Elkmont Campground
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.
The group site has its own page: Elkmont Group Camp.
More like this: electric hookups in Tennessee · reservable in Tennessee · pets allowed in Tennessee
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 164 |
| Tent-only | 25 |
| Walk-in | 22 |
| Host/management | 6 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
211 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A03 | Generator Free | Standard | Back-in | 27 | Partial | 5 amp | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | ||
| A04 | Generator Free | Standard | Back-in | 27 | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | ||
| A05 | Generator Free | Walk-in | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||||
| A06 | Generator Free | Standard | Back-in | 24 | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |||
| A07 | Generator Free | Walk-in | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||||
| A08 | Generator Free | Standard | Back-in | 12 | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |||
| A09 | Generator Free | Walk-in | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||||
| A10 | Generator Free | Standard | Back-in | 12 | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| A11 | Generator Free | Walk-in | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||||
| A12 | Generator Free | Standard | Back-in | 12 | Paved | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
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
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Fees | Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). |
| Accessibility | Sites A03, A04, A26, D09 and 6 more are listed accessible |
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. Elkmont Campground does NOT have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups. There is no RV dump/fill station at Elkmont campground.
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 | 35.6588° N, 83.5827° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Potable water is available at spigots near each restroom; use of hoses is not allowed.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 3.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Nantahala Outdoor Center ↗ | 4.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | A&L RV Sales ↗ | 21.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Elkmont Campground - Should You Stay Here?
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
- 7.7 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 · 2.9 mi
- Alex Cole CabinBuilding · Gatlinburg · 3.4 mi
- Little Greenbrier School-ChurchBuilding · Gatlinburg · 3.5 mi
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.
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.
Nearby
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.
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 Campground?
Sites at Elkmont Campground 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 Campground?
Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation).
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Elkmont Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Elkmont Campground have?
217 sites, including 164 standard sites without power, 25 tent-only sites, and 22 walk-in sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Elkmont Campground?
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Elkmont Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Elkmont Campground?
Restrooms at Elkmont Campground have flush toilets, cold running water, and utility sinks.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Elkmont Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Elkmont Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Elkmont Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Elkmont Campground?
Sites A03, A04, A26, and D09 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 10 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Elkmont Campground?
The Little River runs through the campground offering visitors the option to camp waterfront. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Elkmont Campground?
Gatlinburg, Tennessee. 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.
Source: Getting there