About Elkmont Campground
Number of accommodations: 210
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
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Rates, Sites & Availability
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210 Sites Available
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Reviews (585)
What Guests Are Saying
Elkmont Campground is praised for its beautiful, well-maintained environment, friendly staff, and clean facilities, making it a great choice for campers looking for a peaceful experience in the Smoky Mountains. Many guests appreciate the primitive nature of the campground, with sites close to the river and ample privacy. However, some reviewers noted challenges with the reservation system and the closure of certain loops, which led to crowding in available areas. Overall, visitors enjoyed their time at Elkmont and expressed a desire to return.
What Guests Are Saying
Elkmont Campground is praised for its beautiful, well-maintained environment, friendly staff, and clean facilities, making it a great choice for campers looking for a peaceful experience in the Smoky Mountains. Many guests appreciate the primitive nature of the campground, with sites close to the river and ample privacy. However, some reviewers noted challenges with the reservation system and the closure of certain loops, which led to crowding in available areas. Overall, visitors enjoyed their time at Elkmont and expressed a desire to return.
Review Summary
Vicki H
VerifiedNovember 7, 2025 • Stayed at: A20, Loop: Generator Free
Nice campground, however my site A20 turned into a small pond due to rain.
Mike B
VerifiedNovember 7, 2025 • Stayed at: B11, Loop: Generator Free
Staff was friendly as usual and Rangers were present patrolling the camp grounds. Elkmont is always a fun place to camp.
Suzanne W
VerifiedNovember 6, 2025 • Stayed at: L15, Loop: Generator Free
We liked this campground a lot. We were in the L loop. The terrain makes the sites more private. Next time we will try and get a site right over the creek in the L loop.
The bathrooms were well maintained.
keith r
VerifiedNovember 6, 2025 • Stayed at: A21, Loop: Generator Free
5⭐️
Robin G
VerifiedNovember 5, 2025 • Stayed at: A28, Loop: Generator Free
We checked in to are camp site and the people across from us when night come they were very disrespectful they were doing drugs and started to cause troble whit us we notify the park host they went to tier camp site and did nothing they left and the people got worse then the park hosts came back then they saw how bad it was getting they called the park rangers police they come and did nothing at all then left 30 minutes later they come back and made them leave later on we font out they were arrested they just didn't won't to show the other campers what was going on the next day the host gave us a hard time and that's when I said enough is enough we was transferred to Smokemont in Cherokee N.C I would not recommend this elkmont to know one they need new people to run it that's kindner and nicer the host and park ranges need to go they got now I won't go back till they get new people to run it and elkmont is very hunted and the daisy town the houses up from the camp ground you can feel the negativity when you visit don't go thierbad bad place to visit.
Steven O
VerifiedNovember 4, 2025 • Stayed at: H12, Loop: Generator Use
We spent 1 night at Elkmont Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the 24th of October. Fall color was brilliant, although a bit post-peak as many leaves had already fallen. The campground itself was well maintained, and a welcome respite from very heavy auto traffic and overcrowding we experienced during this busy season in nearby towns and at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. On a ranger's suggestion, we took a short walk through the campground to the Elkmont "ghost town". This was an interesting collection of partially-restored cabins that we had not seen on previous visits to the park.
Wendy K
VerifiedNovember 4, 2025 • Stayed at: A04, Loop: Generator Free
Nice campsite. Bathrooms were very clean compared to other campgrounds I have visited.
bill s
VerifiedNovember 4, 2025 • Stayed at: J05, Loop: Generator Use
We come every year and live the campground
Janet T
VerifiedNovember 3, 2025 • Stayed at: D03, Loop: Generator Use
We love Elkmont! The campground is so beautiful that we rarely leave during our stay. It’s a short walk to the Little River Trail, one of our favorite walks in the park. Our only complaint is the noise from other campers’ generators, but some sites are out of hearing range of the noise. The rangers and staff at Elkmont made our stay so lovely!
Anne P
VerifiedNovember 3, 2025 • Stayed at: B30, Loop: Generator Free
We loved it!
We are a family of 5, 3 kids under 5y. It was easy, the kids could enjoy the nature, playing in the river. It was a good walk for them, however we stayed only in the camping area, didn't hike the trails.
Location Elkmont Campground
Address:
434 Elkmont Rd
Gatlinburg, TN, 37738
United States
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 35.6588 / -83.5827
Elevation: 648 feet
Nearby National Park
Arch Rock Entrance
Approximate driving time: 32 min
Policies & Rules
General
- A 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,
- 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.
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Last updated: June 4, 2026