Elkmont Campground, near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. With a variety of accommodation options, including tent sites, RV spots, and even cabins, it caters to different camping styles while allowing you to enjoy the great outdoors.

This campground is known for its stunning riverside locations, where the soothing sounds of rushing water create a peaceful atmosphere. Many visitors have praised the cleanliness of the facilities, including the bathrooms, which are maintained daily. As one camper noted, “The bathrooms are clean and there’s a dishwashing room as well.” 

For outdoor enthusiasts, Elkmont offers easy access to hiking trails, including the scenic Little River Trail. Campers have enjoyed exploring the area, with one reviewer mentioning, “We did one of our hikes from our site... it was beautiful.” Plus, the camp store provides essentials like firewood and snacks, so you won’t have to venture far for supplies.

While some sites are close together, the natural surroundings and the sound of the river help create a sense of privacy. Many campers have found that the ambiance makes up for the proximity of the sites, allowing for a relaxing experience. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Elkmont Campground is a great choice for enjoying the Smokies.

## Overview

 Located eight miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Elkmont Campground is the largest and busiest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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. 
## 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.

Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Gatlinburg, Tennessee is known for two things: selling touristy t-shirts and being the main entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As you can imagine, the best camping near Gatlinburg, TN is located in the park itself.

Since Gatlinburg is so closely associated with the park, the surrounding areas offer plenty of camping options and amenities. Whether you’re looking for privately-owned campgrounds or some souvenirs, you’ll be able to find them in Gatlinburg or any of the surrounding cities. If you’re looking for something more substantial, your best bet may be to pass Gatlinburg and head towards Pigeon Forge. You’ll find plenty of RV campsites there, and it’s a larger city. That being said, you can’t pass up a trip to Gatlinburg’s Space Needle observation tower or the Ober Gatlinburg ski resort in the winter.

Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Gatlinburg, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Find the best campgrounds near Gatlinburg, TN. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.

The Best Camping Near Gatlinburg, Tennessee

This was our first trip to the Smokey Mountains so decided on Elkmont as it was described as the most visited campgrounds of the Smokey's. It's popularity was a good sign we should try it out too.

As we neared the campgrounds at the base of the Smokey's we followed a small road right up along a stream all the way until we arrived at Elkmont Campgrounds. We knew we'd be near water so that excited us.

The campground had a large section of it closed off. I guess they will open those up a little later when camping season officially kicks off. We were happy with our site which was shared among tents and RV's. 

They have a tent only section but that was part of the large closed off section of the campgrounds. You could still access these areas, you just couldn't camp there.

We didn't see any showers but the bathrooms were really clean and well kept. You can buy some basic stuff at the little vending station where a tiny little shop opens for 2 hours a day from 4-6pm. You can't even call it a shop. It's a storage shed with a guy standing in front of it. :P  You can buy firewood and maybe couple dozen items ranging from mosquito repellent to tent spikes.

Elkmont seems to be centrally located since it's only a couple of miles from the main Smokey Mountains visitor center. From camp you have relatively easy access to the 3 main resort towns of the Smokey's. Gatlinsburg was the most charming of the 3 towns and also the closet to Elkmont.

This is a large well managed campground. I'd definitely recommend it if you plan to camp at the Smokey Mountains.

Elkmont Campground, Great Smokey Mountains, TN

The Great Smoky Mountains are the most visited National Park. If you go in the summer, it will be crowded.  Elkmont is less than 10 miles from Gatlinburg.  So yes this campground is large and busy.  If you know that going in, then you should be ok.  If it to be a quieter campsite, come here in the late fall or earlier spring.

Right in the heart of the action

Elkont

Stayed here many times and is my favorite campground in the Smoky Mountains. Great location with easy access to Gatlinburg but secluded as well. The campground is beautiful with rivers running through it. Is usually very crowed year round (especially during firefly season), but there is plenty of space between the campsites. Great hiking trails nearby.

Love this campground!

Best area of GSM. Secluded and teaming with wildlife. Awesome area during the once a year rare firefly season if you are lucky enough to get a site. The firefly event is extremely popular and on many people's bucket lists. It only happens one other place in the world. If you are lucky enough to get to see it, it makes you feel like you are in a Disney movie. This is the ONLY campground where you will be able to see this event. Great hiking trails and good place to fly fish. Can be quite busy so reservations are a good idea. No showers but a river runs through the campground. Campsites are large enough to where you have plenty of space even with a lot of people.

Favorite area of GSM

One of my favorite National Parks. Cool ghost town nearby worth a trip (not quite like the ghost towns out west). This is a decent campground choice, though it's the most crowded. Nice clean facilities and pretty standard amenities you'd expect from the National Park Service. Tons of shade and green. Most sites are not too private (again, like you'd expect). Make reservations far in advance!! Visit in spring for flowers (mountain laurel and rhododendrons are beyond words) and in fall for leaf peeping, avoiding the crowded summer season. The 10 accessible sites are very nice. 

Largest campground in the Smokies

Stay on the walk to peninsula. Sites B1-3 are the BEST. You get to surround yourself with the tranquil sounds of rushing waters 24/7. Very private and no street noise. 

Elkmont=waterfront haven 

Awesome campground nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains! Surrounded by hiking trails and rivers/ creeks. Campground use to be a logging community and some houses ate still standing. Little river runs through the campground good trout fishing and tubing when the water is up. Gatlinburg is close for those looking for more than camping. No water/electrical hook ups on campsites for those that require these amenities. No showers either only restrooms. There is a shed that sells ice, wood, etc. Beautiful place to get away and relax.

Elkmont

We have camped here twice and absolutely love it.  I don't think there are any bad sites here.  We have camped in B8 and and J5 and loved both.  

A few things to note about Elkmont... There are no hookups and there are no showers.  There are flush toilets and an area at the bathrooms to wash dishes and get fresh water.  I think all of the sites have a picnic table and a fire ring and all seem to be pretty shaded.  Be aware that generator use is allowed from 8am to 8 pm only on certain loops of the campground.  

