Elkmont Group Camp
Situated in the stunning Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this site offers an ideal setting for group camping excursions and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.
This is the group site. Looking for the main campground? Elkmont Campground, 217 sites, is next door.
More like this: reservable in Tennessee · tent only in Tennessee · pets allowed in Tennessee · group sites in Tennessee
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group tent areas | 4 |
Site guide
4 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP02 | GROUP | Full | 20 / 5 | Yes |
| GP03 | GROUP | Full | 15 / 4 | Yes |
| GP04 | GROUP | Full | 20 / 4 | Yes |
| GP01 | Group | Full | 30 / 5 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Fees | Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee. |
Elkmont Group Camp offers four tent-only sites, accommodating anywhere from 15-30 guests per site. Modern amenities like flush toilets and drinking water make for a comfortable outdoor experience. Each site has picnic tables and fire rings with grills, creating the perfect atmosphere for family meals or late night s'mores. The campsite provides easy access to hiking trails, historical buildings, horseback riding trails and waterfalls. Elkmont Campground tends to book up during peak months but additional camping is offered nearby at the Cosby Campground and Cosby Group Camp.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Cherokee, NC: Take Newfound Gap Road (aka U.S. 441) North through the park into Tennessee. Turn left at Sugarlands Visitor Center. Follow Little River Road approx. 4.5 miles. Turn left at the Elkmont Campground sign and proceed 1.5 miles to the campground office. From Gatlinburg, TN: Take Newfound Gap Road (aka U.S. 441) South into the Park.
| Nearest town | Gatlinburg, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 35.6594° N, 83.5864° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 3.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Nantahala Outdoor Center ↗ | 4.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | A&L RV Sales ↗ | 21.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside National Forests in North Carolina.
- inNational Forests in North Carolina ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,026,237 acres
- 7.9 miCherokee National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,228,298 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- John Ownby CabinBuilding · Gatlinburg · 3 mi
- Little Greenbrier School-ChurchBuilding · Gatlinburg · 3.3 mi
- King-Walker PlaceBuilding · Gatlinburg · 3.4 mi
Natural features
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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 mountain culture, Great Smoky Mountains is America's most visited national park. At 2,150 feet elevation, Elkmont Group Camp 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 early 19th-century European settlements, the park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes and artifacts that tell the stories of the people who once called these mountains home. Elkmont is also known for its historical and cultural significance as a former logging community and summer resort getaway.
Recreation
Visitors can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the nearby Little River and countless other streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance. 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, including the popular Laurel Falls Trail, which leads to spectacular 80-ft. waterfall. The Elkmont, Little River and James Creek Trails are also accessible. 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 a visitor to spot one. From the big animals like bears, deer, and elk, down to microscopic organisms, the Smokies have the most biological diversity of any 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.
Nearby
Gatlinburg, one of the Smokies' famous tourist towns, is located about 9 miles from the site, offering organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more.
Guidebooks for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Fly Fishing Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National ParkIan Rutter and Charity Rutter, 2024Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Elkmont Group Camp?
Sites at Elkmont Group Camp are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Elkmont Group Camp?
Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Elkmont Group Camp?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Elkmont Group Camp have?
4 sites, including 4 group tent areas.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Elkmont Group Camp?
Elkmont Group Camp is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Elkmont Group Camp?
Modern amenities like flush toilets and drinking water make for a comfortable outdoor experience.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Elkmont Group Camp?
Yes, pets are allowed at Elkmont Group Camp. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Elkmont Group Camp?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Elkmont Group Camp?
Visitors can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the nearby Little River and countless other streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Elkmont Group Camp?
Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Gatlinburg, one of the Smokies' famous tourist towns, is located about 9 miles from the site, offering organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more.
Source: Getting there
What if Elkmont Group Camp is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Elkmont Campground (0.2 mi), Anthony Creek Horse Camp (10.9 mi), and Cades Cove Group (11.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Elkmont Group Camp in?
Elkmont Group Camp is a Great Smoky Mountains National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.