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.
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.