Many of the sites are on the small creek ( they call it a river, but it's a creek) and the sound of the water carries a long way so it is very peaceful at night.  You will definitely will want to do your research on recreation.gov before you book.  You can look at pictures of the individual sites and read about the sites attributes.  There is also a youtube video that walks through all of the sites.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwLGUH1qAEs  Very cool!

It is quite a drive to any sort of grocery.  Like 30 miles either way.  The camp store has basics such as wood and minimal staples.  You really need to plan ahead and not have to buy anything except wood and ice.  

There are some awesome things to see here.  There was once a thriving vacation community here and most of the homes remain although they have fallen into disrepair.  We were very fortunate to found info about the Avent Cabin and hiked to it one day.  It's a long hike but well worth it.  Again..do your research.  

Elkmont is a great place to relax and use as a jumping off point for your exploration of the GSMNP.  We hiked all day and then came back to rest and play in the creek.  PERFECT!  We will be back next year.  

Best Place to Stay in the GSMNP

Yes this campground will be packed in the middle of the summer.  The great smoky mountains are the most visited National Park and this campground might be the most popular of them all.  Right outside of Gatlinburg so plenty to do and see if you feel like exploring outside of the park.  So if you want it to be quiet, go to North Carolina side or come in the fall or just embrace the madness.  

In the middle of it all

Walk out to the outcropping of land and you'll find the most beautiful site - bring your bird watching gear!

Rustic, beautiful 

Tons of wildlife, along a stream, lots of green, perfect setting. Really cool old buildings around, lots to explore. Campground was pretty bustling in July, but that’s true of all these National Park sites at this point. Perfect location for getting to sites in the park or nearby towns. Really enjoyed it here but if you’re looking for peace and quiet you might consider a nearby national forest or primitive site. 


Main Smokies campground  

This is a beautiful campground with plenty of camping areas. There are different levels to the camping areas which almost makes it seem like a few separate campgrounds. Each spot has plenty of room for each individual/group and the creek runs right through the middle of it (absolutely breathtaking!). Facilities are very clean and easily accessible. You could stay stay here for a while and still discover new trails and fishing spots. 

Elkmont 

Beautiful camping area. We camped towards the end of season. Trout fishing is amazing here! walking distance to the abandoned Elkmont Area - lots of wildlife to! Sites are of good size for a National Park, but I am told they fill up super fast during the busy season! Most sites are well shaded and our favorites were riverside! Be Bear Aware !!!!!! Make sure all your food items are put up!


The Best Sites are Riverside!

We’ve never went in summer when it’s hot, humid, and busy but in the spring it’s GORGEOUS with all the blooming rhododendrons. It was exceptionally clean even with all the mud from spring rain and melt. Sweet location in the park makes it easy to get around we absolutely loved our stay and would go back. 


Elkmont camp in Smokies 

This is the busiest National Park in the system, and it shows!  The campground is incredibly busy, but clean and well-managed.  It provides a good access point for hiking and does cut down on the driving.  A number of trails are available and families with young children should find it easy to explore.

BUSY!

loved this place. great views of the trees

great time

Busy but nice campground. Over 200 campsites, with small RV and tents mixed in. The best sites are either the walk in tent sites or the creek side sites. No showers, but nice clean bathrooms with cold running water. Great location to be in the middle of the park. 

Elkmont campground Smokey Mountain National Park

The campground has a wonderful area and the history of the place is amazing.  

The Hidden Gem

What a wonderful place to step back into time...to see the sportsman cottages and how mother nature is reclaiming her land.

Elkmonts History

Elkmont is a nice little 200-site park right on the edge of the Smokies. It's seasonal, and if you're looking to go during the summertime or October when the leaves are changing, be sure to make plans way in advance. If you can snag one of the few walk-in sites, you'll get away a bit from other people. What makes this camp spot great is the proximity to area places to explore. Head north to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area or journey south a bit to Newfound Gap or on out to Clingman's Dome, one of the most popular places in the park on the state line. 

Gear review: I took along my new Stanley Vacuum Insulated Switchback Mug from last month's Cairn subscription box. I was most impressed with the grit guard keeping the drinking surface clean, but was actually pleasantly surprised at the insulation as well. I tested both ice water and coffee on the trip and would certainly recommend it for either. At 12 oz, it was a bit small for me on a hike longer than a few hours - in areas where there's not a refill spot. But with a filter and water access, it would be perfect for an all-day or overnight excursion. Doesn't weigh a lot and fits nicely in the outside pocket of my backpack or clipped on with a carabiner. Oh, and zero leaks!

Ranger Review: Stanley Mug at Elkmont Campground

Great park operated car camping site with a few primitive sites. Always clean and the only spot to catch synchronized fireflies.

Great park right smack in the middle of it all. Sites are good sized and had nice tent pads, 2 rivers running though it. A large one and a nice little creek that runs through. The best sites are off the river and some of the ones right next to the creek. Close to some great trails and not too far from Gatlinburg if you're looking for some tourist action. Loved this campground and would definitely return. Perfect base camp for all the smokies have to offer! Happy Trails!

Elkhorn: right in the heart of it all

Polite campers in rvs watched over my tent camp site while I enjoyed a couple of the trails. All in all a wonderful place to stay. Plus you're right by the river.

I love it here

Our stay at Elkmont was great, a pretty traditional campground in the park, kind of pricey but great location. Make sure to book ahead or show up real early in the summertime!

Elkmont stay

As the most visited national park _by far_, it’s not always easy to find peace in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And Elkmont Campground -- the park’s largest at 220 campsites -- may not seem like the ideal place to try to find that peace, but somehow, we did.

We visited the Smokies in November, after the fall colors had peaked and long after summer travelers had crowded the trails and campgrounds. Sometimes, visiting during the off-season is all it takes to have an ideal national park experience.

