Elkmont Campground
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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.
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. Potable water is available at spigots near each restroom; use of hoses is not allowed. Elkmont Campground does NOT have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups. There is no RV dump/fill station at Elkmont campground. The nearest RV dump/fill station is located across from Sugarlands Visitor Center approximately 6 miles from Elkmont.
Elkmont is strictly an overnight campground; there are no day-use facilities. The nearest picnic area is Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, west of Elkmont on Little River Road.
Due to its central location and variety of amenities, Elkmont Campground tends to be heavily used during the summer vacation months and in October. Sites along Little River are in particularly high demand. Even when Elkmont is full, campsites are often available at Cosby Campground, located at the northeast corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Need to Know
Beginning March 1, valid parking tag is required for any vehicle parking for more than 15 minutes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Front country campers parked at their designated campsite will not be required to have a parking tag. If they park elsewhere in the park, a parking tag will be required. Please note that parking tags will be required for vehicles in excess of what is allowable for each campsite.
Over the last 10 years, an average of 339 negative human-bear encounters have been reported each year; many more go unreported. Visitors should be aware that high bear activity can occur in any area, and that your safety is not guaranteed. To increase your odds for a safe visit, please follow best practices for living and recreating in bear habitat. Stay alert and be prepared to react appropriately during possible encounters, and always report any unusual bear interactions as soon as possible.
Caution: Bears and other wildlife frequent the area. All food, coolers, and equipment used to prepare and store food must be kept in a sealed vehicle or camping unit of solid, non-pliable material AT ALL TIMES when not in use. All scented items (candles, soap, etc.) as well as all water containers, MUST be stored. Dispose of garbage promptly in dumpsters provided. Unattended or improperly stored coolers, food and/or scented items may be impounded by campground staff. Violators are subject to fines.
Firewood Restriction: Only heat-treated firewood bundled in its original packing and bearing a certification seal from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a state department of agriculture may be brought into the park. This rule is strictly enforced. Campers may also collect dead and down wood in the park for campfires.
There are no showers, electric, water, or sewer hook-ups in the park. The dump and fill station is located approximately 6 miles away from the campground. Three handicap accessible ADA sites have 5 amp electrical service for use of medical equipment only. Proof of medical equipment required for use of electric hookup,
Quiet hours are in effect from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Generator use is restricted to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Generators may not be left running unattended. Generator use is prohibited from May 15 through October 31 in loops A, B, L, M and N.
You must check-in with the campground office staff UPON ARRIVAL to complete your reservation. If you arrive after the office is CLOSED for the day then you must check-in with the campground staff the following day. Failure to check-in with the office staff by noon following the day of your arrival will be considered a no show. This may result in a forfeit of your reservation. Current office hours are 9am-5pm. During November-April the office may be open intermittently; during these months campers occupying their site must be able to provide proof of occupancy when requested by park staff.
- A maximum of six people may occupy a campsite. The park stay-limit is 14 consecutive days. Reservations which exceed the 14 consecutive day limit may be cancelled and refunded.
- A Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license is required to fish in the park. Special regulations apply in the park.
- Pets are permitted, but cannot be left unattended. All pets must be kept on a six foot leash at all times. Pets are not allowed on trails.
Tent pads at Elkmont measure 16 x 16 and will accommodate one large or two small tents. Tents must be pitched on the pad. Hammocks are permitted but must be hung in the footprint of the reserved campsite,
- Cades Cove and Smokemont are the only campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park that are open year round.
- Tennessee state law requires bicycle helmets for riders under 16 years of age. Skateboards, scooters, and roller blades are prohibited in the campground.
- For additional information, call 865-436-1200 or visit www.nps.gov/grsm.
While GPS directions may route you to Elkmont via Line Springs Road and Metcalf Bottoms Picnic area, RVs and towed trailers are NOT allowed over the bridge at Metcalf Bottoms due to a narrow bridge with weight and length restrictions. RVs and trailers should access Elkmont campground from either the Gatlinburg or Townsend entrances.
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.
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.
Contact Information
Physical Address
434 Elkmont Rd Gatlinburg TN 37738
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 865-430-5560 FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 1-877-444-6777
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
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.
Available Campsites
- Site C01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G05, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site F12, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site L01, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site H09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site H05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A17, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E14, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A24, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B02, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site F05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site L05, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B34, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site G19, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B15, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site L13, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B04, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site H04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site H03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site N02, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A10, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B08, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B29, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site L03, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site M02, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site D11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site M06, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G26, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site L04, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site L15, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B31, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site F03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B12, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A11, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site D02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A27, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site L07, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site N04, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B06, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A08, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B11, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site G17, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B07, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K16, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site L11, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J16, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site F04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site D01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B21, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site L12, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site J01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site N06, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site N01, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site D04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A23, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G20, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site F01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A03, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site H08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B22, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site H10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site L09, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B10, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B20, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K07, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site D06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K12, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site G22, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J15, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A09, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site B09, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A19, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B18, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site F07, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B26, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site A04, Loop Generator Free , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site D10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G23, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A06, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site L06, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site K14, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site D07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site D14, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site L08, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G24, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A05, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site D13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site H12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E12, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site G03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site F13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B33, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site G25, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A28, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site M05, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site H02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B30, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site B05, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J02, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site H01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site D08, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site J13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K15, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B14, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site F08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site N07, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site D03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A22, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B23, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site K10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G15, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site H07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E07, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A14, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E17, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A20, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B17, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J14, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site E05, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site G18, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B32, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site F09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site N05, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site D12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site M03, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G16, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site F10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A16, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E15, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site H13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site D05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A12, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B27, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site B36, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site G01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B25, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site L02, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site G14, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site F06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site M01, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site L10, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A26, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B24, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site B16, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A15, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site L14, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B19, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site H11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site F11, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site K06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A13, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B01, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A07, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site G11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B35, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site E16, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A25, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A21, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B03, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To
- Site G02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site N03, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site G10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G21, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B13, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site D09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric
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