Elkmont Campground - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

If you are looking to camp in Great Smoky Mountains and be near Gatlinburg at the same time you will love the Elkmont Campground. This campground has great access to Cades Cove and the popular Laurel Falls trail. 

Elkmont Campground is the largest campground offering in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With 220 sites you have many options for where you want to camp. There is a great camp store next to the campground that has supplies, ice cream, ice, and firewood.

If you are visiting the park for the Synchronous Fireflies this is the area where the event is held. It is a bit of a walk from the campsite but you may be able to see pockets of fireflies within the campground.

The campground can be reserved online and we highly recommend getting a reservation as soon as you know the dates you plan on visiting the park. We visited the park in early June and the campground was really popular and pretty full.

The campground office is near the entrance of the campground. This is where you will need to check-in and get updated information. 

This campground gives you access to a ton of amazing hiking trails and adventures within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! 

Elkmont Campground -  Great Smoky Mountains National Park 

Check out our complete guide to Great Smoky Mountains Camping

Season: 3/8- 11/24, 2019

Number of Sites:  220

Location in the park: This is the closest park campground to Gatlinburg. 

Campsite Cost: $25-$27

Payments accepted: cash and check 

Reservations: Yes

Campground Address: 434 Elkmont Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, United States 

Latitude/Longitude: 

• Latitude:
• 35.6583333
• 35° 39' 29.9999" N

• Longitude:
• -83.5822222
• 83° 34' 55.9999" W

Elevation: 2,150'

Accessible Sites: 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.

Pets Allowed: Pets are allowed in the campground but must be confined or on a leash (6' maximum).

Campground Reservations

Are campground Reservations Available? Yes

Phone Number? 1-877-444-6777

Online? Recreation.gov 

How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? Individual campsites are released on a 6-month rolling basis

First Come, First Served? Only if sites are available last minute 

Campground Amenities

Flush Toilets: Yes

Payphone: No

Is wifi Available? No

Is cellular Phone Service Available? We did not have service in the campground

Is camp host available on site? Yes

Is firewood available for purchase? Yes, fire treated wood is available at the concessions near the entrance to the campground. 

 

Amenities at each campsite:

Fire pit in the site? Yes

Picnic Table in the site? Yes

Bear Box in site/area? Communal bear boxes are available. 

Potable Water? Yes

RV Camping at Campground

RV Length: Trailers-32'

Motor Homes-35'

Dump Station: Dump station at Sugarlands Visitor Center open 5/23 - 11/1

Generators: Generator use is prohibited from 8 pm to 8 am.

Generators may not be used at any time on Loops A, B, L, M, and N.

Hookups: Elkmont Campground does not have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups.

How to get to Campground

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. (If coming from Pigeon Forge, take the Bypass into the park.) Turn a right at Sugarlands Visitor Center. Proceed 4.5 miles to the Elkmont entrance and turn left at the Elkmont Campground sign. Go 1.5 miles to the campground office.

Campground Regulations

The maximum number of people in a campsite: up to six people per campsite.

The number of cars per campsite: No more than two motor vehicles or one vehicle with trailer are allowed per campsite

Checkout time: 12 pm

Quiet Hours: 10 pm to 6 am

Maximum Stay: limited to 14 consecutive days at a time

Elkmont Campground Notes

Make sure to stay on the trails in the campground. We were told there is a lot of poison ivy in the area.

There is no payphone

There are a ton of birds in the campground. You may want to pack binoculars and a Smoky Mountains Bird Guide

There were quite a few mosquitos when we visited the campground. You will definitely want to pack bug spray and possible look at pre-treating your gear/clothes before your trip. 

Elkmont Campground Map

Photos of Elkmont Campground