Our campsite at Elkmont was huge! We had ample space for our tent and shade tent, which we set up over the provided picnic table. Our site backed up to the Little River, providing idyllic camping backdrop noise. The campground provided basic amenities like running water and flush toilets.

The only downside to our time in the Smokies was the rain. During our five days there, it rained almost every day. We attempted a three-day hike along the AT, but decided to come back after two. We skipped the park’s highest point at Clingman’s Dome, because we never had a clear day.

But we managed to enjoy our time in plenty of other ways. We enjoyed our time in Cades Cove and Abrams Falls with almost _no other visitors_, and we loved hiking to Ramsay Cascades and Grotto Falls, two fine misty-day activities.

You can read much more about our five days in the park on our blog: [Switchback Kids (Great Smoky Mountains)](http://switchbackkids.com/great-smoky-mountains/)

Quiet, idyllic backdrop and convenient location in the most visited national park

this is a great campground. Quiet, close to all the major sites in GSMNP! We went 4 days over 4th of July- it rained a lot and was always extremely humid. Bathroom were clean, but oddly, always wet? No showers, or electricity. Great camp store on site for essentials (firewood, ice, personal items). Dish washing sink at every bathroom and bear storeage unit at some campsites if you don't want to store in your car.

Great campground! 

A perfect way to camp in the Great Smoky Mountains - down in a holler, right by a babbling stream. The sites are paved so you won't camp on rocks or sticks, and there's a small shop there with basic supplies (wood, snacks, etc.) for sale. Love this site, will return!

Fantastic, right by the water

Let's face it, it gets HOT in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the summer time and having a spot to cool off at the end of the day is an added bonus when camping. This campground is within the national park and offers well shaded spots for both RVs and tent campers. It's a relatively large campground with multiple loops that helps to spread out visitors so that you don't fell like you're on top of one another.

There are no hook ups for electric and sewer here, nor are their showers. However, there are flush toilets, cold running water and large sinks for you to do your dishes or hand wash a few clothing items if need be. The town of Gatlinburg is also a short drive away from this particular campground. There are water spigots with potable water through the campground.

This is one of the more popular sites within the park and fills quickly (especially the AMAZING sites right along the water). So if you're interested in spending a few nights here, be sure to make your reservations early. There is also a small general store located within the campground.

Water everywhere!

**This campsite is in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is one of the biggest and busiest.**

**Yay: this is a fairly typical big national park campground in many ways. There is a camp store with firewood (you are required to buy it from an authorized location!). Nice roomy campsites with a lot of plant cover letting you feel like you have a private area. You can hike some trail from right on site. Rangers have almost nightly programming for all ages.**

**Nay: given the traffic it is well maintained but can still be a little behind in restroom cleanliness. We’ve stayed here many times and how clean the campsite and bathrooms/facilities are can vary a lot. The staff are all excellent though and are happy to hop to it and solve any issues you may have with the facilities. Also bring tons of bug spray! No showers.**

**Surprise: cool little ghost town nearby for neat photos. Many sites are along an adorable creek (B-teens for example).**

Very popular but very pretty in GSMNP 

Had a great time here, the camp host was delightful!

Elkmont Campground

I've stayed at Elkmont many times. It's about 7 hours from my house, so know the miles are worth it. For those that can do without electricity and onsite water and sewer, this is the best campground in the Smokies. All others have a dump site in the campground. The closest to Elkmont to dump RV tanks is across from the Sugarlands Visitor Center almost 7 miles away. I wish Elkmont would remedy that, but it stays full most of the camping season as it is, so I doubt any upgrades are forthcoming. It's the only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars.

That aside, this campground is our favorite. The Little River that flows through the campground is great. It's good for tubing. The campground store is well stocked most of the time. There aren't as many ranger led programs as there used to be, but the one's still there are wonderful.

The circus that happens during the firefly event is also worth putting up with. There is nothing like the display the fireflies put on usually the first 2 weeks in June. Keep in mind reservations for that week must be made pretty soon to the 6 month period the NP set up. Wait a month and you won't get those weeks.

Lastly the weather, although this area receives the 2nd most rainfall in the lower 48, is very cool in the dead of summer. Might get hot in the middle of the day on rare occasions (good time to dip into the aforementioned river that never gets too much above 40 degrees), the nights are usually cool enough to sit around a campfire.

The "month visited" down the menu would only give me one choice. July is the last visit we made, but any month its open is great. Again if you want the firefly weeks or leaf peeping fall weeks, make sure to reserve right at that 6 month window. Or you will have few choices if any.

Rustic, primitive camping

Beautiful campground, surrounded by nature. The most predominate sound is the river that runs the entire length of the campground. This is our favorite campground in the Smoky Mountains.

No Glamping allowed.

I’ve been camping ther since I was a kid. By far the most amazing campground around. 

Amazing

While the late spring weather offered up some rain at various points, overall our trip to Elkmont Campground was just great. Check in was very simple as we'd made reservations. We had site L004, which is on one of two no generator loops. As we heard generators coming from across the river, we were glad we made this choice. Being a bit away from the water helped with bugs, as well as making the campsite pretty quiet and calm most of the time.

The two bathrooms near our site were adequately cleaned, though there was a noticeable cleanliness difference compared to the main bathroom at the campground entrance. This is hardly a complaint, just an observation. We utilized the campground store several of the nights we were there. The prices were high, but not outside the norm for a national park campground.

This is a nice campground with good access to other points in the park, to Sugarlands visitor center, and to Gatlinburg if need be. We will definitely be back for a fall trip, as well as to see the synchronous fire flies. Undoubtedly, we will stay at Elkmont Campground again as we highly recommend it.

Quiet Calming Elkmont

We spent a week in this campground and loved everything. The restrooms were clean. There are no showers or electricity but it is a great campground. We plan to go back next summer!

