Elkmont Group Camp

My Girl Scout troop stayed in the Group Tent site #2 at Elkmont and enjoyed ourselves. A few words of things to be aware of: despite the fact that they don't want you to bring in firewood, and the fact that they sell it at the campground, the space that sells the wood is only open 11-5, which is prime time to be AWAY from the campsites. Once you arrive, they let you know you can buy heat treated wood off-site, but then you are there. The place they sell wood DOES have availability after hours for honor-system pick up, but they don't tell you that anywhere and they don't tell you where to actually FIND the honor system wood, even if you talk to one of the people when checking in, assuming you can be there when they are there as well. No one was in the office when we rolled into the campground at 6:30pm. Clarity on this point would be super helpful. Also, there are NO showers in the park, and they just advise you to see if you can catch a shower at a local KOA. Not super helpful, but good to know in advance. A rinse of in the stream in August worked ok. The camp site was clean, as were the bathrooms. The place was peaceful and beautiful. Skinny metal stakes are a must-have to make it through the material on the camping pads to stake out your tent. Group site 2 and 3 are quite close together, but the folks at the other site were mostly out, so it didn't create too much trouble. Otherwise, those sites are better suited to a larger group traveling together. Also, there was NO cell service, so come with maps and plans. And money to buy maps as they all cost money, unlike other national parks.

Group site 01 was a large site. We had (6) two man tents, on two of the tent pads, and there was room for maybe two more small tents but that was it. The third pad was not usable. It was overgrown and muddy. It rained once while we were there and this pad was in standing water. The other two pads had gravel, and were nice pads, but the third is useless due to the occasional rains. 5 nice large tables. 2 firerings. One large grill, but we didn't use it. Bathrooms were clean and stocked with toliet paper and a hand dryer. The group sites are not kept up like the other sites. Overgrown. Staff was not friendly. But we tried to give them the benefit of the doubt in the volume of campers they see, but don't expect southern hospitality. Great trails. Easy access via walking. We hung out in the water a lot due to the heat. Very clean clear water. We saw turkey and an owl in the campground. Saw a bear at Laurel Falls. Wood and ice were available. $10/$5 rounded up. We plan to come back next year, but probably won't book the group site unless they are cared for better. Group site 01 is the handicap site, and it would be very difficult to get a wheelchair down the walk pad, to the site, due to the broken chunks of concrete. All in all we had a great time at this campground.

This group camping site is excellent. It's close to the parking area, making it easy to load things from your car. The site is clean and quiet, and the restrooms are very well-maintained.

The rating is based on Group Site 1's continued degradation. I was hoping this year would have some campsite improvements but there wasn't. The description's pictures of the campsite are from over 10 years ago. I know because we were there in 2013 after they refurbished the site. One of the large tent pads (last pic) is now completely grown and mudded over. Been that way at least the last 3 years and getting worst. I managed to get one 9x9 tent on it but the other end of the pad was piled with limbs. The 6x6 curbs are rotting out in several paces but I don't consider that a big deal. The walkway is broken up near the parking lot so watch your step. Poison ivy is encroaching all around. I know it's a national park but seems like they could clear a reasonable margin around the pads and walkways. As for Elkmont Campground as a whole I give it 5 stars. The campground was clean and the bathrooms (at least the one in the group area) have new motion sensor lights which were nice. Also the restrooms were well maintained and clean. As for the camp store, the lady running it is very nice and they have an honor system after hours for ice and firewood. That's really considerate.

The group campsite was perfect for our group of men doing day hikes for a week. Plenty of space for multiple tents and tables for cooking and seating. The high wall fire rings were not the best as the fire was really low and hard to get air in and heat out. I understand the safety concerns, maybe add holes around the base for air entry. Bathroom and dish washing sink were clean and convenient (close, but not too close).

Loved my stay at Elkmont!!

Glitch in app. Wouldn't record my answer- 5 stars-excellent. All staff that I encountered were extremely helpful and pleasant. Had a wonderful experience.

Great location and this site is really nice for a larger group.

Had a great time. It did rain a lot which is always tricky but that's the Smokys!
The campsite was large and spacious.
Our biggest complaint is the bathrooms. We watched an employee come and clean them and they were just as dirty as before. There were piles of dead centipedes under the sinks. Lots of spider webs and even a snake at one point was seen in the women's. We're all about a rugged camping experience but it wouldn't take much to take a broom to sweep out the dead bugs and cobwebs.
This national park was very very busy while we were there, and we couldn't find parking to do any planned hikes. That was a bummer.
Wild turkeys were seen as well at the campsite :⁠-⁠)

Beautiful campground. Could use better signs and bathrooms could be cleaned more often. Otherwise good.