 1930s appearance, with the addition of few modern amenities such as electricity and running water.   
  
The building was originally used a gathering spot by lessees and guests of the Appalachian Club whose members, mostly from Knoxville, built rustic cabins nearby to serve as weekend or summer retreats in the years before the Park was created.  
  
Today the 3,000 square foot clubhouse provides an excellent location for meetings, events and celebrations with the added charm of exposed wooden beams and massive stone fireplaces at each end, equipped with gas logs.

#### Natural Features:

The Appalachian Clubhouse is located in the southern portion of Elkmont in an historic district referred to as "Daisy Town," between the mouths of Jakes Creek and Bearwallow Branch.   
  
The facility is surrounded by the lush forests and steep ridges of Tennessees Upper Little River Valley, and provides no shortage of both scenic and historic attractions within walking distance of the clubhouse.

#### Recreation:

Most visitors to the clubhouse host parties or meetings in the expansive, historic space. Although the clubhouse features a few modern amenities, it is still quite rustic in comparison to most venues and requires careful event planning prior to arrival.  
  
Tablecloths, tableware, projectors, screens, extensions cords, paper towels, etc. are not provided and must be brought by the renter.  
  
Visitors preparing for an event may not pin or tape decorations, balloons, banners, directional signage, etc. anywhere in the park. To ensure visitors arrive safely at the event location, provide guests with directions prior to their departure.  
  
Individuals wishing to reserve the Clubhouse for a wedding, wedding reception and/or wedding photography, will need an additional Special Use Permit and may [click here](http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm) for more information.

#### Facilities:

The 3,000 sq ft. clubhouse features a large, open meeting hall (60 x 25) with french doors along the entire east side, opening onto a broad, roofed porch with rocking chairs, overlooking the forest and a small creek.   
  
There is no heating or air conditioning at the Clubhouse, but the Ballroom does provide four ceiling fans and 12 electrical outlets, in addition to an outlet in each room.   
  
The Clubhouse is furnished with 12 (60") round tables seating 8 people each, 8 (3x6) rectangular tables and 110 folding chairs to go with them. A sofa and chairs at one of the fireplaces, provides a nice sitting area, but no other furnishings are provided.  
  
The Appalachian Clubhouse does not have a kitchen or cooking facilities like a stove or refrigerator, but there is a double sink with hot and cold running water and a warming kitchen (168 sq ft.) with 32 sq ft. of counter space. Six electrical outlets in the warming kitchen can be used to keep food warm and accommodate catering.  
  
There are no restrooms inside the main building, but accessible restrooms with cold running water, flush toilets, electric lights and hand dryers are located about 150 ft. from the building. 

#### Nearby Attractions:

Two popular trailheads: Jakes Creek and Little River, are located near the clubhouse. The adjacent Elkmont Campground offers traditional outdoor camping.   
  
Gatlinburg, a one of the Smokies famous tourist towns, is located a short drive from the clubhouse, offering tours, organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aqua

Appalachian Clubhouse

National Park Service

Not a place to camp but it’s a great little picnic area and a few nice trails to hike!

Nice little break spot

When searching the Smoky Mountains for locations of interest I stumbled upon this spot. Not a camp but a nice place for a family outing before exploring. The pavilion area is large and spacious and amenities there allow you to have a great family gathering. If you are driving through for a day trip and need a good stop try this one or you can make arrangements to host your events here.

I wouldn't typically review a space like this however on some listings you will find this listed as "dispersed camping" however when I inquired about this site it is clearly regarded as a non-camping area. Many of the areas of the Smoky Mountains do have hikers passing through as a part of the Appalachian Trail, however this is not an official shelter stop.

Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion

Save more with PRO

Do you own or manage this property?

About This Campground

Overview

Natural Features:

Access

Stay Connected

Site Types

Features

For Campers

Reviews

2022 Explorer Giveaway

Nice little break spot

Not for Camping But Great For Family Day Out

Family

Location

Directions

Coordinates

Nearby Campgrounds