Beautiful and peaceful 

Campsites can be a bit close together, but it's very nice and wooded. We we're lucky enough to get a site next to a small creek. Other sites are near a bigger stream. There are no showers and no soap or paper towels or hand dryers in the bathrooms. Not necessarily a complaint, but a warning. Staff was nice and the small store had camp essentials like firewood.

This park had no entrance fee and had great Ranger run programs and hikes. We hiked to Laurel Falls and it was beautiful, but the real stunner was Clingman's Dome. VERY worth the drive from the campsite (GPS tells you 8 miles, but it's more than an hour drive)

Nice campground in an amazing Park

Beautiful camping, hiking, and incredible views and overlooks. My favorite time to camp or spend time in Elkmont is definitely the fall. 

One of my faves 

camper along the river and it was amazing. Great hiking opportunities and close to Gatlinburg if you run out of supplies. 

Beautiful

Very clean, surrounded by beautiful sights like the river. The staff was so helpful and full of advice on where to hike and where to visit.

A new favorite place! 

Birthday camping

I loved coming here! We came in the middle of fall with all of the leaves in full bloom! The winding mountain roads, rivers and picture perfect views made this trip my all time favorite. The campground was nestled in the middle of the forest right off of a crystal clear river. This was a a great spot for pictures and for fishing small mouth bass right off your site. There were plenty of deer, turkey and even a black bear off there n the distance. Beware of leaving any food, even dog food out for the night, bears are not shy! This campground also offered primitive and electric sites for tent campers as well as rv sites. You do want to make reservations ahead of time, you can do this through reserve America or the website itself. We enjoyed our hikes during the day and relaxing by the fire at night. if you want to go to town Gatlinburg and pigeon forge are very close. You also can take a beautiful scenic drive through the Cherokee National Forest where there are Elk grazing in the open fields. 

Must Love Outdoors

We go to Elkmont during firefly season. One of the only places you can see the synchronizing fireflies- they all go dark together for a spell then one of the lights up and they all go off. Sometimes it is so bright you can make out the individual logs and shrubs in the glen. The campground is perfectly nice, most sites are pretty close together. River swimming right there too :)

Magical firefly forest

This is my number one place to go camping in the smokies. Every campsite is shaded by a canopy of trees that covers the entire campground. I love getting a place by the water, those are hard to come by. But even if you are not by the water you can still hear the water.

Serene 

This is a nice campground. Everyone was friendly and helpful. We liked that there was a creek running along the side. Bathrooms were clean and in good repair. Being in the smokeys there is so much to see around this campground. They sell firewood and many of those last minute items often forgotten at home.

Nice campground

Nice campground on the other side of the park from Cosby near the ghost town. Well maintained facilities

Large campground near the ghost time

Good size spots for renting. The bathrooms are stocked with toilet paper only. The picnic spots are stocked better. The campground is beautiful and close to Gatlinburg while being peaceful and serene. The creek bubbling next to our site was enjoyable and while driving the park we saw a few bears!

Beautifully Green

Positioned closest to Gatlinburg, Elkmont Campground is one of the easiest campgrounds to navigate in when it comes to wider roads and more widespread campsites. I had seen someone else review this site and loved what they said so much I had to myself go and make it one of my overnights, and oh was I happy I did!

The Smoky Mountains are to big to really navigate all from one camp area. Roads are narrow and windy and on busy days you hardly can accomplish even a couple things of interest on your list. You find yourself having to backtrack each night if you commit to a stay in a single location. So for my midway point this campground made it a great stop to be central to the big visitor center and numerous hiking stops.

My site had a nice tent pad next to my picnic table and grill area. It was not the biggest of the sites at the location but plenty large enough for me, and not far from the restroom, which is a personal preference ( I don't like to wander around in the dark for long distances because of animals).

This site didn't have any of the bells and whistles, so without those it takes a lot to make something my favorite. What pushed me over the top with it? The cleanliness and the staff. Despite being one of the busiest campgrounds it was also very well maintained. Everything was in great condition from my table to the site itself, no stray weeds or anything.

Cell service wasn't great for me here, but then again in all the Smoky Mountains I cruised around with pretty much 1 bar or less. That would normally raise a little concern because I like to for safety drop a pin so people know where I am, but with the presence of park rangers I felt safe. They patrol all evening.

TIPS:

* Sites are booked in advance through recreation.gov so make sure you book, during nice weather this place is very busy, even during the week.

* Remember to lock your food in your car, this is bear country and they do not encourage you to entice the bears into camp!!

My favorite campground at Smoky Mountain National Park

Elkmont Campground has over 200 campsites with paved driveways, gravel tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. Due to its central location and variety of amenities, Elkmont Campground tends to be very busy in the summer and into the fall. Restrooms at Elkmont Campground have flush toilets, cold running water, and utility sinks. Potable water is available at spigots near each restroom.

A variety of hiking is available in the park. Outside of the park in nearby Gatlinburg, you can find rafting trips, museums, restaurants, and more!

Nice area to explore!

We loved our campsite and this campground. Our site was good size and bathroom facilities were nice and clean with running water and flush toilets. I wish the national parks would have shower facilities at more of their campgrounds. This was the only downside. The campground was quiet and the Little River was behind our campsite. We had a nice fire ring and picnic table with a designated tent pad. There was a campground store and ranger station very close by.

There were great hiking trails nearby and we enjoyed biking the Cade's Cove Loop.

Beautiful campground at Great Smoky Mountain National Park

GSMNP is so huge, it is difficult to decide where in the park to stay. Elkmont is sort of centrally located and has trails from the campground (although we drove to other trailheads). This busy campground is huge with loops A-N. We stayed in Loop A and although our site did not back up to the creek, we could easily hear it. Good spacing between sites. Clean bathrooms with cold running water and a utility sink. No internet, showers or hookups but for $12.50/night (with 50% senior discount), you can’t beat the price! Firewood is available for purchase in the park and it was the best wood we’ve ever bought. Our two bundles had our fire going for well over four hours. Although the campground is huge and full, it was very quiet.

Perfect for our stay in GSMNP!

I love elkmont! It’s located only a short drive from Gatlinburg and several major hiking trails including Chimney Top. It’s also beautiful, surrounded by trees, you can hear waterfalls, plenty of space from other campers, etc. Definitely makes you feel like you’re more remote than some other campsites I’ve been to. 

great location, great scenery 

This is my 2nd favorite campground ever! The sites are huge, the river running through is perfect for inter tubbing, good swimming areas, tons of hiking, &amp; beautiful scenery. PEACEFUL!! My parents started bringing me camping here when I was 9 we’d come every year for a week. I’m 30 &amp; married now so I drag my husband camping here ha I still tube on the river &amp;  hiking is the best. My favorite time to come is summer. I’ve camped there twice during the synchronized firefly show (definitely look it up if you haven’t heard of it). The campground closes from Nov-March but you can still go in &amp; hike. March is a gorgeous time to go &amp; there aren’t a lot of people camping around that time. It’s primitive so there aren’t any hook ups at all. There aren’t showers but they have many nice bathhouses set up that have toilets &amp; sinks. Highly recommend!! 

The best!! 

**Campground Review**

On a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you quickly learn that you’ll enjoy your visit a lot more if you are located close to what you want to see and do. This means you may find it worth your while to move from one campground to another during your stay, as I did. My final night in the park found me setting up camp at Elkmont Campground, &lt; 5 miles from the Sugarlands entrance, so I would have a shorter drive to view sunset and sunrise from overlooks along the beautiful Newfound Gap Rd. This is also the viewing area for the synchronous fireflies in late May/early June (dates vary; parking passes by lottery in April) if you don’t have a campsite reservation).

Elkmont is open early March – October and reservations are required. If you arrive without a reservation, there is a phone line there that you can call to make them, or you can return to town where you have cell service and make reservations online. This early in the season (mid-April) the campground wasn’t full, some of the loops were closed. I was in site A14, beside a branch of the Little River with a large tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, and paved, slightly sloped, parking pad. It was a compact site;  the location of the picnic table between the tent and fire ring made it a challenge to set up a screen house over the picnic table and maintain sufficient distance from the fire. I was pleased with my site and the privacy, though I liked the looks of A13 even better. It was somewhat larger and more secluded. Many of the sites, particularly those on the western side of A - F loops, are along the river. Most of the sites are shaded. A few of the B-loop sites are walk-in. It’s bear country, so your food and toiletries need to be locked in a vehicle or hard-side camping unit; there are some food storage lockers provided for the walk-in sites. There’s a small camp store with limited supplies and hours (open late afternoon); Cades Cove has a much larger one, though it tends more toward souvenirs.

There’s cold running water, flush toilets, and a dishwashing station available, but no showers or hookups (a couple of accessible sites do have electricity for medical equipment). Bathrooms are basic, no frills, but clean; The one in the A loop didn’t even have an outlet or hand dryer. If you ask at the visitor’s center, they’ll provide you with a list of area campgrounds that allow you to take a shower for $3-7\. The nearest dump station is a seasonal one at the Sugarlands Visitor Center (doesn’t open until late May); the one at Cades Cove is open year round. Buy firewood in the park or, better yet, pick up deadwood around the park.

One of the more intriguing areas to explore at Elkmont is the Daisy Town ghost town. Once you’ve set up camp, walk or drive down the road toward the Little River and Jakes Creek trails (leaves the camp road to the left before the ranger station on your way into the campground). Follow the signs for additional parking and you’ll find yourself at the end of a road lined with assorted cottages and cabins that used to be vacation homes. Some are open for exploration, others are cordoned off, and some are undergoing renovation. Another nearby, popular highlight is the hike to Laurel Falls.

**Product Review**

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I sometimes I get to test and evaluate products. This is a review of a [Wenzel Sun Valley 12’ x 12’ Screen House](https://wenzelco.com/sun-valley/) As a camper with a teardrop, I’m always looking to maximize my outdoor living space in subpar conditions, so I was excited to try this out at Elkmont.

I set this up alone the first time in 14 minutes without reading the instructions. The instructions are attached to the inside of the bag and recommend 2 people for set-up, but if you’ve pitched a dome tent in the past, you’ll find this inituitive. Continuous sleeves for 4 of the fiberglass poles and the “Fast Feet” made set- up easy. I did wish the sleeves for the cross-poles were continuous as well, but the gap allows for a hook to hold the ceiling up and it didn’t take much extra effort to slide the poles in. The hardest part was getting the 4th end of the cross poles for the roof into place. I couldn’t bend them enough to slide it in while on the ground, so waited until everything else was up…should have figured it out while it was at ground level rather than over my head! This part would definitely be easier if there were two people pitching it.

The zippers on the two doors close tightly and easily without extreme tension, though it was definitely easier to open and close with 2 hands rather than one. There was no gap at the junction of the 3 zippers. Once you are inside, you have a crystal clear view of the outside! It’s quite tall, I couldn’t touch the ceiling in the middle with a raised hand. It doesn’t have a floor, just a wide border around the perimeter, so you can place it over a picnic table. The picnic table (about 6’) fit inside it easily with plenty of room to walk around and even add a chair in a corner. I had to be careful about making sure the bottom of the walls lay flat on the ground, otherwise there were gaps.

It comes with 10 thin metal stakes for the feet and 4 plastic ones for the guy lines. A word of advice: USE THEM.  The first time I set this up, this experienced camper made a rookie mistake. The weather was nice, but it was getting dark, and I wanted to move it over the picnic table in the morning…so I didn’t stake it down. That night a wind storm blew through and blew it away! Found it at 4am in the next campsite,  astonished to discover it was still intact! No broken poles, just a slight abrasion on one sleeve and a tiny tear in one part of the screen that will be easily repaired. A couple of the poles slid out of the Fast Feet during its overnight adventure, allowing the screen house to collapse and preventing damage to the poles themselves (I’ve seen MANY other screen houses/canopies with bent and broken poles from wind). Truly impressed.

Pitched it again the next afternoon with the wind still blowing and as you can see in my video, the screen house was like a kite until I staked it down. Once staked, it stood up well to the wind, though it did cause the bottom edge of the screen house to lift a bit. If bugs are out in that weather (there were wind advisories), they probably deserve a chance for some shelter, too.

Taking it down, it easily fit back in the storage bag, with the zipper extending down one end to open the bag a bit more. Oh, and it weighs so much less than many of the canopies do, coming in around 20# and not requiring a wheeled case to lug it around. If you’re looking for a  screen house, this one has a lot going for it!

Black fly season is coming and with the Wenzel Sun Valley Screen House packed, I’m ready! MY fuller video review is here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ealCyAi02HA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ealCyAi02HA)

Ranger Review: Wenzel Sun Valley Screen House at Elkmont Campground

Good:
The river was amazing. 
Most spots are relatively spaced out. 
Very flat tent areas in every single site. 

Just so you know:
No showers. 
No cell service in the campgrounds, closest is towards Sugarland HQ about 10-15 minutes east. 
Camp store is only open 4-7pm. 
Can’t bring your own firewood.  

Get a spot on Millionaires Row

Elkmont is a huge campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

They have plenty of sites for tents and RVs. There is a camp store, showers, and restrooms. They provide potable water access. Some sites do have electric hookups for medical needs, which are also handicap accessible. Most site are primitive sites with no water or electric hookup available. Some loops do allow the use of generators during certain hours. Pets are allowed in the campground, but not on the trails.

This campground has great access to hiking and fishing, as well as wildlife viewing.

We spent our weekend trip hiking and enjoying the butterflies that fill the park in September.

Great place to base a Smokies trip!

Absolutely loved this campground. The bathrooms were great, despite not having showers. But the location and the site made up for it. We had a site by the river, and it was the most spacious, secluded, and beautiful campsite I’ve ever stayed at. Would highly recommend this ground for your Smoky Mountain stay, especially if you can score a river lot. The proximity to trails and the synchronized firefly event is definitely worth it!

Fantastic location

  First of all, the drive to Elkmont is just beautiful! Located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, the scenery is second to none! If you have never heard of Synchronized Fireflies, look it up! This is a natural phenomenon that can only be seen in one place in the world, with peak times around the beginning of June, and that’s Elkmont! You don’t actually need to win a lottery spot to see this, you just have to stay at the campground and walk up to the little river trail around 9pm! We were in M002, and it was a short walk. 
  The campground is scenic with a river running through, that you can actually tube in. Just about all sites are wooded, so plenty of space and privacy. Restrooms were clean, however there are no showers! Also, there’s no electricity at any of the sites, so if you need power, better take a generator. The campground is huge too. You can only use firewood that has the state or government seal, and there is a store there to purchase if u need. 
  I absolutely love this campground! So many great hiking trails, and the sounds from the river and nature are so soothing. This place is a “must visit” campground!!!


Unbelievable!!! 

This campground is absolutely amazing. Everything was well kept and clean, sights far enough apart, plenty of shade, plenty of restrooms and just flat out beautiful. We went up and stayed here to see the synchronized lightning bugs and it did not disappoint. I would 100% recommend staying here even if it wasn’t the time of year to see the lighting bugs. Plenty of trails to hike, rivers to fish and things to see. There is an amazing abandoned summer retreat community just outside the campground that is a must see. I will say you WILL NOT HAVE ANY CELL SERVICE! But for me that is far from a negative. Just prepare accordingly. 

Lighting Bug Display was on another level

Spent 3 nights at Elkmont. Clean bathrooms, spacious sites, good water access and dish washing stations (so helpful in bear country!) Stayed in N loop which is just near trails to view fireflies - weren’t quite synchronized yet when we were there (2nd week of June) but the show was still wonderful in the dark among the old cabin ruins! 

A few great nights even in the rain...

When you first get to the campground, you may think it is the typical national park campground, and it is in a several ways. However, this campground has a little-known area that many people ignore. First of all, the campsite we stayed in was spacious and had a fire ring. It didn’t have electricity and water, but it was large enough for my best friend to put up his monster tent.  The bath house does not have showers, but they are more than adequate for primitive camping. The campground is located in an area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that has the Little River through it, so you have the sounds of the creek at night. You can gather wood for your campfire, but you cannot transport firewood into the campground unless it has been certified and sealed in plastic. If you are not tubing or fishing in the river, you can travel a few miles to explore Cades Cove. However, next to the campground, there is the little-known area I mentioned earlier. I found it fascinating and lots of fun to explore. It is a ghost town, which began as a logging town. In the early 1900s, it became a resort, and from what I understand, many of the residents were from eastern Tennessee. Some of the buildings have been restored, but most of them are deteriorating quickly. We were able to go inside most of the buildings, but you have to be careful. You are not allowed to go into the some of them, which have signs and are dangerous. However, just to walk down the streets among the buildings is a beautiful sight, especially in the fall. The last thing I heard is that they are going to raze most of the buildings. Overall, Elkmont Campground is a peaceful place to stay with a lot of history. It is also close to another popular area of the national park--Cades Cove. My advice would be to plan ahead since this campground can fill up during peak season. It is the largest campground of the Smokies, if I understood correctly, but campers come from all over the United States to stay here.

Large National Park Campground with Lots of History in a Beautiful Setting

The only bad part was the non quiet hours- so
It was loud at night. But the campsites are far apart, easy walking distance to bathrooms. It was a nice spot we had, we just walked in and grabbed an open spot. Walking distance to easy hiking spots. 

Good experience

My old college roommate and I took a camping trip here and brought his golden retriever. It was a great little campground. All of the staff were very helpful and friendly. 

Awesome Trip

Even with out loops bathroom under renovation it was a great experience.  You are in the middle of everything.

Great car camping in GSMNP

Elkmont is set in an absolutely stunning setting. The tent site were large and very clean with the sound of rapids coming from the nearby river. There were multiple bathrooms available which were clean and well maintained. It is centrally located for multiple stunning hikes i.e. Laurel Falls, Charlie’s Bunion and Clingmans Dome. It is also a short drive from Gatlinburg.

Absolutely stunning setting. 

Elkmont is awesome! We loved camping on the river and listening to it roar at night helped to put us to sleep. I loved the location in the mountains as it is both close to trails and close to Gatlinburg! (I wish the national parks could have showers)

River and mountains make this campground unique:)

Spent 4 nights here; Really beautiful misty campground! It's located right near Gatlinburg so it's a short drive to town to grab whatever you need. Walmarts and supermarkets are located outside of Gatlinburg. Campground is pretty open and dog friendly! Has an outdoor sink and bathrooms but no showers. There's a lovely and very cold creek to go walking or swimming in. Elkmont has an open layout so you can see your neighbors there's trees all around, during sunset and sunrise hours you can see the sun peaking out of the branches and misty air low on the ground it's breathtaking!! Laurel falls is a fun hike nearby that leads to a nice waterfall you can waddle around in. Definitely a family friendly environment as well! Each campsite has a fire pit, bench, water hook-up to bring your own supply, and a paved out center to put your tent on. Try NOT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT no street lights of course in the mountains and roads are very loopey so be careful. 

Smokey mountain camping

Great large sectioned campsites with beautiful tree coverage. The campsite are spaced far enough away from each other that you nearly feel alone they have great pads for putting up the tent. Bathrooms are clean and easily accessible around the campground. The sound of running water from the river can be heard throughout the campground. This campground is centrally located to great hikes Laurel Falls, Charlie’s Bunion. It is a easy drive into Gatlinburg and the visitors center.

Majestic camping in the mountains !

When visiting Gatlinburg and camping this is a great spot!  Close to town and you can take the trolley in if you like.  Cool down in the river or go for a scenic drive.

Beautiful!

Great in winter which is normally closed but Cades cove is closed so I got to stay in campground and it was quite compared to summer.  Summer time you have shuttle that runs to Gatlinburg so you don’t have to drive.  Hiking great too.

Love this campground 

Camped here with a large group spread over two campsites. We pitched tents right by the water which was awesome. It was quiet, but there wasn't much separation between campsites and often found other campers just people-watching the entire trip.

With Gatlinburg nearby, and the overall size of the campgrounds, it felt very touristy and not like a typical camping trip. While we had fun, we probably would not return for these two reasons.

Elkmont is a 40 minute drive from Clingman's Dome, which was, as one of my friends put it "the greatest experience i've had camping, ever". Great trails to be found all over the place, too.

No cell service available, which was also great, if you care about that.

Great campground by the river, but with little privacy and touristy-vibe

We camped overnight here in order to visit the Elkmont Historic area. Very interesting story of cabins that were bought out in order to create Great Smokey Mountains National Park. 
We were in a campervan and were in section G - heavily wooded but pretty quiet. Restrooms were absolutely gross - and I checked 3 of them. Flush toilets, no showers, no way to dry hands. Yuck. Most people brought their own facilities.....
Gatlenberg is nearby but is a super-crowded, over-the-top tourist area with tons of souvenir stores, ziplines, etc. - not our thing at all (and no one wearing masks)

Lovely setting near historic site

This was my first National Park campground experience - it was packed but I still felt like we had privacy and space from other campers. Firewood and other basics were available at the camp store at the entrance. Every bathroom has a dish washing sink- no showers, no electric. A majestic owl landed above our site- great experience! 

Beautiful Natl Park 

We wanted to see the Elkmont Historic Cabins and were not disappointed!  Most the the cabins are open so you an walk through them!

However, the campground left lots to be desired!  We were in the 'G' area and the facilities were disgusting, there was no privacy between sites and there was a dog being allowed to bark nonstop.  No wifi at all.  Gatlinburg was a nightmare of tourista crap and crowds of people without masks.  Few places to eat outside of that downtown area where we did not want to venture. Wanted to go see Pigeon Forge, but were put off by what was happening in Gatlinburg.

Historic Cabins Make it Worthwhile

I LOVE  everything about Elkmont. We stayed at campsite A16 it was perfect with a wee little stream behind our site. When we arrive I noticed a Owl chillin in the trees, I watched a while hin for a while, while I un packed our things. Then later that evening our camp neighbors came over and said there were a family of owls who flew around and watched over ever one. From our site we walked to the main part of the river, but preferred our site to the main river. I definatly cant wait to go back. Oh and the dish washing area is super cute &amp; very clean too! 

My favorite camp spot!!!

Camping at Elkmont was amazing! Our site was perfect! Spacing from other campsites was good. Due to last minute booking we were not able to grab a river spot but we were happy with our spot anyways. Trees are great for hammocking as well! 

Beautiful trees

This place is awesome!!! We stayed 3 nights so we could hike the surrounding trails! Loved learning about the history of the area while checking out the old cabins. The park ranger were helpful and even told me about the Avent cabin that is a little off trail. Hiked around 30 miles and got to see my first bear in the wild!

Best Smokey Mtn Experience 

Awesome spot. Sites our spread out, awesome nearby hiking and a short drive to town. If you camp here, take advantage of the hiking. Tons of cool things to see!

Great Spot in the Smokies

Quiet campsite run by NPS. Beautiful in the fall. Great fire pit and gravel elevated platform for tents and activities

Very quiet and beautiful

My wife and I went for our 5th anniversary. The campground is great and within a mile or 2 of a lot of trail heads in the Smokies. It was beautiful in October, but if you go in peak season I would recommend staying in the national park due to the insane amounts of traffic getting into Gatlinburg. 

Fall Getaway

Best Campground in The Great Smokies National Park!
Sites are private, most are very wooded, they have tables, fire rings and usually paved tent pads.
The showers are nice and clean and the river runs right through the campground so many sites are next to it and the sound is WONDERFUL!!!!

My Favorite Smokies Campground !

Walking distance to light hiking. Very clean campgrounds. They even have a small house with running water to clean your kitchen pots and pans etc. There is a water refill station and plenty of bear approved garbage bins. Fishing is open year-round. Rhododendrum‘s bloom In June. We had a great experience!￼

Clean, bear proof encouraged

Walked, hiked and toured the Elkmont area and campground in the Smoky Mountains. Campground not yet open but have spots picked out next to heavy flowing streams. Great history as old time cabins have been preserved. Read about the history of this little now abandon town. Some stuff it’s haunted. Awesome day here. 

Stepping back in time

I love Elkmont because of the River...and we were finally able to get a reservation on the River (B09) and I’m shocked to say I won’t stay on the River again. River spots are closer together and talking over the roaring is difficult at times. Gorgeous but loud. Waste water system was being worked on so Port-o-Potties were setup where each bathroom was. Inconvenient, but they were cleaned and pumped out each day which made it tolerable. Concessions stand doesn’t open until May. This campground remains a favorite of mine, but our trip was not what I had expected it to be this time. Will 100% go back and I think everyone should stay there at least once. 

Would visit again!

We had an absolute blast reserving two spots G03-G04 which were right on the river, and right across from the bathrooms and water fountains. The bathrooms were being worked on, so they were using a Royal Room Trailer that was clean, cool, and smell free. The water fountain was awesome and clean as well. Our sites were great, and the fire pits have a cooking grate, where we used our cast iron skillets and aluminum foil-wrapped potatoes. There are plenty of trees for tarping over your sites, should it rain, but the sites are a little close to all your neighbors. No worries though, as the rushing river water drowns out most noises. We will definitely be back!

Great site on the river, but close to neighbors

I stumbled upon Elkmont about 15 years ago and I completely fell in love. I’ve spent many nights under the Elkmont stars and imaging what it must’ve been like living in that small, mountain railroad town. All the history there and seeing what once were peoples homes has a strange yet intriguing vibe to it. There are great trails not far from the campground. It’s quiet and peaceful. And it’s nice not having cellular service as it’s an unnecessary distraction. Go back in time in Elkmont. It’s unlike any campground I’ve ever been. 

My First Love

No showers and portable toilets for camper use. Not a big deal for me, but I know some might prefer another campground as a result. Active barred owls in the campground. Quite a treat watching them.

Bathrooms closed in July

Perfect campground by the river. Spacious sites decently separated, super friendly host, several hiking trails starting right around the corner. We had two wonderful nights here and would recommend the campground to anyone looking for a quiet stay in Smoky Mountain NP.

NPS campground by the river

The campground is in a good location to many areas. The sites are a little close to each other but that understandable for that large of a campground. The thing that was a drag was no one was ever in the office and no ice or wood was available. 

Good stay

Elkmont is right here n the National Park. Close to great hiking and occasional wildlife.
Bears have been extra active this year, and rangers advise taking extra precautions.
All National Park campgrounds are primitive, so no water, or electric.  Put toilets and no showers. There is a dump station near the Sugarland Visitor Center.
There are several camping loops, 
Most sites can accommodate a 20-30 ft motor home or travel trailer. A few sites can use a generator if you need it, but Some loops are reserved for no generator camping.


Great spot in the Smokies

We stayed in late august and i was a bit worried that it might be too crowded but it wasnt at all. We had a few neighbors but everyone was friendly and kept to themselves. I was also worried because other reviews said that the camp spots were close together, and some of them were. It all just depends what camp spot you choose. Also there are no showers, just restrooms. Overall the campground was absolutely beautiful and listening to the river at night was very relaxing. 

Awesome campground

I had the most fantastic campsite right next to the river in Elkmont. I was able to hang my hammock right next to the river to enjoy my naps and morning coffee 🥰 also close to the bathrooms and entrance/exit to the campground. Close to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and many of the main attractions in the park. 

No cell service in the campground or nearby.

Amazing campsites next to river!

Always love coming here, stayed at B4 this time

One of my favorite spots to camp!

Love this place, always clean and friendly staff

Back again!

Went middle of November. Still busy! Absolutely beautiful and refreshing. Campsites are a little close together, but we personally were okay with that. Lots of access to many different trails. NO service— I mean none! which can be a refreshing change. Can’t beat camping in the smokies!!! ❤️

Beautiful, busy campground 

We stayed here for Fall Leaves in the Smoky Mountains in our van. It’s a basic campground. It usually has bathrooms with running water but since they are doing maintenance on the sewer system they had porta potties. No showers. No cell signal whatsoever. The sites aren’t private, which didn’t bother us. 

There isn’t a dump/fill station here. However, there is one at the the Sugarland Visitor Center. I’ve attached a map of where it is. I asked the information desk at the visitor center where it was. 

Pretty in the fall

Neighbors were perfect distance from us. Beautiful creek/river running by. 

Excellent spot in Smokies

Great weekend get away. From hiking alum cave trail to mt. LeConte to fly fishing the areas creeks. Elkmont is one of the best campgrounds around. I recommend stay next to the creek. 


Camping bliss

Spent 5 days in the Smokies based at Elkmont in a small camper trailer. Excellent hiking despite snow and rain. Bathrooms clean, and conveniently located. Nice to have dish washing station to dispose of grey water. There are drinking fountains and water spigots to fill water containers. Dump station and water fill station located across from Sugarland visitor center. First site was ideal, plenty of space between sites, nice view of mountains. Had to move because we extended our stay. Second site was on top of the road - lots of traffic and only a view of the road and parked cars from the picnic table and fire pit. Definitely will try for a site on the river next time. 

Photos of Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Real photos from real campers